B41J TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
Description
B41J encompasses typewriters and selective printing mechanisms that produce characters or images without relying on pre-formed printing surfaces (formes). This subclass covers impact printers, inkjet systems, thermal printers, and similar technologies that generate output through direct character selection and printing. The class also includes mechanical and electronic systems for correcting typographical errors, such as correction tape mechanisms and backspace functions. Adjacent classes B41B (printing presses) and B41K (printing accessories) address forme-based printing and supplementary equipment, respectively, distinguishing B41J's focus on selective, direct-strike printing technologies.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass B41J recorded 118,311 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 9,148 in 2013 to 8,613 in 2023 (-6%), peaking at 12,968 applications in 2018. The most active applicants in class B41 are SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION (8,446 applications), SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION (8,438 applications) and HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (7,828 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
22 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B41J 1/00 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the mounting, arrangement or disposition of the types or dies
- B41J 11/00 Devices or arrangements for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form (script supports connected to the typewriter or printer B41J29/15)
- B41J 13/00 Devices or arrangements specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
- B41J 15/00 Devices or arrangements specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in continuous form, e.g. webs
- B41J 17/00 Mechanisms for manipulating page-width impression-transfer material, e.g. carbon paper (in manifolding devices B41L)
- B41J 19/00 Character- or line-spacing mechanisms
- B41J 2/00 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed (mounting, arrangement or disposition of types or dies B41J1/00)
- B41J 21/00 Column, tabular or like printing arrangements; Means for centralising short lines (carriage-release mechanisms B41J19/66)
- B41J 2202/00 Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
- B41J 2203/00 Embodiments of or processes related to the control of the printing process
- B41J 23/00 Power drives for actions or mechanisms (B41J9/00 take precedence)
- B41J 25/00 Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
- B41J 27/00 Inking apparatus
- B41J 29/00 Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
- B41J 3/00 Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
- B41J 31/00 Ink ribbons; Renovating or testing ink ribbons
- B41J 32/00 Ink-ribbon cartridges
- B41J 33/00 Apparatus or arrangements for feeding ink ribbons or like character-size impression-transfer material
- B41J 35/00 Other apparatus or arrangements associated with, or incorporated in, ink-ribbon mechanisms
- B41J 5/00 Devices or arrangements for controlling character selection (methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B41, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 8,446
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION JP 8,438
- HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY US 7,828
- CANON JP 5,419
- CANON 4,156
- BROTHER INDUSTRIES JP 3,763
- BROTHER INDUSTRIES 2,779
- RICOH COMPANY JP 2,717
- FUJIFILM JP 2,423
- RICOH COMPANY 1,739