Abstract: Example ink tank parts are disclosed in examples herein. An example apparatus includes a container defining an internal volume including an aperture to provide access to the internal volume; a cap to be coupled to the container via a snap fit connection; a projection on a first one of the container and the cap; and a channel defined by a second one the container and the cap, when the cap is coupled to the container, the projection is disposed within the channel to limit rotational movement of the cap with respect to the container.

Abstract: A liquid heating apparatus for heating a liquid that is supplied to a liquid droplet ejection head is provided. The liquid heating apparatus includes a liquid chamber unit configured to be disposed on the supply route of the liquid and to temporarily store the liquid, and a temperature-adjusting flow path unit configured to heat the liquid supplied from the liquid chamber unit.

Abstract: An advantage of the present invention lies in reducing the likelihood that a cover will open needlessly. A liquid container unit for supplying a liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus includes: a liquid container, a case body, a cover that includes a rotation mechanism, and a locking mechanism configured to hold a closed state. The rotation mechanism includes: a first rotation portion configured to engage with the case body; and a second rotation portion configured to engage with the case body at a position located farther from the locking mechanism than the first rotation portion is in a rotation axis direction of the rotation mechanism, and a second length of an engaging portion at which the case body and the second rotation portion are engaged is longer than a first length of an engaging portion at which the case body and the first rotation portion are engaged.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a head that is driven by drive signals and that is capable of discharging a liquid, a circuit substrate, and generators that are provided on the circuit substrate and that generate the drive signals. The generators include a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, and a fourth transistor. Distance between the first transistor and the third transistor is longer than at least one of distance between the first transistor and the second transistor and distance between the first transistor and the fourth transistor.

Abstract: An obturator device (1) for a printhead comprising: an obturator assembly (3) having a valve surface (6) movable along at least one direction of displacement (X) between a first position in which the valve surface (6) is at a distance from a reference surface (A) and a second position in which the valve surface (6) is in contact with the reference surface (A); an actuator (2), secured to the obturator assembly (3) and operable to displace the obturator assembly (3) between the first position and second position; characterized in that the obturator assembly (3) comprises: an adjustable coupling (11) configured to allow the valve surface (6) to align its orientation relative to the reference surface (A) thereby ensuring improved engagement between the surfaces.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is capable of suppressing an increase of waste ink while solving an increase in density of ink within a supply tube. An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording head configured to discharge ink, a tank configured to store ink, a supply tube configured to supply ink to the recording head from the tank, a discharge unit configured to execute a discharge operation for discharging ink within the supply tuber a control unit configured to make the discharge unit execute a discharge operation when an elapsed time from a previous discharge operation is greater than a predetermined time, and a changing unit configured to change at least any one of the elapsed time or the predetermined time based on an ink consumption amount consumed through the recording head after the previous discharge operation.

Abstract: A reservoir in a printer includes a body that includes a first inlet and a first outlet. The body defines an internal volume positioned between the first inlet and the first outlet. A valve is positioned within the body. Ink flows from the first inlet, through the valve, and into the internal volume when the valve is in an open position, and the ink is prevented from flowing through the valve and into the internal volume when the valve is in a closed position. The ink is configured to flow from the internal volume, through the first outlet, and into a printhead. A heater is positioned within the body, and the heater is configured to heat the ink.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing method, the method including heating a thermoreversible recording medium with laser beams to erase an image which has been recorded on the thermoreversible recording medium, the thermoreversible recording medium reversibly changing between a colored state and a decolored state depending on a heating temperature and a cooling time; heating the thermoreversible recording medium, on which the image has been erased, with the laser beams to record a subsequent image on the thermoreversible recording medium; and measuring at least one of a surface temperature of the thermoreversible recording medium and a recording environmental temperature after a completion of erasing the image but before a beginning of recording the subsequent image to obtain a measured temperature value and controlling a time interval between the completion of erasing the image and the beginning of recording the subsequent image depending on the measured temperature value.

Abstract: An object forming method executed by at least one processing unit for forming a three-dimensional shape on a surface of a material, the method including: generating height information specifying a height of the three-dimensional shape, so that the height of the three-dimensional shape in a protection area surrounding a symbol area subjected to symbols on the surface of the material is higher than the height of the three-dimensional shape in the symbol area on the surface of the material, the material is subjected to a design including the symbols on the surface; and forming the three-dimensional shape on the surface of the material based on the generated height information.

Abstract: A printer which is configured so that an ink tank which accommodates ink is fixed and a user can refill the ink tank with the ink, includes one pair of electrodes which are disposed in the ink tank and serve as sensors for detecting whether or not the ink is present at a predetermined height (first threshold value). A control portion which controls the printer performs liquid presence detection to detect whether or not the ink is present at the predetermined height (first threshold value) by using the sensors, and performs initial filling which corresponds to the result of the detection.

Abstract: A method and system for applying and reading a fractal image to and from a plurality of objects to act as an identification label is provided. The system includes a printer for printing a fractal pattern to the plurality of objects and a reader for reading the printed fractal pattern. Such a fractal image is robust to printing and imaging difficulties and inconsistencies, and is difficult to copy, thus defending against counterfeiting.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus stores ejection pattern information and slight vibration pattern information indicating two-dimensional arrangements of ejection information and slight vibration information, respectively. A controller transmits an ejection signal when the ejection information at a first position in the ejection pattern information is first information and when the slight vibration information at a second position in the slight vibration pattern information is third information or fourth information. The controller transmits a slight vibration signal the ejection information at the first position is second information and when the slight vibration information at the second position is the third information. The controller transmits a non-vibration signal when the ejection information at the first position is the second information and when the slight vibration information at the second position is the fourth information.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a print supply cartridge comprises a microcontroller to receive a timing challenge and enable authentication of the cartridge by providing a challenge response. The challenge response is provided in a challenge response time that falls within an expected time window.

Abstract: An ink supply system, inkjet printer, and ink loading method are provided. The ink supply system includes an ink head comprising a nozzle; first and second ink containers; a first ink supply passage; a second ink supply passage; an ink amount detecting device configured to detect an amount of ink in the first ink container; and a notifying device to provide a notification when the detected amount of ink is less than or equal to a threshold amount.

Abstract: A media transport system provides full vacuum under media as the media traverses an entire print path of an ink jet printer while simultaneously providing for a no-vacuum inter-copy gap that moves along with the media past print heads of the ink jet printer. This is accomplished with a dual vacuum inner/outer vacuum drum system that includes a first drum that has a matrix of holes that allows for full coverage of vacuum with a second underlying drum that is shifted to align a second set of holes to match the sheet pitch. By shifting the second drum in relation to the first drum, a combination set of holes is aligned to provide full vacuum across the media while a column of holes is blocked to provide a non-vacuum inter-copy gap.

Abstract: A printing material receptacle fitted on a folder of a printing apparatus that includes a writing unit. The printing material receptacle includes a housing to accommodate ink; a first recording portion formed on a face of the housing and for recording updatable first information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable and visible using a non-electronic method, the face being exposed from the folder when the printing material receptacle is fitted on the folder; and a second recording portion formed on the face of the housing and for recording updatable second information relating to the printing material receptacle to be updatable, invisible, and mechanically readable using a non-electronic method. The first and second recording portions are configured to be written with the first and second information respectively by the writing unit.

Abstract: Fluid couplings examples are disclosed in examples herein. An example printer includes a housing; and a fluid reservoir permanently fixed within the housing, the fluid reservoir having a capacity sufficient to store enough ink to print a number of pages that corresponds to an expected useful life of the printer.

Abstract: A microfluidic refill includes a reservoir having a hollow body and an opening; a transport member in fluid communication with the reservoir; and a lid enclosing the opening of the reservoir. The lid is in fluid communication with the transport member. The lid comprises a rigid microfluidic delivery member. The rigid microfluidic delivery member includes a die and electrical traces that are in electrical communication with the die, wherein the electrical traces terminate at electrical contacts, wherein the electrical traces are disposed on only one plane. The die has a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the transport member at an inlet of the fluid chamber and with an orifice at an outlet of the fluid chamber and.

Abstract: A print device includes a tape mounting portion, a tape print portion, a tape discharge portion, a tube mounting portion, a ribbon mounting portion, a tube print portion, and a tube discharge portion. The tape mounting portion is configured such that a tape is detachably mounted in the tape mounting portion. The tube mounting portion is configured such that a tube is detachably mounted in the tube mounting portion along a predetermined direction. The ribbon mounting portion is configured such that an ink ribbon is detachably mounted in the ribbon mounting portion. The tape mounting portion and the ribbon mounting portion are disposed on a same side with respect to the tube mounting portion, and are disposed side by side along the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A drive apparatus, including: a first rotary member; a second rotary member, which is provided with an axle hole, and which receives drive power from the first rotary member or transmits drive power to the first rotary member; an axle member, which is inserted into the axle hole and engages with the first rotary member so as to transmit drive power between the first rotary member and the second rotary member; and a coupling member for coupling the first rotary member and the second rotary member; wherein the coupling member is provided with a sliding portion which is disposed between the first rotary member and the second rotary member in the radial direction and which slides over either one of the first rotary member and the second rotary member when the first rotary member and the second rotary member rotate integrally with each other via the axle member.