Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting element formed of a semiconductor layer includes a multilayer reflecting mirror, a light-emitting layer, a resonator, and a phase shift layer. The multilayer reflecting mirror is formed on a substrate. The light-emitting layer is formed on the multilayer reflecting mirror. The resonator uses the multilayer reflecting mirror as a lower reflecting mirror and resonates light emitted from the light-emitting layer. The phase shift layer shifts a phase of a resonance spectrum of the resonator to generate a standing wave having plural principal modes.

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric actuator, including: first and second piezoelectric layers; a driving electrode arranged between the first and second piezoelectric layers; a second electrode maintained at a predetermined first electrical potential; and a third electrode maintained at a second electrical potential. A neutral plane of the piezoelectric actuator is positioned at a side opposite to the second piezoelectric layer relative to a center plane of the first piezoelectric layer in a direction of stacking of the first and second piezoelectric layers. A first portion of the first piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between the driving electrode and the second electrode, and a second portion of the second piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between the driving electrode and the third electrode. The first and second portions are polarized parallel to the stacking direction such that they are polarized in mutually opposite directions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an access cover that opens/closes relative to an apparatus body, a carriage that includes an image forming device and moves in a moving area which is exposed when the cover is opened, a first detector that detects that the cover has been opened from a fully closed position to a first position, a second detector that detects that the cover has been opened to a second position at which the cover is more open than at the first position, a drive source that drives the carriage to move, and a controller that brakes the drive source while the drive source is supplied with power when the first detector detects that the cover has been opened to the first position, and cuts off power supply to the drive source when the second detector detects that the cover has been opened to the second position.

Abstract: An acoustic streaming fluid ejector includes a fluid filled chamber having an opening, a selectively vibrating flow generator having a sharp edge pointed toward the opening, and a driving device configured to vibrate one of the flow generator and the chamber to create a streaming fluid flow in a direction away from the sharp edge through the opening. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A recording unit configured to record an image on a recording medium, medium storages storing same-sized recording media, a conveyance mechanism configured to selectively convey the recording media stored in the medium storages to the recording unit, and a maintenance mechanism are provided. When, at the start of a maintenance period in which the maintenance of the recording unit is performed by the maintenance mechanism, the number of recording media stored in the sender medium storage is smaller than the number of recording media required to record all remaining images onto recording media in accordance with image data and, among the medium storages, there is at least one predetermined remaining number medium storage which is a medium storage storing more recording media than the sender medium storage, one of the at least one of predetermined remaining number medium storage is selected as the sender medium storage, during the maintenance period.

Abstract: To provide a black ink for inkjet recording, including: carbon black and a complementary color pigment thereof each serving as a colorant; a water-soluble organic solvent; and water, wherein the carbon black, the complementary color pigment, or a combination thereof is a self-dispersion type pigment.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a feeding unit, a conveying unit, a printing unit, and a control unit. The control unit performs a successive feeding operation. An operating state of the feeding unit changes between a first operating state and a second operating state in which a feeding stop is more unstable than that in the first operating state, in a period from a start of feeding a printing medium until the printing medium reaches the conveying unit. In the successive feeding operation, a subsequent printing medium is fed without stopping until a leading end of the subsequent printing medium reaches a stoppable position. The stoppable position is arranged on an upstream side of the conveying unit. The subsequent printing medium can be stopped in the first operating state at the stoppable position.

Abstract: A control circuit is disposed in which an analog switch is built, an ON/OFF-timing of the analog switch can be controlled, and mask-patterns can be set, which mask-patterns are used for switching ON/OFF the analog switch can be selected by analog-switch-selection data, and a number of the mask-patterns which can be set can be selected. The circuit includes mask-pattern-setting units for setting one of the mask-patterns by one of switching control signals; and a selection unit for selecting a mode from modes including a first mode in which the number of mask-patterns is smaller and a second mode in which the number of mask-patterns is larger. When the first mode is selected by the selection unit, to one mask-pattern-setting unit which is not selected by the analog-switch-selection data, the same switching control signal that is supplied to another mask-pattern-setting unit which is selected by the analog-switch-selection data is supplied.

Abstract: An inkjet printer, including an inkjet head, a conveyer unit to convey a recording medium in a conveying direction, a position detecting unit to detect a position of the recording medium along the conveying direction, a wave shape generating mechanism to deform the recording medium into a predetermined wave shape along a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, a gap information storing device to store gap information related to a gap between an ink discharging surface of the inkjet head and the recording medium, and a correcting device to correct the gap information according to a position of the recording medium along the conveying direction, is provided.

Abstract: An ejection inspection method includes: preparing a liquid ejection nozzle for ejecting liquid onto a recording medium; irradiating a pattern formed by the liquid ejected onto the recording medium with light; and conducting ejection inspection of the liquid ejection nozzle based on results of observing or recognizing reflected light or transmitted light of the light from the recording medium. The recording medium includes an ink absorption layer having light transmittance where a great number of void cells having a particle diameter smaller than wavelength of the light are dispersed into a joining material, and an ejection amount of the liquid is adjusted such that a region where the liquid is sufficiently filled in the void cells and a region where substantially no liquid is filled exist in a thickness direction and a horizontal direction in planar view of the ink absorption layer.

Abstract: A conveyance printing system and methods for printing articles of manufacture of different types and with different content is presented. Systems include a conveyance system configured to convey a plurality of trays, each having an associated identifier and each holding one or more articles of manufacture within the tray, and a printing system configured to receive a print tray from the conveyance system, receive a print job associated with the tray identifier, and print the associated print job simultaneously onto the respective print surfaces of the one or more articles of manufacture held by the tray.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transfer member including a permeable layer, a pigment layer formed on the permeable layer by an ink jet method, and an adhesive layer having adhesivity formed on the pigment layer, wherein a dispersion medium of an ink containing a pigment to form the pigment layer permeates into the permeable layer.

Abstract: A transfer image forming apparatus includes ink applying unit for applying ink to an intermediate transfer member to form an intermediate image; a heating unit for irradiating the intermediate transfer member with at least infrared light to heat the intermediate image; and a transferring unit for pressing a recording medium against the intermediate transfer member having formed thereon the intermediate image to transfer the intermediate image onto the recording medium. The intermediate transfer member includes a substrate, and at least a second layer, a metal layer, and a first layer as a surface layer provided in the listed order on the substrate. The heat conductivity of the second layer is smaller than that of the first layer.

Abstract: A method of controlling inkjet printing including firing at least one fluid drop from an inkjet printhead at one or more firing frequencies; measuring a parameter of said fired at least one fluid drop to determine a present firing performance of the inkjet printhead at each of the one or more firing frequencies; determining if the present firing performance at any of the one or more firing frequencies is different from a predetermined firing performance; and changing, in accordance with a difference between the present firing performance and the predetermined firing performance, and for at least one of the one or more firing frequencies, a fluid quantity parameter for subsequent fluid drops to be fired by the printhead.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to determine a media advance error for each one of multiple page regions on a media page. The instructions further cause the processor to control a media advance mechanism to compensate for the media advance error in each page region.

Abstract: A method for detecting a dot of functional material on a medium at a predetermined location, the dot having a predetermined color, is based on lightness, chroma and hue components of colors present in an area of the predetermined location on a scanned image of the printed medium. A color image reproduction apparatus is disclosed for carrying out the method for detecting a dot of functional material.

Abstract: An ink set includes a first ink that contains a white material and a first resin; and a second ink that contains a color material other than the white material and a second resin, wherein the first resin includes a component (A) causing cracks when resin of 0.5 g is dropped onto a slide glass and is dried at a temperature of 50° C. and a humidity of 0% RH for 10 minutes, and wherein the second resin includes a component (B) of at least one of polyolefin wax and ethylene vinyl acetate resin.

Abstract: A thermal printer and control method for a thermal printer is provided. The thermal printer includes a print head and a paper feed mechanism for conveying a print medium past the print head at a controlled print speed based on predetermined print speed control factors. Operations include determining the print speed of the print medium based on the print speed control factors; determining a change, if any, in the print speed; determining if the change in print speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and controlling the paper feed mechanism to limit the change in the print speed if the change in the print speed is determined to have exceeded the threshold value. The change of the print speed is decreased for at least one predetermined time when the change in the print speed is determined to have exceeded the threshold value.

Abstract: A wiper cassette includes a long wiping member which wipes a liquid adhered to a liquid ejecting head which ejects the liquid; a feed roller around which an end of the wiping member is wound in a longitudinal direction; and a winding roller around which other end of the wiping member is wound in the longitudinal direction, and the wiper cassette is mounted so as to be freely detachable and attachable into a wiper holder. Furthermore, the wiper cassette further includes a winding gear supported by the winding roller; and a power point acting portion on which a load acts in a removal direction when the wiper cassette is removed from the wiper holder, in which the power point acting portion is positioned closer to the removal direction side than the winding gear in a mounted state in which the wiper cassette is mounted into the wiper holder.

Abstract: Enhanced printing systems, structures, and processes provide ultrasonication of ink, such as to degas the ink, and/or to maintain the size of particles within the ink. At least one ultrasonic module, such as comprising any of an ultrasonic probe or an ultrasonic bath, is located within an ink delivery system. Ink is delivered to the ultrasonic module, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the ink, such as at a sufficient level and duration to degas the ink, and/or to reduce the size of particles within the ink. In some embodiments, the particles may be agglomerates, wherein the applied energy is configured to reduce the size of the agglomerates to a size that can be jetted through the print head. In other embodiments, the particles may be metallic particles, wherein the applied energy is configured to create smaller metallic particles that can be jetted with the ink through the print head.