Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having at least two nozzle lines each having multiple nozzles to discharge different color droplets; a carriage that carries the image forming unit and is configured to reciprocate in the moving direction crossing an arrangement direction of the nozzles; and a control device to control dual-directional printing to form an image using the at least two nozzle lines in an outward and a return of the carriage. The control device executes color difference handling print control for discharging the different color droplets by using, of each of the nozzles in the at least two nozzle lines, the nozzles located at different positions in the arrangement direction of the nozzles while not overlapping in the moving direction of the carriage.

Abstract: An image recording method including an ink application step of applying an ink containing a coloring material, an anionic water-soluble resin, resin particles and an inclusion compound to a recording medium; and a first liquid composition application step of applying a first liquid composition containing at least one of an organic acid and a polyvalent metal ion to the recording medium so as to at least partly overlap with an area where the ink is applied.

Abstract: A droplet discharging apparatus includes a recording head that includes pressure chambers, piezoelectric elements, and an in-head reservoir, provided near the pressure chambers; a liquid circulation unit that includes a liquid reservoir and circulates liquid between the in-head reservoir and the liquid reservoir; a drive waveform generation unit that generates a drive waveform that drives each of the piezoelectric elements; a remaining oscillation detection unit that detects remaining oscillation generated in at least one of the pressure chambers after driving the respective piezoelectric element; a status determining unit that determines a sedimentation status of a component in liquid in the in-head reservoir based on the detected remaining oscillation; and a control unit that controls a liquid circulation operation of the liquid circulation unit in order to dissolve the sedimentation status of the component in the liquid in the in-head reservoir based on the determined sedimentation status.

Abstract: A printing unit in a sheet-fed printing machine includes a printing cylinder, an upstream transfer cylinder and a downstream transfer cylinder. The transfer cylinders each include a device for decelerating/accelerating a sheet. The device, in particular, includes at least one gripper bar being movable in a substantially radial direction to change the tangential speed of the gripper bar and thus of the sheet. A printing unit of this construction allows the sheets to be transported at a lower speed and at a shorter distance from one another during the printing process, resulting in a better print quality and a higher throughput of the machine. A sheet-fed printing machine including such a printing unit is also provided.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided and includes cover members for covering at least a portion of a conveyance path for conveying a medium. The cover members are configured such that at least a portion of a part covering a conveyance path is able to expand and contract. Therefore, if necessary, it is possible to expand or contract the area of the cover members covering the conveyance path. On the occasion of setting the medium or when a jam has occurred, it is possible to contract the cover members in the conveyance direction of the medium. Also, even if the cover members move once from the state where they cover the conveyance path, it is possible to easily return the cover members to their original positions, and it is possible to easily return the cover members to the state where they cover a portion of the conveyance path.

Abstract: A system and methods for printing and curing ink deposited on a substrate using a first light source and a second light source. In various embodiments, the first light source emits one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation subtype C (UVC), and the second light source emits one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation subtype A (UVA), subtype B (UVB), subtype V (UVV), or a combination thereof. The substrate is configured such that any ink deposited on the substrate by a printer head is predominantly exposed to the first light source prior to the second light source.

Abstract: Described is a production process for the preparation of an organic titanium derivative useful for the preparation of yellow inks for digital printing on ceramics, comprising the following steps: (i) mixing an organic and/or inorganic compound of titanium (IV) and a 1,3-diol of formula: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from H and a linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl radical, in the presence of at least an organic solvent immiscible with water and subsequent removal of reaction by-products; (ii) adding water to the reaction mixture in a H2O:Ti?2 molar ratio and subsequent removal of unreacted water and reaction by-products; (iii) maturing the reaction mixture at a temperature of 180-200° C. for 16-50 hours. Also described are the titanium derivative obtainable by means of the above-reported process, an ink that contains the derivative and a method of digital printing on ceramics that uses said ink.

Abstract: A holding member provided in a liquid ejection apparatus is attached to a receiving member and includes a capturing portion capturing a supply member so as to hold the supply member. The capturing portion is displaceable while the holding member is attached to the receiving member.

Abstract: The invention has an object to provide a printing method wherein a wide variety of recording medium can be used, and printed materials richer and more vivid in color can be obtained by using sublimation dyes. To achieve the object, provided is a printing method including: an ink applying step for applying an ink on a recording medium (100), and the ink contains a solvent, a binder resin (11) dispersed or emulsified in the solvent, and a sublimation dye (12) entrained in particles of the binder resin (11); and a heating step for heating the ink to diffuse the sublimation dye (12) among the particles of the binder resin (11) for color development.

Abstract: The invention has an object to provide a high-quality print. To achieve the object, an inkjet printing device (100) includes: a transferring roller, a print-heater (6) for heating a medium (20); and an after-heater (7) for heating an ink, wherein the device has a plurality of inkjet heads, and the plurality of inkjet heads discharges inks in different colors and are aligned along a direction of transfer of the medium.

Abstract: A flow path structure includes: a substrate that includes a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface; a supply port formed on the first surface; a plurality of discharge ports formed on the second surface; grooves that are formed on the first surface so as to extend in an X direction and communicate with the supply ports and with the plurality of discharge ports via through-holes formed on the substrate; and a sealing portion that is disposed on the first surface and seals each groove.

Abstract: A method of identifying inoperable ejectors in a printhead includes operating a plurality of ejectors in the printhead to form a printed test pattern on an image receiving surface while the printhead and image receiving surface remain stationary. The method also includes generating image data of the printed test pattern, identifying rows of marks in the printed test pattern, and identifying an inoperable ejector in the printhead that corresponds to a missing mark in one row of marks that corresponds to one ejector in a row of ejectors in the printhead.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an apparatus and method for inhibiting the formation of sediment in an ink tank of a MICR inkjet printer. In one embodiment, the present apparatus comprises an ink tank containing MICR ink and an electromagnet which resides in a chamber located on, near, or inside the ink tank. Activation of the electromagnet causes the particles to be attracted to the electromagnet's magnetic field such that the particles are lifted off a bottom of the tank to inhibit sediment formation thereon. The electromagnet can be activated in response to the MICR inkjet printer having been turned OFF. A sensor may further be employed to activate the electromagnet in response to one of: sediment in the ink tank having reached a pre-determined level; a flow-rate of liquid ink through the tank having fallen below a threshold level, sediment levels, or a pressure inside the tank.

Abstract: A medium supporting unit includes a supporting portion that includes a first surface supporting a medium, a second surface recessed more than the first surface, and a first side surface connecting the first surface to the second surface, and a pressing portion that includes a pressing surface pressing the medium supported by the first surface at a position facing the second surface, and a facing side surface which faces the first side surface, in which in the supporting portion and the pressing portion, at the time of a holding state in which the medium is supported by the first surface and is pressed by the pressing surface, a part of the medium positioned between the first side surface and the facing side surface is capable of being held in a state of being separated from the second surface.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a head, a recovery tank, a supply tank connected to the recovery tank, and a pressure regulator. The pressure regulator includes a first cylinder connected to an upper portion of the recovery tank, a first piston movable in the first cylinder, a first valve configured to open and close a path between the recovery tank and the first cylinder, depending on a position of the first piston, a second cylinder connected to the first cylinder and an upper portion of the supply tank, a second piston movable in the second cylinder, a second valve configured to open and close a path between the supply tank and the second cylinder, depending on a position of the second piston, and a third valve configured to open and close a path between the second cylinder and an atmosphere, depending on a position of the second piston.

Abstract: A removable single-block assembly for an ink circuit of a continuous inkjet printer, including a plate having a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet and a third fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, a second fluid outlet, and a third fluid outlet, this assembly further including a first pump called a pressure pump, a second pump called a recovery pump, and a filter, fluid connection means to allow fluids to flow: between said first fluid inlet, the first pump, and said first fluid outlet, between said second fluid inlet, the filter, and said second fluid outlet, and between said third fluid inlet, said second pump, and said third fluid outlet, and means for mounting and dismounting the assembly on the ink circuit.

Abstract: A mounting portion in which a first ink cartridge can be mounted, and a first mounting detection portion that can detect that the first ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion are included, and the first mounting detection portion can detect that a mounting unit in which a second ink cartridge can be mounted is mounted in the mounting portion.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a roller; a first supporting member; a recording section; a second supporting member; and a first waved-shape imparting mechanism configured to impart, to the sheet, the waved shape so that both end portions of the sheet in the width direction are oriented downward. An upstream end portion, of the second supporting surface, in the conveyance direction is located below a downstream end portion of a first supporting surface of the first supporting member in the conveyance direction. The second supporting surface of the second supporting member is formed with projections arranged respectively at locations, of the second supporting surface, at which the both end portions of the sheet in the width direction are supported, the projections projecting upward above a location of the second supporting surface at which a central portion of the sheet in the width direction is supported.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of forming, using a sublimation ink, an image that is free of outline blurring on a transfer medium even when the thickness of an ink fixation layer is increased. In order to solve this problem, a transfer film 10 is provided with a base material film 11, a transfer binder layer 12, a sublimation ink layer 13, and a mask layer 14 which is provided in a region where sublimation ink is not transferred to media 100, the transfer binder layer 12 being configured from a material which is permeated by sublimation of the sublimation ink.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a printer including a first memory and a controller. The first memory is configured to store a plurality of types of partial print data for print formation of a plurality of types of partial pictorial symbols wherein some of the partial pictorial symbols are combined into at least one pictorial symbol. The controller is configured to execute a determining operation acceptance process, a print data generation process, and a coordination control process. In the determining operation acceptance process, a determining operation for determining the pictorial symbol is accepted. In the print data generation process, print data including the pictorial symbol determined by variably combining the plurality of types of the partial print data stored in the first memory is generated. In the coordination control process, the feeder and the printing head are coordinately controlled for forming a print corresponding to the print data on the print-receiving medium.