Abstract: A micro-electromechanical fluid ejection device includes a substrate. A semiconductor layer is positioned on the substrate. The substrate and the semiconductor layer define a fluid inlet chamber. A nozzle chamber defining structure is positioned on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the fluid inlet chamber and a fluid ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. An actuator is fixed, at one end, to the substrate. The actuator incorporates a heating circuit electrically connected to the semiconductor layer. The heating circuit is configured to generate thermal differential expansion and contraction upon excitation and de-excitation by the semiconductor layer so that the actuator is cyclically displaced relative to the substrate. A fluid ejection member is fixed to an opposite end of the actuator and positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber so that resultant displacement of the fluid ejection member causes fluid to be ejected from the fluid ejection port.

Abstract: Barcodes can be produced by feeding reel-stock media and receiving a drive signal from a printing device. The media receives, exterior of the printing device, print imaging as a barcode pattern or barcode indicia corresponding to the drive signal. Barcode-bearing media is thereby produced externally of the printing device but making use of the printing device resources.

Abstract: The scanning printing apparatus prints an image composed of a plurality of row images in accordance with image signals and each row images is printed while moving in a direction on a recording medium. The apparatus includes a moving unit for moving the apparatus itself on the medium in the one direction, a first ejection head for printing each row image of the image on the medium, a second ejection head for printing predetermined invisible marks which cannot be identified by humans on the medium, a first sensor for detecting the invisible marks printed on the medium and a control unit for controlling the moving unit based on detection results of the first sensor. The printing method prints the image by using the apparatus while correcting a printing position based on a position of the detected invisible marks.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for delivering droplets. One embodiment provides a system comprising nozzles adapted to deliver droplets to target points on the substrate, a first camera, and means for determining an angular rotation of the substrate in a coordinate system. In some embodiments the means for determining the angular rotation includes a second camera. The substrate has a top surface and alignment marks. The nozzles have droplet delivery openings oriented towards the substrate for delivery of the droplets. The first camera is oriented substantially towards the nozzle openings, and the second camera is oriented substantially towards the substrate top surface.

Abstract: An accurate system (501) for the magnetic alignment of an imaging subsystem (468) of an image processing apparatus (10) includes: 1) a master alignment fixture (534) including: a) two like, magnet-attracting translation-bearing rods (206, 208); b) a drum axis tool (526) or drum (300); c) a device (535) for supporting the translation-bearing rods (206, 208) in a parallel, planar relationship; d) a device (540) for supporting the drum axis tool (526) or drum (300) parallel to the translation-bearing rods (206, 208); and e) a device (546) for measuring and aligning the translation-bearing rods (206, 208) in relation to the parallel drum axis tool (526) or drum (300); and 2) a removable set apparatus (502) attachable to the master alignment fixture (534), including: a) a tube (506) or rod; b) aligned, downwardly extending first set arms (510) with magnets (518) attached, the magnets being detachably attachable to the translation-bearing rod; and c) at least two second, extended arms (511) that are detachably at

Abstract: A pen alignment method for a multi-pen printer is provided, the method including directing a first pen to print a first pattern of a first color, directing a second pen to print a second pattern of a second color in a predetermined relative alignment with the first pattern to form a test block, determining an actual hue of the test block via spectral analysis of the test block using a color sensor, and comparing the actual hue of the test block with an expected hue of the test block to determine whether the first and second pens are misaligned relative to each other, wherein the expected hue of the test block is the hue that would be detected if the first pen and second pen were correctly aligned.

Abstract: Process for compensation of mechanical defects in an ink jet printer in which the ink viscosity, the jet velocity, the distance at which the ink jet is broken into droplets and the phase are independently servocontrolled to respect set values, process according to which the droplet arrival position is compared with a reference position, and mechanical defects are compensated by varying the electrical charge on the droplets. The invention also relates to a printer equipped with checking and servocontrol means so that compensation according to the process can be applied. The mechanical assembly of the printer will thus be simplified.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus with a carriage lock mechanism is provided with a timer for counting a waiting time at a home position when detecting the return of a carriage to the home position HP. When this waiting time has reached or exceeded a reference time, a carriage lock mechanism is driven to lock the carriage. A time (reference time) taken while the carriage is returned to the home position and is then locked can be set and/or changed to be an optimum time according to the configuration of use of the recording apparatus through a reference time setting part.

Abstract: A method and system for a wiper blade mechanism usable in a maintenance station of an ink jet printer, including at least one printhead cap, a scraper, a cam shaft, a drive gear mechanism, at least one wiper blade, and a spittoon.

Abstract: A method of correcting a print error caused due to a misalignment between chips mounted on an array head of an inkjet printer.

Abstract: A droplet deposition analysis system for an ink jet printer including a flexible transparent substrate. The printer may include a light source on one side of the substrate, and an optical detector on the other side of the substrate.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet or like printing apparatus having a passivation layer of varied thickness. The passivation layer is relatively thin over the ink expulsion element to reduce the energy required to expel ink. The passivation layer is relatively thick over other regions of the substrate, particularly those regions in which circuitry or the like is provided. The increased thickness over the circuitry protects against capacitive coupling and the like. Methods of forming the varied thickness passivation layer are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein is a monolithic printhead formed using integrated circuit techniques. Thin film layers, including ink ejection elements, are formed on a top surface of a silicon substrate. The various layers are etched to provide conductive leads to the ink ejection elements. At least one ink feed hole is formed through the thin film layers for each ink ejection chamber. In one embodiment, there are more ink feed holes than ink ejection chambers, so that more than one ink feed hole provides ink to each ink ejection chamber. A trench is etched in the bottom surface of the substrate so that ink can flow into the trench and into each ink ejection chamber through the ink feed holes formed in the thin film layers. An orifice layer is formed on the top surface of the thin film layers to define the nozzles and ink ejection chambers.

Abstract: An image forming method and an image forming apparatus which are capable of jetting ink having high viscosity stably without incremental energy consumption, at a small quantity, and at high speed, and capable of forming high quality and highly precise images without feathering and bleeding on various recording media at high speed are provided. Color ink is held on a flat surface of an ink carrier in the form of a uniform pattern, and the ink carrier is partially heated correspondingly to image information. Then, an air layer is formed on the interface or near the interface between the ink carrier and the color ink. The color ink is jetted by the pressure generated when the air layer is formed to adhere on a recording medium, and thus an image is formed.

Abstract: The systems and methods of this invention allows for an electrical contact structure of the drop ejecting transducer in an inkjet printhead to be designed in such a way that the relatively thick electrical contact lines are not in the ink drop ejection path between the drop ejector transducer and the corresponding nozzle. Such a design thereby minimizes any visible defects due to misdirected satellite drops.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head has at least a discharge port for discharging liquid therefrom, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port to supply the liquid to the discharge port, a substrate provided with a heating member for creating a bubble in the liquid filling the liquid flow path, and a movable member having a movable portion having its free end at the discharge port side and provided at a location facing the heating member of the substrate with a gap with respect to the substrate, a supported and fixed portion supported on and fixed to the substrate, and a supporting portion provided near the supported and fixed portion of the movable portion. The free end of the movable member is displaced toward the discharge port side about the fulcrum portion of the movable member by pressure produced by the bubble being created to thereby discharge the liquid from the discharge port.