Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a feed tray including a bottom plate configured to hold a sheet, a feed roller configured to feed the sheet in a first direction from the feed tray to a first conveying path, and a pressing member configured to press the sheet in the feed tray against the bottom plate of the feed tray. The pressing member includes a contact portion configured to contact the sheet in the feed tray, and a first guide positioned at a downstream end of the pressing member in the first direction. The first guide extends between the downstream end and the contact portion obliquely with respect to the bottom plate, such that a distance between the bottom plate and the first guide increases along the first direction. The first guide is positioned upstream of the feed roller in the first direction.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a recording head, a feeding mechanism feeding a recording medium such that a second surface is opposed to the head, a first-area determining portion determining a first area, a second-area determining portion determining a second area, a contact-position determining portion determining a contact position on a first surface at which position a roller contacts the first surface, a feed controller capable of controlling feeding of the medium such that where the second surface is opposed to the head, the recording on the second surface is implemented with the second area skipped, and a judging portion determining whether the contact position is included in the first area at the moment of initiation of a skip operation. The feed controller controls an acceleration or a speed at which the medium is fed in the skip operation, on the basis of the determination made by the judging portion.

Abstract: A feeder device for feeding media sheets along a feed path, including: (a) an accommodator for accommodating the media sheets; (b) a feed mechanism including (b-1) a roller that is to be held in contact with the media sheets accommodated in the accommodator and (b-2) a motor that is controllable based on a variable so as to rotate the roller, so that the media sheets can be fed along the feed path by the roller; (c) a detector operable to detect an amount of rotation of the roller or the motor; (d) a controller operable to adjust the variable on the basis of the amount of rotation detected by the detector such that feed movement of each media sheet can be achieved substantially as desired; (e) a monitor operable to monitor the variable that is adjusted by the controller; and (f) a media-related information obtainer operable to obtain information related to the media sheets fed by the feed mechanism, based on the actual value of the adjusted variable monitored by the monitor.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer according to an aspect, a print head includes a nozzle and ejects ink through the nozzle. A maintenance unit performs a maintenance operation to recover an ejection state of the nozzle. A sealing unit selectively exposes and seals the nozzle. A first timer unit measures a sealing time when the sealing unit seals the nozzle. A second timer unit measures an exposing time when the sealing unit exposes the nozzle. A dryness obtaining unit obtains a dryness level of the nozzle based on the sealing time and the exposing time. A limit level storing unit stores a predetermined dryness level as a limit level. A control unit activates the maintenance unit when the obtained dryness level is equal to or above the limit level.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and an ink supply portion positioned at the first wall. The ink cartridge also includes at least one third wall which is substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall and the second wall, a fourth wall which is substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall, the second wall, and the at least one third wall, and a fifth wall opposite the fourth wall. The at least one third wall has a first recess formed therein which is adjacent to and intersects the fourth wall, and the first recess extends from the first wall towards the second wall. Moreover, the at least one third wall has a second recess formed therein which is adjacent to and intersects the fifth wall, and the second recess extends from the first wall towards the second wall. In addition, the fifth wall has a concavity formed therein, and the concavity intersects a portion of the second recess.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge body including an ink storage chamber and a wall having an ink introduction hole formed therethrough. The ink introduction hole is configured to receive an ink supply tube of an inkjet printer when the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer, and the ink supply tube is configured to communicate with an ink supply channel of the inkjet printer via a communication path. The ink cartridge also includes a first valve member configured to selectively open and close the ink introduction hole, and a first urging member configured to apply a first force to the first valve member to urge the first valve member to close the ink introduction hole. The first valve member includes a valve body configured to receive a second force from the ink supply tube when the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer. The second force urges the first valve member to open the ink introduction hole, and the second force is greater than the first force.

Abstract: A sheet accommodating device including: a tray configured to accommodate a sheet; and a pressing member configured to press the sheet accommodated in the tray, wherein the pressing member includes a guide portion configured to guide, where the sheet accommodated in the tray is transferred, the transferred sheet toward a downstream side in a sheet transferring direction in which the sheet is transferred.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus includes: a recording head; a re-feeding roller configured to re-feed a one-side recorded medium toward the recording head; and a flap provided on an upstream side of the re-feeding roller in a conveying direction of the one-side recorded medium. The flap extends from an upstream end to a downstream end in the conveying direction. The downstream end of the flap is closer to the re-feeding roller than the upstream end in the conveying direction. The flap is configured to support and introduce the one-side recorded medium to the re-feeding roller. A downstream end portion of the flap has: a first region opposing the re-feeding roller; and a second region except the first region. The downstream end portion has a cutout portion provided in at least a part of the second region.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus which records images on front and back surfaces of a sheet, including: a head which ejects ink onto the sheet for recording; a sheet-supply roller which contacts the sheet to transfer the sheet for supplying to the head; sheet-transfer rollers which are disposed on a downstream side of the head so as to be rotatable forwardly and reversely, and which transfer the sheet passed through the head while nipping the sheet, toward an outside of the image recording apparatus when forwardly rotated or toward the sheet-supply roller when reversely rotated such that the sheet is permitted to be again supplied to the head by the sheet-supply roller; a sheet-return path which is branched from a connecting path that connects the sheet-transfer rollers and the head so as to extend toward the sheet-supply roller, and through which the sheet is transferred toward the sheet-supply roller by the reverse rotations; and a roller-driving control section which drives the sheet-transfer rollers and the s

Abstract: An image recording apparatus configured to record images on front and back surfaces of a sheet, including: a head which ejects ink onto the sheet for recording; a sheet-supply roller which contacts the sheet so as to transfer the sheet for supplying to the head; a sheet-supply path which is provided between the sheet-supply roller and the head, which has a U-shape, and through which the sheet is transferred such that one of surfaces thereof opposite to the other of the surfaces contacted by the sheet-supply roller faces the head; and a sheet-stopping control section configured to control the sheet-supply roller such that the sheet transferred by the sheet-supply roller is stopped for a first time in the sheet-supply path in a state in which the sheet is deformed so as to have a U-shape, after an image has been recorded on the front surface of the sheet and before an image is recorded on the back surface thereof.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus configured to record images on a front surface and a back surface of a recording sheet, the image recording apparatus including: a recording head which ejects ink onto the recording sheet for recording; and a controller configured to execute controls for operations of the image recording apparatus, wherein the controller includes a sheet-stopping control section configured to execute a control for stopping the recording sheet for a specific time after the image has been recorded on the front surface of the recording sheet and before the image is recorded on the back surface of the recording sheet, and wherein the image recording apparatus further comprises a biasing device configured to bias the recording sheet, so as to retain the recording sheet in a specific shape, in a state in which the recording sheet is stopped by the control of the sheet-stopping control section.

Abstract: An image recording device includes: a tray having a placing surface; a feed unit comprising a rotating member configured to move in a first direction away from the placing surface of the tray and move in a second direction toward the placing surface of the tray; a frictional member disposed on the placing surface; a recording unit; a conveying unit configured to return the sheet, on one side of which the image has been recorded by the recording unit, to the placing surface; and a moving mechanism configured to move the rotating member in the first direction and in the second direction. The moving mechanism is configured to move the rotating member in the first direction before a leading end of the sheet returned by the conveying unit reaches the frictional member in a state where no sheet is placed on the tray.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an accommodation section, an image recording section, an outer arcuate guide member, an inner arcuate guide member, and a feeding section. Recording media are stacked on the accommodation section. The image recording section forms an image on a recording medium conveyed in a conveyance direction. The outer arcuate guide member connects in a U-shape the accommodation section with the image recording section. The outer arcuate guide member guides the recording medium from a downstream end portion of the accommodation section to an insertion port of the image recording section. The inner arcuate guide member is disposed to be separate from the outer arcuate guide member. A passage is defined between the outer arcuate guide member and the inner arcuate guide member. The passage allows the recording medium to displace in a thickness direction thereof.

Abstract: The invention describes an image recording device having a sheet supplying device that supplies sheets. The sheet supplying device has a first tray and a second tray that hold sheets, and a first and second shaft positioned over the first and second trays. A first rotating member contacts a sheet in the first tray, and a second rotating member contacts a sheet in the second tray. A first arm extends from the first shaft to the first rotating member, and a second arm extends from the second shaft to the second rotating member. A transmission device is coupled to the first arm member and the second arm member, and transmits selectively a rotational drive force from the first shaft to either the first or second rotating members. A recording unit records an image on the sheet supplied by the sheet supplying device.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, including a movable support member which includes a supporting portion that supports a recording medium fed on a platen and which is slid in a feeding direction so as to the recording medium, wherein the movable support member includes an ink receiving portion which is provided such that a clearance is formed between the ink receiving portion and the supporting portion, which is relatively low in height, and which receives ink droplets ejected to an outside of the recording medium, or wherein the supporting portion includes: a step portion having a transfer preventing face which prevents adhering ink from transferring upward; and an ink receiving face continuous to the transfer preventing face and extending in a generally horizontal direction so as to receive ink droplets ejected to an outside of the recording medium.

Abstract: A job separator has a first roller unit and a second roller unit adjacent to the first roller unit. The first roller unit has a first driven roller and a first drive roller, which receive and convey a sheet between them. The second roller unit has a second driven roller and a second drive roller, which also receive and convey a sheet between them. The second drive roller may selectively move between a first position, in which the second drive roller is below the second driven roller, and a second position in which the second drive roller is above the second driven roller. An image processing apparatus has the job separator, a recording unit, an output tray, and a control unit for controlling the second drive roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided. The sheet feeder includes a sheet tray which retains a sheet; a first rotating body for applying a first conveying force to the sheet retained in the sheet tray; a second rotating body for applying a second conveying force to the sheet retained in the sheet tray; and a conveying force transfer unit which controls the second rotating body based on whether the first rotating body slips on the sheet.

Abstract: A first detaching step including (1) moving a nozzle cap from a position, where a sealing surface of the nozzle cap is entirely in contact with a nozzle surface of a recording head, to a first state, where a first end of the sealing surface is separated by a minute distance from the nozzle surface and a second end of the sealing surface is separated from the nozzle cap by a first distance, and (2) maintaining the nozzle cap in the first state. A second detaching step including (1) moving the nozzle cap from the first state to a second state, where the first end of the sealing surface is separated from the nozzle surface by a second distance and the second end is separated from the nozzle surface by a distance greater than the first distance, and (2) maintaining the nozzle cap in the second state.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and an ink supply portion positioned at the first wall. The ink cartridge also includes at least one third wall which is substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall and the second wall, a fourth wall which is substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall, the second wall, and the at least one third wall, and a fifth wall opposite the fourth wall. The at least one third wall has a first recess formed therein which is adjacent to and intersects the fourth wall, and the first recess extends from the first wall towards the second wall. Moreover, the at least one third wall has a second recess formed therein which is adjacent to and intersects the fifth wall, and the second recess extends from the first wall towards the second wall. In addition, the fifth wall has a concavity formed therein, and the concavity intersects a portion of the second recess.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and an ink supply portion positioned at the first wall. The ink cartridge also includes at least one third wall which is substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall and the second wall, a fourth wall which is substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall, the second wall, and the at least one third wall, and a fifth wall opposite the fourth wall. The at least one third wall has a first recess formed therein which is adjacent to and intersects the fourth wall, and the first recess extends from the first wall towards the second wall. Moreover, the at least one third wall has a second recess formed therein which is adjacent to and intersects the fifth wall, and the second recess extends from the first wall towards the second wall. In addition, the fifth wall has a concavity formed therein, and the concavity intersects a portion of the second recess.