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: An ink-jet printer including a carriage carrying recording heads, air collecting chambers, and discharging passages communicating with the respective air collecting chambers; opening and closing valves provided in the respective discharging passages; opening and closing bars which open and close the respective valves; an air discharge cap which has a bottom wall, a side wall, and a suction hole, wherein an upper end surface of the side wall is closely contactable with a lower surface of the carriage to cover respective openings of the discharging passages; a suction device which sucks air through the suction hole; and an air-flow generating device which causes an air flow inlet to open at a position distant from the suction hole, so that when air is sucked through the suction hole, the air flows from the air flow inlet toward the suction hole. An ink sucking method is also provided.

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: 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 liquid-ejection apparatus, including: a head configured to eject a liquid from a plurality of liquid-ejection openings; a main tank configured to accommodate the liquid supplied to the head; a liquid-supply pump configured to supply the liquid in the main tank to the head; a sub-tank in which are formed (a) a connection opening for connecting the sub-tank to the head and (b) an air-discharge opening for communicating the sub-tank with ambient air; a first channel extending from the liquid-supply pump to the sub-tank via the head and the connection opening; a second channel extending from the sub-tank to the liquid-supply pump; a third channel extending from the air-discharge opening of the sub-tank to the ambient air; an air-discharge valve provided in the third channel so as to be openable and closable; and a controller configured to control the air-discharge valve such that the air-discharge valve is temporarily opened in a liquid introducing operation in which the liquid is introduced from the main tank

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: A feeding device including a drive roller and a driven roller opposed to the drive roller and biased toward the drive roller, such that the drive and driven rollers cooperate to feed a sheet while holding the sheet therebetween. The driven roller includes a toothed wheel portion and a contactable portion having a diameter smaller than that of the toothed wheel portion. The drive roller includes first and second portions. A radially outer end of the second portion is more distant from an axis of the drive roller than a radially outer end of the first portion. During absence of the sheet between the drive and driven rollers, the contactable portion of the driven roller is held in contact at its circumferential surface with a circumferential surface of the second portion of the drive roller, while a radially outer end of the toothed wheel portion is not in contact with a circumferential surface of the first portion. Also disclosed is an image recording apparatus including the above-described feeding device.

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 liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a medium conveying mechanism which conveys a medium in a first direction; a head pair composed of two liquid ejecting heads respectively having liquid ejection surfaces in which liquid ejection areas are respectively formed, the two heads having respective one end portions overlapping each other as viewed in the first direction, and disposed such that the respective one end portions are adjacent to each other in the first direction; two wipers for wiping the respective ejection surfaces; and a wiper moving mechanism configured to move the two wipers in mutually opposite directions, wherein the ejection areas partly overlap each other as viewed in the first direction, wherein, when each wiper is placed by the wiper moving mechanism at a wiping start position at which each wiper does not face the corresponding ejection surface, the two wipers partly overlap each other as viewed in the first direction, and wherein, when each wiper is placed at a wiping complete position at

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge main body, an ink-outputting section, and at least two first light-shielding parts. The cartridge main body has an ink accommodating chamber accommodating ink therein. The ink-outputting section that outputs the ink in the ink accommodating chamber. The at least two first light-shielding parts are juxtaposed in the prescribed mounting direction at a prescribed interval and that are incapable of moving relative to the cartridge main body. Lengths in the prescribed mounting direction of the at least two first light-shielding parts are different from one another.

Abstract: To prevent leakage of ink in an ink tank from an air inflow port formed in an ink cartridge, an accommodating section in which an ink absorbing member is disposed is provided outside the ink cartridge so that the ink absorbing member opposes the air inflow port of the ink cartridge. The accommodating section is fluidly connected to the air inflow port of the ink cartridge and formed with an atmosphere communication hole in communication with atmosphere. Thus, ink leaked out through the air inflow port can be absorbed by the ink absorbing member and air can be introduced into the ink tank for an amount corresponding to an amount of ink supplied to a recording head.

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.