Abstract: In one embodiment, a disk shape determining and labeling system includes a first module configured to determine a shape of a non-round disk. A second module determines an orientation of the non-round disk. The labeling system then applies a visible pattern to the disk, wherein the labeling is performed according to the shape and the orientation of the non-round disk.

Abstract: A printer comprises a scan axis (14) arranged to receive at least one pen (10), each pen comprising an array of ink ejection elements (20,22) adapted to print a swath on a printing medium. Printer control circuitry is responsive to selection of a multi-pass print mode, to cause a printing medium advance mechanism to incrementally advance the printing medium (26) past the pens in a printing advance direction (PAD) between the printing of a first swath and a second swath. Thus, a first group of ink ejection elements dispenses ink in a swath along respective rows on the printing medium with at least one other group of corresponding ink ejection elements dispensing ink along those rows in subsequent swaths. The printer control circuitry is further arranged to cause the first group of ink ejection elements to dispense proportionally more ink per swath than the other groups of ink ejection elements in subsequent swaths.

Abstract: The present invention provides a head drive unit capable of discharging a required amount of viscous body from a head having a pressure generating element, such as a piezoelectric element, and a method of the same, a droplet discharge unit having the head drive unit, a head drive program, and a device manufacturing method having a process of discharging the viscous body by the method as one of manufacturing processes. In the invention, a driving signal is a signal to be applied to a pressure generating element, such as a piezoelectric element, provided to a head and is generated in synchronization with a clock signal. The driving signal has a period to vary the voltage and a period to hold the voltage.

Abstract: A thermal inkjet actuator for use in an inkjet printer assembly includes heat conduction means arranged to realize a predetermined negative pressure profile to facilitate droplet formation. In a preferred embodiment the heat conduction means comprises a thin layer of very high thermally conductive material such as Aluminium located in the middle of a non-heat conductive passive bend layer. The overall cool-down speed of the actuator, and hence the speed with which the passive bend layer returns to its quiescent position can be controlled by controlling the proximity of the heat conductive layer to the actuator's heater during fabrication.

Abstract: Image quality is improved by adjusting the ejection amount of quality enhancing ink based on the ejection amount of colored ink containing colorant. When a relatively high gross printing medium is used, the quality enhancing ink is ejected in an image area where virtually no colored ink is ejected, thereby improving unevenness in gloss within the print image. When a relatively low gross printing medium is used, on the other hand, the quality enhancing ink is ejected in an image area where the colored ink is ejected on virtually all pixels, thereby improving unevenness in color within the print image. The relationship between the ejection amounts of the quality enhancing ink and the colored ink may be modified by the user.

Abstract: Power consumed by a resistor connected between a first power supply and a drive control circuit is controlled by a power driving circuit connected to a second power supply. When the value of current that flows into the resistor fluctuates, the value of current output from power driving circuit to a control terminal of the drive control circuit is controlled in such a manner that power consumed is the same as that when the resistance value of the resistor is a set value. As a result, the value of power consumed by the resistor is rendered substantially constant without being influenced by a variation in the resistance value of the driven resistor or by the power supply voltage. If such a drive circuit is used in driving the printhead of a printing apparatus, stabilized drive can be achieved with the minimum margin, power consumption can be suppressed and the lifetime of the printhead can be prolonged.

Abstract: A drop emitting device that includes a drop generator and a drive signal waveform that includes in sequence a first pulse of a first polarity, a pulse of a second polarity and a second pulse of the first polarity.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process for improving the durability and image quality of an ink jet image having the steps of a) providing an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer containing an ink jet image; and b) applying over the surface of the image-receiving layer an overcoat layer of water-dispersible, smectite clay particles.

Abstract: In order that the volume of a liquid drop can increase and the drop can reach with high precision even if the distance between a head nozzle and a plotted base is short, there is provided a driving method for a liquid discharge head including: a discharge port for discharging liquid; a pressure-applying portion communicating with the discharge port, for applying a pressure for discharge to the liquid; and a pressure generating device for generating the pressure, the method including a step of applying a first discharge pulse for discharging liquid and a second discharge pulse for discharging liquid to the pressure generating device in a sequential manner in response to an instruction of one-dot discharge, in which the pulse width of the first discharge pulse, the pulse width of the second discharge pulse, and a rest time between the first discharge pulse and the second discharge pulse are determined so that a first liquid discharged in response to the first discharge pulse has a volume equal to or greater tha

Abstract: A method for generating an electrical signal with a plurality of pulses used to operate a continuous inkjet printer having plurality of nozzles, including the steps of generating a data table with a plurality of segment values, each segment value designating one of a high pulse and a low pulse of the electrical signal, and designating the pulse width of the designated pulse, reading a segment value from the data table, and generating at least one of a high pulse and a low pulse, the generated pulse and pulse width of the generated pulse being designated by the read segment value. In addition, a control circuit for implementing the method includes a memory device adapted to store a data table with a plurality of segment values, a counter for sequentially counting based on a segment value from the data table, and a synchronization device.

Abstract: Ink reservoirs containing binary elements facilitate discrete sensing of ink level within the reservoir. The binary elements are adapted to provide an electrical path in response to an applied electrical signal if the element is immersed in the ink. The binary elements are further adapted to present an open circuit in response to the same applied electrical signal if the element is above a level of the ink. The binary elements may be single-use or multi-use elements, i.e., their state change may be irreversible or reversible, respectively. Based on the presence or absence of an electrical path, the ink level can be deemed to be at or above a level of the binary element, or below the level of the binary element, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention improves so-called fast printing performance by reducing a standby time required to start printing while accomplishing stable high-speed printing and a stable printing grade. Thus, preferably, an operation of moving a print head and an operation of supplying a printing sheet are allowed to temporally overlap each other so that an operation of transporting the printing sheet to a position (printing enabled position) opposite to the print head is completed substantially simultaneously with completion of a preparing operation for the print head.

Abstract: A writing instrument comprising a liquid reservoir for containing a liquid, a liquid spray head for spraying liquid, the spray head serving to spray the liquid onto a medium from a distance, and a processor unit serving to activate the spray head. The instrument further comprises measurement means for measuring the distance between the spray head and the medium, and movement detector means for detecting movement of the spray head relative to the medium, the processor unit being adapted to cause the liquid spray head to be activated when both the measurement means detect that the distance between the spray head and the medium is less than a predetermined maximum value, and simultaneously the movement detector means detect movement of the spray head relative to the medium.

Abstract: There is described an ink-jet printer, which emits ink particles onto a recording medium to prints an image on the recording medium, and in which moving velocities of the ink particles are detected to perform stable emitting actions of the ink particles. The ink-jet printer includes: an ink-jetting head having a plurality of nozzles from which the ink particles are emitted; a velocity detecting section to detect moving velocities of the ink particles by measuring detection times at each of which each of the ink particles is detected; a calculating section to calculate an average value of the detection times measured by the velocity detecting section; and a head-drive controlling section that compares the average value calculated by the calculating section with a target value established in advance, to change a driving condition for the ink-jetting head so that the average value coincides with the target value.

Abstract: In a working method of performing work on a workpiece, a plurality of work chambers corresponding to work steps for the workpiece are consecutively arrayed, and a cleanliness with respect to dust particles is independently controlled in each of the work chambers. The workpiece is transferred to the respective work chambers, and working is performed in each of the work chambers in which a cleanliness is maintained below a predetermined cleanliness corresponding to the type of work on the workpiece.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and the like that enable printing according to an interlace mode that matches the characteristics of a printing medium set to the printing apparatus are realized. A printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium comprises: a print head capable of performing scanning in a predetermined direction and ejecting ink, the print head ejecting ink onto a printing medium comprising a memory, wherein the memory stores print control information for determining a number of times of scans for which the print head performs scanning when image data for one line is to be printed, and the print head performs scanning according to the number of times of scans that has been determined based on the print control information.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to achieve a printing apparatus and the like that can provide a user with a print control program through an ink container, a printing medium, or a print head. The printing apparatus includes an ink container for containing ink, a printing medium capable of being printed with the ink of the ink container, and a print head for ejecting ink to the printing medium, where at least one of the ink container, the printing medium, and the print head can be attached/removed to/from a printing apparatus unit together with a memory, and on the memory is stored an acquisition program for acquiring, via the communications line, a print control program for printing on the printing medium by ejecting ink from the print head based on image data, or is stored the print control program.

Abstract: An integrated circuit in an ink jet printhead selectively activates one or more printing elements on the printhead based on a multi-dimensional addressing scheme. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of pass switching, power switching, and one or more ground switching devices for selectively connecting one or more power switching devices to ground to activate one or more of the printing elements to print an image on a print medium. The integrated circuit includes a number of first, second, third, and fourth control lines for selectively controlling the activation of one or more of the printing elements.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus, using a printing head for ejecting ink drops on a sheet member, includes a conveying unit for conveying the sheet member, a cutting member for cutting the sheet member, and a carriage member having the printing head and the cutting member mounted thereon and scanning in a direction that intersects the direction of conveying the sheet member by the conveying unit. Dust generated by cutting the sheet member is prevented from scattering by cutting a cutting site with the cutting member after printing a predetermined pattern along the cutting site of the sheet member with the printing head.

Abstract: A head driving apparatus including a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a switch circuit, a head driving circuit, a controller, and a determination unit. The controller supplies a control signal to the switch circuit so as to ON-OFF control the switch units every jet timing based upon jetting data. The determination unit calculates a total number of the switch units to be turned ON simultaneously in accordance with the control signal, and supplies a restriction signal to the switch circuit when the total number exceeds a predetermined number. A part of the switch units are turned OFF in spite of the control signal supplied from the controller when the switch circuit receives the restriction signal from the determination unit.