Abstract: A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.

Abstract: Two printing-medium guide systems restrain the medium. One is in an area upstream (along the direction of medium advance) from the pen, and extending laterally across the width of the medium except in one or more regions that are laterally near the engagement of a print-medium advancing device. The other guide system is disposed laterally from the pen, and extends laterally across the medium only in one or more regions that are laterally near the engagement of the advancing device. Preferably a human-actuable control selects a print-medium width, and shifts at least one bifurcation of the second guide system. A tensioning system, longitudinally beyond the marking head from the medium advancing device, and generally aligned laterally with that device, tensions the medium away from the advancing device to hold the medium taut at the pen. Preferably the advancing and tensioning devices are very closely spaced upstream and downstream, respectively, from the pen operating zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of obtaining an output characteristic of the print unit and determining a correction value for an output density, without using an expensive scanner. To realize this, a nozzle array consisting of a plurality of nozzles provided in the print head is divided into a plurality of nozzle blocks [a] to [d] and each of patches is formed by using the nozzles of the same nozzle block allocated to the patch. The patches are printed in a size and shape that allows the densities of the patches to be optically detected by the density sensor. A test pattern comprising these patches is measured by the density sensor to make a density correction for each nozzle of the print head.

Abstract: A sensor configuration for use in detecting ink droplets ejected from an ink drop generator is provided. The sensor configuration includes a sensing element configured to receive a biasing voltage which creates an electric field from the sensing element to the ink drop generator. The sensor configuration also includes a sensing amplifier coupled to the sensing element, whereby the sensing element in imparted with an electrical stimulus when at least one ink droplet is ejected in the presence of the electric field, and thereafter passes in close proximity to the sensing element without substantially contacting the sensing element. Sensor configurations with a separate electrically biasing element which may or may not contact the ink droplets are also provided. Additionally, a printing mechanism having such sensor configurations and a method of making ink drop detection measurements are also provided.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for checking a plurality of printer nozzles in a printer device comprises: a print head comprising a plurality of nozzles; a means for detecting at least one droplet of ink ejected from at least one nozzle of said plurality of nozzles; and a means for performing a sequence of measurements on a first output signal of said detecting means, wherein a determination of performance of said print head is made by analysing detected output signals produced by one or a plurality of ink droplets passing the detector, the one or plurality of ink droplets containing a predetermined minimum volume of ink, and said sequence of measurements being measured at a plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing apparatus is constructed to have one or more kinds of cloth printing modes and to select the cloth printing mode. In the cloth printing mode, at least one of printing condition is differentiated from the printing condition for other media. Also, by permitting various setting for the ink ejection amount and ejection method in the cloth printing mode, fine and precise textile printing can be performed by normal ink-jet printer in personal use.

Abstract: A printing cartridge includes a housing. An actuating formation is positioned on the housing and is capable of actuating a number of capacitive sensors in an array of such sensors. The actuating formation is configured to represent data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant, so that the capacitive sensors, when actuated, together generate a signal carrying such data.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a plurality of recording elements arranged in an array on a substrate, the recording elements having electric resistances with a variance not less than 4% from a resistance value of at least one of the recording elements, wherein the recording elements generate ink ejection energy to effect printing; a plurality of measuring elements, disposed adjacent at least each of the opposite ends of the array of the recording elements, for detesting characteristic values of the recording elements; and a storing section for storing an average, a median or a reference value corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A thermal inkjet actuator for use in an inkjet printer assembly includes heat conduction means arranged to realize a predetermined negative pressure profile to facilitate droplet formation. In a preferred embodiment the heat conduction means comprises a thin layer of very high thermally conductive material such as Aluminum located in the middle of a non-heat conductive passive bend layer. The overall cool-down speed of the actuator, and hence the speed with which the passive bend layer returns to its quiescent position can be controlled by controlling the proximity of the heat conductive layer to the actuator's heater during fabrication.

Abstract: A host apparatus of an information processing system performs processing related to a printer operation. That is, the operation to be performed by a user is displayed on a display screen of the information processing system so the user performs the operation appropriately and easily. As a result, in the information processing system with an ink jet recording apparatus provided, the operation peculiar to the ink jet recording apparatus can be performed appropriately and easily by a user.

Abstract: Resting position error recognition for an ink-jet, translational-type, service station mechanism. Service station drive mechanism binding due to hard stop impact is compensated for by calculating a difference between when the drive mechanism stops and when a predetermined velocity change was first recorded. In a more sophisticated embodiment, noise filtering is employed to improve accuracy with increasing number of uses of the service station mechanism.

Abstract: A first structural unit includes a laser image-setting head, and a second structural unit includes a loading compartment to accommodate a cassette housing having a thermal transfer ribbon on spools having hubs. After a cassette is inserted in the loading compartment, the compartment is closed so that drive rollers engage the hubs without play. To produce a printing plate, the second structural unit is then brought over the first structural unit in the manner of a telescope by a moving device, and the thermal transfer ribbon is brought to the laser image-setting head. The thermal transfer ribbon inserted into the loading compartment is guided by self-centering means so that it does not contact the cassette housing, and is positioned with respect to the plate cylinder by guide rollers. Wear-free and therefore fast ribbon guidance can be performed, and automation of the movement sequences of the thermal transfer ribbon can be achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus, ink information detecting apparatus, and ink information detection method which can calculate ink consumption without any errors by combining two detection devices. In an ink jet printing apparatus that prints an image on a print medium by using a print head that can eject ink fed from an ink tank, ink consumption is detected on the basis of the number of ink droplets ejected from the print head, and the amount of ink remaining in the ink tank is detected by pins used as a pair of electrodes. Further, a value used to calculate the ink consumption is corrected on the basis of the results of detection of the amount of remaining ink.

Abstract: The present invention is designed to make uniform frequencies with which individual recording elements of a multihead are used in a recording apparatus for performing gray scale recording by controlling a number of dots recorded in a unit area. A gray scale pattern used to display gray scale is a pattern in which a plurality of blocks each comprising a dot concentration type gray scale pattern having a size smaller than that of the gray scale pattern is dispersed. The maximum difference between numbers of times the recording elements in the range of the gray scale pattern are used can be restricted within twice, and individual nozzles can be used uniformly. Consequently, imbalance of changes in the recording elements with time, caused by the differences between the frequencies with which the recording elements are used, can be restricted, thus restricting irregularities on an image.

Abstract: The present invention is an inkjet print cartridge for use in an inkjet printing apparatus for forming images on print media. The inkjet print cartridge includes an inkjet printhead that is responsive to print control signals for ejecting ink drops onto print media. The inkjet printhead has a manufacturing tolerances associated therewith producing a range of drop weights. The inkjet printhead has a corresponding drop weight from the range of drop weights. Included with the inkjet print cartridge is an information storage device that is associated with the inkjet printhead for storing information for identifying the corresponding drop weight.

Abstract: A media pack for a combination image acquisition and ink jet printing apparatus comprises a housing configured for insertion into the combination digital camera and ink jet printing apparatus, a plurality of sheets of ink receiving media contained within the housing, and a plurality of ink reservoirs. A service station area and/or a memory element may also be provided.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device for printing plots comprises a printhead, which has a plurality of nozzles each nozzle having at least a working status and a failing status, a servicing unit capable of applying recovery functions to said plurality of nozzles, detection means for checking if a nozzles is in a working status or in a failing status, memory means and a plurality of functions executable by said device to improve image quality. Said memory means, responsive to said detection means, contains data on how the status of a nozzle is varying over time. Said device further comprises means to select and execute at least one of said plurality of functions, responsive to the data stored in said memory means.

Abstract: A method for creating raised and special printing effects using inkjet technology is provided. The method includes the steps of depositing a light curable photo-polymer material (18) on the area selected for the printing effects and curing the area. The amount of material to be deposited corresponds to the area selected for the printing effects and the height of the raised area relative to the medium (22) on which the photo-polymer material (18) is deposited.

Abstract: A template 1 is brought close to or in contact with a surface to be patterned 111 and patterns are formed with liquid 62 on the surface 111. This method comprises the steps of: bringing the template 1 close to or essentially in contact with the surface 111, supplying liquid 62 to a plurality of through holes 12 established in the pattern transfer region 10 of the template 1 for supplying the liquid 62, and separating the template 1 from the surface 111 after the liquid 62 is adhered to the surface 111 via the through holes 12.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the amount of ink remaining in an ink tank using a sensing module and a detecting circuit is disclosed. The sensing module comprises a fixed device connected to the casing of the ink tank and a movable device connected to the bag. As the ink is ejected, the volume of the bag increases so that the movable device moves along with the bag. The detecting circuit, coupled with the sensing module, generates a corresponding detecting signal according to the variation in the relative position of the movable device and the fixed device, and the measurement of the ink amount is thus obtained.