Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes: a droplet ejection head; an irradiation part that irradiates a recording medium with infrared laser light for evaporating a water content of a droplet landed on the recording medium; a supply part that includes a rectifying part disposed along a conveyance direction of the recording medium and causes the rectifying part to supply, above the recording medium, air flowing toward a downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a vent part that vents at least a part of air flown above the recording medium toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to control a first image former to form a first test pattern on a recording medium, the first test pattern including figures arranged in a first direction on a two-dimensional lattice defined with an X-axis direction intersecting a Y-axis direction parallel to a conveyance direction, the first direction being inclined relative to the X-axis direction, control a conveyor to convey the recording medium in the conveyance direction, and in response to the recording medium being conveyed to a position where a second test pattern intersects or is in proximity to the first test pattern, control a second image former to form the second test pattern on the recording medium, the second test pattern including figures arranged in a second direction on the two-dimensional lattice, the second direction being inclined relative to each of the X-axis direction and the first direction.

Abstract: A decurler is configured for use in an aqueous inkjet printer to monitor ink contamination of the indent roller in the decurler and generate a signal that maintenance is required prior to the printer beginning to produce wrinkled media sheets by the ink contamination on the indent roller. A reflective sensor is mounted on a shaft for bidirectional movement to sweep the length of the indent roller and generate electrical signals indicative of the presence or absence of contamination on the indent roller. The controller receiving signals from the reflective sensor compares the signals from the reflective sensor to a predetermined threshold prior to commencing monitoring of the indent roller to determine positions where the sensor is opposite the indent roller and positons where the sensor is opposite a frame in the printer.

Abstract: A receiver layer for use in dye diffusion thermal transfer printing includes a release agent and a swellable inorganic lamellar material that is at least partially in an exfoliated or intercalated state. The receiver layer may be thermally transferable. The swellable inorganic lamellar material may be a clay, which may be at least partially in the exfoliated state.

Abstract: There is provided a printer including: a conveyance unit; a liquid jetting head including at least one nozzle array in which nozzles are arrayed; a carriage; a guide; a carriage moving unit; a memory; and a controller. The controller performs printing by performing scan printing operation and a conveyance operation multiple times repeatedly and adjusts jetting timings of the liquid jetted from the nozzles at positions in a scanning direction based on pieces of inclination information corresponding to the respective positions. In second or subsequent scan printing operation of the multiple times of scan printing operation, the controller delays or advances, based on the inclination information, the jetting timing in the second or subsequent scan printing operation relative to the jetting timing in scan printing operation immediately before the second or subsequent scan printing operation more greatly, as inclination of the at least one nozzle array increases.

Abstract: A platen is disclosed. In an example, the platen may include a shirtboard configured to receive a garment. A backing is coupled to the shirtboard. The backing and the shirtboard are compressible to selectively compress the shirtboard against the backing during a printing operation. An example method of printing on a garment includes threading a garment onto a board so that the board is wearing the garment, supporting the board against a backing during compression, and printing on the garment. In an example, a fabric of the garment is pretreated, heat-pressed, and printed on, all without removing the garment from the board.

Abstract: A controller determines the amount of driving by a sub-scanning driver and the number of nozzles to be used in accordance with a maximum amplitude of vibration of an inkjet head in a sub-scanning direction, where the maximum amplitude is detected by a displacement detecting sensor when the inkjet head is moved in the sub-scanning direction before starting printing. Then, while moving the inkjet head in a main-scanning direction, the controller performs printing by selecting nozzles to be used in accordance with displacement of the inkjet head in the sub-scanning direction detected by the displacement detecting sensor.

Abstract: The recording device includes an adhesive belt extending across a plurality of rotating bodies configured to support and convey a recording medium, a first sensor configured to detect that the recording medium is separated relative to the adhesive belt in a first range, a second sensor configured to detect that the recording medium P is separated relative to the adhesive belt in a second range within the first range, a take-up unit configured to take up the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control the take-up unit so as to take up the recording medium when the first sensor detects that a separation position of the recording medium is within the first range, and control the rotating body to stop movement of the adhesive belt when the second sensor detects that the separation position of the recording medium is within the second range.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that ejects droplets from an image forming apparatus, and forms an image on a surface of a printing medium, a pre-processing unit that applies a pre-processing liquid to the surface of the printing medium before the image is formed by the image forming unit, and a post-processing unit that applies a post-processing liquid different from the pre-processing liquid to the surface of the printing medium after the image is formed by the image forming unit. The pre-processing unit applies an amount of the pre-processing liquid which is determined based on a type of the printing medium and the post-processing unit applies an amount of the post-processing liquid which is determined based on the type of the printing medium.

Abstract: A medium flattening method, when a medium is transported by being adhered to an adhesive layer which is on a surface of a transport belt, includes detecting a presence or absence of floating being generated in the medium on the transport belt using a sensor, executing a process for flattening to flatten the floating in the medium in the case where the floating exists, and transporting the medium, where the floating is eliminated using the process for the flattening, to a liquid discharge region of a liquid discharge section.

Abstract: In a method and a device for inkjet printing on containers, at least a first and a second subprint complementing each other in the printing direction so as to form a print image are joined. The first subprint is printed starting from a connection area or up to a connection area. Subsequently, the second subprint is printed with a feed towards the connection area such that the first and second subprints interleavingly overlap in the connection area. This allows a joining of subprints with unobtrusive transitions even in the case of dimensional tolerances and complicated cross-sections of the respective container.

Abstract: A platen includes: a plurality of supporting portions capable of supporting a sheet; negative pressure chambers, to which a negative pressure is supplied, so as to suck a sheet facing the supporting portions to the supporting portions; and ink receiver and that receive ink ejected from a printhead to the outside of the sheet supported by the supporting portions. The plurality of supporting portions are arranged in a sheet width direction (i.e., an X direction) transverse a sheet conveyance direction. The plurality of negative pressure chambers are disposed in a manner corresponding to the plurality of supporting portions, respectively.

Abstract: The inkjet printing machine includes a controlling unit, an inkjet head including a plurality of nozzles, and a head elevating motor that causes the inkjet head to move up or down. The controlling unit causes, while the inkjet head is being moved in a main-scanning direction, the head elevating motor to move the inkjet head up or down depending on unevenness of a surface of a printing medium, selects a nozzle from the nozzles depending on a distance between the inkjet head and the surface of the printing medium at a position of each of the nozzles, and performs printing by using the selected nozzle.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus for curing ink ejected onto a base material and forming recorded matter on the base material is provided. The inkjet recording apparatus includes an ejection unit configured to eject the ink onto a first area of the base material and a second area surrounded by the first area, a curing unit configured to cure the ink ejected onto the base material, and a control unit configured to control the curing unit in such a way that a time from ink ejection onto the first area to ink curing is longer than a time from ink ejection onto the second area to ink curing.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing panels having a decorative surface, wherein the panels at least comprise a substrate and a top layer, wherein the top layer comprises a paper layer having a printed pattern, and wherein the method at least comprises the step of providing the paper layer with thermosetting resin and the step of providing the resin provided paper layer with at least a portion of the printed pattern, wherein for providing the portion of the printed pattern use is made of pigment containing inks deposited on the paper layer by means of a digital inkjet printer, and wherein the dry weight of the total volume of the pigment containing inks deposited on the paper layer is lower than 9 grams per square meter, wherein for the pigment containing ink use is made of a water-based ink.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an ejecting unit which can eject first ink for image forming and colorless second ink onto a recording medium; and a control unit which can control ejecting operations of the first ink and the second ink in the ejecting unit, in which the control unit performs a plurality of ejecting operations of the first ink with respect to one ejecting operation of the second ink, so that at least a part of a landing position of the second ink and a landing position of the first ink overlap on the recording medium.

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: A suction box, intended for a system for transporting flat media (4) includes at least one endless belt (6), formed with a plurality of through-holes, in a media-printing machine (1), equipped with at least one printing unit (2). The suction box has a face (16) past which the belt (6) passes. A suction device (17) generates a vacuum in the suction box. The face (16) of the suction box is formed with at least one zone at a first suction pressure (22, 23, 24), which is in communication with the suction device (17), so as to apply the vacuum through the holes in the belt (6) to the media being transported by the belt (6), and the face of the suction box has at least one zone at a second pressure (26, 27). The zone at a second pressure is situated in the region of the printing unit (2). The magnitude of the second pressure is greater than the magnitude of the first pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sacrificial coating compositions comprising at least one hydrophilic polymer; at least one hygroscopic agent; at least one surfactant; at least one non-reactive silicone release agent; and water. In certain embodiments, the at least one non-reactive silicone release agent is chosen from polyether modified polysiloxane and nonreactive silicone glycol copolymers. In certain embodiments, the at least one non-reactive silicone release agent may be present in an amount ranging from about 0.001% to about 2%, based on the total weight of the composition, such as from about 0.03% to about 0.06%. Also disclosed herein is a blanket material suitable for transfix printing comprising a sacrificial coating composition, as well as an indirect printing process comprising a step of applying a sacrificial coating composition to a blanket material.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatus includes a plasma treatment unit configured to acidify at least a surface of a print medium by applying plasma treatment to the surface of the print medium, a first primer applying unit configured to apply primer treatment by applying treatment liquid to the surface of the print medium having undergone the plasma treatment, and a first recording unit configured to perform recording by inkjet recording on the print medium having undergone the primer treatment.

Abstract: An active ray-curable inkjet ink which contains a photocurable compound, a photopolymerization initiator, a gelling agent and a non-polymerizable liquid compound that is in a liquid state at 25° C., with the liquid compound being contained in an amount of 15-50% by mass relative to the mass of the ink. Since droplets of this active ray-curable inkjet ink are prevented from combining with each other after landing, this active ray-curable inkjet ink is capable of providing high quality images. Meanwhile, the surface gloss of printed images is increased, and printed images having less coating film thickness difference (namely, less relief-like texture) can be formed.

Abstract: One embodiment comprises a system that includes a first print head that applies a colorant to a medium based on a first bitmap that indicates printable features for the medium, and a second print head that applies a clear protectant to the medium based on a second bitmap. The system receives the first bitmap, and replicates the printable features in the first bitmap to generate the second bitmap. The system identifies boundaries of the printable features in the second bitmap, and expands the boundaries of the printable features in the second bitmap where the clear protectant is applied to the medium. The system directs the first print head to apply the colorant to the medium to form the printable features based on the first bitmap, and directs the second print head to apply the clear protectant to the printable features formed on the medium based on the second bitmap.

Abstract: White-balance is improved when printing on colored media, while minimizing the time and use of costly materials required by present approaches. In an embodiment, the typical solid white fill or background layer is altered by including in the white layer one or more of the other colors already available in the printer to shade this layer. Thus, a small amount of cyan, for example, helps balance a pink-ish (red) media; yellow is used for blue media; and magenta is used for green media; as well as combinations thereof. A combination of transparent process inks and opaque white helps to maintain brightness (luminosity).

Abstract: An example support structure assembly is described as including a brace, a media guide, and a compression member. An example brace includes a structure defining a mount area on a first surface of the brace and a first protrusion extending from a second surface of the brace. An example media guide includes a blade member, a hinge member, and a second protrusion extending away from the hinge member. An example compression member is coupled to the first protrusion of the brace and the second protrusion of the media guide to place a force on the media guide where a vector defines the force with a first component magnitude in a first direction towards the mount area that is greater than a second component magnitude in a second direction away from the mount area.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for driving droplet ejection devices with multi-level waveforms. In one embodiment, a method for driving droplet ejection devices includes applying a multi-level waveform to the droplet ejection devices. The multi-level waveform includes a first section having at least one compensating edge and a second section having at least one drive pulse. The compensating edge has a compensating effect on systematic variation in droplet velocity or droplet mass across the droplet ejection devices. In another embodiment, the compensating edge has a compensating effect on cross-talk between the droplet ejection devices.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a plasma treatment unit that performs plasma treatment on a surface of a treatment object to acidify at least the surface of the treatment object; and a recording unit that performs inkjet recording on the surface of the plasma treatment subjected to the plasma treatment by the plasma treatment unit.

Abstract: There is provided a process liquid coating apparatus comprising: a recording medium conveyance unit configured to convey a recording medium; a coating roller configured to rotate in accordance with the conveyed recording medium to apply process liquid on a surface of the recording medium; a pressure roller configured to cause the coating roller to apply the process liquid on the surface of the recording medium by forming an abutment part for nipping and pressing the recording medium with the coating roller; and a winding member configured to form a bent conveyance path along which the recording medium is bent with respect to a conveyance direction so that the recording medium is wound around the surface of the pressure roller, wherein the winding member is disposed adjacent to the pressure roller.

Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus which includes a recording portion which can perform recording, a transporting portion which transports a medium by coming into contact with the medium and is provided in an area upstream from the recording portion in a transporting direction of the medium, and a plurality of tension adjusters which are provided in a cross direction crossing the transporting direction and each of which can apply tension to the medium from at least either a recording surface side or a non-recording surface side opposite to the recording surface of the medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape printer including a feed portion, a feed path, a print portion, and a cut portion. The feed portion performs pre-print feed to feed a tape before a print process and post-print feed to feed the tape after the print process. In addition, the feed portion feeds the tape forward as the post-print feed such that the upstream-side end of an image printed on the tape is positioned on the downstream side of a cut position and the tape backward as the pre-print feed when the cut portion has not performed a cut operation after the post-print feed at the time of starting the following print process.

Abstract: An ink jet recording process using a glitter pigment provides satisfactory glitter even on a recording medium having a rough surface. The ink jet recording process includes a glitter image-forming step of forming a glitter image by discharging a glitter ink composition containing a glitter pigment to a recording medium and a pressing step of pressing the layer of the glitter image formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention includes a head, a first light source, a second light source. Liquid droplets of a photo-curable ink composition are applied to a recording medium. After one second or less elapses from the time when the liquid droplets are applied to the recording medium, the liquid droplets are illuminated with light of the first light source. After 0.1 second or more and one second or less elapses from the time when the liquid droplets are illuminated with light of the first light source, the liquid droplets are illuminated with light of the second light source.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a recorded matter including applying a first ink including a volatile first liquid to an intermediate transfer medium having ultraviolet transmittance; applying, using an ink jet method, second ink including a coloring agent and a polymerizable compound polymerized by irradiation of ultraviolet to locations on the intermediate transfer medium where first ink is applied; partially polymerizing the polymerizable compound by irradiating surface side of the intermediate transfer medium to which the second ink is applied with ultraviolet rays from the opposite side surface; transferring the second ink irradiated by ultraviolet in the polymerizing of the polymerizable compound to a recording medium; and curing the polymerizable compound configuring the second ink transferred to the recording medium.

Abstract: A printing device includes a paper medium print mode configured to execute printing on a paper medium; and a textile print mode configured to execute printing on a fabric medium, types of inks used in the textile print mode being greater in number than types of inks used in the paper medium print mode.

Abstract: A conveyor device is installed opposite to a recording head in a recording apparatus. The conveyor device includes a conveyor belt and a suction section. The conveyor belt conveys a recording medium. The suction section includes a guide member having first through holes within a first region and second through holes outside of the first region. The guide member has a surface that is located opposite to the recording head with the conveyor belt therebetween and that has first grooves and second grooves therein. The first region includes at least a head facing region located directly opposite to the recording head. The first through holes are located inside of the first grooves. Each of the first grooves is shorter than the recording head. The second through holes are located inside of the second grooves. The suction section sucks on the recording medium through the conveyor belt and the guide member.

Abstract: A conveyance device includes an image-forming drum (52) which fixes a rear surface (PB) of a sheet (P) and conveys the sheet along an arc-shaped path at a transfer position (312), a chain gripper which includes a gripper (64D) which is disposed on the downstream side of the image-forming drum in a conveyance direction and holds a leading end portion of the sheet, conveys the sheet along the arc-shaped path at the transfer position, and is disposed at a position at which a portion of the path leads to the image-forming drum side from the transfer position, and a blower unit (300) which is disposed on the chain gripper side from the transfer position, blows air from the chain gripper side to the image-forming drum side on the downstream side of the transfer position in the conveyance direction, and blows air toward the sheet conveyed by the chain gripper.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head that discharges ink to a printing region, and causes ink dots formed on the printing region to be cured to form a line image in a first direction, and a movement section that that causes the printing medium to move relative to the head in a second direction intersecting the first direction, in which the printing region is divided into a plurality of areas in the second direction, and the movement section alternately switches the area in which the line image is formed by the head between the plurality of areas while causing the printing medium to relatively move.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an opening/closing portion that is opened or closed relative to the apparatus main body, a first member configured to move as the opening/closing portion is opened or closed, a second member that contacts the first contact portion in the first member and interlocks with the first member, a sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to a position of the second member, and a recess portion that is provided in one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion and engages with another portion of the first contact portion and the second contact portion, in which the recess portion has a surface inclined relative to a movement direction of the first contact portion.

Abstract: A printing device includes a paper medium print mode configured to execute printing on a paper medium; and a textile print mode configured to execute printing on a fabric medium, a print resolution in the textile print mode being lower than a print resolution in the paper medium print mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous sublimation transfer ink composition. The sublimation transfer ink composition comprises a polysaccharide. The present invention further relates to a method of preparing said ink composition. The present invention also relates to a method for providing an image onto a receiving medium.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a flap pivoting between a first state to contact a first path-defining member and a second state to be separated from a first path-defining member. The first path-defining member, which faces a second path-defining member in a facing direction, includes a guide surface for guiding a sheet conveyed along a first conveying path, a contact surface positioned farther from the second path-defining member in the facing direction than the guide surface and configured to contact the flap in the first state, and an inclined surface positioned downstream of the contact surface in a conveying direction and inclined such that an upstream end thereof in the conveying direction is closer to the second path-defining member in the facing direction than a downstream end thereof. The upstream end of the inclined surface is closer to the second path-defining member in the facing direction than the contact surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding unit; an image formation unit; a conveyance unit configured to clamp and convey a recording medium; a paper ejection unit; a manual paper feeding unit configured to receive another recording medium inserted manually and feed the other recording medium from the paper ejection unit; and a switching member fixed on an axle and configured to move between a retracted position, which is retracted from a conveyance path in a case where the image formation unit forms an image, and an abutting position entering the conveyance path by rotating with a rotation of the axle. In a case of feeding the other recording medium manually inserted, the switching member is arranged at the abutting position, clamping by the conveyance unit is released, the other recording medium arrives at an abutment position, and the conveyance unit clamps the other recording medium.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that has a plurality of nozzles that eject liquid drops, and performs a recording process on a recording medium; and an abnormal ejection detecting unit that detects whether abnormal ejection in the nozzles exists, in which when the abnormal ejection detecting unit detects that nozzles with abnormal ejection exist, if a time required for a maintenance operation in order to solve the abnormal ejection of the nozzles is equal to or shorter than a threshold value, the recording process is interrupted and the maintenance operation is performed, and if the time required for the maintenance operation is longer than the threshold value, the maintenance operation is reserved and the recording process is continued.

Abstract: There is provided a transport belt to transport a medium by adhering to an adhesive layer which is on a surface of the transport belt, a liquid discharge section configured to discharge a liquid toward a surface of the transport belt, a sensor configured to detect a presence or absence of floating being generated in the medium on the transport belt, a flattening section configured to carry out an action of flattening with regard to the medium on the transport belt, and a control section configured to control an operation of the flattening section based on detecting information from the sensor.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus which includes a recording portion, and a contact portion configured to come into contact with an upper surface of the sheet. The contact portion has a storage portion provided on a side of the recording portion and configured to store an ink, and a protruding portion is provided between both ends in a width direction intersecting the transporting direction of the storage portion, and which is protruded toward the recording section, and an upper end of the protruding portion is the highest in the contact portion.

Abstract: A rotation shaft configured to rotate in a direction in which a sheet is fed in and in a direction in which the sheet is wound while supporting the sheet, a control unit configured to apply tension to the sheet by the rotation shaft by controlling torque applied to the rotation shaft, an ejection unit configured to eject light-curable liquid onto the sheet, and an irradiation device configured to irradiate light onto the liquid ejected onto the sheet by the ejection unit are provided. The tension applied to the sheet by the rotation shaft when the rotation shaft rotates in the direction in which the sheet is wounded is smaller than the tension applied to the sheet by the rotation shaft when the rotation shaft rotate in the direction in which the sheet is fed in.

Abstract: A method of printing with water-based inkjet inks on a water-impermeable, low-surface-energy substrate, includes: a) modifying surface properties of the substrate to increase the surface energy; b) coating the modified surface of the substrate with a first layer comprising a colorless water-based tie-layer composition; c) coating over the first layer with a second layer including a colorless and transparent water-based ink-receptive composition including: i) a water-soluble multivalent metal salt; and ii) a hydrophilic binder polymer; d) depositing directly on the surface of the second layer one or more water-based ink compositions containing an anionically stabilized pigment colorant, wherein the one or more water-based ink compositions are deposited in a predetermined pattern with an inkjet deposition system in response to electrical signals; and e) drying the first and second coated layers and the deposited inks to substantially remove the water.

Abstract: A method for printing an image with authentication features, including: printing a media treatment material onto a print medium in accordance with a pattern of predefined authentication features, and printing one or more visible printing materials onto the print medium in accordance with an image pattern, thereby providing a printed visible image. The media treatment material, the one or more visible printing materials and the print medium interact to produce surface deformations of the print medium. Characteristics of the surface deformations are different in image regions where the media treatment material was printed than in image regions where the media treatment material was not printed, so that the difference between the characteristics of the surface deformations causes the pattern of authentication features to be detectable.

Abstract: A method for printing an image with authentication features, including: printing a media treatment material onto a print medium in accordance with a pattern of predefined authentication features, and printing one or more visible printing materials onto the print medium in accordance with an image pattern, thereby providing a printed visible image. The media treatment material alters lateral spreading characteristics of the visible printing materials within the print medium, so that the lateral spreading characteristics are different in image regions where the media treatment material was printed than in image regions where the media treatment material was not printed. The difference in the lateral spreading characteristics causes the pattern of authentication features to be detectable.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an ink erasing system includes an erase fluid dispenser to apply erase fluid to a surface of a print medium. The system includes a plurality of nonadjacent pairs of electrodes positioned across a width of the print medium. The system also includes a controller to direct the erase fluid dispenser to apply the erase fluid in an erase region on the print medium, and to alternately electrify the nonadjacent pairs of electrodes to generate a moving electric field through the erase region.

Abstract: An image processing device, comprises: a display part; a manipulation detecting part for detecting an operation; an image inputting part for inputting image data; a storage part for storing the image data; an image processing part for performing image processing in accordance with a processing process set in advance; an image outputting part for outputting an image in a predetermined way to output based on the processed image data; a display controlling part for displaying a processing path to process the image data on the display part, and for moving an icon image corresponding to the image data along the processing path; and a job controlling part for temporarily suspending the processing performed by the image processing part or the image outputting part when the manipulation detecting part detects the operation on the display part, and making change in the image processing or the way to output.