Abstract: A printing device is provided, wherein the printing device is configured to print a printing fluid onto a printing medium. The printing device includes a printing fluid reservoir configured to hold a volume of the printing fluid, a print head assembly configured to transfer the printing fluid to the printing medium, wherein the print head assembly is fluidically connected to the printing fluid reservoir, and a printing fluid detector configured to detect a characteristic of the printing fluid. The printing fluid detector includes a first electrode and a second electrode configured to be in contact with the printing fluid, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes an electrically conductive coating disposed over an electrically conductive substrate.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively controlling supplied power to an ink melt heater for maintaining a desired ink melt rate despite a varying ambient parameter affecting an actual melt rate. A predetermined amount of power is supplied to the ink melt heater intended to cause the desired ink melt rate. The ambient parameter is detected by the ink melt heater. A determination is made if the detected ambient parameter will cause a variance in the actual ink melt rate from the desired ink melt rate. If a variance is so determined, the supplied power is adjusted from the predetermined amount to an adjusted amount for realizing desired ink melt rate. The ambient parameter preferably comprises sensing a factor representative of at least one of local environmental air temperature to the printing system or adjacent ink temperature to the heat plate.

Abstract: An ink jet module is provided. The ink jet module comprises: (a) a first micromolding having a first inner face and a first outer face, the first inner face defining a plurality of elongate grooves, each groove being in fluid communication with a respective first inlet in the first outer face; (b) a second micromolding having a second inner face opposing the first inner face, the second inner face having a plurality of arrays of second inlets, each array of second inlets corresponding to each elongate groove, the second inlets in each array being positioned to receive fluid flowing tortuously from its respective first inlet, through its respective elongate groove to each of the second inlets; and (c) a film sandwiched between the first inner face and the opposing second inner face, the film having a plurality of arrays of openings therethrough, each array of openings being positioned to allow fluid flow from each elongate groove to each corresponding array of second inlets.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus equipped with plural printing heads each for jetting ink drops having a photo-setting property towards a recording medium, a conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium to the printing heads, and each of plural light radiation devices for radiating light to the ink drops landed on the recording medium to harden, is arranged at the downstream side of each of the plural printing heads, one having largest light energy, which is located at the most downstream position among the plural light radiation devices is determined at least to satisfy the light energy necessary for hardening of the ink drops jetted by any one of the printing heads positioned upstream thereof, and the light energy becomes smaller gradually for every light radiation device in the order from the light radiation device at the most downstream position to those at more upstream positions.

Abstract: An image forming device that is capable of performing transfer of paper constantly in a highly accurate manner, irrespective of types or conditions of paper. The image forming device is provided with a motion sensor in a paper transfer path thereof for detecting the surface condition of an idle roller moving in accordance with the paper, and transfer of the paper is controlled on the basis of surface condition signals generated by the motion sensor. The motion sensor makes laser light, which is irradiated by a semiconductor laser, hit on an outer peripheral surface of the idle roller that rotates accompanying the transfer of paper and the reflected light is received by a two-dimensional semiconductor image sensor. Then, the surface condition signals are detected on the basis of speckle patterns generated in the reflected light.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir apparatus including first and second opposing thermally conductive walls, an elastomeric heater compressed between the first and second opposing thermally conductive walls, wherein the elastomeric heater has an uncompressed thickness that is greater than a distance between the first and second opposing thermally conductive walls, and a reservoir adjacent the first opposing thermally conductive wall and thermally coupled to first thermally conductive wall.

Abstract: The present method detects an ink consumption condition in an ink cartridge loaded on an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for jetting ink drops, using a piezo-electric device mounted on the cartridge. The method detects the ink consumption condition using the piezo-electric device when the recording head is in a non-recording state. A complicated seal structure is not necessary and the ink residue can be detected surely.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus, including: a recording head for jetting ultraviolet ray curable ink onto a recording medium; an ultraviolet ray emitting device; a light source which emits ultraviolet rays; a first reflecting section for reflecting the ultraviolet rays; and a second reflecting section which is installed within the first reflecting section at an angle for preventing the ultraviolet rays from approaching the ultraviolet ray curable ink in the recording head, and behind the second reflecting section, a space for trapping stray ultraviolet rays diffused from the recording medium is formed.

Abstract: A solid ink feed system for a printer includes a longitudinal feed channel having a feed direction, and an insertion key plate having a key plate opening through it to provide access in an insertion direction into the feed channel. The insertion direction is different from the feed direction. The key plate opening has an insertion opening perimeter that includes two lateral opening perimeter segments and a transverse opening perimeter segment. The transverse opening perimeter segment intersects at least one of the lateral opening perimeter segments at an angle other than 180°. The insertion opening perimeter includes a first nonlinear key element on one lateral perimeter segment, a second nonlinear key element on a second lateral perimeter segment, and a third nonlinear key element on the transverse perimeter segment. An ink stick for the solid ink feed system includes an ink stick body having a perimeter shape that substantially matches the insertion opening perimeter.

Abstract: A cartridge for a pen has an electronically controllable marking device, such as an ink jet printhead, for marking a visible path on a surface, a non marking stylus nib that in use contacts the surface with the marking device directed toward or contacting the surface The cartridge includes an on/off switch that turns the marking device on and off. Movement of the stylus nib or application of more than a predetermined compressive force to the stylus nib turns on the on/off switch and so causes the marking device to be turned on, so marking a path on the surface.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus comprises an array of fluid chambers, each chamber communicating with an orifice for droplet ejection, a common fluid inlet manifold and a common fluid outlet manifold, and means for generating a fluid flow into the inlet manifold, through each chamber in the array and into the outlet manifold, the fluid flow through each chamber being sufficient to prevent foreign bodies in the fluid from lodging in the orifice. Each chamber is associated with means for effecting droplet ejection from the orifice simultaneously with the fluid flow through the chamber. The resistance to flow of one of the inlet and outlet manifolds is chosen such that the pressure at a fluid inlet to any chamber in the array varies between any two chambers by an amount less than that which would give rise to significant differences in droplet ejection properties between these two chambers.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method comprising ejecting ink droplets on an image-receiving material according to recording signals to record an image on the image-receiving material, wherein at least one of the ink and the image-receiving material comprises an acid precursor capable of releasing an acid by a chemical reaction.

Abstract: A melt assembly that includes a drip plate; and a self regulating heating device thermally connected to the drip plate, wherein the heating device is a positive temperature coefficient material (PTC material). Also, a drip plate having an open interior into which a heating device may be inserted or molded.

Abstract: A reservoir for an ink supply for an ink-jet printer is provided with a refill port through which it can be refilled. The reservoir may be coupled to a variable volume chamber via a check valve which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and limits the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet which is normally closed to prevent the flow of ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet establishes a fluid connection between the chamber and the printer. The chamber is part of a pump provided with the ink supply that can be actuated to supply ink from the reservoir to the printer. Alternatively, the reservoir may be coupled directly to the fluid outlet and an alternative method of transferring the ink to the printer provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink jet printer including a printing-head which discharges photo-curing ink toward a printing sheet, and a light irradiation unit which irradiates the ink landing surface of the printing sheet with light, wherein the light irradiation unit irradiates the ink landing surface by optical scanning via a reflecting member with rays having a wavelength range in which ink is cured, and an image printing apparatus having the ink jet printer.

Abstract: A heat fixing apparatus has a heating unit for heating a recording medium having a substrate, a fixing layer and a surface layer so as to sublimate sublimating ink applied in advance to the surface layer for transferring the sublimated ink to the fixing layer. The heating unit includes a heating transporting mechanism for transporting the recording medium within a heating space, a heater body for heating air, and a blower mechanism for supplying hot air heated by the heater body to the recording medium being transported by the heating transporting mechanism. The apparatus further includes a flat guide member for coming into contact with the surface of the recording medium being transported by the heating transporting mechanism and a heater for heating the guide member.

Abstract: A printer for a modular image capture and printing system has an elongate body with connectors formed at opposing ends to engage other modules of the system. A data bus runs along the body and interconnects the end connectors. Slots along opposing sides of the elongate body define a print media path across which a printhead is located. The printhead is controlled by a printhead controller that, in use, responds to data placed on the bus from other modules of the system.

Abstract: The liquid jetting apparatus includes a head member having a nozzle, a supporting member that that can support a medium, a scanning mechanism that can cause the head member to relatively move with respect to the medium, and a liquid jetting unit that can jet liquid from the nozzle. An area storing unit stores a relative area to which liquid can be jetted from the nozzle while the head member is caused to relatively move by the scanning mechanism. An out-of-jetting micro-vibrating-area setting unit can set out-of-jetting micro-vibrating areas before and after the relative area. A micro-vibrating unit causes liquid, in the nozzle to minutely vibrate. An out-of-jetting micro-vibrating controlling unit causes the micro-vibrating unit to operate when the head member is located in the out-of-jetting micro-vibrating areas, while the head member is caused to relatively move by the scanning mechanism, based on the out-of-jetting micro-vibrating areas and head-position information.

Abstract: Aerosol emissions within an inkjet printer are reduced. A printhead of the inkjet printer is fired using a first set of firing conditions when firing conditions are critical for printing performance. When firing conditions are not critical for printing performance, the printhead is fired using a second set of firing conditions. The second set of firing conditions is optimized to provide reduction of aerosol jets.

Abstract: An ink stick for a phase change ink jet printer has a guide element formed in one portion of the ink stick body (such as the lower portion) for engaging a feed channel guide rail in a feed channel of a solid ink feed system of the printer. The guide element is substantially offset from the lateral center of gravity of the ink stick body. The guide element engages a feed channel guide rail in the printer. The feed channel guide rail is substantially narrower than the width of the feed channel. A second guide element is formed on the opposite side of the lateral center of gravity of the ink stick body. The second guide element engages a second feed channel guide rail in the feed channel.