Abstract: A fluid ejector head, includes a fluid ejector body adapted to be inserted into an opening of an enclosing medium having an interior surface, and at least one nozzle disposed on the fluid ejector body. The fluid ejector head further includes, a fluid ejector actuator in fluid communication with the at least one nozzle, wherein activation of the fluid ejector actuator ejects a fluid through the at least one nozzle at controlled locations onto the interior surface of the enclosing medium.

Abstract: A liquid droplet patterning apparatus includes a plurality of support members, rotation servomotors, sliding mechanisms and position adjusting mechanisms. The support members rotatably support nozzle heads. The servomotors rotate the respective nozzle heads about an axis extending in a direction parallel to a liquid droplet ejecting direction of the nozzle heads and orthogonal to a nozzle alignment direction in the nozzle heads, with respect to the support members. The sliding mechanisms slidably support the respective support members in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming device capable of implementing a change of resolution and capable of forming an image with few linear flaws in a main scanning direction. A recording material is slantedly wound onto a rotary drum at an angle such that, if recording at a predetermined resolution, main scanning lines that are recorded are parallel with both ends of the recording material along a direction of winding onto the drum. Whenever a main scanning line being recorded on the recording material is displaced, relative to a main scanning line that would be recorded at the predetermined resolution, by precisely an amount corresponding to a pre-specified number of pixels, image data is shifted in a direction opposite to the direction of the displacement by the amount corresponding to the pre-specified number of pixels.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of ink-jet printers used for color printing of large format articles This invention is used for improving quality and for increasing the yield of printers and comprises successively applying primary colors, suppressing color aberrations when printing a semi-transparent material on both sides, precisely positioning the head when printing an image on the substrate and eliminating the lines connecting the carriage to the systems supplying control signals, air and inks. To this end, the carriage with the jet heads is moved in one direction along a closed guiding rail which is fitted with a hatched ruler for precise positioning, wherein the heads will thus bypass the substrate on both sides while information is transmitted from the device control unit to the carriage using a radio transceiver. The printer can further be equipped with two independent and parallel substrate feeding systems for performing a one-sided printing on two substrates at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an economical printer which is simple in structure and uses a common tray but is capable of adapting itself to various recording media of different shapes. Adapters in which recording media can be firmly held can be selectively mounted in the tray. An adapter 24 has an oval opening 24a in which a recording medium 30 can be placed. The contour of the adapter 24 can fit into a recessed portion 23a formed in the tray 23. The recording medium 30 is firmly held in the adapter 24. When the adapter 24 is mounted in the recessed portion 23a in the tray 23, a keyway 23b and a protrusion 24b engaging the keyway 23b prevent the adapter 24 from shifting out of position; the adapter is held in the tray 23. Prints can be made in accurate positions on the recording medium 30.

Abstract: A nozzle unit having a plurality of nozzle heads is vertically moved by an elevating mechanism between a printing position where it prints on a printing surface, and a non-printing position above the printing position and separate from the printing position by a predetermined distance. When the nozzle unit moves to the printing position, it is disengaged from the elevating mechanism to be free from it. The nozzle unit which has moved to the printing position is supported by a head support mechanism to be movable in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system includes an ink jet nozzle array for ejecting ink droplets during an ink jet printing cycle, and a flat medium positioned to receive ink droplets ejected by the nozzle array during an ink jet printing cycle. A motion apparatus provides relative motion between the nozzle array and the medium such that a spiral locus is defined by the nozzle array relative to the media during an ink jet printing cycle. The spiral maximum diameter may be made equal to the diagonal dimension of a rectangular media, thus allowing drops to be deposited very close to the edge of the media, and so reducing or eliminating the area of unprintable margins on both sides and the top and bottom of the media.

Abstract: A low cost digitally operated dispenser apparatus and method of operation and construction is obtained by combining flat sided, preferably rectangular tubular capillary tube having an orifice, with a flat elongated strip of piezoelectric material. Microdroplets are dispensed from an internal chamber within the capillary tube, or a separate feed supply, upon application of voltage pulses through electrodes connected to conductive layers on the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric strip may be parallel to the flat capillary tube or perpendicular to it. On a variation, a fixture can be used to improve performance in combination with the capillary tube and piezoelectric strip. A standoff strip allows the piezoelectric operator to be thermally isolated from a flat rectangular capillary tube.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in the form of an inkjet printer and a printing method utilizes a light-activated ink release system. The apparatus includes at least one nozzle having an ink body that is comprised of light-sensitive ink. The ink can form an unextended droplet meniscus. By directing a light beam onto the unextended droplet meniscus, the surface tension of the light-sensitive ink decreases, and provides for an extended droplet meniscus. The formation of the extended meniscus droplet meniscus permits the transfer of ink to a receiver or media.

Abstract: A printer and method for printing indicia on a disk. According to an embodiment of the invention, a printer comprises a plurality of elongate print heads arranged orthogonally with respect to each other about a center axis defined between the print heads. The print heads are capable of printing indicia on a disk having an annular printing area. The disk may be a recordable compact disk or a read-only memory compact disk, if desired. The print heads may be coupled to a rotatable hub centered at the center axis, such that the print heads extend radially outwardly from the hub. A motor is coupled to the hub for rotating the hub, so that the print heads rotate in unison about the center axis as the hub rotates. A controller coupled to the motor and print heads synchronously control operation of the motor and print heads. In this configuration of the invention, the print heads rotate while the disk is stationary.

Abstract: A drum cartridge with a plurality of heads for use with an ink-jet printer. This inventive cartridge increases the speed of printing and the resolution of the printed matter. The drum cartridge moves in a rotational fashion rather than in the typical reciprocating rectilinear fashion used by typical ink-jet cartridges.

Abstract: A continuous-jet type ink jet printer has a full-line type printing head with high reliability for forming ink particles and which is capable of reducing noise. An ink particle forming section includes a rotary drum having an ink-supply hole and a plurality of ink-jet holes, which are arranged on an outer circumferential face. A housing rotatably accepts the rotary drum. A slit mechanism is provided in the housing through which the ink passes to form ink particles for printing on paper. An ink control section controls jet courses of the ink particles. A paper table for supporting the paper is disposed to face the ink particle forming section and a conveyor conveys the paper onto the paper table.

Abstract: An inkjet printing method and apparatus in which an ejecting head is rotated to selectively eject ink by centrifugal force. The viscosity of ink is varied electrically or magnetically. The method and apparatus requires no additional heater, piezoelectric element or compressor, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing the production cost of the printer.