Controller Patents (Class 347/5)
  • Patent number: 11970000
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes liquid discharge units, a first image capturing unit, a second image capturing unit, a detection unit, and a discharge determination unit. The liquid discharge units include a first liquid discharge unit and a second liquid discharge unit downstream from the first discharge unit in a moving direction of a recording medium. The first capturing unit captures a first image of the medium at a position corresponding to the first discharge unit. The second capturing unit captures a second image of the medium at a position corresponding to the second discharge unit. The detection unit detects a movement amount of the medium in the moving direction, based on the first image and the second image. The discharge determination unit determines a discharge timing of the second discharge unit with respect to discharge of the first discharge unit, based on the movement amount and a clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Mizuno, Mitsunobu Gohda
  • Patent number: 11945222
    Abstract: A film forming method includes applying liquids to a material by discharging the liquids from each of a plurality of discharge heads disposed along a transport direction of the material. Each of the discharge heads has a plurality of liquid discharge nozzles disposed along a direction intersecting the transport direction. The applying includes applying at least a first liquid, a second liquid, and a third liquid from each of the plurality of discharge heads. The second liquid is applied to a position substantially equal to a position to which the first liquid is applied along a width direction. The third liquid is applied to an intermediate position between the position to which the first liquid is applied and the position to which the second liquid is applied along the transport direction, the intermediate position being different from the position to which the first liquid is applied along the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuto Ueda
  • Patent number: 11931903
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a plurality of robots includes a failure prediction section configured to predict a failure time for each of the robots; and a load adjustment section configured to perform adjustment of a work load of each of the robots according to each of the predicted failure times, so that each of the robots operates until a maintenance time determined in common to each of the robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kana Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 11915073
    Abstract: A terminal device may generate a first label file based on a specific label file. The specific label file may include one or more object regions in which a print target object is to be placed and first text information written in a first object region of the one or more object regions. The first label file may include the one or more object regions and does not include the first text information. The terminal device may generate a first database file associated with the first label file. The first database file may store a first field name corresponding to the first object region and a first text obtained by using the first text information in association with each other. The terminal device may generate first print data by using the first label file and the first database file, and send the first print data to a label printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryoji Ban
  • Patent number: 11890870
    Abstract: Methods of ejecting droplets containing a non-Newtonian fluid by an acoustic droplet ejector can include applying a tone burst of focused acoustic energy to a fluid reservoir containing a non-Newtonian fluid at sufficient amplitude to effect droplet ejection according to a tone burst pattern. The tone burst pattern may include three discrete tone burst segments, the first tone burst segment having greater duration than the second and third segments, and third segment having greater duration than the second segment. The exact durations and amplitudes of the tone burst segments can be tuned to influence the ejection properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Labcyte, Inc.
    Inventors: Sammy S. Datwani, Carson Riche, Marsha N. Blauwkamp, Justin Blonigan
  • Patent number: 11840105
    Abstract: An apparatus for printing on one or both sides of flat objects. The apparatus includes a loop-shaped conveying path for the flat objects; a feed conveyor configured to feed the objects to be printed into a first section of the conveying path; a printer configured to print the objects one at a time; a first discharge conveyor configured to discharge the objects to be printed one at a time downstream of the printer from the first section towards a second section; a first collector configured to collect the objects downstream of the first discharge conveyor at the second section discharged from the first discharge conveyor in a stack; a stack conveyor configured to convey a (partial) stack of the objects along the second section; and a second collector configured to receive at least one (partial) stack and feed the objects upstream to the printer into the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: MUEHLBAUER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Helge Clemens, Rene Heidner
  • Patent number: 11829822
    Abstract: A print data editing device is configured to perform: editing print data such that when dots constituting an input image represented by the print data are compared by units of columns before and after the editing, a coincidence is maximized when an image of each column in the input image after the editing is the same position as an image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing or is shifted by a corresponding shift amount in a sub-scanning direction relative to the image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing. An absolute value of at least one of shift amounts for columns in the input image after the editing is one dot or greater. An absolute difference value for any two neighboring columns in a main scanning direction in the input image after the editing is one dot or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Naruse, Isao Fukuchi, Mina Takechi, Akira Minami, Kohei Terada
  • Patent number: 11731435
    Abstract: A printer includes a substrate support, a printhead assembly, first and second actuators, and a controller. The printhead assembly deposits material on a substrate supported on the substrate support. The first actuator is disposed at a side of the substrate support and coupled to a first linear track disposed along the side of the substrate support and oriented in a first direction. The second actuator is disposed at an end of the substrate support and coupled to a second linear track disposed along the end of the substrate support and oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second actuators are positioned to engage with the substrate simultaneously. The controller moves the first and second actuators together to rotate the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Eashwer Chandra Vidhya Sagar Kollata, Digby Pun, Cormac McKinley Wicklow, Gregory Lewis
  • Patent number: 11660859
    Abstract: In the print data for a nozzle of a printer, white dots are replaced by pre-ejection pulses. One or more repetitions of the pre-ejection pulses may be inserted into the print data, depending on the actual print speed of the printer, to determine print speed-dependent print data with which the nozzle is activated to print a print image with high print quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Production Printing Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Martin Stockmar, Timo Sponer, Martin Wilhelm, Robert Baumgartner, Christoph Rummelsberger, Markus Keller
  • Patent number: 11662962
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of coping with speedup of a printing operation without requiring a design change of a controller is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image generating unit configured to generate image data, an image forming unit configured to control image formation based on the image data, a storage unit that is provided between the image generating unit and the image forming unit and temporarily stores the image data, a first connecting unit that connects the image generating unit and the storage unit and performs transferring of the image data at a first operating frequency, and a second connecting unit that connects the storage unit and the image forming unit and performs transferring of the image data at a second operating frequency higher than the first operating frequency. When a predetermined data amount is accumulated in the storage unit, the accumulated image data is transferred to the image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11639062
    Abstract: Textile printing wherein the printing comprises: acquire, by a controller, a print job comprising an image and a set of print parameters; position a textile in a printing zone; acquire a calibration image of the textile and transferring the calibration image to the controller; determine, by the controller, a set of calibrated print parameters based on the calibration image and the set of print parameters; and print the image on the textile using the set of calibrated print parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Maria Elizabeth Zapata
  • Patent number: 11611113
    Abstract: A simultaneous inspection device of multiple secondary battery cell pouches is provided. The simultaneous inspection device includes a support member installed for support; a movable member installed to face the support member; multiple pressure panels which are installed side by side between the support member and the movable member, and combined so that the gap between them can be adjusted by the back and forth movement of the movable member wherein the secondary battery cell pouches are inserted into each gap; a guide member for guiding the pressing panels to move in the direction necessary for adjusting the gaps; and a pressure driving unit for moving the movable member back and forth to pressurize and pressure-release the secondary battery cell pouch between the pressurizing panels on both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Gi Young Kwak, Sung Tae Kim, Nak Gi Sung, Joon Sup Kang
  • Patent number: 11579820
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a consumable accommodates printing material and is mounted in a main casing. The consumable includes a consumable memory. A controller performs a restriction process to rewrite the first status information to indicate the used product to prohibit the consumable from being used in other image forming apparatuses in a case where first status information stored in the one of the consumable memory and a main memory indicates the new product. The controller performs an updating process to update the second status information so that the second status information indicates that the consumable can be temporarily used in the another image forming apparatus in a case where the controller receives a contract cancellation instruction. The contract cancellation instruction instructs to cancel an agreement concluded for the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11571896
    Abstract: A method of forming a print head, by forming a heater chip. Via zones having peripheries are defined on a substrate, with heaters formed along the entire peripheries of the via zones. Traces that electrically connect to each of the heaters are formed. In some embodiments, the heater chip is then stored for a period of time. After storing the heater chip, vias are formed in only a selected portion of the via zones, which is a subset of the via zones. A channel layer is formed on the heater chip by forming a first layer on the heater chip. Flow channels are formed in the first layer from the vias to only those heaters on the heater chip that are disposed along the selected portion of the via zones. Bubble chambers are formed in the first layer around only those heaters on the heater chip that are disposed along the selected portion of the via zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventors: Michael A. Marra, III, Sean T. Weaver
  • Patent number: 11514279
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a pattern extracting unit for, based on a comparison between first image data representing a pattern and second image data generated by imaging a fabric transported, extracting a pattern region from the second image data, a printing image generation unit for arranging third image data representing an image to be printed overlaid on the pattern so that the third image data matches the pattern region to generate printing image data, and a printing control unit for causing a printing unit to print the printing image data on the fabric transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kayahara
  • Patent number: 11453212
    Abstract: A memory circuit for a print component including a plurality of I/O pads, including an analog pad, to connect to a plurality of signals paths which communicate operating signals to the print component, and a memory component to store memory values associated with the print component. A control circuit to, in response to identifying a sequence of operating signals representing a memory read, provide a first analog signal on the analog pad in parallel with a second analog signal from the print component to provide an analog electrical value on the analog pad representing stored memory values selected by the memory read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Boon Bing Ng, James Michael Gardner
  • Patent number: 11369956
    Abstract: A system may comprise a voltage upconverter, a universal serial bus (USB) connector to receive an input voltage from a USB port on a computing device, and a microfluidic diagnostic chip communication link to electrically couple the voltage upconverter to a microfluidic diagnostic chip wherein the voltage upconverter is to convert the input voltage to be received by the USB connector to an output voltage sufficient to drive a pump on the microfluidic diagnostic chip. A diagnostic system may comprise a microfluidic diagnostic chip comprising a pump and a voltage upconverter to receive an input voltage from a universal serial bus (USB) port of a computing device and to convert the input voltage into an output voltage that powers activation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Manish Giri, Melinda M. Valencia, Matthew David Smith, Sirena Lu, Joshua M Yu, Sadig Bengali
  • Patent number: 11364731
    Abstract: A printer includes a substrate support, a printhead assembly, first and second actuators, and a controller. The printhead assembly deposits material on a substrate supported on the substrate support. The first actuator is disposed at a side of the substrate support and coupled to a first linear track disposed along the side of the substrate support and oriented in a first direction. The second actuator is disposed at an end of the substrate support and coupled to a second linear track disposed along the end of the substrate support and oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second actuators are positioned to engage with the substrate simultaneously. The controller moves the first and second actuators together to rotate the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Eashwer Chandra Vidhya Sagar Kollata, Digby Pun, Cormac McKinley Wicklow, Gregory Lewis
  • Patent number: 11354075
    Abstract: Provided are a non-transitory computer-readable medium, a print image control device, and a control method of the print image control device capable of reducing time required for an operation to adjust a position of a print image, and of improving productivity. A CPU performs part specification command input processing in which a command is input to specify a part of a photographic image captured by a camera, characteristic identification processing that identifies a characteristic of fabric on the basis of the command input by the part specification command input processing, generated graphic generation processing that generates a generated graphic relating to the characteristic identified by the characteristic identification processing, and display control processing that controls a display such that the generated graphic generated by the generated graphic generation processing is displayed along with the photographic image and a print image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chisato Inoue, Takeshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11285733
    Abstract: The method may comprise depositing print agent of a particular color onto a printable substrate to form a patch of print agent. It may comprise directing radiation from a plurality of radiation sources onto the patch of print agent and onto the printable substrate. Also, may comprise detecting, using a sensor, radiation from the plurality of radiation sources which has been reflected from the printable substrate and radiation from the plurality of radiation sources which has been reflected from the patch of print agent. Further, may comprise measuring, for each of the plurality of radiation sources, an intensity of the radiation reflected from the printable substrate and an intensity of the radiation reflected from the patch of print agent. Also, may comprise selecting, based on the measured intensities, a radiation source of the sources to be associated with the print agent of the particular color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Manuel Agudo Acemel, Andreas Muller, Xavier Quintero Ruiz
  • Patent number: 11155099
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system at least one physical memory device to store density control logic and one or more processors coupled with the at least one physical memory device, to execute the density control logic to generate first uncalibrated ink deposition data, receive first calibrated ink deposition data, generate a first transfer function based on the first uncalibrated ink deposition data and the first calibrated ink deposition data and transmit the first transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikel Stanich, Nikita Gurudath
  • Patent number: 11155080
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a liquid discharge head includes first eluting a first electrode and second eluting a second electrode. In the cleaning method, the first eluting and the second eluting are executed such that a ratio between a first electric power amount used in the first eluting and a second electric power amount used in the second eluting is a ratio based on a ratio between an area of a first face of the first electrode and an area of a second face of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Misumi, Maki Kato, Yuzuru Ishida, Tsubasa Funabashi, Takahiro Matsui
  • Patent number: 11157221
    Abstract: Implemented are a control apparatus, a control method, and a storage medium that enable efficient setting of poster printing. To this end, a control apparatus of the present invention is a control apparatus that allows a printing apparatus to print multiple divided images, into which an input image is divided, on print media, including: a setting unit that sets the number of divisions of the input image based on user input; an obtaining unit that obtains a width of the print media; a determining unit that determines a print region width of each of the divided images based on at least the set number of divisions and the width of the print medium; and a display control unit that displays guide information indicating a dividing position on a preview screen of the input image based on at least the determined print region width of the divided image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Hori
  • Patent number: 11144257
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, provided is a component management device includes a detection unit, a correlation determination unit, and an update unit. The detection unit detects a first-class component whose used amount exceeds the threshold value and which is used without causing a failure, and detects a first-class device that is a device including the detected first-class component and not causing a failure related to the first-class component. The correlation determination unit determines the presence or absence of a correlation with respect to a first correlation that is a correlation between the used amount of the detected first-class component and an operating condition of the first-class device. When it is determined that there is no correlation for the first correlation, the update unit determines a first update value that is an update value of the threshold value based on the used amount of the first-class component in the first-class device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Oyama, Hiroyo Tanaka, Kazuhiro Ogura, Sou Miyazaki, Masaki Narahashi
  • Patent number: 11141973
    Abstract: An integrated circuit to drive a plurality of fluid actuation devices includes a plurality of memory cells, a select circuit, configuration logic, and control logic. Each memory cell corresponds to a fluid actuation device. The select circuit selects fluid actuation devices and memory cells corresponding to the selected fluid actuation devices. The configuration logic enables or disables access to the plurality of memory cells. The control logic either activates the selected fluid actuation devices or accesses the memory cells corresponding to the selected fluid actuation devices based on a state of the configuration logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott A. Linn, James Michael Gardner, Michael W. Cumbie
  • Patent number: 11124002
    Abstract: A partial printing fluid short detection system can detect a partial printing fluid short in a print head. The partial printing fluid short detection system includes a timing circuit to detect a print gap of the print head, and the partial printing fluid short detection system can detect the partial printing fluid short in response to detection of the print gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ben Percer, James Hasler
  • Patent number: 11090953
    Abstract: In a case where a predetermined sheet size is selected by a user from a plurality of sheet sizes displayed on a display, an image larger than the predetermined size is printed. In a case where a sheet size is input by the user in an input screen displayed on the display, an image having a size corresponding to the input sheet size is printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideharu Sawada
  • Patent number: 11092560
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for realizing high-speed cooling of a trace material by using liquid drop cooling, which comprises an injector connected with an injection driver and used for dropwise adding a volatile cooling liquid; a temperature sensor placed below the injector; a data collector used for collecting a thermopile signal and a heating resistor signal of the temperature sensor; a gas purger used for purging a cooled sample; and a control center, wherein the injector, the temperature sensor, the data collector and the gas purger are all connected with the control center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dongshan Zhou, Evgeny Zhuravlev, Jing Jiang, Shaochuan Luo, Christoph Schick, Qi Xue, Xiaoliang Wang, Wei Chen, Wei Jiang, Qing Ji
  • Patent number: 11090946
    Abstract: Density unevenness accompanying a variation in an ejection characteristic of each nozzle is reduced without worsening granularity of an image. To this end, an image processing apparatus generates first corrected data by correcting image data by using a first correction table common to the plurality of nozzles. Further, the image processing apparatus generates second corrected data by correcting the image data by using a second correction table for each of the plurality of nozzles. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus generates first quantized data by quantizing the first corrected data and generates second quantized data by quantizing the second corrected data. After that, the image processing apparatus generates N-valued print data based on the first quantized data and the second quantized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Otani, Hisashi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11084222
    Abstract: Systems and method for determining dynamic forces in a liquefier system in additive manufacturing include, in at least one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification, a method including: receiving motor data for a drive motor that pushes a solid material toward a liquefaction zone of the liquefier system, wherein the motor data comprises at least one data point per individual command code of a set of command codes sent for additive manufacturing; receiving pressure data associated with the liquefaction zone of the liquefier system, wherein the pressure data includes at least one data point per individual command code of the set of command codes; analyzing the motor data and the pressure data for the set of command codes; and outputting a result of the analyzing to facilitate further 3D printing by the AM 3D printer using the solid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: William Edward Yackabonis, Andreas Linas Bastian, Peter Joseph Schmehl, Joseph Isaac Sadusk
  • Patent number: 11064093
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for printing comprising the steps of selecting eight or fewer process colors from a known process ink color set, providing a color channel for the selected process colors from the known process ink color set, providing two or more spot color channels, wherein one or more of spot colors correspond to a non-selected process color of the process ink color set, applying a first ink limit and a first linearization to the one or more spot color channels to produce a color set including the non-selected process color of the known process ink color set, applying a second ink limit and a second linearization to the one or more spot color channels to produce a color set including the spot color, and optionally printing an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Bart De Vreede
  • Patent number: 11034156
    Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus, ink reserved in a reserve portion flows into a valve chamber through an inflow port. A first outflow port and a second outflow port are capable of flowing the ink from the valve chamber. The first valve element is preliminarily located at an opening position separated from the first outflow port in an inward direction directed from the first outflow port toward inside of the valve chamber. The first valve element is displaced from the opening position to the first outflow port and closes the first outflow port when the valve chamber is filled with the ink. The second valve element is preliminarily located at a closing position closing the second outflow port, and opens the second outflow port when the valve chamber is filled with the ink. Subsequently, a recording head becomes ready to record an image on a recording object with the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masanobu Maeshima
  • Patent number: 11020984
    Abstract: White-balance is improved when printing on colored media, while minimizing the time and use of costly materials required by present approaches. In an embodiment, the typical solid white fill or background layer is altered by including in the white layer one or more of the other colors already available in the printer to shade this layer. Thus, a small amount of cyan, for example, helps balance a pink-ish (red) media; yellow is used for blue media; and magenta is used for green media; as well as combinations thereof. A combination of transparent process inks and opaque white helps to maintain brightness (luminosity).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Heath, Joseph A. Lahut, Dwight Cram, Bryan Ko
  • Patent number: 10967650
    Abstract: A hybrid printing machine is described having both silk screening stations and a direct-to-garment digital printing station with a raster image processor to control a portion of a printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: M&R Printing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Hoffman, Jr., Geoff Baxter
  • Patent number: 10940708
    Abstract: It is disclosed a substrate selection method wherein the printer comprises a feeding mechanism including a feeding roller to receive a substrate roll and a media advance roller to receive a substrate from the substrate roll, the method comprising: actuating the feeding roller or the media advance roller; measuring a feeding mechanism parameter on the feeding roller or the media advance roller; calculating a substrate parameter in view of the feeding mechanism parameter; determining from a table a substrate type of in view of the substrate parameter; and selecting a preset on the printer in view of the substrate type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Aleix Fort Filgueira, Antonio Gracia Verdugo, Carles Flotats Villagrasa
  • Patent number: 10877419
    Abstract: In one example of the disclosure, a first print engine is caused to print a first image in a first set of sectors of a substrate. A second print engine is caused to print a second image in a second set of sectors of the substrate. The second print engine is caused to print a cover-up image over an incidence of the first image printed by the first print engine. The second print engine is caused to print a calibration image upon the cover-up image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HP INDIGO B.V.
    Inventors: On Mashiach, Yoav Landau
  • Patent number: 10857812
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for coating, optionally with specific colouring, an exposed surface of a body with simultaneous formation of a structured surface, including projecting formations, via a device for depositing one or more liquid substances in droplets, in particular by a jet, said method consisting, for each affected site (1?) of the surface to be printed (1?), of consecutively depositing at least two vertically adjacent layers (6, 6?) of a first substance selected from the group made up of a size, a varnish, an adhesion or attachment agent and a coating agent, preferably white or transparent and at least one second substance such as a colouring substance or a mixture of colouring substances, each of the consecutive layers (6, 6?) being formed by depositing droplets (4, 4?; 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: REYDEL AUTOMOTIVE B.V.
    Inventor: Jérôme Boniface
  • Patent number: 10807381
    Abstract: A recording device includes a recording head (a printing head) with multiple nozzles arranged therein to discharge droplets (ink droplets) onto a recording medium (a printing medium), and a recording controller (a printing controller) configured to control recording of a recording image, the recording including moving the recording head relative to the recording medium while the droplets are discharged. The recording controller is configured to control the recording for pixel data of the recording image that have a prescribed gray scale value or larger under conditions that a nozzle duty corresponding to the number of nozzles, included in the multiple nozzles and being able to discharge the droplets per unit area on the recording medium, is smaller than or equal to an upper limit value and that a discharge amount of the droplets discharged per the unit area is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Fujita
  • Patent number: 10661559
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head configured to discharge a liquid, a first wire and a second wire to which a first drive signal and a second drive signal for driving the liquid discharge head is respectively supplied, and a single relay substrate configured to relay the first drive signal and the second drive signal from the first wire and the second wire to the liquid discharge head. The single relay substrate includes a first connector configured to be connected to the first wire, a second connector configured to be connected to the second wire, and a relay connector configured to be connected to a head-side connector of the liquid discharge head. The relay connector outputs, to the head-side connector, the first drive signal supplied from the first wire to the first connector, and the second drive signal supplied from the second wire to the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Uematsu, Toru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 10654301
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes: a first head unit; a second head unit disposed adjacent to the first head unit in a first direction and located on a first side of the first head unit in a second direction; and a heat uniforming unit shared by the first head unit and the second head unit. Each of the first head unit and the second head unit includes: a unit body including an actuator; and a first driver integrated circuit disposed on the first side of the unit body in the second direction. The heat uniforming unit includes a first heat uniforming member disposed on the first side of the first head unit and the second head unit in the second direction. The first heat uniforming member includes a first protrusion located next to the second head unit in the first direction and protruding toward the first head unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Sugiura, Masayuki Takata, Hideki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10649507
    Abstract: A portable or modular cooling system is operated via the power-over-Ethernet (PoE) standard. The cooling system receives electrical power via an Ethernet connection to a source device (such as a server, switch, or other PoE-enabled equipment). The cooling system may thus be used to spot-inject cooler ambient air in the vicinity of the source device without the need for grid electric and for cumbersome electrical wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: John C. Donachy, David L. Moss, Mark A. Muccini
  • Patent number: 10576739
    Abstract: A head unit control circuit controls a head unit. The head unit includes an ejector, a determination circuit, and an ejection limit circuit. The ejector includes a displaceable piezoelectric element for controlling the liquid ejection. The piezoelectric element is displaced by changing a drive signal potential. The determination circuit determines whether the piezoelectric element has a predetermined electrical storage capability. The ejection limit circuit stops the drive signal to limit the ejection of the liquid based on the determination. The head unit control circuit includes: a first terminal that outputs an instruction signal instructing the head unit to execute the determination; a second terminal that outputs the drive signal; and a third terminal that is between the first terminal and the second terminal. The third terminal has a smaller potential change width than the second terminal when the ejecting section ejects the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Yamada, Hironori Endo, Toru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 10579913
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a conveyer that conveys a recording medium; an image former that forms an image on an image carrier and prints the image on the recording medium conveyed by the conveyer; and a hardware processor that controls to stop a print job when a length of the print job reaches a predetermined threshold and form a cleaning pattern image on the image carrier, and at the time of overprinting to further print in an overlapping manner on continuous paper on which a mark image indicating an image formation position is printed, obtains the length of the print job on the basis of an interval between mark images set in advance before starting printing the print job and displays a warning when the length of the print job is estimated to exceed the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Takemasa Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10576740
    Abstract: A connection cable electrically connects a head unit and a head unit control circuit. The head unit includes: an ejector, a determination circuit, and an ejection limit circuit. The ejector includes a displaceable piezoelectric element for controlling the liquid ejection. The piezoelectric element is displaced by changing a drive signal potential. The determination circuit determines whether the piezoelectric element has a predetermined electrical storage capability. The ejection limit circuit stops the drive signal to limit the ejection of the liquid based on the determination. The connection cable includes: a first connection supplying a determination instruction signal from the head unit control circuit to the head unit; a second connection supplying the drive signal from the head unit control circuit to the head unit; and a third connection between the first and second connections with a smaller potential change width than the second connection when the ejector ejects the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Yamada, Hironori Endo, Toru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 10569548
    Abstract: An ink-jet printer, including: an ink-jet head; and a head moving device for moving the head in a scanning direction, wherein the ink-jet head includes a first head unit having a first nozzle row from which first ink is ejected and a second nozzle row from which second ink that differs in color from the first ink is ejected, a second head unit disposed so as to be shifted from the first head unit in a nozzle arrangement direction by a distance less than a nozzle pitch, and a third head unit disposed between the first and second head units in the scanning direction so as to be shifted from the first head unit in the nozzle arrangement direction by a distance corresponding to a predetermined natural number multiple of the nozzle pitch, the third head unit having fifth and sixth nozzle rows from which the first ink is ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 10543682
    Abstract: A head unit control circuit controls a head unit. The head unit includes an ejector, a determination circuit, and an ejection limit circuit. The ejector includes a displaceable piezoelectric element for controlling the liquid ejection. The piezoelectric element is displaced by changing a drive signal potential. The determination circuit determines whether the piezoelectric element has a predetermined electrical storage capability. The ejection limit circuit stops the drive signal to limit the ejection of the liquid based on the determination. The head unit control circuit includes: a first terminal that outputs an instruction signal instructing the head unit to execute the determination; a second terminal that outputs the drive signal; and a third terminal that is between the first terminal and the second terminal. The third terminal has a smaller potential change width than the second terminal when the ejecting section ejects the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Yamada, Hironori Endo, Toru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 10503617
    Abstract: An industrial process control system comprises a primary controller coupled with a buffer and a primary memory. The primary controller is configured to create at least one redundant data type based on at least one base data type. The at least one redundant data type includes tracked operators that are different from corresponding operators of the at least one base data type. The tracked operators include an assignment function that is a same assignment function performed by the corresponding operators of the at least one base data type, and a transfer function. The primary controller is further configured to perform the assignment function on a piece of data to assign the piece of data to an address in the primary memory, perform the transfer function to transfer the piece of data to a buffer, and transfer contents of the buffer to a backup memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: William Russell Massey, Jr., Raj Bandekar
  • Patent number: 10493754
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharging apparatus configured to discharge liquid, including: a liquid discharging head including a driving element; a driving device configured to drive the driving element; a power unit; a switch configured to perform switching of voltage supply; and a controller. When the power unit is switched on, the controller causes a power supply voltage of the power unit to be raised up to a first voltage while checking the power supply voltage; and the controller controls the switch to start the voltage supply from the power unit to the driving device while the power supply voltage is being raised up to the first voltage; and under a condition that the voltage supply is started while the power supply voltage is being raised up to the first voltage, the controller controls the driving device to apply the voltage to the driving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10479104
    Abstract: An optical module includes: a measuring device including a measuring portion that measures light reflected at a measurement position of a measurement target, a light source that radiates light onto the measurement position in a direction crossing a measurement optical axis oriented from the measurement position to the measuring portion, and a window through which light incident on the measuring portion passes; and a shutter that opens and closes the window of the measuring device. The shutter is provided with a reference object disposed closer to the measuring portion side than the measurement position on the measurement optical axis, on a face of the shutter facing the measuring portion when closing the window, and the optical module includes a light guide that guides the light from the light source to the reference object when the window is closed by the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Oguchi
  • Patent number: 10479081
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure a flexible printhead is described. The printhead includes a number of printhead die, a printhead die including a number of nozzles to deposit an amount of fluid onto a print medium. The printhead also includes a fluid delivery system to deliver the amount of fluid from a fluid supply to the number of nozzles. The printhead also includes a number of electrical circuits to electronically couple the number of printhead die with a printing device. The printhead also includes a flexible substrate on which the number of printhead die and the number of electrical circuits are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Silam J. Choy