Abstract: A controller of a liquid ejection device is configured to receive a preparation signal instructing preparation to eject the liquid, the preparation signal being externally issued upon issuance of an ejection instruction to eject the liquid toward a target medium. The controller is configured to start receiving ejection data after the preparation signal is received, the ejection data being externally transmitted on condition that the ejection instruction is issued and after the preparation signal is issued. The controller is configured to control the liquid ejection head to eject the liquid toward the target medium through the multiple nozzles based on the ejection data. After receiving the preparation signal and before receipt of the ejection data is completed, the controller is configured to control the liquid ejection head to eject liquid through the multiple nozzles and examine at least a part of the nozzles for ejection-defectiveness based on the determination signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mass detection circuit coupled to a surface covered with a plurality of electrodes. The mass detection circuit is configured to detect a mass of a first droplet present on the surface. The apparatus further includes a transducer circuit coupled to a transducer, which is coupled to the surface and form a lens unit. The transducer circuit configured to excite a first vibration of the surface at a resonant frequency to form a high displacement region on the surface. The apparatus also includes a voltage excitation circuit coupled to the plurality of electrodes. In response to the detection of the mass of the first droplet, the voltage excitation circuit is configured to apply a sequence of differential voltages on one or more consecutive electrodes which moves the first droplet to the high displacement region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing using an additive manufacturing process includes providing a deposition system, the deposition system configured to provide a plurality of cells to form a blank of a part, depositing a first layer of the blank, the first layer comprising a first deposited cell, a second deposited cell spaced apart from the first deposited cell, and a third deposited cell spaced apart from the first deposited cell and the second deposited cell, and depositing a second layer of the part on the first layer, the second layer comprising a fourth deposited cell, a fifth deposited cell spaced apart from the fourth deposited cell, and a sixth deposited cell spaced apart from the fourth deposited cell and the fifth deposited cell. Each of the first layer and the second layer are formed using non-continuous deposition to form the blank.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a plurality of head units configured to discharge a liquid, a plurality of sub tanks configured to respectively store the liquid to be supplied to the plurality of head units, and a plurality of upper limit detectors configured to respectively detect upper limits of remaining amounts of liquid in the plurality of sub tanks. At least two of the plurality of upper limit detectors of corresponding at least two of the plurality of sub tanks detect different upper limits of the remaining amounts of liquid in the at least two of the plurality of sub tanks.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for performing additive manufacturing. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber for fabricating a workpiece composed of deposited metal, a table positioned within the vacuum chamber, and configured to support fabrication of the workpiece on a substrate, and one or more multiple droplet emitters coupled to the vacuum chamber, and arranged to irradiate the workpiece with a stream of molten metal droplets during fabrication.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head and a method of manufacturing the liquid ejecting head are provided. The liquid ejecting head has a pressure-chamber-forming substrate that includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements and that is connected to a first surface of a sealing plate, a driver IC that outputs signals that drive the piezoelectric elements and that is provided on a second surface of the sealing plate that is on the opposite side to the first surface, and a power supply wire that supplies electrical power to the piezoelectric elements, that is formed in the second surface of the sealing plate, and that has at least one portion thereof embedded in the sealing plate and a surface thereof exposed on the second surface side.

Abstract: A directivity detection device for detection of trajectories of electrically charged drops issuing from a liquid jet is provided. The device includes an electrostatic sensor and a signal processing unit. The electrostatic sensor has a flat functional surface having a precise geometric shape and arrangement relative to a nominal trajectory of drops, and the signal processing unit evaluates the signal from the electrostatic sensor and performs calculations and comparisons which enable the trajectory of the drops to be followed both in the plane parallel to the flat surface of the sensor and in the plane perpendicular to the flat surface of the sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining the quality of a break-off of an ink jet of a CIJ printing machine is disclosed. In one aspect, this method includes: generating a first line of N1 drops, all charged by the charge means, at the same voltage V1. Also included is: generating at least one drop G1, charged by the charge means, at a second voltage (VG1), followed by at least one drop G2, charged by the charge means, at a third voltage (VG2) lower than V1; generating a second line of N2 drops, all charged by the charge means, at a same voltage V2; and measuring, using an electrostatic sensor, the charge variation of a non-deflected jet of drops including at least the first line of drops and the second line of drops, separated by the drops G1 and G2, during the passage of the jet in front of the sensor.

Abstract: A voltage is applied between first and second deflecting electrodes from a deflecting voltage controller, whereby an electric field is formed between the first and second deflecting electrodes in a direction perpendicular to electrode surfaces. An electric line of force is generated from a direction perpendicular to the electrode surface of the first deflecting electrode and made perpendicularly incident on the electrode surface of the second deflecting electrode. Since the first and second deflecting electrodes are parallel to each other, a plurality of parallel electric lines of force are formed perpendicularly to the electrode surfaces of the first and second deflecting electrodes. Droplets after passing charged electrodes fly in a region where this deflecting electric field is formed, whereby charged droplets are deflected in a direction in which the charged droplets approach the second electrode having opposite charging polarity. The charged droplets form a printing pattern.

Abstract: A timing detection device includes a moving object, an opening, a sensor unit, and a timing detection unit. The moving object includes a first face and a second face. The first face and the second face move in a moving direction that is parallel to faces. The openings are formed by penetrating the moving object from the first face to the second face. The sensor unit emits detection light from the first face side toward the moving object, and receives the detection light that passes through the openings. The moving object includes an inner wall part and an edge part. The inner wall part demarcates a lateral edge of the openings on a downstream side in the moving direction. The edge part protrudes toward the upstream side in the moving direction at an end fringe part on the second face side of the inner wall part.

Abstract: A drop detector assembly is provided including an ejection element to eject a fluid drop, a light guide to selectively receive light scattered off of the fluid drop, and a light detector formed in the light guide to detect light received by the light guide.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detection of the directivity of trajectories of charged drops issuing from a jet are disclosed. According to one aspect, an electrostatic sensor is disclosed which includes a flat functional surface. The electrostatic sensor is configured to function in a non-differential manner and has a geometric shape and arrangement that are substantially aligned relative to a nominal trajectory of drops. A trajectory of drops can be followed at the same time in a plane parallel to the flat surface of the sensor and in a plane perpendicular to the flat surface of the sensor. As a result, it can be verified whether a drop is present or remains in a predefined monitoring zone. According to another aspect, a method of controlling trajectories of drops in a print head having a continuous deflected jet, and a method of monitoring the effective recovery by the gutter of drops not intended for printing are disclose.

Abstract: A discharge defect of a nozzle in an apparatus that forms an image on a medium by discharging liquid from a liquid discharge head based on image data is accurately detected. A discharge defect of a nozzle is detected by comparing data (reference data) of a reference image with read data obtained by reading an output image. In this case, a mark for matching the read pixel and the nozzle position with each other is recorded on the medium, and the correspondence relationship is specified by reading the mark. In addition, data items that are converted to have the nozzle resolution by performing a filtering process corresponding to the human visual characteristics for both the data of the reference image and the data of the read image are compared with each other, thereby detecting a discharge defect of a nozzle.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus, including: a channel structure in which a liquid channel including a nozzle and a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle is formed; a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric body and an electrode; a driving device; and a cover member joined to the surface of the channel structure. A first wiring section connected to the electrode is formed on the surface of the channel structure, and the cover member includes a cover body section and a wiring connection section. A second wiring section is formed in the cover member. The wiring connection section is joined to the surface of the channel structure in a state that the second wiring section is electrically conductive with the first wiring section. A thickness, of the wiring connection section is thinner than a thickness of the cover body section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a droplet generator (10) of the velocity modulation type, the generator (10) being configured so that substantially all the modulation energy generated by piezo-electric crystals (60) is transformed into vibration of the nozzle (34). The generator preferably also includes an internal closure mechanism (70) which blocks off the nozzle (34) when the generator is not in operation, but which is de-coupled from the modulation process when the generator is operating.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detection of the directivity of trajectories of charged drops issuing from a jet are disclosed. According to one aspect, an electrostatic sensor is disclosed which includes a flat functional surface. The electrostatic sensor is configured to function in a non-differential manner and has a geometric shape and arrangement that are substantially aligned relative to a nominal trajectory of drops. A trajectory of drops can be followed at the same time in a plane parallel to the flat surface of the sensor and in a plane perpendicular to the flat surface of the sensor. As a result, it can be verified whether a drop is present or remains in a predefined monitoring zone.

Abstract: A printer and printer control method can report information about ink consumption to the host computer. The printer 100 is in communication with a host computer 300, and prints according to print jobs sent from the host computer 300. The printer 100 has a job data memory 190 for storing information about each print job. A receiver 110 receives the print jobs from the host computer 300. A print controller 150 controls printing on paper using a predetermined ink according to the print job. A printing evaluator 175 evaluates the result of printing a print job. A ink shot count converter 170 calculates the number of ink shots used to print the print job. A job data manager 180 stores the job ID for the print job and the ink shot count used to print the print job linked to the print result determined for printing the print job in the job data memory 190.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detection of the directivity of trajectories of charged drops issuing from a jet are disclosed. According to one aspect, an electrostatic sensor is disclosed which includes a flat functional surface. The electrostatic sensor is configured to function in a non-differential manner and has a geometric shape and arrangement that are substantially aligned relative to a nominal trajectory of drops. A trajectory of drops can be followed at the same time in a plane parallel to the flat surface of the sensor and in a plane perpendicular to the flat surface of the sensor. As a result, it can be verified whether a drop is present or remains in a predefined monitoring zone. According to another aspect, a method of controlling trajectories of drops in a print head having a continuous deflected jet, and a method of monitoring the effective recovery by the gutter of drops not intended for printing are disclosed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is disclosed an image forming apparatus comprising a constitution driven/controlled independently for each recording head. The apparatus rewrites image data or parameters or changes a driving voltage at a desired timing, and realizes a uniform or appropriate density of an image formed by control of an ink spout amount based on a temperature detection signal of the recording head detected by a temperature detection unit disposed in each recording head. The apparatus is capable of remarkably narrowing a mutual conveying interval among a plurality of conveyed recording mediums.

Abstract: A drawing device includes a carriage, a base configured and arranged to mount a substrate, and a movement device configured and arranged to move the substrate and the carriage relative to each other in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. The carriage includes a plurality of types of droplet ejection head units and a plurality of ink-curing light irradiation sections. The droplet ejection head units are configured and arranged to respectively eject a plurality of types of photo-curing inks onto the substrate with the droplet ejection head units being aligned along a direction intersecting the second direction at a predetermined pitch. The ink-curing light irradiation sections are respectively disposed in positions adjacent to both sides of each of the droplet ejection head units in the second direction, and configured and arranged to cure the photo-curing inks.

Abstract: A method relating to ascertaining and adjusting friction between media pages in a document feeder. The method includes: detecting slipping of a media page when traversing from a stack of media pages to passing through a path defined by the document feeder; and sending a signal to a fluid-containing cartridge to spray small drops of fluid onto the slipping media page soon after the slipping is detected while the media page passes through the document feeder. A system and apparatus are also associated with the above method.

Abstract: A jet break-off length measurement apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length measurement apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Heater resistor apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided. A control apparatus is adapted to determine a characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes that is related to the break-off length. Further apparatus is adapted to inductively charge at least one drop and to cause electric field deflection of charged drops.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detection of the directivity of trajectories of charged drops issuing from a jet are disclosed. According to one aspect, an electrostatic sensor is disclosed which includes a flat functional surface. The electrostatic sensor is configured to function in a non-differential manner and has a geometric shape and arrangement that are substantially aligned relative to a nominal trajectory of drops. A trajectory of drops can be followed at the same time in a plane parallel to the flat surface of the sensor and in a plane perpendicular to the flat surface of the sensor. As a result, it can be verified whether a drop is present or remains in a predefined monitoring zone. According to another aspect, a method of controlling trajectories of drops in a print head having a continuous deflected jet, and a method of monitoring the effective recovery by the gutter of drops not intended for printing are disclosed.

Abstract: An orifice health detection device includes a fixed array of ink ejecting orifices, the ink ejecting orifices configured to eject at least one ink drop, a light source that produces a light beam configured to scatter light from the at least one ejected ink drop, and a light detector configured to detect light scattered from the at least one ejected ink drop.

Abstract: An ejection inspecting device which inspects an ejection state of an ejection head, including nozzles ejecting fluid, includes fluid receiving areas corresponding to the ejection head so as to receive the fluid ejected from the nozzles. A potential difference generating unit generates predetermined potential differences between the ejection head and the fluid receiving areas. Electrical variation detecting units detect electrical variations of the fluid receiving areas. A control unit drives the ejection head to eject the fluid to the fluid receiving areas from the nozzles in a state in which the predetermined potential differences are generated between the ejection head and the fluid receiving areas by the potential difference generating unit. The ejection inspecting device also inspects the nozzles to determine whether the fluid is ejected from the nozzles on the basis of the detection results of the electrical variation detecting units in the fluid receiving areas.

Abstract: There is provided a flushing method for a fluid ejecting device that prevents clogging of a nozzle by ejecting a fluid of a set number of droplets at each set time interval in a fluid ejecting process from the nozzle of a fluid ejecting head toward a fluid receiving part that is disposed to face a nozzle opening face of the fluid ejecting head in a state of non-contacting the nozzle opening face. The flushing method includes applying an electric field between the nozzle opening face and the fluid receiving part, ejecting the fluid from the fluid ejecting head toward the fluid receiving part, detecting a voltage change based on electrostatic induction that occurs at a time when the fluid is ejected toward the fluid receiving part, and changing one between the set time interval and the set number of the droplets based on the voltage change.

Abstract: A device for printing a droplet onto a substrate includes: a droplet generating member which is needle-shaped and comprises a receiving portion disposed vertically to receive a solution, and a discharge hole connected to the receiving portion and formed on a bottom of the receiving portion so that the solution can be discharged from the receiving portion; a substrate disposed below the droplet generating member, the substrate includes a target portion to which the droplet discharged from the discharge hole of the droplet generating member is dropped and attached; a voltage applier applying a voltage to the droplet so that the droplet can be dropped onto the target portion of the substrate; a volume measuring unit measuring the volume of the droplet; and a droplet control unit maintaining the volume of the droplet at a predetermined level based on the measured volume of the droplet.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting device including an ejecting head having an ejecting nozzle through which the ejecting head ejects a liquid in the form of a liquid droplet, a liquid droplet receiving portion having an outlet that is open for forming a meniscus using the liquid droplet ejected from the ejecting head, and a meniscus determining unit for determining whether or not the meniscus is formed at the outlet.

Abstract: A system for identifying a prescribed inkjet ink includes a controlled substrate, a quantity of ink dispensed from a printhead of an ink cartridge onto the controlled substrate which supports the dispensed ink in a freestanding form, a light emitter configured and positioned to transmit light in a first preselected wavelength bandwidth onto the freestanding dispensed ink, a light sensor configured and positioned to detect light m a second preselected wavelength bandwidth different from the first preselected wavelength bandwidth by a fluorescent additive contained in the freestanding dispensed ink, and a signal analyzer electrically connected to the light sensor and operable to produce an electrical output signal corresponding to such light emissions such that an electrical output signal above a given level is indicative of the presence of the prescribed ink in the ink cartridge.

Abstract: An automated banking machine which dispenses cash and includes a mechanism for accepting deposited items. Deposited items may be provided to the machine in envelopes which are first passed to a user from an envelope storage area (132) in the machine through a transport (124) and which are presented to the user through an opening (244). A user may thereafter include deposit items in the dispensed envelope. The deposited items are passed through the opening (244) and are deposited in a deposit-holding container (128). The deposited items may be marked by an inkjet printer with indicia corresponding to the transaction or properties of the deposited item. The operation of the printer is caused by a controller (56) which controls the operation responsive to one or more environmental parameters.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a liquid ejection head has at least one ejection hole, and a conveyor moves a recording medium relative to the ejection head. A deflector deflects liquid droplets ejected from the ejection hole in a direction including at least a component of a direction substantially parallel to relative conveyance direction of the recording medium. A deflection angle setter sets two or more deflection angles such that when dots mutually adjacent in the direction substantially parallel to the relative conveyance direction of the medium are formed in an overlapping fashion, directions of flight of droplets ejected consecutively are deflected such that their directions of flight become different from each other. Droplet landing time differential between the first droplet and the second droplet becomes equal to or greater than quasi-fixing time period from a landing time of the first liquid droplet until the first liquid droplet becomes quasi-fixed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid discharge apparatus that allows a discharge head to discharge liquid to a predetermined object. The apparatus includes the following elements. A plurality of discharge heads are detachable independently. A head switching circuit switches a target discharge head to another target discharge head among the discharge heads in a set switching order to allow the target discharge head to discharge liquid. A monitoring circuit monitors liquid discharge conditions of the respective discharge heads. The liquid discharge conditions of each discharge head include the frequency of use of the discharge head and the presence or absence of a failure in the discharge head. A life determining circuit determines the life of each discharge head on the basis of the result of monitoring by the monitoring circuit.

Abstract: A printer has a print head check unit that performs an ink ejection check to confirm whether or not ink is being ejected normally from nozzles, based on induced voltage generated when charged ink droplets are ejected onto a check area. Upon receipt of a print instruction (S100), the printer sets a flag F to 1 so as to start an ink ejection check and starts a paper feed process (S110). When the processes has been terminated (S120, S130), the printer starts printing. Accordingly, as an ink ejection check takes place concurrently with the paper feed process, the overall time required for the processes can be reduced, in comparison with any method in which the processes are executed separately. In this way, because of efficient implementation, the overall time required for the processes of the ejection check of the print recording liquid and an image forming process can be reduced.

Abstract: A liquid-ejection testing method includes the following steps (A) to (D): (A) a step of making a conductive first detection member and a conductive second detection member opposed, in a non-contact state, to a liquid ejecting nozzle that is to be tested; (B) a step of ejecting a charged liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle; (C) a step of detecting an induced current generated at each of the first detection member and the second detection member by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle; and (D) a step of judging, on the liquid ejecting nozzle, whether or not ejection of the liquid is being properly performed based on a magnitude of the detected induced current generated at each of the first detection member and the second detection member.

Abstract: An ink jet head (1), a substrate (13) receiving a liquid drop (2) discharged from the ink jet head (1), a device for irradiating or reflecting light from a nozzle hole or its vicinity of the ink jet head (1) toward the substrate (13), a position moving device (10) for controlling a relative position between the ink jet head (1) and the substrate (13), and a control device (9) for discharging a liquid from the ink jet head (1) are included. A light-receiving element (6) for recognizing a position of the ink jet head (1) is disposed behind the substrate (13), when seen from the ink jet head (1), the substrate (13) has a transparency at least to a degree that the irradiated light or the light reflected from the nozzle hole or its vicinity toward the substrate (13) enters the light-receiving element (6), and the light-receiving element (6) senses the irradiated light or the light reflected from the nozzle hole or its vicinity toward the substrate (13).

Abstract: A recording head includes an ink-discharging surface and nozzles. The ink-discharging surface is provided with ink-discharging ports of the nozzles. A light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are disposed opposite each other close to the ink-discharging surface. The light-receiving element outputs a detection signal. A reflector is provided on the ink-discharging surface and reflects light emitted from the light-emitting element toward the light-receiving element. One of the nozzles is driven and whether the nozzle discharges an ink drop is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the reflected light by the ink drop. If the nozzle discharges an ink drop, then whether the nozzle discharges the ink drop in an appropriate direction is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the direct light by the ink drop.

Abstract: A reference developing image is formed on a photoreceptor drum under an image forming condition measured in advance, and the density of this reference developing image is detected. A development bias voltage is corrected based on the detection result, and when a correction value of the development bias voltage exceeds a predetermined range, a reference output voltage of an ATC sensor for detecting the density of toner in a developing device is corrected based on the detected value of humidity around the developing device, the frequency of use of the apparatus, and the agitation stress of developer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a desired pattern on a substrate by discharging continuous streams of liquid ink drops from nozzles towards the substrate, and selectively charging the liquid ink drops with multi-level charges deflecting them different amounts. Some of the liquid ink drops are thus directed to different locations on the substrate for printing the desired pattern thereon, while other liquid ink drops not to be printed are intercepted by a gutter before reaching the substrate. At least some of the liquid ink drops to be printed being either uncharged or charged with a multi-level charge of one polarity, while all the liquid ink drops not to be printed are charged with a charge of the opposite polarity. Each stream of ink drops discharged from a nozzle is illuminated with stroboscopic light at the same frequency as the drop formation, and the illuminated stream is optically sensed on the fly for determining various conditions, including ink velocity, X-axis offset and Y-axis offset.

Abstract: A recording head has a plurality of nozzles adapted to eject ink droplets toward a printing medium which is transported in a first direction. A head supporting member supports the recording head. A light emitter is operable to emit light. A light receiver is adapted to receive light reflected from the printing medium. The nozzles are arranged in the first direction to form a nozzle array. The light emitter and the light receiver are disposed between a first one of the nozzles and an upstream end of the head supporting member relative to the first direction. The first one of the nozzles is located in an upstream end of the nozzle array relative to the first direction. The light emitter and the light receiver are provided on the head supporting member and arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A continuous liquid drop emission apparatus is provided. The liquid drop emission apparatus is comprised of a liquid chamber containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid and a jet stimulation apparatus adapted to transfer pulses of energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. The continuous liquid drop emission apparatus further comprises a semiconductor substrate including integrated circuitry formed therein for performing and controlling a plurality of actions on the drops of predetermined volumes. The plurality of actions may include drop charging, drop sensing, drop deflection and drop capturing. Drop action apparatus adapted to perform these functions and integrated circuitry to control the drop action apparatus are formed in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer, including an ink-jet recording head having an ink inflow passage including an ink inlet, and an air-discharge passage which allows the ink inflow passage to communicate with an atmosphere; an air-discharge valve which selectively opens and closes the air-discharge passage; an ink tank which stores the ink and which has an ink outlet and an air inlet; a connector having an ink supply passage which communicates, at one end thereof, with the ink outlet of the ink tank and communicates, at an other end thereof, with the ink inlet of the recording head; an air supplying device which supplies the air to the ink tank via the air inlet thereof; an obtaining portion which obtains one of an elapsed time, t, from a reference time, and a volume, V, of an air present in the ink supply passage and the ink inflow passage at the elapsed time t, based on an other of the elapsed time t and the air volume V, and a following relationship: V=a·ebt, where a and b are coefficients and e is a base of a natural lo

Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based diagnostics. According to one embodiment, a droplet microactuator system is provided and includes: (a) a droplet microactuator configured to conduct droplet operations; and (b) a sensor configured in a sensing relationship with the droplet microactuator, such that the sensor is capable of sensing a signal from and/or a property of one or more droplets on the droplet microactuator.

Abstract: An ink jet printer for recording an image on a recording medium by jetting ink from nozzles having: an ink jet section which is provided with the nozzles; and an ink droplet detection section for detecting an impact force generated when an ink droplet jetted from the nozzles lands with a piezoelectric element, which is provided ahead in an ink droplet jetting direction from the nozzles.

Abstract: A jet break-off length control apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length control apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Resistive heater apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided.

Abstract: When an refresh ink droplet ejected from a nozzle and deflected by an inclined electric field impinges on a orifice electrode/ink receiving member, electric charge is discharged from the refresh ink droplet, thereby an electric current is generated. A current-voltage converter/amplifier detects the electric current and outputs a detection signal. A defective-condition determining circuit determines an ejection condition of a nozzle element based on voltage value of the detection signal.

Abstract: A carriage 5 is provided with an injection head 7 to discharge an amount of liquid drops according to the supplied driving pulses and a liquid material sensor 17 to detect the ink amount hit at a filter substrate at each pixel region. A main controller 31 determines a waveform of the driving pulses capable of discharging the short amount of liquid drops according to a level of a detection signal from the liquid material sensor 17 and outputs the determined information on the waveform of the driving pulses to driving signal generator 32. The driving signal generator 32 generates driving pulses according to the received information on the waveform and outputs it to the injection head 7. The injection head 7 adjusts an ink amount at the corresponding pixel region to the target amount of liquid material by injecting the short amount of liquid drops to the corresponding pixel region.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for measuring the volume of an ink-jet droplet or the relative volumes of a plurality of ink-jet droplets using their electrical properties. In a preferred embodiment a single small capacitor or an array of capacitors is used to measure the dielectric properties of ink-jet droplets and the absolute drop volumes are derived. In an alternative preferred embodiment the relative differences in drop volumes are determined. A feedback circuit, such as one using lock-in technique, may be used to automatically adjust subsequent drop volumes.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus is adapted to use a non-contact method for detecting the presence and the amount of liquid, in the form of ink droplets discharged from a printhead or ink tank, using electromagnetic waves in the form of infrared rays. The apparatus and method employ an infrared sensor to detect infrared radiation emitted by the ink in proportion to the amount of ink present. The apparatus and method further employ one of various shielding members to prevent the intrusion of infrared radiation noise into the infrared sensor field of detection, and, in some aspects, a fan to control air flow within the field of detection. The result is less noise in the detection signals of the infrared sensor, and therefore a more sensitive and more reliable liquid detection method and liquid detection apparatus.

Abstract: A sensor configuration for use in detecting ink droplets ejected from an ink drop generator is provided. The sensor configuration includes a sensing element configured to receive a biasing voltage which creates an electric field from the sensing element to the ink drop generator. The sensor configuration also includes a sensing amplifier coupled to the sensing element, whereby the sensing element in imparted with an electrical stimulus when at least one ink droplet is ejected in the presence of the electric field, and thereafter passes in close proximity to the sensing element without substantially contacting the sensing element. Sensor configurations with a separate electrically biasing element which may or may not contact the ink droplets are also provided. Additionally, a printing mechanism having such sensor configurations and a method of making ink drop detection measurements are also provided.

Abstract: A sensor configuration for use in detecting ink droplets ejected from an ink drop generator is provided. The sensor configuration includes a sensing element configured to receive a biasing voltage which creates an electric field from the sensing element to the ink drop generator. The sensor configuration also includes a sensing amplifier coupled to the sensing element, whereby the sensing element in imparted with an electrical stimulus when at least one ink droplet is ejected in the presence of the electric field, and thereafter passes in close proximity to the sensing element without substantially contacting the sensing element. Sensor configurations with a separate electrically biasing element which may or may not contact the ink droplets are also provided. Additionally, a printing mechanism having such sensor configurations and a method of making ink drop detection measurements are also provided.