Abstract: In order to print an image at a high speed without using any large-capacity power supply unit, the image to be printed is segmented into grayscale-specific areas before printing, and the cumulative number of printing elements required to print the respective grayscale-specific areas is counted to predict a necessary power. On the basis of the prediction result, the image is then printed by selecting the highest convey speed from convey speeds at which upper limit powers used and rated average power consumption are determined. This makes it possible to provide an image printing method and apparatus which can realize high-speed image printing.

Abstract: A printing component receives media, applies print imaging thereto, and delivers the media to a first location. The apparatus selectively applies at least one calibration mark as the print imaging. An imaging component receives the imaged media at a second location and produces scan data representative thereof. The apparatus selectively analyzes the at least one calibration mark and produces calibration data.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer, a method of selecting an optimized energy level associated with a target ink drop velocity including the acts of: moving a printhead across a print medium at a plurality of scan velocities including a first velocity and a second velocity, printing at least one set of patterns on the print medium by supplying at least one predetermined energy level to at least one actuator of the printhead, the at least one set of patterns including a first pattern printed at the first velocity and a second pattern printed at the second velocity, associating the first pattern with the second pattern and selecting the optimized energy level associated with the target ink drop velocity.

Abstract: In the ink jet head unit of the present invention, an ink jet head for emitting ink in a formof droplets from nozzles formed in a nozzle face and a driving circuit for driving the ink jet head are mounted on the same surface side of the base board. A groove section is formed in the surface, extending from the nozzle face of the ink jet head to the driving circuit. In the ink jet head, a temperature measuring section is positioned in the groove section. Furthermore, there is provided a sealing member in the groove section, to prevent the flow of ink emitted from the nozzles, into the driving circuit. The sealing member is partly formed of an elastic body. Therefore, since the elastic body can restrain a change in the volume of the sealing member likely to be caused by a temperature change, it is possible to prevent the temperature change from impairing the ink jet head, consequently realizing ink projection stability.

Abstract: In the liquid discharge recording head provided with a stopper member formed of an elastic member to be penetrated by a hollow needle member for liquid supply into a liquid preserving chamber in the recording head, the invention enables smooth insertion of the front end of the needle member into the stopper member without insertion failure. The liquid discharge recording head is provided with a head chip having a nozzle for discharging liquid, and a frame member connected thereto and having a liquid chamber for containing the liquid to be supplied thereto. A hole portion is formed in a portion of the frame member, and joint rubber is pressed into such hole portion. In the joint rubber, there is formed in advance a fissure hole, to be penetrated by a hollow needle provided in the main body of the liquid discharge recording apparatus and having fissures in not less than three directions from the crossing center of the fissures, in a plane perpendicular to the direction of depth of the hole portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of observing a specimen ina field of view of an electron microscope comprising the acts of illuminating thespecimen with an electron beam having a first angle and forming a firsttransmission image of the specimen in the field of view and adjusting the electron beam to a second angle and forming a second transmission image of the specimen in the field of view and calculating a degree of coincidence between the first and second transmission images.

Abstract: There is provided a control unit capable of rapid and precise stoppage of an object to be driven by a motor for use in a printer. The control unit has a speed control part to control the object by acceleration control, constant speed control, deceleration control, and stoppage control by controlling a current to be applied to the motor, and also an inertia calculating part to calculate inertia of the object based on angular acceleration of the motor under the acceleration control of the object, and current values to be applied to the motor under the acceleration control and the constant speed control of the object. The speed control part uses the calculated inertia for controlling the current to be applied to the motor.

Abstract: A method of estimating an amount of ink contained in an ink reservoir includes the steps of determining a cumulative actual ink drop count of ink drops expelled from the ink reservoir; and determining an evaporation amount associated with the ink reservoir, wherein before a time threshold the evaporation amount is ignored, and upon reaching the time threshold the evaporation amount is used to compensate for an evaporation loss for the ink reservoir by adjusting the cumulative actual ink drop count to form an evaporation compensated drop count.

Abstract: An identification circuit for identifying the type of an ink jet print head and method thereof is disclosed. A reset signal and at least a clock signal are provided. A count value is reset if the identification circuit receives a reset signal. The count value is counted to next value if the identification circuit receives a corresponding clock signal. A logic circuit is programmed to output the required identification code sequentially from the ink jet print head according to the required identification code designated for the ink jet print head and the count value.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus communicating with an image data output device, a comparison unit compares a resolution of an image to be printed with a capability of the printer based upon image additional information, a request unit requests low quality image data corresponding to the image to be printed of the image data output device in accordance with a result of a comparison in the comparison unit, a determination unit determines a size of the image to be printed, and a second request unit requests image additional information, regarding the low quality image data corresponding to the image to be printed, of the image data output device in accordance with the size of the image to be printed. A printing method and a computer readable medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of the method are also provided.

Abstract: Ink from an ink cartridge is supplied along an ink supply tube to a sub-tank mounted on a carriage. Provided for the sub-tank is an ink level detector constituted by a float member on which a permanent magnet is mounted, and Hall devices. Further, a ink consumption counter is also included for calculating the quantity of ink ejected or discharged by a recording head. When a low ink state is detected by the ink level detector and when the value held by the ink consumption counter has reached a predetermined ink quantity total, the supply of ink from the ink cartridge to the sub-tank is initiated.

Abstract: A silicon nozzle plate includes nozzles each with a first nozzle portion having a circular cross-section and a second nozzle portion having a circular cross-section wherein the circular cross-section of the first nozzle portion is smaller than the circular cross-section of the second nozzle portion. In one embodiment the nozzle plate is utilized in an inkjet head and includes a recess having a flat bottom surface that commonly communicates with a plurality of first nozzle portions and a through hole that exposes terminal portions that supply control signals to pressure generators.

Abstract: A device for preventing a printer header from overheating includes a heater driving portion which is driven in response to a heater driving control signal, a heater emitting heat using electricity which is supplied by the heater driving portion, a substrate temperature detector detecting a temperature of a header substrate where the heater is mounted, a reference voltage generator generating a reference voltage, a comparator comparing a voltage detected by the substrate temperature detector with the reference voltage, a power control portion controlling a driving voltage supplied to the heater in response to a power control signal and controlling the driving voltage in accordance with an output signal of the comparator, and a control portion controlling the heater driving portion and the power control portion in accordance with transmitted printing data.

Abstract: A printing apparatus receives block size information of a block which is generated on the basis of the performance of a host apparatus for a print buffer for storing print data of each block and serves as a storage unit in the print buffer. Print data generated based on the performance of the host apparatus for each block corresponding to the received block size information is stored in the print buffer. The CPU in the printing apparatus controls printing by the printhead on the basis of the print data stored in the print buffer.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the present invention include a printer for printing graphical information on a surface. The printer includes a print head for printing indicia on the surface and an image sensor for recording an image of the surface. The recorded image contains a position-coding pattern that identifies a position on the surface. A processor converts the recorded image into a recorded position, and the print head then prints indicia on the surface based on a comparison of the recorded position with the graphical information to be printed.

Abstract: A nozzle for ejecting a droplet has a straight portion having a substantially straight shape. A driving waveform to be applied to a piezoelectric actuator includes a first voltage change process for expanding volume of a pressure generating chamber to retract a meniscus of the nozzle portion toward the pressure generating chamber and a second voltage change process for compressing the volume of the pressure generating chamber to eject a droplet. Voltage change quantity and voltage change time of the first voltage change process are set so that meniscus retraction quantity D when the second voltage change process is applied satisfies 0.8·ln?D?1.5·ln (ln designates length of the straight portion of the nozzle). Consequently, when the second voltage change process is applied, strong liquid surface interference can be produced in the nozzle central portion. Therefore, a droplet having an extremely small droplet volume can be ejected.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is controlled by obtaining status information of battery power of the printing apparatus (S101), determining a present status of the battery power from the obtained status information (S102), establishing a process mode so as to produce data for controlling the printing apparatus according to the present status of the battery power (S103 to S105) and controlling an operation of the printing apparatus by means of normal data or power saving data produced in the established process mode. In a power saving process mode, power saving print data and power saving control data are produced for lowering power consumption of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A print medium preferably includes an identification device on or in the print medium. The identification device provides encoded printing parameters for optimizing or controlling printing by a printer on the print medium.

Abstract: An ink-jet image forming method forms an image by forming dots using a fast-drying ink and a slow-drying ink, in which, when forming an image, an ambient temperature of an area where the image is formed is detected, and dot density of a predetermined area of the image is recognized based on image data. A process used to form dots is selected based on the detected ambient temperature and the recognized dot density. Under the condition where the inks are easily dried, the slow-drying ink is used to form dots, and under the condition where it is difficult to dry the inks, the slow-drying ink is used suitably with the fast-drying ink to form dots. As a result, the inks can be dried efficiently while suppressing deterioration of image quality.

Abstract: An inkjet printer service station has a movable member that interacts with another printer subsystem, which is changeable between a first state and a second state. To vary the printhead-to-media spacing to accommodate different thickness of media, such as plain paper and envelopes, a cam-operated locking mechanism and a lever-operated mechanism raise and lower the inkjet printhead. Other printer subsystems may be transitioned between two or more states through motion of a service station movable member, including motion using gravity assist, centrifugal forces, or momentum to accomplish one of the transitions. Other locking mechanisms may be used to secure a subsystem in one state or another, such as electrical or electromechanical mechanisms, as well as other structurally equivalent forms beyond the specific preferred embodiments illustrated herein without departing from the broad concepts disclosed. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a system, along with methods of operation are also provided.