Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a plurality of inkjet heads having nozzles ejecting a functional liquid material on a recording medium; a head holder fixing the plurality of inkjet heads at predetermined intervals; and an ink suction unit that has a suction port disposed in the vicinity of the nozzles thereof.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus according to the invention includes a liquid ejecting head capable of ejecting liquid from nozzle openings provided in a nozzle-forming surface, a nozzle-forming-surface visual-inspection unit for enabling a visual inspection of the nozzle-forming surface, and a liquid receptacle for receiving liquid discharged as waste liquid from the nozzle openings in the liquid ejecting head. The liquid receptacle is movable between a receiving position, where the liquid receptacle is positioned adjacent to the nozzle-forming surface, and a non-receiving position, where the liquid receptacle is positioned away from the receiving position. The liquid receptacle covers the nozzle-forming-surface visual-inspection unit when the liquid receptacle is positioned at the receiving position. The nozzle-forming-surface visual-inspection unit allows the nozzle-forming surface to be visually inspected when the liquid receptacle is positioned at the non-receiving position.

Abstract: An ink collection system includes at least one target surface and a fluid supply system in communication with the at least one target surface. The fluid supply system is configured to create a film of fluid across at least a portion of the at least one target surface, and wherein the film of fluid flushes away ink that impinges on the at least one target surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide a protective coating (60) that extends within a feed slot (40) and is limited so as to not extend into a firing chamber (47).

Abstract: The cleaning process best suited to the condition of an inkjet printer is selected and run, thereby removing nozzle clogging without wastefully consuming ink. The first time a cleaning switch 7 is operated a CL1 cleaning process is run. If the cleaning switch 7 is pressed a second time and the print pass count is less than e.g., 400, a CL2 cleaning process that uses more ink than the CL1 process is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used. If the print pass count is less than 400 the third time the switch is operated, the CL2 cleaning process is used, but the CL1 cleaning process is used if the print pass count is 400 or more. If the cleaning switch 7 is operated four or more times and the print pass count is less than 400, a YCL cleaning process that consumes substantially no ink is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet printer and an inkjet printing method, which enable an ink that overflowed to the outside from the edge of a printing medium to be fully absorbed by a platen. More specifically, the present invention provides an inkjet printer, comprising a platen, which absorbs a pigment ink that overflows to the outside of a printing medium when edgeless printing is carried out on the printing medium by using an ink that employs a pigment as a colorant, moving a printing head along a guide shaft, and ejecting the pigment ink from the printing head, and also an inkjet printing method, wherein the platen is impregnated with a humecant, a base, and the like.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus which discharges ink onto a recording medium to form an image, the inkjet recording apparatus including: a recording head having a nozzle for discharging ink; a conveying belt for supporting a recording medium and conveying the recording medium to a position facing the nozzle; a cleaning roller for cleaning the conveying belt; a cleaning liquid storage section for storing cleaning liquid to be applied to the cleaning roller; a contamination detector for detecting a density of contamination of the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid storage section; a liquid supplying section for controlling supply of cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid storage section in accordance with a density of contamination detected by the contamination detector; and a liquid draining section for draining at least a part of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid storage section.

Abstract: A maintenance unit for a droplet ejecting device, includes a base frame, a sealing unit, a guiding mechanism, and a supporting part. The sealing unit is capable of sealing nozzles. The guiding mechanism is capable of moving the sealing unit, in association with a reciprocating motion of a carriage between a first position in which the sealing unit seals the nozzles and a second position in which the sealing unit separates from the nozzles. The guiding mechanism includes a first engaging part and a second engaging part that are coupled to the sealing unit. The second engaging part is provided at a side closer to a droplet ejecting region than the first engaging part. The supporting part supports the sealing unit and is in a position either just, below the first engaging part or at a side farther from the droplet ejecting region than the first engaging part when the sealing unit is in the second position.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a printhead mounted on a support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide mounted on the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. The assembly also includes a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide, as well as a pad with an angled contact surface to operatively facilitate the transferal of ink from the printhead to the wicking element. The wicking element is formed from an absorbent material and is positioned in a cavity defined between the print media guide and the support structure.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly having a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. The assembly also includes a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. An ink collector is arranged on the wicking element for receiving ink that has wicked through the wicking element to ensure that wicked ink is removed away from the printhead.

Abstract: A maintenance sheet with a facing surface facing a nozzle formation surface of a liquid ejection head provided in a liquid ejecting apparatus is provided. The maintenance sheet includes a cap section that is brought into abutment with the nozzle formation surface to form a sealed space in cooperation with the nozzle formation surface when the facing surface and the nozzle formation surface have been made to approach each other relatively in a facing position where the facing surface faces the nozzle formation surface, and that is made variable in internal volume in the abutment state, a communication hole that is penetratingly formed so as to allow the inside and outside of the cap section to communicate with each other, and a valve that opens and closes the communication hole. The valve activates to open with a reduction in the internal volume of the cap section, while the valve activates to close with an increase in the internal volume of the cap section.

Abstract: A method of purging ink from an inkjet printhead is provided. The printhead is in fluid communication with an ink reservoir via an ink conduit. The method comprises compressing part of the ink conduit using a hammer mechanism, thereby purging ink from the printhead and flooding an ink ejection face of the printhead.

Abstract: A position control unit performs control so that the position of a controlled object is detected, and as a result of the detection, a drive unit is reverse-directed if the controlled object is situated beyond an ultimate target position, and the operation of the drive unit is stopped if the controlled object is situated beyond an acceptable ultimate target range.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a deposition printing system which includes two or more print units capable of moving with respect to each other during printing, each of the print units having one or more print heads together forming a head arrangement; and a controller to control movement of the print units to dynamically change the head arrangement during the printing.

Abstract: Provided is an air supply arrangement for a print engine having a pagewidth printhead and a driving assembly for feeding print media past the printhead. The print engine has a chassis molding for receiving the air supply arrangement. The air supply arrangement includes a receptacle cover molding defining an air supply channel leading to the printhead when the cover molding is operatively received by the chassis molding, the cover molding further defining air inlet and outlet openings. The air supply arrangement also includes an air pump attached to the cover molding and arranged to pump air from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening, the outlet opening arranged in fluid communication with the air supply channel. Also included is an air filter assembly operatively fitted to the receptacle cover so that air is able to be pumped through the filter to the air inlet opening to facilitate cleaning of the printhead.

Abstract: A cartridge unit for an inkjet printer is provided which has a body portion having ink storage compartments, a pagewidth printhead configured to receive ink from the compartments and distribute the ink to nozzles arranged in use to deliver the ink onto passing print media, and a capping assembly for capping the printhead. The capping assembly has a body which extends the printhead length, a capping element housed within the body and having a rim portion which caps at least a portion of the printhead and a displacement assembly housed within the body for moving the capping element between a first position where the rim portion extends from the body and a second position where the rim portion is contained within the body. The displacement assembly is controlled by an electromagnet which determines the position. The ink storage compartments comprise absorption material which stores the ink under capillary action.

Abstract: A method for nozzle health scanning including repositioning at least one moving platform at a synchronized speed for a drop detection sensor to scan nozzles in a set of nozzles firing, where the synchronized speed is based on a rate of firing from nozzles in the set of nozzles and a distance between the nozzles in the set of nozzles, and storing the health of the nozzles in a computer readable memory accessible by a machine.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device one aspect of the invention comprises: a plurality of inkjet heads each having an ink ejection surface; a frame that has a plurality of holes formed therein and supports the plurality of inkjet heads such that the plurality of ink ejection surfaces are respectively exposed from the plurality of holes; a cap comprising a projection formed thereon to define a plurality of recessed portions; and a cap moving mechanism configured to move at least one of the cap and the frame to selectively position the projection at a first position and a second position. The projection at the first position abuts on the frame such that the plurality of ink ejection surfaces are respectively surrounded by the plurality of recessed portions. The projection at the second position is spaced from the frame.

Abstract: A printer includes a recording head having a nozzle that ejects ink and a suction pump that draws the ink through the nozzle. A valve unit and a filter are arranged in a passage that supplies the ink to the recording head. A controller of the printer operates the suction pump to perform suction/suspension in which suction of the ink from the passage through the nozzle and suspension of the suction are alternately repeated with the valve unit maintained in a closed state, thus promoting joining of bubbles on the filter. The controller then operates to open the valve unit to drain the joint bubbles from the filter, together with the ink, using negative pressure accumulated in the passage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a maintenance station for an inkjet printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes a carrier frame operatively supporting an ink supply manifold and a pagewidth printhead supplied with ink from said manifold. The station is moveable between a cleaning position and a printing position, and includes a drive motor, and a number of rollers of which at least one is operatively actuated by the drive motor. The station also includes a film wound in a loop around said rollers, so that actuation of the rollers by the motor produces a laminar ink flow in a cavity defined by the maintenance station and printhead assembly when in the cleaning position. This enables an ejection surface of the printhead to be cleaned without the film physically contacting said ejection surface.

Abstract: A printhead assembly with an elongate printhead IC having a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles, and a support structure for supporting the elongate printhead IC on an external surface such that its length is transverse to a media feed direction through the printer. The external surface has a section that is flush with a long side edge of the elongate printhead IC.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printhead; a print drum for transporting print media in the printing system including to the printhead; and a spittoon disposed on the print drum for receiving ink from a spitting operation of the printhead. A method of performing a spitting operation for a printhead includes rotating a print drum with respect to the printhead, where the drum comprises a spittoon disposed on the drum for receiving ink ejected from the printhead during the spitting operation; aligning the spittoon on the drum with the printhead; and spitting ink with the printhead to the spittoon.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus having a liquid ejection head, a maintenance portion that maintains the liquid ejection head, a pressure source that applies pressure to the maintenance portion, and a valve unit that controls the pressure applied from the pressure source to the maintenance portion. The valve unit includes a valve body, a first passage defining member, a second passage defining member, a first passage, and a second passage. The first passage defining member and the second passage defining member are located at opposite sides of the valve body. The first passage is defined between the valve body and the first passage defining member. The second passage is defined between the valve body and the second passage defining member. The valve body has a first passage valve that closes the first passage when the valve body moves in the first direction and a second passage valve that closes the second passage when the valve body moves in the second direction.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a brush, a suction unit, and a wiper. The brush brushes off matters adhering to an ink ejection face of an ink-jet head. The suction unit sucks the matters brushed off by the brush. The wiper has a contact face to be brought into contact with the ink ejection face to remove matters adhering to the ink ejection face. A brush moving mechanism is provided for moving the brush in parallel with the ink ejection face. A wiper moving mechanism is provided for moving the wiper in parallel with the ink ejection face. The wiper moving mechanism can move the wiper with bringing the contact face of the wiper into contact with the ink ejection face. A controller of the ink-jet recording apparatus controls the brush, the suction unit, and the wiper.

Abstract: A service station for use with a fluid ejection device having a fluid-ejection mechanism with at least one nozzle includes a housing configured to attach to the fluid-ejection mechanism and to remain attached to the fluid-ejection mechanism during the fluid-ejection operation. A shutter arranged within the housing includes at least one opening, and is selectively moveable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the nozzle. In the open position the opening exposes the nozzle and in the closed position the nozzle is covered. An actuation mechanism separate from the housing is positioned to selectively couple with the shutter, such that activation of the actuation mechanism causes the shutter to move between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a liquid discharging head and a maintenance-recovery mechanism. In the liquid discharging head, a row of discharge openings is formed on a discharge opening surface. In the maintenance-recovery mechanism, a blade wipes the discharge opening surface. A belt carries the blade in a direction of rotation along the row of discharge openings. A pressing member presses an inner circumferential surface of the belt to move a portion of the belt opposing the liquid discharging head toward the liquid discharging head to maintain a substantially constant gap between the blade and the discharge opening surface. The gap has a length in the direction of rotation of the belt not smaller than a length of the row of discharge openings and not greater than a length of the liquid discharging head.

Abstract: A print system including a vacuum blower configured to create both a vacuum pressure and exhaust, a vacuum chamber configured to distribute the vacuum pressure created by the vacuum blower, a transport belt configured to pass in close proximity to the vacuum chamber, the transport belt having a plurality of holes, and a pneumatic cleaning device configured to direct the exhaust created by the vacuum blower through one or more holes of the transport belt in close proximity to the pneumatic cleaning device. The pneumatic cleaning device includes an upper cleaning head comprising a one or more vents configured to direct air through holes in a transport belt; and a lower cleaning body. The lower cleaning body includes a muffler, a removable collection area configured to collect debris in the exhaust, and a filter configured to collect in the exhaust.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a head having a jetting port surface in which a jetting port is formed; and a maintenance unit having a cap in which a discharge port is formed, an absorber arranged in the cap, and a suction mechanism which communicates with the discharge port. The absorber includes a first absorbing portion covering the discharge port, and a second absorbing portion arranged to be in contact with the first absorbing portion. A channel resistance of the first absorbing portion with respect to a liquid is higher than that of the second absorbing portion. Accordingly, when an idle suction is performed, it is possible to discharge uniformly a liquid absorbed in the first and absorbing portions.

Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to a printhead cleaning web assembly drive train are disclosed.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer, a plurality of transport belts are disposed at a predetermined interval in a direction intersecting a transport direction of a printing medium, the printing medium is absorbed on the transport belts to be transported, and an ink jet head ejects an ink droplet on the printing medium transported by the transport belts to perform a printing operation, and a support member that gradually lifts the end portions of the transported printing medium in the direction intersecting the transport direction up to the height of circumferential surfaces of the transport belts is disposed between the plurality of transport belts and below the circumferential surfaces of the transport belts.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance assembly for an inkjet printer includes a movable chassis arranged in a housing; an endless belt mounted on the chassis, the endless belt having a contact surface reciprocally movable between a first position in which the contact surface is engaged with the printhead and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the printhead; a pair of spools mounted on the chassis and on which the belt is mounted, one of the spools being a toothed drive spool and the other being an idler spool; a drive gear driven by a drive motor and engaged with the drive spool, the drive gear, the drive spool, and the drive motor forming a conveyor mechanism for conveying the belt in a direction substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the printhead; and a cleaning station mounted on the chassis and positioned to clean the belt as the belt moves past.

Abstract: A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a substrate assembly defining rows of ink inlet channels. Rows of nozzle arrangements are disposed on the substrate assembly and include rows of nozzles defining nozzle chambers in fluid communication with respective ink inlet channels. The nozzle arrangements include respective actuators arranged in rows which are configured to eject ink from corresponding nozzles. Ink spillage-containment gaps are defined between respective adjacent rows of nozzle arrangements.

Abstract: A printer arrangement having a printhead mounted on a carrier, the printhead connected to a printhead controller by means of encapsulated wire bonds. The arrangement also includes an ink supply manifold having a plurality of ink reservoirs for supplying the printhead with ink, and an ink transport assembly configured to facilitate purging of ink from the printhead when the assembly is in a cleaning position.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device is provided which has a printhead with an array of nozzles for printing a media substrate, a capper assembly movable between a capped position covering the nozzles and an uncapped position spaced from the nozzles, a drive shaft for feeding the media past the printhead, and a print engine controller for operatively controlling the printhead. The capper assembly is held in the uncapped position by the media such that it moves to the capped position upon disengagement with the media. During use, the print engine controller senses the number of complete and partial rotations of the drive shaft and adjusts the operation of the printhead in response to variations in the angular velocity of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording head having nozzle holes formed on a nozzle surface which is placed opposite to a recording medium; a platen disposed opposite to the recording head; a cleaner for cleaning the nozzle surface of the recording head in predetermined cycles; a gap adjusting unit for adjusting a gap between the nozzle surface of the recording head and the platen; and a control unit for controlling an operation of the gap adjusting unit. The control unit includes a measuring unit for measuring a value indicating a recording amount of recording performed on the recording medium. The control unit is configured to change a first predetermined gap to a second predetermined gap larger than the first predetermined gap when a specified timing at which a value indicating the recording amount exceeds a predetermined value arrives after the cleaner has cleaned the nozzle surface.

Abstract: An ink-jet head protection assembly of the present invention comprises an ink-jet head, a head cap that protects the ink-jet head and a support member supporting the head cap so that the head cap contacts an ejection face of the ink-jet head. In the head cap, a surface confronting the ejection face of the ink-jet head is formed with a protrusion contacting the ejection face. A contact surface of the protrusion to the ejection face surrounds, in plan view, an area in which ejection ports are formed. Gas is filled in a closed space defined by a surface of the head cap, the protrusion and the ejection face.

Abstract: An ink-jet image forming apparatus includes a recording head in which a plurality of nozzle groups jetting an ink is formed, a carriage which is mounted on the recording head, and which is capable of reciprocating in a predetermined direction, a waste-ink tank which stores the ink discharged from a the nozzle groups, and an air guide section which expedites evaporation of waste-ink by guiding a flow of air generated by the carriage movement to the waste-ink tank. Accordingly, it is possible to make the waste-ink tank compact without reducing an amount to be received of the waste-ink.

Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a first liquid jetting head having a nozzle which jets a first liquid supplied from a first liquid supply source; a second liquid jetting head having a nozzle which jets a second liquid supplied from a second liquid supply source; a liquid shortage detecting section detecting shortage of the first liquid in the first liquid supply source; a state detecting section which detects a state of the first liquid jetting head since a time at which the shortage of the first liquid has been detected by the liquid shortage detecting section up to a time at which the shortage of the first liquid is solved; a recovery mechanism which performs a recovery operation of the first liquid jetting head and the second liquid jetting head; and a controller which controls the first liquid jetting head, the second liquid jetting head, and the recovery mechanism.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead cartridge includes a cartridge body including a base and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base. A filter tower having a tower wall has an interior surface that defines a location of a tower passageway. A printhead chip assembly is attached to the base of the cartridge body in fluid communication with the tower passageway. A filter is attached to the filter tower at a distal end thereof. An ink fill access port is formed through a side wall of the plurality of sidewalls, and through the tower wall of the filter tower, to define a fluid path from the atmosphere external to the cartridge body to the tower passageway of the filter tower to facilitate the injection of ink directly into the filter tower during an ink filling operation for the ink jet printhead cartridge.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes an elongate ink feed structure defining a plurality of longitudinally extending ink supply passages and a plurality of spaced apart sets of outlet holes with the holes of each set being in fluid communication with respective ink supply passages. A plurality of printhead modules is serially arranged along the ink feed structure in fluid communication with respective sets of outlet holes. Each printhead module includes an elongate printhead configured to eject ink supplied from the ink feed structure and angled with respect to the ink feed structure so that the printheads are oriented obliquely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ink feed structure. A capping arrangement is configured to cap the printheads when not in use.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a large nozzle array including a plurality of ejection outlets for ejecting ink and a small nozzle array including a plurality of ejection outlets, each having an opening area smaller than an opening area of ejection outlets of the large nozzle array. The ink jet recording head is mountable to an ink jet recording apparatus which is capable of causing the ink jet recording head to eject ink for a purpose of maintenance of the ink jet recording head without image formation on a recording material, the large nozzle array is supplied with light ink such as yellow, light cyan or light magenta ink, and the small nozzle array is supplied with dark ink such as cyan, magenta or black ink. The number of ejections of the dark ink is greater than the number of ejections of the light ink.

Abstract: A packaging structure of an inkjet head for transporting thereof with a liquid stored therein, the inkjet head including an ink inlet of ink supplied from an ink source and a nozzle communicated with the ink inlet for discharging the ink to a recording medium, comprises a first packaging member including a cap for covering an opening of said nozzle, the first packaging member being detachably attached to the opening of said nozzle, and a second packaging member including an ink absorbing material for covering said ink inlet, the second packaging member being detachably attached to said ink inlet.

Abstract: A fluid ejector head includes a die with a plurality of fluid ejector units, each fluid ejector unit comprising a pumping actuator having a drive electrode, and a manifold that contacts the first side of the die to define a module volume in fluidic communication with a drainage volume. The module volume is defined in part between the manifold and at least a portion of plurality of fluid ejector units, and the drainage volume is located apart from the fluid ejector units. The module volume, in comparison to the drainage volume, has a greater ratio of interior surface area to volume or has a greater percentage of interior surface area covered by a non-wetting coating.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording device, includes: a container having an ink supply port; at least two ink chambers partitioned in the container, one being located substantially in an upper section and the other being located substantially in a lower section; an ink suction passage connecting a bottom region of the lower section ink chamber to a bottom region of the upper section ink chamber; and a negative pressure generating mechanism provided to a flow passage connecting the upper section ink chamber to the ink supply port.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing an inkjet head, includes: an opening section forming step of forming, with respect to a SOI substrate having a first silicon layer, a second silicon layer and a first thermal oxide film between the first silicon layer and the second silicon layer, nozzle opening sections passing through the second silicon layer and the first thermal oxide film and reaching the first silicon layer; after the opening section forming step, a first silicon layer removing step of removing the first silicon layer; and after the first silicon layer removal step, a liquid-repellent film forming step of forming a liquid-repellent film on a surface of the first thermal oxide film that has been exposed in the first silicon layer removal step.

Abstract: A print head cleaning device, an ink jet image forming apparatus having the same, and methods thereof include a cleaning liquid circulation and/or a structure to clean an image forming apparatus print head.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which performs printing on a printing medium using an inkjet printhead for discharging ink, preliminary discharge, where ink discharge irrespective of printing is performed at the time of print execution, is performed under a predetermined condition. The printing apparatus includes a control section and a setting section. The control section executes a preliminary discharge by the printhead, which has a plurality of discharge orifices, before a predetermined time has elapsed since a latest preliminary discharge, in printing of an image, and the setting section sets the predetermined time. The setting section obtains an elapsed time after executing the preliminary discharge until a discharge failure occurs in any one of the plurality of discharge orifices, and sets the elapsed time as the predetermined time.

Abstract: A cleaning mechanism for cleaning a print head in an inkjet printer with the print head having ink nozzles for discharging ink including a drive control unit which operates the cleaning mechanism at a first process level or a second process level that consumes less ink than the first process level; a timer which counts the elapsed time passed in which the print head is in a no-printing state; and a process selection unit responsive to a predetermined input cleaning command for selecting the first process level when the no-printing state has continued for less than a predetermined time or the second process level when the no-printing state has continued for greater than the predetermined time, based on the value of the timer when the predetermined input cleaning command is received. The predetermined input cleaning command can be received from a cleaning button or from a host computer.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance facility for an inkjet printer having a pagewidth printhead and a media path for feeding sheets of media substrate in a media feed direction, wherein the pagewidth printhead has an elongate array of nozzles extending the printing width of the media substrate. The printhead maintenance facility has an inner chassis for mounting in the printer such that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis, an outer chassis mounted to the inner chassis, the outer chassis having a plurality of maintenance station mounting sites and a plurality of maintenance stations mounted to the outer chassis.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a web are disclosed.