Abstract: An inkjet printer applies a layer of a hydrophilic composition, which includes a liquid carrier, a humectant with a high boiling point, and an absorption agent, to an image receiving surface of an indirect image receiving member. A dryer in the printer removes a portion of the liquid carrier from the layer of hydrophilic composition to form a dried layer of an absorption agent on the image receiving surface and an aqueous ink image is formed on the dried layer. The aqueous ink image and the dried layer are transferred to a surface of a print medium as the aqueous ink image, the dried layer of the hydrophilic composition with the humectant, and print medium move through a transfix nip formed between the indirect image receiving member and a transfix member.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle plate provided with nozzle openings; an actuator unit including a flow channel formation substrate in which pressure generation chambers are provided and piezoelectric actuators that cause a change in the pressure of the liquid within respective pressure generation chambers; a communication substrate in which communication channels that communicate between the pressure generation chambers and corresponding nozzle openings are provided; a first case member that is a frame member affixed to the communication substrate so that the actuator unit is disposed within the first case member and that, along with the actuator unit, forms a manifold that holds the liquid to be supplied to the pressure generation chambers; and a second case member that is affixed to the first case member and in which is formed an introduction channel that sends the liquid from the exterior to the manifold.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a conveyance section, a plate member, and a negative pressure applying section. The recording head ejects ink onto a recording medium. The conveyance section conveys the recording medium to a position of image forming by the recording head and has a conveying surface on which the recording medium is to be placed. The plate member is located upstream of the recording head in a conveyance direction of the recording medium to form a narrow gap with the conveying surface of the conveyance section. The negative pressure applying section applies negative pressure to the narrow gap. A distance across the narrow gap in a direction perpendicular to the conveying surface is set so as to allow air flowing into the narrow gap from surrounding space to have a higher flow velocity in the narrow gap than before flowing into the narrow gap.

Abstract: According to an embodiment the present invention, a printing apparatus detects a distance between a printhead and a print medium using a sensor while using a print medium for sensor calibration and changing a height from a print position to a carriage, stores first distance information indicating a relationship between the height and a signal representing a result of detecting the distance for each of heights in a memory, obtains second distance information indicating a relationship between the height and the signal representing the result of detecting the distance for each of the heights while using a predetermined print medium and changing the height, compares the first and second distance information, and corrects the first distance information stored in the memory, based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A method of heating a print zone disposed between a print-head and a media support device of a printing system includes supplying a first amount of power to a heating assembly to form and direct heated air in a first temperature range to the print zone of the printing system. The method also includes determining whether a temperature of the printhead is within a warning temperature range and, if so, supplying a second amount of power that is less than the first amount of power to the heating assembly to form and direct heated air in a second temperature range to the print zone. Otherwise, the first amount of power is continued to be supplied to the heating assembly.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer for printing on a thermoplastic card includes a support on which the card is placed and a printing station includes at least one ink-jet printhead for printing on the card. A reservoir is coupled to the ink-jet printhead and contains an ink comprising: a medium consisting of a low-boiling organic solvent; an auxiliary solvent consisting of a high-boiling organic solvent; and a coloring component soluble in the medium. The support includes a heating system to heat the card during operation of the printing station.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a rotating drum which rotates by winding the printing base material around a circumferential side surface, and through which the printing base material is transported in the transporting direction; a recording portion which forms a printed image with respect to the printing base material on the rotating drum; and a driven roller which is positioned to be closer to a downstream side than the recording portion in the transporting direction, and rotates together with the rotating drum. The driven roller is disposed at a position for regulating a terminal position of the transporting direction in which the printing base material is wound in the rotating drum. The driven roller comes into contact with the printing base material at positions on both sides in a direction which intersects with the transporting direction of a region where the recording portion forms the printed image.

Abstract: A printer includes a print zone, and a media output guide assembly downstream of the print zone to curve media between media side edges. The media output guide assembly includes: an inner guide; and a pair of outer guides, the media to pass between the inner guide and the outer guides with the inner guide above the media and the outer guides below the media. The media passing between the guides has, in a direction perpendicular to a media output direction, outer edges that droop around and below a top of the outer guides, elevated points at the tops of the outer guides and a central low point under the inner guide and between the outer edges.

Abstract: A simple configuration avoids exposure of a star wheel that prevents the media from lifting up when the media conveyance path opens. A platen top unit 20 that supports first and second star wheels 25A, 25B is separated from an opening and closing platen unit 8, and is supported movably vertically. when the platen unit 8 is moved to the open position 8B to open the third conveyance path section 10c of the conveyance path 10 when a paper jam occurs, for example, the head elevator 17 is controlled to raise the platen top unit 20 and retract the first and second star wheels 25A, 25B supported by the platen top unit 20 to a position removed from easy contact with the user's hands.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion composition contains a pigment, a polymerizable compound, and a compound having a structural unit represented by Formula (A), a structural unit represented by Formula (B), a structural unit represented by Formula (C) derived from polyalkylene oxide having a number average molecular weight of equal to or greater than 300 and less than 5,000, and a structural unit represented by Formula (D), in which a mass ratio [(B)/(C)] is 20/80 to 60/40.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a drying unit that dries a medium, a controller that controls to output a partition sheet as a partition of the medium on which printing based on a print job has been performed, and a liquid application unit that applies liquid onto the partition sheet.

Abstract: A transport with media hold down is used with an inkjet printer. A plurality of spar links and vacuum links are connected pivotally together to form an endless belt orbiting around drive wheels and driven wheels. Vacuum links have hollow chambers to hold the media sheet against the endless belt using vacuum. At least one spar is received in a slot on a spar link. The spar extends above the link to receive the media sheet. The spar moves into a clamping position by a cam and follower to clamp the media sheet against the spar link. The media sheet will thus pass beneath the inkjet print head without contact. The spar moves into an extended position by the cam and follower to release the media sheet. The spar moves into a retracted position below the spar link surface by the cam and follower to allow the media sheet to exit the transport.

Abstract: An apparatus including a control cylinder rotatably supported for thermal conduction to a sheet. The sheet conveys ink deposited on a first side. The sheet is held against a peripheral arch of the control cylinder as it rotates with the first side of the sheet directly engaging and wrapping around the control cylinder along the peripheral arch. The apparatus also includes a thermal control element for heating and/or cooling the control cylinder. The apparatus also includes a pressure roll for spreading the ink. The pressure roll with the control cylinder forms a spreader nip, which is selectively changeable between a closed and open position. In the closed position the pressure roll is biased toward the control cylinder for applying pressure to the ink on the sheet. The pressure roll is spaced further away from the control cylinder in the open position relative to the closed position.

Abstract: An ink jet ink composition includes an organic solvent in an amount between 60% and 95% by weight of the ink composition, a binder resin, a stabilizing agent, which may be provided by the binder resin, and a pH sensitive dye. An image formed by the ink composition changes from a first color to a second color when exposed to water, wherein the first color is different than the second color.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises: a medium tray on which a medium is set vertically, or with a tilt; a feed roller that feeds the medium set on the medium tray by rotating while being in contact with the medium; a recording unit that performs recording on the medium; an urging mechanism for urging the medium and/or the feed roller in a direction of coming closer; and a restricting portion that faces a recording surface at a lower edge portion of the medium set on the medium tray and restricts movement of the lower edge of the medium, wherein the feed roller feeds the medium so that the lower edge of the medium can get over an upper end of the restricting portion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a print head, a cap unit configured to cap a portion including a nozzle of the print head to form a small space, and a supply unit configured to supply gas for protecting the nozzle to the small space, wherein the supply unit performs a charge on another space to be connected to the small space to have a pressure different from that in the small space, and supplies the gas to the small space by a gas flow generated by releasing the charge.

Abstract: A printing device (1) is provided with: a can body conveying mechanism (100) for sequentially conveying can bodies (10); and a can body moving mechanism (200) for moving the can body (10) while forming an image onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10) conveyed by the can body conveying mechanism (100). The can body moving mechanism (200) is provided with a rotating member (210) formed in a disc shape and rotating in a clockwise direction in the drawing. The can body moving mechanism (200) is also provided with plural image forming units (220) provided on the rotating member (210) and forming an image onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10) while moving the can body (10). The image forming units (220) are each provided with plural ink ejection devices for ejecting ink onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10). This provides an image forming device capable of increasing the number of can bodies on each of which an image can be formed per unit time.

Abstract: An adjustment mechanism (130) adjusts a position of a target object (110) attached to an attachment base (120). The adjustment mechanism (130) includes a first cam (131) and a second cam (132). The first cam (131) is attached to a shaft portion (123) on the attachment base (120). The second cam (132) houses the first cam (131) and supports the target object (110). The first cam (131) displaces the target object (110) via the second cam (132) by rotating about the shaft section (123) as a rotational axis. The second cam (132) displaces the target object (110) by rotating about the first cam (131) as a rotational axis. An amount of displacement of the target object (110) resulting from rotation of the first cam (131) differs from an amount of displacement of the target object (110) resulting from rotation of the second cam (132).

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a flow restriction apparatus, is provided. The flow restriction apparatus includes an ink outlet perforating through a tank wall of a printing fluid reservoir of a user-refillable inkjet printer system. The ink outlet facilitates fluid communication between the printing fluid reservoir and an inkjet pen of the printer system. Printing fluid from the printing fluid reservoir enters the ink outlet from the printing fluid reservoir under suction pressure exerted by the inkjet pen. A screen is located inside the printing fluid reservoir and separates the printing fluid reservoir from the ink outlet. The screen is ink permeable. The screen includes a screen aperture having an effective radius smaller than a meniscus of a droplet of printing fluid at atmospheric pressure within the printing fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A lens array comprises a plurality of lenses disposed on a transparent substrate, and a light-shielding film disposed on the transparent substrate around the plurality of lenses, wherein the light-shielding film comprises a cured uv-curable ink containing a thermal acid generator. A method of manufacturing a lens array includes forming a plurality of lenses on a transparent substrate, depositing a uv-curable ink on the transparent substrate around the plurality of lenses, and curing the uv-curable ink to form a light-shielding film disposed on the transparent substrate around the plurality of lenses, wherein the inside of the light-shielding film is heated after the uv-curable ink is cured.