Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a heater controller and a purge controller. The heater controller controls a heater to heat liquid in at least a part of a liquid path of a head when an ambient temperature of the head is lower than a first predetermined temperature. The purge controller controls a pressurizer so that: the pressurizer is continuously driven until a predetermined amount of liquid is ejected from ejection openings, when the ambient temperature is not lower than the first predetermined temperature; and the pressurizer is intermittently driven plural times until the predetermined amount of liquid is ejected from the ejection openings, when the ambient temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature, an amount of liquid ejected from the ejection openings in response to a single driving action of the pressurizer being not larger than an amount of liquid heated by the heater.

Abstract: In an ink jet print head formed with ejection nozzles, which may use a wiping member to wipe ink adhered to the surface of the ink jet print head, it is desired to be able to perform a wiping operation in any environment without requiring a large amount of space to accommodate the liquid used during the wiping operation. To this end, a cooling unit is used which can produce water by cooling the atmosphere. This cooling unit is operated to produce water, which is brought into contact with and transferred onto the wiping member before the wiping member performs wiping.

Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a jetting module including an array of nozzles; a thermal stimulation device associated with each nozzle of the array of nozzles; and a controller in electrical communication with each thermal stimulation device. The controller is configured to provide a first activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device and to provide a second activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device to clean the associated nozzle with liquid emitted from the associated nozzle. The second activation waveform has a higher activation component when compared to the first activation waveform.

Abstract: An ink receiving unit for an inkjet printer includes an ink receiver and an ink removing device. The inkjet printer has an inkjet head configured to eject ink onto a first surface of a medium. The ink receiver is provided to face the inkjet head via the medium. The ink receiver is configured to receive ink dripping from a second surface opposite to the first surface of the medium during printing. The ink removing device is configured to remove the ink from the ink receiver. The ink receiver unit is detachably mounted to a main body to which the inkjet head is mounted.

Abstract: A printer including a medium supporting member that supports a print medium in a state placed thereon, a print head that has nozzles for ejecting ink droplets downward and freely reciprocates above the medium supporting member, and a maintenance device. The maintenance device is disposed to face the lower surface of the print head when the print head is in a standby position and receives residual ink in the nozzles which is ejected from the nozzles when the print head is in the standby position. The maintenance device has an ink receiving chamber that opens upward for receiving the residual ink ejected from the nozzles and a liquid injection member that injects liquid into the ink receiving chamber when the print head is away from a position where the print head faces the ink receiving chamber in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a jetting head unit which has a nozzle which jets droplets of a liquid, and a heat generating section, a suction port which is formed in the jetting head unit, and which opens near the nozzle, and a suction device which sucks air around the nozzle from the suction port, and cools down the heat generating section of the jetting head unit by the air which is sucked. Since the heat generating portion is cooled down by the air sucked from the suction port by the suction device, it is possible to reduce a possibility of the heat of the heat generating section being transferred to the jetting head unit, and destabilizing an operation of the jetting head unit. Moreover, since the suction port opens near the nozzle, it is possible to suck fine liquid droplets together with air around the nozzle.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head disposed on a transport path of a target to eject liquid from nozzles at a nozzle forming surface, a target transport unit transporting the target on the basis of a driving force of a first driving source such that the target passes through a position opposite the nozzle forming surface on the transport path, a liquid receptor transport unit transporting a liquid receptor for receiving the liquid ejected from the nozzles as a waste liquid on the basis of a driving force of a second driving source such that the liquid receptor passes through the position opposite the nozzle forming surface on the transport path, and a control unit controlling a driving state of the second driving source in order to change a transport velocity of the liquid receptor by the liquid receptor transport unit while the liquid receptor is transported.

Abstract: A method of performing maintenance on a printhead of an imaging device includes the application of a purge pressure to ink in an on-board reservoir of the printhead to cause ink to be burped through a plurality of apertures in an aperture plate of the printhead. A wiper blade is then dabbed on the aperture plate at least once after the application of the purge pressure. After the dabbing, the wiper blade is drawn across the aperture plate. The wiper blade is then dabbed against the dabbing position at least once after wiping the aperture plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for free-spraying an inkjet printhead includes a feed table with a slot carrier which can be deflected counter to a spring force and has at least one free-spraying slot disposed opposite at least one inkjet printhead. The slot carrier is shaped in such a way that the at least one free-spraying slot is deflected out of a transport path corresponding to an entry of an item of mail being fed in.

Abstract: A printer and method include a first receiver configured to receive fluid ejected by one or more print heads on a first side of a media and a second receiver configured to receive fluid ejected by the one or more print heads on a second side of the media, wherein the second receiver is movable relative to the first receiver.

Abstract: The invention provides for a printhead assembly configured to purge printheads of a printer. The assembly includes duplex printheads arranged opposite each other to define a print media feed gap between them, and two purging members each defining a purging chamber arranged in fluid communication with a suction pump. The assembly also includes actuating mechanisms configured to move the printheads to a purging position where the printheads are located adjacent the chambers so that the suction pump is able to remove material purged from said printheads.

Abstract: This invention provides an ink jet assembly that prevents and controls ink drips from upper print heads from contacting the lower print heads or paper in the system. A heated ink drip bib is provided below the ink jet releasing portion of a print head. This ink drip bib directs falling or dripping ink into a drip tray located below each ink bib during the purge cycle. The ink bibs and the drip trays are co-extensive so that any ink being deflected from the ink bib is caught by the ink tray. In one embodiment, the ink bib is angled away from the printing surface to ensure that any solidified ink is separated from an imaging surface.

Abstract: The invention provides for a printer assembly for a pagewidth printer. The assembly includes a casing that defines a print media feed path, and duplex printheads arranged on opposite sides of the a print media feed path. Also included are two purging members each inclined at a predetermined angle to a direction of travel of print media through the path, each member defining a purging chamber. The assembly further includes extractor tubes connecting the purging chambers in fluid communication with a suction pump, and an actuating mechanism configured to displace the printheads between a printing position, where the printheads are able to print onto media fed through the feed gap, and a purging position, where the printheads are located at the predetermined angle relative to the media path adjacent the chambers to allow the suction pumps to remove material purged from said printheads.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus including: a cartridge mount; a recording head; an ink passage; an ink discharger; and a controller. An ink cartridge that stores ink is to be replaceably mounted on the cartridge mount. The recording head ejects the ink toward a recording medium. Through the ink passage, the ink is supplied from the cartridge mount to the recording head. The ink discharger discharges the ink. The controller includes a cartridge judgment section and a discharger control section. The cartridge judgment section judges whether the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mount is a subject cartridge that satisfies a predetermined condition or not. The discharger control section controls the ink discharger to discharge at least the ink in the ink passage when the cartridge judgment section has judged that the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mount is the subject cartridge.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes two liquid discharge heads, a wiper unit, and an actuating mechanism. Each of the two liquid discharge heads has a nozzle face on which at least one nozzle opening for discharging liquid is formed. The two liquid discharge heads are located so that the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads face each other. The wiper unit is pressed against each of the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads at a position at which the wiper unit is placed between the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads. The actuating mechanism reciprocally moves the wiper unit relatively along the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads.

Abstract: A printhead purging system comprises an ink conduit for supplying ink to a printhead, a hammer head for hammering a wall of a compressible part of the conduit, a spring-loading mechanism for priming the hammer head, and a release mechanism for releasing the primed hammer head. Release of the primed hammer head compresses the ink conduit and results in purging of ink from the printhead.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a jetting head unit which has a nozzle which jets droplets of a liquid, and a heat generating section, a suction port which is formed in the jetting head unit, and which opens near the nozzle, and a suction device which sucks air around the nozzle from the suction port, and cools down the heat generating section of the jetting head unit by the air which is sucked. Since the heat generating portion is cooled down by the air sucked from the suction port by the suction device, it is possible to reduce a possibility of the heat of the heat generating section being transferred to the jetting head unit, and destabilizing an operation of the jetting head unit. Moreover, since the suction port opens near the nozzle, it is possible to suck fine liquid droplets together with air around the nozzle.

Abstract: Embodiments of a biodegradable absorbent material in a permeable membrane are disclosed.

Abstract: An inkjet printer can appropriately flush two inkjet heads disposed to a carriage. The inkjet printer 1 flushes the first inkjet head 13A before printing starts when print data is received (step ST1), and flushes a second inkjet head 13B while the carriage 14 returns from the printing area C to the home position A after printing ends (steps ST2, ST3). As a result, because the carriage 14 is not moved from the home position A before printing starts, the start of printing is not delayed. Furthermore, because the direction of carriage 14 movement does not change after the second inkjet head 13B is flushed, the carriage 14 returns to the home position A quickly. Starting printing the next print data is therefore not delayed.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus that includes an intermediate transfer body that has an image forming surface including an image forming region on which an image is formed by means of the ink droplets ejected from an ink ejection head and a cleaning device which makes contact with the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body to wipe off and remove adhering material attached to the intermediate transfer body. A second cleaning device makes contact with the first cleaning device to remove adhering material attached to the first cleaning device. An ejection control device controls ink ejection from the head and a recovery device is provided which recovers the adhering material removed by the second cleaning device.

Abstract: Even in the case where preliminary ejection is performed by a recording head having an array of pigment ink ejection outlets and an array of dye ink ejection outlets in which a length of the pigment ink ejection outlet array is longer than a length of the dye ink ejection outlet array, deposition of preliminarily ejected pigment ink at a preliminary ejection receiving portion is effectively prevented by providing an inclined surface at the preliminary ejection receiving portion so that ink from the dye ink ejection outlets is received at an upstream position of the inclined surface and ink from the pigment ink ejection outlets is received at a downstream position of the inclined surface in a direction of gravity.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a recording head including ink chambers each provided for each of inks of mutually different colors and nozzles each communicating with either of the ink chambers, the recording head performing recording by ejecting, from each of the nozzles, a corresponding one of the inks which corresponds to said each of the nozzles; an ink suction device including a cap arranged to fluid-tightly cover a nozzle surface of the recording head in which the nozzles are formed, the ink suction device sucking the inks from the nozzles utilizing the cap; and a control device for controlling the ink-jet recording apparatus, the control device including an initial-cleaning-operation executing portion which executes, upon initial working of the apparatus, an initial cleaning operation including: controlling the ink suction device to execute an initial ink sucking action wherein the inks are sucked from the nozzles; and controlling the recording head to execute (a) an all-nozzle-ink-ejecting

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table facing a drawing area by an X-axis table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes a periodic flushing unit which is disposed on a main scan moving axis at a position offset from the drawing area towards the main scanning direction and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head during non-drawing time and a pre-drawing flushing unit which is disposed adjacent to the set table and faces the drawing area and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head performed immediately before starting the drawing operation.

Abstract: Fluid is purged from a plurality of fluid-ejection nozzles of a fluid-ejection mechanism. A first series of spit-wipe operations is performed. A second series of spit-wipe operations is then performed.

Abstract: A cloth holding frame is removably set on a frame driving mechanism in a printer including a print head. The cloth holding frame holding the cloth to be printed is detachably provided with the ink tray to receive a jet of ink from the print head by a flushing, and is moved to a flushing position based on a moving distance and, in association therewith, a type of the cloth holding frame set in the printer. Accordingly, the maintenance time for the flushing becomes shorter. The speed of the printing process is enhanced. The controlling operation of the frame driving mechanism to perform the flushing becomes simplified, and the printer can be downsized.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes liquid ejection heads, wipers, and a movement means. The liquid ejection heads respectively have ejection faces, and are arranged in such a manner that the ejection faces form two rows extending in one direction and in addition two of the ejection faces included in different rows do not overlap each other along a direction perpendicular to the one direction. The liquid ejection heads are divided into one or more head groups each including two of the liquid ejection heads corresponding to the different rows. The movement means moves two of the wipers associated with two liquid ejection heads belonging to each head group, from inner end portions of the ejection faces in opposite directions along the perpendicular direction while keeping the two wipers in contact with the ejection faces.

Abstract: A waste ink container includes a container main body which forms a chamber to accumulate waste ink therein. An upper plate covers an upper part of the chamber and includes an opening to introduce a plurality of waste ink droplets therethrough. A waste ink containment device includes a discharge preventing unit which is adjacent to the opening and extends from the upper part of the chamber to inhibit the waste ink droplets from being discharged through the opening.

Abstract: In an image forming device including a liquid discharge head in which nozzles for discharging liquid drops are arranged side by side, a drive waveform generating unit generates, within a single drive cycle, a first drive waveform containing a drive signal to discharge an amount of liquid drop used for image formation, and a second drive waveform containing a drive signal to discharge an amount of liquid drop smaller than a minimum discharge drop amount used for image formation. A head control unit causes the liquid discharge head to discharge the amount of liquid drop used for image formation in accordance with the first drive waveform for a region where an image is formed, and to discharge the amount of liquid drop smaller than the minimum discharge drop amount in accordance with the second drive waveform for a region where any image is not formed.

Abstract: A drip bib for use with a printhead of an imaging device includes a plate having an upper surface having an upper edge, an intermediate surface angled with respect to the upper surface, and a lower edge. The intermediate surface includes a plurality of fastener openings. The lower edge includes a drip point projecting from the lower edge with remaining portions of the lower edge being upturned and angled downwardly from at least one end of the lower edge toward the drip point. A plurality of protrusions protrudes from a back side of the upper surface. The protrusions in the plurality of protrusions are spaced from each other and proximate the upper edge.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus that can inexpensively print desired colors without causing ink color mixture. In a print head, a plurality of nozzle rows for respective ink colors are arranged in parallel with one another. Arrangements and driving control are provided so that few mists resulting from an ink ejecting operation move so as not to reach the print head or fall.

Abstract: Tray inserts are disclosed for production printing systems. The tray inserts rest in ink trays and hold ink absorbing elements. The tray inserts and ink absorbing elements collect ink when printheads print outside of the margin of a printable medium, or otherwise discharge ink that does not contact the medium, such as during a cleaning cycle. When the ink absorbing elements become saturated and excess ink collects in the tray inserts, the tray inserts may be lifted vertically out of the ink trays and the ink absorbing elements may be removed from the tray inserts. The excess ink may then be dumped or otherwise cleaned from the tray inserts. In one embodiment, the tray inserts include drains which are used to empty the excess ink.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising nozzles capable of ejecting a liquid onto a medium, a rotational drum including a circumferential surface having a holding area for holding the medium and a non-holding area provided with an opening, wherein the circumferential surface rotates while facing the nozzles, and an absorptive drum which is provided inside the rotational drum which is capable of absorbing the liquid ejected from the nozzles toward the opening of the outer circumference in order to perform a flushing operation.

Abstract: A printing system that has a printhead assembly for printing media fed along a media path and a plurality of service modules for the printhead assembly. Each of the service modules is configured to operate in a plurality of different modes and each of the service modules are independently operable.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a discharge head which discharges a liquid from a discharge port onto a recording medium to form an image, a sub tank which is movable together with the discharge head and which stores the liquid to be supplied to the discharge head, a liquid supplement section which supplements the sub tank with the liquid, a purge section which performs a purge operation in which the liquid in the sub tank is pressurized to be fed to the discharge head, and the liquid in the discharge head is forcibly discharged from the discharge ports, a judging mechanism which judges whether or not an amount of the liquid in the sub tank is not more than a predetermined amount V1, and a controller which controls the liquid supplement section and the purge section.

Abstract: A method of printing on a substrate and a printer are provided. The method uses a printer comprising a print head and a mask having a hole therethrough, the mask being disposed between the print head and the substrate, and comprises aligning the hole with the print head; printing on the substrate through the hole; and misaligning the hole with the print head so that the print head is covered by the mask. The method may allow the servicing of a print head in the array while the printer is printing on the substrate using at least one of the remainder of the print heads in the array.

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 liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table facing a drawing area by an X-axis table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes a periodic flushing unit which is disposed on a main scan moving axis at a position offset from the drawing area towards the main scanning direction and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head during non-drawing time and a pre-drawing flushing unit which is disposed adjacent to the set table and faces the drawing area and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head performed immediately before starting the drawing operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adding pages to a sequence of imprinted images used for flushing of inkjet features and then discarding the added pages following imprinting of the added pages. Features and aspects hereof within a printing system automatically insert additional pages (flush pages) in a sequence of imprinted page. The inserted pages are used for flushing ink-based nozzles (e.g., inkjet nozzles). The frequency of flushes and the volume of ink to be flush at each opportunity may be determined by automated features hereof based on statistics regarding operation of the printing system or may be statically pre-determined. Post-processing features (e.g., paper handling features) may scan the pages for marks identifying a page as a flush page inserted for flushing and may discard the added pages so identified.

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: In an ink jet printing apparatus, preliminary ejection for a print head involving a plurality of distances from a common ink supply port to respective ejection openings is optimized. Specifically, for a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array with different distances from the ink supply port to the ejection opening, the ratio of a driving pulse width to a lower limit pulse width for the second nozzle array with the longer distance is set to be higher than the ratio for the first nozzle array with the shorter distance. This enables a reduction in the time required for preliminary ejection of the apparatus as a whole.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer that has a printhead integrated circuit (68) with nozzles for ejecting ink and a support structure (64, 174, 176) for supporting the printhead IC. The support structure having ink conduits (182) for supplying the array of nozzles. A plurality of cavities (200), each cavity having an opening that establishes fluid communication with the ink conduits, the openings being configured such that the cavities do not prime with ink when the ink conduits are primed from the ink supply. By leaving unprimed cavities throughout the support structure, any pressure pulses in the ink are damped by compression of the trapped gas pockets. Distributing the cavities rather than using one relatively large cavity, means that the pressure pulse is being damped along the length of the printhead IC, instead of allowing the pulse to travel the length of the ink conduit until it reaches the single damper and compresses the gas.

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: An ink-jet recording method for forming an image by discharging a liquid functional material onto a recording medium by a full-line type ink-jet head having discharge nozzles arranged in a widthwise direction substantially perpendicular to a transporting direction of the recording medium, includes: determining a range free of image recording between images recorded intermittently on the recording medium; effecting discharge or pressurization purge of the liquid functional material in the range free of image recording on the recording medium; and lowering a fluidity of the liquid functional material discharged.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer has an ink-jet head which discharges an ink from nozzles, and an ink supply passage through which the ink is supplied to the ink-jet head. The ink-jet head and the ink supply passage are filled with an initial ink, which is of a same type as that of the ink to be discharged from the nozzles, upon shipping of the ink-jet printer. The ink-jet printer includes a purge mechanism which executes a purge process to forcibly discharge the ink in the ink-jet head and the ink supply passage from the nozzles; an input section which accepts an input from a user; an initial ink detecting section which detects whether or not the initial ink remains in the ink-jet head and the ink supply passage; and a controller which controls the purge mechanism and the input section based on a detecting result of the initial ink detecting 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 having a valve. The method comprises the steps of: (i) closing the valve; (ii) positively pressurizing the ink reservoir using a pressure device; and (iii) opening the valve for a predetermined period, thereby purging ink from the printhead and flooding an ink ejection face thereof.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus capable of high-quality recording without smudging recording media and the interior of the recording apparatus even when a frameless recording operation using reactive ink that coheres with each other when mixed together is performed. The ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, and an ink absorbent facing the nozzle arrays. The first nozzle array discharges a first ink, and the second nozzle array discharges a second ink. The first and second ink is a reactive ink that coheres with each other when mixed together. During the frameless recording operation on a front edge of the recording medium, some of the first and second ink discharged from the respective nozzle arrays of the recording head adheres to the front edge, and some of the ink adheres to separate positions on the ink absorbent.

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 printer is provided which has a printhead having a plurality of ejection nozzles, a capping member for capping the ejection nozzles, a purging member for receiving material that is purged from the nozzle environment of the printhead, a first actuating mechanism for moving the printhead along a first arcuate path from first to second to third printhead positions, and a second actuating mechanism for moving the capping and purging members along a second arcuate path from a first position to a second position at which the capping member caps the nozzles of the printhead when the printhead is in the second printhead position and the purging member is able to receive the purged material when the printhead is in the third printhead position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reservoir assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge. The cartridge has a fluid distribution molding with priming inlets in fluid communication with fluid channels for supplying printing fluid to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits. The reservoir assembly includes a reservoir compartment arranged in fluid communication with the fluid channels via a fluid outlet. The reservoir includes a porous absorbent material located inside the compartment to absorb printing fluid delivered via the priming inlets. The reservoir assembly also includes a bypass fluid path arranging the fluid outlet and a well region of the compartment in fluid communication, said bypass fluid path having a bypass valve to facilitate priming the reservoir compartment with printing fluid.

Abstract: A method of operating a print head comprises heating the print head from a first temperature below a melting temperature of the phase change ink to a second temperature above the melting temperature. The print head has a nozzle plate with plurality of nozzles for ejecting the phase change ink onto an ink receiver. A first pressure is applied to an interior of the print head as the temperature of the print head increases from the first temperature to the second temperature. The first pressure is configured to prevent phase change ink from entering into the print head through the nozzles of the print head. The first pressure is removed from the print head in response to the print head being at approximately the second temperature.