Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to this invention prevents adverse effects on peripheral circuits and speeds up data transfer by preventing a mutual interference among signals. In the image forming apparatus, a transfer controller which converts into a differential serial data pair (data+/?) multiplex data td [6:0] multiplexed from head data vd [7:0], a head control signal vctl [3:0], a data enable signal dten, and a control enable signal cten, converts as well a clock signal clk into a differential clock signal pair (clk+/?), and transfers those differential serial data pair and differential clock signal pair to an LED head via a cable. The LED head receives both of the differential serial data pair and the differential clock signal pair to separate those pairs into head data hd [7:0], head control signal hctl [3:0], and data transfer clock hclk.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printhead IC with and array of ink ejection nozzles, an ink manifold for distributing ink to the printhead IC, the ink manifold having an ink inlet and an ink outlet, an accumulator, and a downstream pump in fluid communication with the ink outlet. The downstream pump is independently operable. This allows the printhead to be primed or deprimed for storage and transport and it allows the printhead IC to be cleaned by a foam formed by air forced through the ink election nozzles.

Abstract: A valve unit includes a valve portion arranged in a laminate body operable to open and close a flow passage; a drive portion that generates drive force for driving the valve portion; and a transmission portion arranged between the valve portion and the drive portion for transmitting the drive force of the drive portion to the valve portion. The laminate body includes: a first plate member including the drive portion; and a second plate member including a hole functioning as part of the flow passage; and a third plate member arranged above the second plate member and including a plate spring so as to urge the valve portion to a closing position. The valve portion pivots and inclines about a position in contact with the plate spring based on the drive force from the drive portion.

Abstract: When the driving printed wires from the drive IC are passed between the terminal lands and connected to respective terminal lands, and the printed wires of a number greater than the number of printed wires that can be passed between the terminal lands are required, the driving printed wires from the drive IC are led on the outer side of the columns of the plurality of terminal lands and connected to respective terminal lands.

Abstract: A cavity unit for use in an ink jet recording head, including plate members which stacked on each other and having an ink-introducing passage, a filter portion which removes foreign matters from introduced ink, two communication chambers which communicate with each other through the filter portion, and nozzles each of which ejects a droplet of the ink. The plate members include a filter plate including the filter portion, and a guide-passage plate which is provided adjacent the filter plate and which has, on an upstream side of an upstream-side one of the two communication chambers with respect to an ink-flow path, a guide passage which causes the introduced ink to flow, before the ink flows into the upstream-side communication chamber, in a direction along one surface of the filter plate.

Abstract: A printhead assembly for use as a page width printhead in a printing system includes a casing assembly for housing drive electronics. A printhead module is mounted in the casing. The printhead module includes a fluid channel member. Printhead tiles are carried by the fluid channel member, the printhead tiles having printhead integrated circuits incorporating printing nozzles.

Abstract: Provided is an exposure head controller that controls, via pulse width modulation control, the emission quantity of each light emitting element in an exposure head having a light emitting element array formed by arranging a plurality of light emitting elements in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction orthogonal thereto, comprising: a data retention unit that retains dot gathering control data showing whether to emit each light emitting element at the starting point side, terminal point side or in the middle of an emission period corresponding to a 1 pixel pitch in the sub scanning direction, or to divide and emit each light emitting element at the starting point side and terminal point side, emission time data showing the emission time of each light emitting element, and skew data showing the skew quantity of each light emitting element; a dot gathering operation circuit provided to each light emitting element and which operates the time in which the light emitting element is to be retained i

Abstract: A continuous drop emitter includes a liquid supply chamber containing a liquid held at a positive pressure. First and second nozzles are in fluid communication with the liquid supply chamber and emit first and second continuous streams of a liquid. First and second stream break-up transducers independently synchronize the break up of the first and second continuous streams of the liquid into first and second streams of drops. An acoustic damping material is located adjacent to or within the liquid supply chamber for damping sound waves generated within the liquid chamber by the first and second stream break-up transducer. The continuous drop emitter can be configured with a Helmholtz resonant chamber tuned to a critical stimulation frequency having an acoustic damping material located therein.

Abstract: A frequency modulation device for use in an image forming apparatus. The image formation apparatus includes an image carrier and a laser device for scanning the image carrier along a plurality of scan lines. Each scan line is divided into segments having segment boundaries in which the same segment boundary in adjacent scan lines are offset. The frequency modulation device generates frequency data for use in modulating the input image data, which is utilized by the laser device to scan the image carrier, which permits output of an electrophotograph of high image quality by suppressing segment boundaries caused by moiré fringes or color shifting to below a level at which such boundaries are not visually detectable.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has a first portion having a plurality of chambers formed therein; a second portion attached to the first portion and having at least one opening into each of the plurality of chambers, and wherein for each opening the second portion further includes at least a portion of a fluid directing channel; and a third portion attached to the second portion and configured to receive a plurality of fluids and direct each of the plurality of fluids into one of the respective fluid directing channels such that each of the plurality of fluids flows into a respective one of the plurality of chambers.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir for use in a printing device includes a housing that, at least partially, forms at least one chamber therein. The chamber is configured to hold a fluid. A bubble port leads through housing into a first region of chamber and fluidically couples chamber to atmospheric gas external to housing. A bubble director arranged within chamber is configured to direct at least one bubble of gas from first region to a second region of chamber. The bubble is formed within fluid within first region upon gas entering chamber through bubble port.

Abstract: An ink jet type recording apparatus comprises a connection member which has a passage for leading ink to a recording head from an ink cartridge. In the passage, a valve member having a magnetic body is provided. A rotation member has a permanent magnet and is rotatable between a first position and a second position. When the rotation member is located in the first position, an attraction that can move the valve member in an opening direction of the passage acts between the magnet and magnetic body, and hence, the valve member opens the passage. When the rotation member is located in the second position, the attraction that can move the valve member does not act between the magnet and magnetic body, and hence, the valve member closes the passage.

Abstract: A maintenance assembly for a pagewidth printer, said assembly operatively mounted between posts of a main body of the printer so that the maintenance assembly is positioned adjacent a printhead assembly of the printer. The maintenance assembly includes a maintenance chassis defining tongue portions and having ends which are shaped to fit over the posts of the main body to secure the maintenance assembly in position. The maintenance assembly also includes a retainer element operatively engaging the chassis, and a lower molding and an upper molding operatively fast with each other to sandwich an absorbent insert between them. The moldings are in turn sandwiched between the chassis and retainer element, so that the maintenance assembly is useable to wipe the printhead of the printer.

Abstract: An image output apparatus which outputs a high quality image by using a small number of pixel clock generation units, for use with a printing engine which has a plurality of laser beam control units. The image output apparatus includes a plurality of output units which output video signals based on print data to the respective laser beam control units in synchronization with a clock signal; and a plurality of clock control units which are arranged in correspondence with respective groups, that are prepared by grouping the plurality of output units, so as to decrease an optical path difference between laser beams controlled by the corresponding laser beam control unit. Each of the clock control units generates the clock signal on the basis of a synchronizing signal generated in the printing engine, and outputs the generated clock signal to output units belonging to a corresponding group.

Abstract: An ink-jet head has a plurality of nozzle groups which respectively jet inks of a plurality of colors. Each nozzle group has a high density portion of small nozzle interval and two low density portions of larger nozzle interval than the high density portion. The high density portion is positioned between the low density portions. Because in accompaniment with a reciprocating movement of the ink-jet head, an intermediate area, in which inks from the two low density portions land in a mixed manner, is formed between two areas, in which inks from the high density portion land, color banding is made inconspicuous and lowering of the printing quality due to differences in color can be suppressed.

Abstract: A print engine assembly comprising an elongate chassis and a pair of bearing moldings operatively mounted to either end of the chassis. A rotatable platen extends between the pair of bearing moldings, the rotatable platen having more than one longitudinally extending surface region providing different functional operations. A printhead assembly is mounted to the chassis, the printhead assembly including an elongate printhead having a plurality of ink printing integrated circuits. A feed mechanism is mounted to the bearing moldings, and is configured to feed print media beneath the printhead during printing.

Abstract: A liquid container includes, in a container body 3, an ink containing portion 5, an ink supply portion 7, an ink leading path 9 for leading an ink stored in the ink containing portion 5 to the ink supply portion 7, and an atmosphere communication port 4, and an ink end sensor 11 for detecting an inflow of a gas to the ink leading path 9, thereby detecting that a residual amount of the ink in the ink containing portion 5 is zero is provided in the middle of the ink leading path 9, and furthermore, an air bubble trap passage 13 for catching air bubbles mixed in the ink is provided in the ink leading path 9 between a detecting position of the ink end sensor 11 and the ink containing portion 5.

Abstract: An inkjet recording head using pigment ink as discharged ink includes a nozzle member having a nozzle for discharging ink. The nozzle member has an ink-repellent layer forming a discharge port face having a discharge port that is an open end of the nozzle. The ink jet recording head further includes a projection portion positioned around the discharge port and protruding along a central axis of the nozzle with respect to the discharge port face. The nozzle, in a cross section passing through the central axis of the nozzle, has an outline shape provided with a curved line having a changing curvature radius. A point at which the curvature radius of the curved line is minimum is included in the projection portion and has a maximum height from the discharge port face in the cross section.

Abstract: Provided is a wall mountable printer with a glue applicator assembly operatively applying adhesive to a vertical edge of a sheet of printed paper. The printer has a binder assembly including an enclosure chassis, and a powered spike wheel assembly configured to receive the sheet of paper from a print engine of the printer. Also included is an angled platen within the chassis on which the sheet is received from the spike wheel assembly, and a binding platen operatively actuated to bind the sheet onto a preceding sheet positioned on the angled platen. The binder assembly includes a paper sensor to sense a position of bound sheets on the angled platen to facilitate accurate binding of successive sheets.

Abstract: A handheld device for testing printer cartridges interfaces with a computer for processing of test results. Multiple testing devices may be coupled to the computer. In one embodiment, each testing device includes a base board and an adaptor board. The base board includes a host processor and a computer interface. The adaptor board comprises a cartridge-specific socket for retaining a printer cartridge to be tested and test circuitry. The adaptor boards may be interchanged. The device may obtain power from the computer interface. A computer program communicates with the test device and displays the results of the tests through execution of a suitable application or program. The application may present a pass/fail indication to a user and tally the number of passed/failed cartridges. The device for testing printer cartridges may include a sensor for detecting cartridge information and a computer program for altering the cartridge identification.