With Web Supply Or Takeup Or Mount Therefor (e.g., Web Cartridge, Etc.) Patents (Class 400/613)
  • Patent number: 12077400
    Abstract: The present invention provides a label printer, including an upper cover module and a bottom case module configured to cooperate with the upper cover module in printing. An elastic wall is disposed at an articulating part between the upper cover module and the bottom case module. An inclined surface is provided at a corresponding position of the lower cover module. When the upper cover is opened upward to the maximum extent, a tail end of the elastic wall cooperates with the inclined surface to form a support structure to prevent the upper cover module from falling due to the gravity and the like when the upper cover module is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Inventor: Shuangquan Xu
  • Patent number: 12064961
    Abstract: In a print device, the conveyance member conveys a tape on which printing is performed. The tape has a base material and a release material bonded together. The tape includes a print portion on which an image is printed by the head. The printed tape is used to create a printed matter. The half cutter performs a half cut to cut through the release material without cutting through the base material. The full cutter performs a full cut to cut through the tape conveyed by the conveyance member. The controller controls the half cut so that the half cutter cuts through the release material at a position downstream side of a most downstream end of the print portion of the printed tape, which is conveyed by the conveyance member and is printed by the head, in a conveying direction of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Ukai, Hiromitsu Mizutani, Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 12049077
    Abstract: The present invention provides a smart label printer and a printing method thereof. The printer is provided with a print channel, a through-beam photoelectric switch, a paper exit sensor, a rubber roller shaft, a controller and the like in cooperation with a printing module for printing. According to the printing method disclosed by the present invention, the label paper can be printed in a correct position more accurately, reducing the waste of the label paper, and the printer can intelligently identify the length of the printed label paper, and can be applied to print label paper in different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Inventor: Shuangquan Xu
  • Patent number: 12030325
    Abstract: A media processing device includes: a body defining a media supply chamber and carrying a print head; a cover carrying a platen roller, the cover having an open position enabling access to the chamber, and a closed position enclosing the chamber, and cooperating with the body to define a media path extending from the chamber, between the print head and the platen roller, to a media outlet; a target conductor affixed to one of the body and the cover; and an inductive proximity sensor affixed to the other of the body and the cover, disposed to detect the target conductor when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Hegarty, Stephen A. Carello, Devan J. Lippman
  • Patent number: 11999173
    Abstract: A medium includes: a heat-sensitive medium subjected to thermal printing; and an adhesive medium to be superimposed on the heat-sensitive medium in a thickness direction and bonded to the heat-sensitive medium. The heat-sensitive medium includes: a surface contacting the adhesive medium; a heat-sensitive medium base material having a transparency; and a first color producing layer having a transparency. The heat-sensitive medium base material has an uneven shape having roughness greater than that of the surface of the heat-sensitive medium. The first color producing layer is configured to produce a first color when heated to a temperature higher than or equal to a first temperature. The adhesive medium includes: an adhesive medium base material; and an adhesive layer provided on the adhesive medium base material. The adhesive layer makes contact with the surface of the heat-sensitive medium so that the adhesive medium is bonded to the heat-sensitive medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Naruse, Keisuke Nishihara, Akira Minami
  • Patent number: 11993073
    Abstract: A printing apparatus that includes a holding unit configured to hold a roll sheet performs supplying the sheet by rotating the roll sheet held by the holding unit; nipping and conveying the supplied sheet; performing printing on the conveyed sheet; detecting occurrence of a print medium jam of the sheet; and, if the printing apparatus has detected a print medium jam of the sheet, performing a control process of supplying the sheet in a state in which the conveying is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Hiromasa Yoneyama, Ryohei Maruyama, Itaru Wada, Tomohito Abe, Tsutomu Obata, Noriyuki Aoki, Yasuyuki Asai
  • Patent number: 11981125
    Abstract: A roll supporting device includes: a pair of supporting rollers which support an outer circumferential surface of a rolled medium, and which are provided so as to rotate together with the rolled medium; a side wall which has a reference surface coming into contact with one end surface of the rolled medium in an axial direction along a central axis of the rolled medium; and a pair of restricting members which press another end surface of the rolled medium toward the reference surface. The pair of supporting rollers are disposed on both sides of the central axis of the rolled medium when viewed in the axial direction of the rolled medium. The pair of restricting members are disposed outside a space between the pair of supporting rollers in a circumferential direction of the rolled medium, and are respectively adjacent to the supporting rollers, and are provided so as to be movable independently from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: FUJITSU FRONTECH LIMITED
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitagawa, Tsuyoshi Yamazaki, Hirokatsu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11932011
    Abstract: A printing cassette that is to be attached to and detached from a printing apparatus main body is provided. The printing cassette includes: a first roll in which a first tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction; and an input gear that is disposed at a different position from the first roll in the first direction, engaging another gear, and configured to transmit a driving force of a drive shaft of the printing apparatus to the another gear. The first roll has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface. The drive shaft is inserted into the hollow portion of the first roll and the input gear is engaged with the drive shaft in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ukai
  • Patent number: 11890869
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a main body having an accommodation part accommodating a printing medium; and an opening/closing cover supported by the main body so as to be swingable between a closed position and an opened position, a first unit and a second unit being selectively installable to the opening/closing cover, the first unit being configured to rotatably support a first platen roller, the second unit being configured to rotatably support a second platen roller, the opening/closing cover including a cover guide, the opening/closing cover having a discharge port discharging the guided printing medium. The first unit has a partition wall superposed to cover the cover guide and partitioning a space into the first platen roller-side and the discharge port-side in a case the first unit is installed to the opening/closing cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yushi Kato, Sho Asai, Shotaro Watanabe, Yusuke Ikemoto, Takehiko Inaba
  • Patent number: 11840071
    Abstract: A cartridge to be installed in a tape printing device includes: a cartridge case having a cartridge-side tape ejection port; a tape path that feeds a printing tape toward the cartridge-side tape ejection port; a platen roller that applies a feeding force to the printing tape; and an electrode part. When seen from a front side in an installation direction of the cartridge, a feeding angle that is an angle formed by a feeding direction of the printing tape at a portion at which the feeding force is applied to the printing tape by the platen roller when the printing tape is fed with respect to a direction in which the electrode part receives a force from a contact terminal part is less than 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Ishimoto, Taishi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11806993
    Abstract: A printing device includes a roll paper holder configured to accommodate a first roll paper and a second roll paper and having first and second side walls configured to contact side surfaces of the first roll paper, a remaining amount detecting section having a first projection projecting from the first side wall to detect a remaining amount of the first roll paper accommodated in the roll paper holder, a roll paper guide configured to be installed in the roll paper holder and having a third side wall configured to contact a side surface of the second roll paper when the second roll paper is accommodated in the roll paper holder, and a detection assistance section provided on the roll paper guide and having a second projection projecting from the third side wall in a state of being in contact with the first projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11787207
    Abstract: An opening/closing mechanism for an opening/closing cover includes the opening/closing cover, a cover protrusion, a protrusion engagement lever, an elastic member, and a cover opening section having an operation section, the cover opening section being configured to rotate the opening/closing cover in the closed position to a second position. The cover protrusion includes a second engaging portion configured to be pushed by the protrusion engagement member when the opening/closing cover is in the second position such that the opening/closing cover remains in the second position and includes a third engaging portion configured to be pushed by the protrusion engagement member when the opening/closing cover is in a third position between the second position and the open position such that the opening/closing cover rotates from the third position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirosuke Yasuki, Kenji Motai, Keisuke Taruya, Keishin Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11778312
    Abstract: An image capture system that can ensure the rigidity and heat dissipation performance of an external connection apparatus, and also has excellent wireless communication performance. An image capture apparatus includes a first wireless communication section. An external connection apparatus includes a second wireless communication section. The second wireless communication section performs wireless communication with the first wireless communication section. The external connection apparatus is removably attached to the image capture apparatus. The first wireless communication section is disposed toward an attachment surface of the image capture apparatus to which the external connection apparatus is attached, with respect to the photographing optical axis. In a state in which the external connection apparatus is attached to the image capture apparatus, the two wireless communication sections are opposed to each other in a direction orthogonal to a direction of attaching the apparatuses to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawase, Natsumi Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 11704074
    Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises: a print portion configured to perform printing on a print medium drawn from a rolled medium; and a print controller configured to cause the print portion to print status information in response to an instruction to print the status information. The print controller is configured to cause the print portion to print first status information, which is part of the status information, cause the print portion to print at least one of selection items corresponding to pieces of status information, and cause, when at least one printed selection item is selected, the print portion to print second status information corresponding to the selected selection item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Daigo Nagase
  • Patent number: 11661293
    Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus attached to an apparatus body in an attaching direction includes a sheet storage portion configured to store a sheet, a moving unit movably supported by the sheet storage portion in a moving direction parallel to the attaching direction, wherein the moving unit includes a regulation member and an extending member extending in the moving direction, the regulation member including a regulation surface regulating a position, in the moving direction, of the sheet stored in the sheet storage portion, and a first bonding surface extending along the moving direction, the extending member including a second bonding surface extending parallel to the first bonding surface, and wherein the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface are configured to be bonded to each other by adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeo Murayama, Akira Matsushima
  • Patent number: 11607898
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printing device including a main body portion including a body portion configured to provide an internal space in which recording paper for printing certain information thereon is transferred and an opening or closing portion configured to control opening or closing of the internal space, a printing portion configured to print the certain information on the recording paper transferred in the internal space, and a recording paper separation portion located on a downstream side of the printing portion and configured to cut or cut off and separate recording paper on which particular information is printed by the printing portion from the other recording paper. Here, the main body portion includes a protruding portion configured to prevent an adhesive attached to the surface opposite the adhesive surface from being accumulated by decreasing a contact area with the surface opposite the adhesive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: BIXOLON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Gwan Kim, Jin Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 11537340
    Abstract: An editing device is configured to edit print data including first print data and second print data via a display device for creating a composite label with a printing device. The composite label includes a first label and a second label and is created by superposing the second label over the first label. A set of program instructions, when executed by a controller of the editing device, causes the editing device to perform displaying an editing screen on the display device. The editing screen has a first region, a second region, and a composite region. The displaying displays a first label image based on the first print data in the first region, a second label image based on the second print data in the second region, and a composite label image formed by superposing the second label image over the first label image in the composite region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Misato Osuka, Ryuichi Kanda, Masashi Iwamoto, Yuichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11531368
    Abstract: Provided is a printer, which serves as an information processing device and which includes: a housing; a cover including a first surface, in which an opening is formed, the cover being configured to pivot about an axis of a first rotating shaft parallel to the first surface; and a touch panel, which is to be located in the opening when the cover is in a closed state in which the cover covers the housing. The cover includes a frame between an edge of the first surface and the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fukumoto, Ryuji Moriyama
  • Patent number: 11498348
    Abstract: A printer device includes a guide section, a first projecting section, and a second projecting section. The guide section is disposed to be opposed to a side surface of roll-like continuous paper and includes a guide surface for restricting movement of the continuous paper along a width direction of the continuous paper during conveyance of the continuous paper. The first projecting section is provided on the guide surface side of the guide section and rotatably holds a core section of the continuous paper. The second projecting section has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the first projecting section and is movable between a supporting position where the second projecting section contains an outer circumference of the first projecting section and a storing position where the second projecting section is stored further on an inner side than the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sanada, Yuji Kawamorita
  • Patent number: 11370236
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transport roller applying a transport force to a label sheet having a backing sheet to which a label is attached, a printing head performing printing on the label sheet, a detaching roller configured to apply to the backing sheet a tension for detaching the label from the backing sheet at a detaching unit that detaches the label from the backing sheet and apply a transport force to the backing sheet from which the label was detached, and a control unit controlling the transport roller and the detaching roller, wherein the control unit controls driving of the transport roller and the detaching roller such that a front tension, which is a tension applied to the label sheet at the position of the transport roller, when the label sheet is back-fed to upstream in the transport path, is smaller than a front tension when the label sheet is front-fed to downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Takami
  • Patent number: 11358402
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printing device including a main body portion including a body portion configured to provide an internal space in which recording paper for printing certain information thereon is transferred and an opening or closing portion configured to control opening or closing of the internal space, a printing portion configured to print the certain information on the recording paper transferred in the internal space, and a recording paper separation portion located on a downstream side of the printing portion and configured to cut or cut off and separate recording paper on which particular information is printed by the printing portion from the other recording paper. Here, the main body portion includes a protruding portion configured to prevent an adhesive attached to the surface opposite the adhesive surface from being accumulated by decreasing a contact area with the surface opposite the adhesive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: BIXOLON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Gwan Kim, Jin Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 11292274
    Abstract: A printing unit, includes a head unit including: a thermal head; and a platen unit combined with the head unit. The platen unit including: a platen roller configured to feed a recording sheet while sandwiching the recording sheet together with the thermal head; a platen frame configured to support the platen roller in a rotatable manner; a sensor unit including: a sensor configured to detect the recording sheet; a connector connected to the sensor; and a connection portion configured to connect the sensor and the connector to each other; and a sensor holder, which is mounted to the platen frame, and includes: a plurality of connector arrangement portions through which a terminal of the connector is to be exposed; and a plurality of sensor receiving portions in which the sensor unit is to be received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Murata
  • Patent number: 11254531
    Abstract: While a cover moves to a closed position, a second engagement portion contacts a first engagement portion to displace the first engagement portion, and thus a guide portion moves to a guide position. While the cover moves from the closed position to a first open position, the second engagement portion and the first engagement portion are separated, and the guide portion moves from the guide position to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Hirabayashi, Taku Hirashima
  • Patent number: 11235604
    Abstract: With a cover in a closed position, a first internal gear and a first spur gear do not mesh with each other, and a second internal gear and a second spur gear do not mesh with each other. When the cover rotates by a predetermined angle around a first support shaft from the closed position, the first internal gear and the first spur gear start to mesh with each other. When the cover rotates by a predetermined angle around a second support shaft from the closed position, the second internal gear and the second spur gear start to mesh with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Hirabayashi, Hironori Maekawa
  • Patent number: 11225099
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall and a tape feed exit located on the front wall, a tape included at least partially within the housing, and a pressing portion and a first non-pressing portion on the front wall. The pressing portion and the first non-pressing portion are positioned to oppose tape type detecting switches of the label printer when the cassette is in the label printer. The pressing portion is configured to change a state of an opposing one of the tape type detecting switches, and the first non-pressing portion is configured to avoid changing a state of an opposing one of the tape type detecting switches. The first non-pressing portion is a planar area of the front wall extending in a tape width direction from a top surface of the housing to a bottom surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi Nagae, Teruo Imamaki
  • Patent number: 11148893
    Abstract: A media roll holder assembly for a roll is detachably supported in a printing system. A rotational drive includes a roll engaging element configured for fittingly engaging and driving a drive engaging element of a roller, for example an Oldham coupling. A first guide surface is configured to support and direct the roller in a loading direction. A second guide surface at least partially extends at an angle with respect to the first guide surface, such that movement of the roller over the first guide surface brings the drive engaging element in contact with the second guide surface. The second guide surface directs the drive engaging element into a predetermined orientation, which orientation aligns the drive engaging element with the roll engaging element in a loading orientation, such that further movement of the roller in the loading direction inserts the drive engaging element into the roll engaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: CANON PRODUCTION PRINTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Hermanus J. P. M. Philipse
  • Patent number: 11084303
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a housing; a cassette receiving portion provided in the housing; and a print head provided at the cassette receiving portion. The cassette receiving portion is configured to detachably receive a cassette including a case in which an ink ribbon and a tape are provided. The print head extends in a first direction and is configured to be inserted in a head opening of the case upon attachment of the cassette to the cassette receiving portion. The print head is configured to perform printing to the tape via the ink ribbon. The cassette receiving portion is open in the first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Upon attachment of the cassette to the cassette receiving portion, a portion of the cassette protrudes out of the housing in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Takanori Izumi
  • Patent number: 11059688
    Abstract: A printer includes a first route to which a sheet from a roll paper is to be fed, a drive roller arranged on the first route and capable of sending the sheet, an image forming part (thermal printer head), a second route branched from the first route, a route changer for switching a route of the sheet, a curl corrector provided on the second route, and a cutter (cutting unit) provided on the first route. The curl corrector is configured to form the route with a curl correction roller and a guide member, and an advancing direction of the route is changeable 100 degrees or more when the sheet passes through the curl corrector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD, CITIZEN SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Takahashi, Naohisa Sawai
  • Patent number: 10933673
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a housing; a print head extending in a first direction; a cassette receiving portion; and a movable cover. The cassette receiving portion is open in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The cassette receiving portion can selectively receive a first cassette or a second cassette whose size is greater than that of the first cassette. The movable cover is movable between a closed position and an open position for covering and exposing the cassette receiving portion in the second direction. The cassette receiving portion provides: a first cassette receiving portion for receiving the first cassette with the movable cover at the closed position; and a second cassette receiving portion for receiving the second cassette with the movable cover at the open position. A portion of the second cassette receiving portion is overlapped with the movable cover at the closed position in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shota Iijima, Takanori Izumi
  • Patent number: 10807391
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improvements to printers including the use of engineered structures to limit bending, flexing, and/or twisting during impacts and the use of impact absorbing materials to prevent cracks and breaks. Design features and materials add to the rigidity of the printer design to prevent twisting and flexing during impacts and add to the strength of the printer design in typical breakage areas. For example, embodiments provide improvements that strengthen traditional break areas by the use of improved materials and design optimization to distribute impact forces. Embodiments allow the printer to maintain an operational status following a drop test and/or a tumble test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Hutnak, James A. Lucas, Anthony R. Helberg, Matthew D. Corvese, Roy P. Lyman
  • Patent number: 10807382
    Abstract: A tape printing device includes a cartridge mounting portion on which a tape cartridge is mounted, a detection unit that has a first detection member configured to be protruded from and retracted into a first detection opening provided on a bottom surface of the cartridge mounting portion, and detects a type of a printing tape accommodated in the tape cartridge, and a thermal head that performs printing on the printing tape. A portion of the first detection member, exposed from the first detection opening, is located outside the tape accommodating area and is provided at a position on a side of the tape accommodating area different from a side of a first area in a plan view when the tape cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kubota, Kenji Motai
  • Patent number: 10759186
    Abstract: A tape printer that includes: a cartridge loading portion to which a tape cartridge is loaded, the tape cartridge including a cartridge case and a platen roller accommodated in the cartridge case, the cartridge case having a positioning recess and a first detection target portion of which shape is varied depending on various types of tape cartridge; a platen shaft provided in the cartridge loading portion and inserted into the platen roller; a first detection unit provided in the cartridge loading portion, of which output changes depending on the shape of the first detection target portion; and a positioning projection provided at a position farther than the first detection unit with respect to the platen shaft in the cartridge loading portion when seen from a near side in a loading direction of the tape cartridge, and engaging with the positioning recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kubota
  • Patent number: 10730328
    Abstract: A tape cartridge mounted to a tape printer having a printing head, includes a cartridge case, a platen roller that is housed in the cartridge case and fees an ink ribbon and a printing tape pressed between the platen roller and the printing head, a tape delivery port that is provided in the cartridge case and feeds the printing tape, which is fed by the platen roller and separated from the ink ribbon, to outside of the cartridge case, and a delivery guide that has a first guide section at a side of the printing head and a second guide section at a side of the platen roller, which extend from edges of the tape delivery port to inside of the cartridge case while spreading apart from each other, and guides a distal end of the printing tape into the tape delivery port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kubota, Akihiro Shintani, Taishi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10682867
    Abstract: A card processing device may include a card reader and a printer. The printer may include an ink ribbon cartridge; a thermal head; and a cover member. The ink ribbon cartridge may include a supply roll and a take-up roll. The thermal head may heat the ink ribbon and transfer ink to the card. The card reader may be on a front side of the thermal head, and a part of the card reader may be on a lower side of the supply roll or the take-up roll. The cover member may pivot between a closed position and open position. A conveyance path may be provided inside the card reader and the printer. A part of the conveyance path inside the card reader may be a first conveyance path. The card reader may include an upper frame. The upper frame may pivot between a closed position and open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Ohta, Satoshi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10427846
    Abstract: A tape dispensing system includes packaging tape an application apparatus, and an incision element. The application apparatus is configured to apply the packaging tape to a package. The incision element defines a unique pattern, and is connected to the application apparatus. Movement of the apparatus is effective to punch or incise the unique pattern defined by the incision element completely through the packaging tape and into the package as or after the packaging tape is applied to the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Robert L. Cantrell, John J. O'Brien, Brian G. McHale, Jimmie Ray Bishop, III
  • Patent number: 10377156
    Abstract: A printing apparatus, having a body with a container compartment, a cover, a pair of supporting parts, a locking member, and an engaging portion, is provided. The pair of supporting parts support the roll along a first direction. At least one of the pair of supporting parts is movable in the first direction. The locking member is arranged on the movable supporting part and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The engaging portion in the container compartment is engageable with the locking member being located at the locked position. The locking member at the unlocked position under the condition where the cover is open is separated from the engaging portion. The locking member contacts the cover and shifts from the unlocked position to the locked position to be engaged with the engaging portion in a process where the cover being open is moved to be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Ikemoto, Ryuichi Kanda, Takehiko Inaba, Yuki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 10286700
    Abstract: A tape cartridge to be installed in a cartridge installation portion of a tape printing apparatus, to which the tape cartridge is detachably installed and which includes an installation base for positioning the tape cartridge, includes a printing tape and a cartridge casing in which the printing tape is accommodated and forms an outer shell of the tape cartridge. The cartridge casing includes a first casing disposed at a front side of the tape when the tape cartridge is installed in the cartridge installation portion, and a second casing disposed at a back side of the tape cartridge when the tape cartridge is installed in the cartridge installation portion. The first casing is formed with an elastic portion which is deformed by a pressing force of a pressing portion of the tape printing apparatus on a casing wall of the first casing at the frond side of the tape cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sakano, Hideo Sodeyama
  • Patent number: 10265968
    Abstract: A linerless label is printed and separated from a ribbon (7) of the labels by a label printer (1, 1?) having a printing unit (2, 2?), a holder (6) for the linerless label ribbon, a cutting unit (3) and a paper-feeding unit (8, 8?). The paper-feeding unit advances the linerless label ribbon through the printing unit and the cutting unit. The printing unit prints a part of the linerless label ribbon as it is advanced. The printed linerless label (9) is separated from the linerless label ribbon by the closing of at least two blades (4, 5) arranged on the sides of the linerless label ribbon. Afterward, the blades return to an open starting position for a next cutting operation. Before the blades open, the linerless label ribbon is pulled back from the blades, creating a distance (z) between the linerless label ribbon and the blades).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: METTLER-TOLEDO (ALBSTADT) GMBH
    Inventors: Walter Holike, Albert Gerstenecker
  • Patent number: 10265982
    Abstract: A cassette case includes a bottom case and a top case. A tape is housed in the cassette case. A tape discharge portion discharges, from the cassette case, the tape that has been guided in the cassette case along a predetermined feed path. A first indicator portion indicates a type of the tape. A second indicator portion indicates a type of the tape, which is different from that indicated by the first indicator portion. An indicator member is a member independent from the top case and the bottom case, and is provided with the second indicator portion. An attachment portion is provided on the cassette case. The indicator member is removably attached to the attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kengo Noda
  • Patent number: 10195877
    Abstract: A tape cartridge is mounted on a mounting section of a tape printer, which has an identification portion configured to identify a type of cartridge containing a tape-shaped printing medium. The tape cartridge includes a tape roll around which the tape-shaped printing medium is wound, a core shaft portion that is formed into a fitting cylindrical shape and has a rotation shaft of the tape roll, an identification concave portion that is provided in an inner peripheral portion of the core shaft and engages with the identification portion, a depressed portion that engages with a pedestal which is disposed on the mounting section, and a core concave portion that includes the identification concave portion and the depressed portion. The identification concave portion is configured to accommodate the identification portion in a state where the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sakano
  • Patent number: 10173446
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printer includes a housing that has an outlet, a drawer unit, first, second and third print medium support units and a printing unit. The drawer unit slides in the outlet between an open position and a closed position. The first supporting unit is disposed in the drawer unit and supports a roll of printable media when the drawer unit is in the open position so that an outer surface of the roll of printable media does not extend above the height of the outlet. The second supporting unit is disposed in the housing and rotatably supports the roll of printable media when the drawer unit is in the closed position so that a portion of the outer surface of the roll of printable media extends above the height of the outlet. The printing unit prints on printable media fed from the roll of printable media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 10022992
    Abstract: A tape cartridge detachably mounted in a tape printing apparatus, which has a printing head portion, a drive shaft, and a base convex portion that includes a pedestal erectly disposed on a mounting base and a convex portion erectly disposed on and integrally formed with the pedestal, includes a tape roll and a core shaft that has an outer circumferential face that rotatably supports the tape roll and an inner circumferential face formed into a stepped cylindrical shape formed by a concave portion and a depressed portion which has a diameter larger than that of the concave portion. A spring is installed into the concave portion. When the tape cartridge is mounted in the tape printing apparatus, the convex portion is inserted into the concave portion and presses the spring to release an inverse rotation prevention of the tape roll, and the depressed portion receives the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sakano
  • Patent number: 9969189
    Abstract: There is provided a printer including, in a sheet holding section configured to hold roll paper formed by rolling a printing target sheet, a pair of pressing sections configured to hold the roll paper from both side ends, and a holding section provided in each of the pressing section. The holding section is displaceable to a first position where the holding section projects to a side opposed to a side end portion of the roll paper and a second position where the holding section does not project. The holding section enters a cylindrical portion in a rolling center of the roll paper in the first position to hold the roll paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Nihashi
  • Patent number: 9914315
    Abstract: A tape cartridge which contains a tape-shaped printing medium and is to be mounted on a mounting section of a tape printer includes a tape roll around which the printing medium is wound and a core shaft portion that rotatably supports the tape roll. An inner circumferential portion of the core shaft includes a shape forming a first fitting portion which is fitted to a pedestal portion erectly disposed on the mounting section when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section, and a second fitting portion which is fitted to a first convex portion erectly disposed on the pedestal portion when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sakano
  • Patent number: 9884500
    Abstract: A tape cartridge which contains a tape-shaped printing medium and is to be mounted on a mounting section of a tape printer includes a tape roll around which the printing medium is wound and a core shaft portion that rotatably supports the tape roll. An inner circumferential portion of the core shaft includes a shape forming a first fitting portion which is fitted to a pedestal portion erectly disposed on the mounting section when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section, and a second fitting portion which is fitted to a first convex portion erectly disposed on the pedestal portion when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sakano
  • Patent number: 9844962
    Abstract: A disclosed ribbon cartridge includes a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool; a second spool housing configured to receive a second spool; a first frame member extending between the first and second spools; and a second frame member extending between the first spool and the second spool; wherein a printhead assembly opening is defined and bounded by the first spool housing, the second spool housing, the first frame member, and the second frame member, wherein the first frame member defines a first channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, wherein the second frame member defines a second channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, and wherein the first channel and the second channel each comprise a drive surface, wherein the drive surface is configured to be engaged by a printhead assembly to drive the ribbon cartridge to an installed position within the media processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Petrica Dorinel Balcan, Randal Wong Mun Hon, Kuan-Ying Lu
  • Patent number: 9751345
    Abstract: A tape cartridge is mounted on a mounting section of a tape printer. The tape printer has an identification portion configured to identify a type of cartridge containing a tape-shaped printing medium. The tape cartridge includes a tape roll around which the printing medium is wound, a core shaft portion that rotatably supports the tape roll, and a fitting portion that is disposed at an inner circumferential side of the core shaft portion and is fitted to the identification portion when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section of the tape printer. The fitting portion is disposed in a depressed portion that is configured to accommodate the identification portion when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sakano
  • Patent number: 9656495
    Abstract: A tape cassette is provided with a cassette case, a tape, a tape discharge portion, a first indicator portion, a first indicator member and a first attachment portion. The cassette case includes a bottom case and a top case. The tape is a print medium. The tape discharge portion discharges the tape from the cassette case. The first indicator portion includes at least one indicator hole and indicates a type of the tape. The first indicator member is provided with the first indicator portion. The first attachment portion is provided on an upstream side of the tape discharge portion and to which the first indicator member is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kengo Noda
  • Patent number: 9656489
    Abstract: A printer includes a medium supply unit, a printing unit, a feed unit, which feeds a print medium along a feed direction that is any one of a first direction toward the printing unit from the medium supply unit or a second direction toward the medium supply unit from the printing unit on a reference surface, a depressed portion, which is disposed using the reference surface as a reference, and a movement restricting portion, which includes a guide piece and restricts a movement of the print medium to a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the print medium by housing at least a part of the guide piece in the depressed portion and abutting a side edge of the print medium on the guide piece, and a side edge on a side of the printing unit of the guide piece is disposed at a position close to an inner wall surface on the printing unit side of the depressed portion with respect to an inner wall surface on a side of the medium supply unit of the depressed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SATO HOLDINGS KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kokuta
  • Patent number: 9610782
    Abstract: A drying device for drying a medium that has had a liquid ejected thereon includes a guide that the medium that has had the liquid ejected thereon abuts against, a tension control section that is capable of providing tension to the medium that is abutted against the guide, a heating section capable of heating the medium, and a cooling section capable of cooling the medium that has been heated by the heating section, wherein the tension control section is capable of generating a pressing force that presses the medium against the guide, and the heating by the heating section and the cooling by the cooling section are performed on the medium while the tension and the pressing force are being applied to the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Toya, Jun Yamada