Abstract: A medium position determining device includes a sensor, and a scanning carriage that is configured to move in a reciprocating manner in a scanning direction, in which the sensor is mounted to the scanning carriage. The device also includes a controller that is configured to move the scanning carriage and to determine a position of the scanning carriage with respect to the medium when the scanning carriage moves; in the scanning direction. Moreover, the controller moves the scanning carriage at a first speed in the scanning direction, and after the controller determines that the scanning carriage is in a first position with respect to the medium, the controller moves the scanning carriage in the scanning direction at a second speed that is greater than the first speed.

Abstract: A maintenance device installed in a liquid-ejecting apparatus including a movable carriage that has a liquid ejection head performs maintenance of the liquid ejection head and includes at least one maintenance component that reciprocates between an operating position at which the maintenance component engages with the carriage or the liquid ejection head and a standby position at which the maintenance component is disengaged from the carriage and the liquid ejection head; a power transmission mechanism that transmits power input from a rotational drive source to output power for reciprocating the maintenance component between the operating position and the standby position, the power transmission mechanism having a clutch unit on a power transmission path of the power transmission mechanism; and a retaining mechanism including a stopper that moves in association with the movement of the carriage such that the stopper engages with at least one movable body provided on the power transmission path between the ma

Abstract: A liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection elements with liquid ejecting nozzles arranged in a matrix along a row direction and in a column direction which is substantially parallel to a sub-scanning direction along which either the head or a liquid ejection receiving medium is moved. Each group of ejection elements forming each column of the matrix having a heating element that is as long as the length of that column and that can heat the liquid prior to ejection. A prediction device predicts a number of the ejection elements to be driven in each of the column groups according to ejection data and a heating control device independently controls the heating elements of each column group according to the number of the ejection elements to be driven in that column group as predicted by the prediction device.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a pattern forming mechanism configured to form a pattern for fine adjustment and a pattern for rough adjustment on a transfer medium, a detection mechanism configured to detect the pattern formed thereon, a displacement calculation mechanism configured to obtain a predetermined value and preset reference values, to calculate the amount of displacement based on the detected pattern and the preset reference values, and to determine whether or not the amount of the displacement is equal to or less than the predetermined value, and a displacement correction mechanism configured to correct the displacement based on the calculation.

Abstract: An electrostatic attraction device is disclosed that attracts and transports a recording medium by applying an electric field to a surface of an endless belt member with use of a charger while rotating the belt member. The electrostatic attraction device comprises a separation claw holding unit separately provided from the charger.

Abstract: To fill the ink cartridge with the ink, a first air introduction hole of a negative pressure generator chamber is sealed up, and a pressure pump is connected to a second air introduction hole of a storage chamber, to raise pressure inside the storage chamber so as to exhaust air out of an ink bag. While keeping the storage chamber under the high pressure, the second air introduction hole is sealed up, the first air introduction hole is opened, and an ink filling pump is activated to inject the ink through an ink outlet into the negative pressure generator chamber. When a predetermined amount of ink is injected, the second air introduction hole is opened, and the ink filling pump is reactivated to fill up the ink bag as well as the negative pressure generator chamber with the ink.

Abstract: A drop ejection device includes a group of orifices adapted to eject fluid drops. The fluids ejected from the orifices merge into a fluid drop. The orifices are separated by walls which define the orifices. The merging of the fluid into a fluid drop depends on the spacing of the orifices and the waveform applied to actuators which cause the fluid to be ejected.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes an ink cartridge having a first housing portion for containing a liquid and a waste liquid storage cartridge having a second housing portion for containing a waste liquid, and a rewritable nonvolatile storage portion which stores a first threshold, a second threshold, liquid amount information and waste liquid amount information. The first threshold indicates a near liquid end state in which the liquid in the first housing portion is near to end. The second threshold indicates a near full state in which the waste liquid in the second housing portion is near to full. The liquid amount information indicates a liquid amount of the liquid contained in the first housing portion. The waste liquid amount information indicates a waste liquid amount of the waste liquid contained in the second housing portion. The ink cartridge and the waste liquid cartridge are integrally formed.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising: a printer body and a replaceable printhead cartridge, the printhead cartridge having a casing that supports a pagewidth printhead; the printer body having a cradle for holding the printhead cartridge in an operative position such that the pagewidth printhead is adjacent a paper path defined by the printer body; wherein, during insertion, the cradle and the casing interact to form an over centre mechanism whereby, the printhead cartridge rotates against a bias prior until reaching a balance point, after which it is biased to rotate into the operative position.

Abstract: A simplified refilling assembly of DURABrite ink cartridge comprises an ink bottle connector, a pipe and an ink cartridge connector; the ink cartridge connector has a plug pipe to be connected with the refilling hole of the ink cartridge hermetically; the ink bottle connector is furnished with a L-shaped connector and a recovering cylinder, which are molded into one piece to be plugged into a bottle plug of the ink bottle; the ink cartridge and the ink bottle are connected each other by means of a refilling assembly; a syringe is plugged into the refilling hole of the ink cartridge; when the pull grip is pulled upward, the ink in the ink bottle will be drawn to flow into the ink chamber of the ink cartridge; then, the syringe is plugged into the recovering cylinder of the ink bottle connector so as to recover ink for re-use.

Abstract: An ink priming system for an inkjet printhead is provided. The system has a priming inlet of the printhead for receiving a supply of priming ink, an ink flow passage interconnecting the printhead and an ink storage compartment, and a bypass flow passage interconnecting the ink flow passage and the ink storage compartment. The bypass flow passage incorporates a depressible region which is depressible to open or close the bypass flow passage. The priming ink flows from the printhead to the ink storage compartment via the ink flow and bypass flow passages to prime both the printhead and the ink storage compartment with ink simultaneously.

Abstract: A labyrinth seal structure includes a gland structure for providing a fluid seal between a first surface and a second surface, and redundant labyrinth fluid flow paths between a first side of the seal structure and a second side of the seal structure.

Abstract: An inkjet printer cartridge including an elongate body housing a printing fluid storage and adapted to be received within an inkjet printer cradle, a pagewidth printhead attached to the body and in fluid communication with the printing fluid storage, and an air distribution assembly arranged to evenly distribute compressed air along the pagewidth printhead.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection module, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, is operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern to be illuminated to produce an image of high resolution of VGA quality in color. The pixels are rendered symmetrical in cross-section by aligning a narrow dimension of a beam spot of a laser beam along scan lines of the raster pattern.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is provided with a storage chamber storing ink and an ink absorbent chamber containing an ink absorbent that absorbs the ink from the storage chamber through an interconnection slot. An ejection opening is formed through the ink absorbent chamber to supply the ink to a recording head. A residual ink ejecting mechanism is built in the storage chamber, wherein a liquid send-out member is usually locked in a standby position by a lock member. When an ink run-out sensor detects that the ink is almost used up, an unlock device is activated to unlock the residual ink ejecting mechanism. Then the liquid send-out member pushes out the ink remaining on a bottom of the storage chamber toward the ejection opening, according to a force of a spring.

Abstract: A cartridge for an inkjet printing apparatus. A case of molded plastic includes a downwardly-projecting nose section. An opening in the bottom of the nose section is surrounded by an upstanding stand pipe internal to the cartridge. An insert holds a filter and includes a tube section and an upper flange. The insert is selectively removably fixed to the stand pipe to permit ready filter replacement and thereby facilitate reliable recharging of the cartridge.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an optical disc drive, programs embodiment in computer readable media, and related methods for writing a label to an optical disc using an optical disc drive. In one embodiment, a label is written on the optical disc, the label being embodied in a plurality of tracks that are written onto a surface of the optical disc. A delay is imposed between the writing of consecutive ones of the tracks in the optical disc drive. The length of the delay is determined in part by a length of time it takes to transition from a completion of a first one of the tracks to a starting position to write a next consecutive one of the tracks.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning device includes a light deflecting device with at least a polygon mirror portion of which is covered by a cover having a cover window portion for keeping a passage for an entering/emitting light, a pre-deflection optical system for entering an optical beam from a light source into said light deflecting device and a post-deflection optical system for focusing a reflection light from said light deflecting device on a surface to be scanned. The light deflecting device, post-deflection optical system and the cover window portion are so disposed that the pretreated light-shielding reflection light from the cover window portion avoids from striking upon a flange portion and an edge portion of one or a plurality of the optical element parts within the post-deflection optical system, with respect the entering light.

Abstract: An ink cartridge and a wet-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the ink cartridge, wherein the ink cartridge is detachably mounted with respect to an image forming apparatus body and supplies a developing unit with ink. The ink cartridge includes a housing including an inflow inlet into which the ink flows, and an inflow inlet opening and closing unit for operating together with the image forming apparatus body such that when the housing is mounted in the image forming apparatus body the inflow inlet is opened, and when the housing is removed from the image forming apparatus body the inflow inlet is closed.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber accommodating a negative pressure producing member for absorbing and retaining the liquid, and a liquid containing chamber for containing the liquid. The liquid containing chamber is in fluid communication with the negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber through a communicating portion, and is substantially sealed except for the communicating portion. A partition wall partitions the liquid container into the negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber and the liquid containing chamber except for the communicating portion. The negative pressure producing member is provided with a recess at a position corresponding to the communicating portion, wherein the recess forms a space and a ceiling portion of the space provided functions as a gas introduction surface which is substantially horizontal when the liquid container is in an in-use orientation.