Abstract: A kit including a holder for holding a memory device in the form of a chip, elements for inputting data to or altering data in the chip, a printer cartridge for containing ink, and a retaining element to retain the chip on the printer cartridge.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head is provided with a nozzle formation face on which nozzles for ejecting ink drops in accordance with print data are formed. A capping member for sealing the nozzle formation face has an inner space formed with a bottom. An ink absorbing member is provided on the bottom of the inner space. In a first flushing mode, ink drops are ejected into the capping member in a state that the nozzle formation face is sealed by the capping member. In a second flushing mode, ink drops are ejected into the capping member in a state that the capping member is separated from the nozzle formation face. Either the first flushing mode or the second flushing mode is selectively performed.

Abstract: Circuit architecture for driving piezoelectric transducers with a Head Drive ASIC powered with only regular (constant) power supplies (instead of ramped and shaped power supplies) is disclosed. The circuit architecture consists of current mirroring systems and current switching techniques used to generate the required particular voltage waveforms across the capacitive transducers using only constant (DC) power supplies. There is no need for high voltage switching elements in this approach.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a droplet plate for the printhead of an ink-jet printer, which process provides design flexibility, precise dimension control, as well as material robustness. Also provided is a droplet plate fabricated in accord with the process.

Abstract: The present invention provides ink-jet inks, systems, and methods for marking documents as original. Specifically, an aqueous ink-jet ink can comprise an ink vehicle; and a sufficient amount of particulates having directionally dependent light reflective properties within the ink vehicle such that when the ink-jet ink is substantially dried on a desired substrate, a multi-colored reflected light is emittable in the presence of a light source. Printing documents as original can be carried out for compensation, as a service, or by providing cartridges containing these inks to clients and/or customers.

Abstract: A method and system to align a printer for printing on a media includes detecting a left edge position and a right edge position of a calibration mark while scanning a carriage horizontally over an area holding the media, determining a horizontal coordinate position of the calibration mark according to the left and right edge positions, cross referencing a width measured between the left and right edge positions of the calibration mark with a predetermined vertical coordinate position, and adjusting a horizontal offset in a carriage direction relative to the horizontal coordinate position of the calibration mark and a vertical offset in a media advance direction relative to the vertical coordinate position of the calibration mark.

Abstract: A method of detecting an obstacle that disturbs a printing operation to be performed on a printing surface of a printing portion of a workpiece by a printing head of an ink-jet printer such that the printing head and a planar platen on which the printing portion of the workpiece is set are moved relative to each other between a first position and a second position, with a predetermined spacing maintained between the printing surface of the workpiece and the printing head in a direction perpendicular to the printing surface, wherein the obstacle existing on a plane of printing by the printing head is detected by a sensing device, by scanning the predetermined spacing in a direction intersecting a direction of a relative movement of the printing head and the platen, while the printing head and the platen are moved relative to each other between the first and second printing positions. Also disclosed are an ink-jet printing method and printer wherein the obstacle is detectable.

Abstract: A printing apparatus drive control method is provided which allows the user to select a drive mode in which a printing apparatus can be operated with reduced operation noise whatever print mode is set, such as a fine print mode or a fast print mode, thus eliminating a problem of emitting noisy operation sound to surroundings late at night when a level of noise is comparatively low. One or more of a plurality of motors, which cause a plurality of driven portions in the printing apparatus, such as paper supply unit, main scan unit and paper feed unit, to perform predetermined operations, can be driven in a normal drive mode or a silent drive mode selectively.

Abstract: A method for materials processing by means of plasma-inducing high-energy radiation, especially laser radiation, in which the instantaneous intensity of the plasma radiation is measured at plural locations of a vapor capillary. So that the method can also be performed with perfect welding results on workpieces of very small thickness, shapes of two spaced-apart peak intensity regions, or of another type of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the vapor capillary, and of a minimum region that can be formed between these two regions of extreme values are detected metrologically, the so detected shapes of the regions of extreme values are compared with predetermined region shapes, and control of the materials processing operation takes place as a function of deviations of the detected shapes from the predetermined region shapes.

Abstract: Circuitry for providing a method (semi-analog) for normalization procedure of the Head Driver ASIC is disclosed. The circuitry utilizes current DAC's (Digital-to-Analog Converts) to adjust the amplitudes of the voltages across piezoelectric elements, based on predetermined normalization (calibration) data which are stored in separate latches (a different normalization data for each individual transducer). The transducers all receive their respective calibrated voltage values all at the same time by varying the current slope delivered to each. This method provides more simplicity and more accuracy for normalization procedure and results in better performance then using digital circuitry and digital counters.

Abstract: A soft alumite is produced by forming an oxide film on the surface of an aluminum substrate. Printing is performed on a porous layer formed on the surface of the soft alumite while heating the soft alumite. Alternatively, printing is performed with a dye-based ink on a porous layer formed on the surface of the soft alumite.

Abstract: An image forming device capable of reducing transfer errors of paper even when the transfer amount of paper cannot be detected accurately. The image forming device is provided with a motion sensor, and calculates the transfer amount of paper using signals output by the motion sensor. It is determined whether or not the transfer amount is within a predetermined normal range. If it is determined that the transfer amount is within the normal range, a paper transfer amount control value is set to the calculated transfer amount, while if it is determined that the transfer amount is outside the range, the paper transfer amount control value is set to a preliminarily set standard transfer amount. The image forming device controls the transfer of paper based on the above paper transfer amount control value.

Abstract: A micro electromechanical device includes a support structure and an arm moveable relative to the support structure under the influence of a heat inducing electrical current flowing through a part of the arm. The device includes a movement sensor having at least a portion integral or mounted on the moveable arm. The movement sensor detects the amount of movement, the rate of movement or a predetermined amount of movement of the arm relative to the substrate. This may be achieved by providing two electrical contacts, one on the arm and the other on the support structure that are engaged with each other when the arm moves.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a light scanning device capable of suppressing a scanning line bend to a low level, which is caused by the arrangement error of a single-element lens serving as an imaging optical element, and an image forming apparatus using the device. In order to achieve the object, according to this invention, an imaging optical system is formed from a single-element lens, and a sectional shape of an exit surface in the main scanning direction is an arcuated shape. The power in the sub scanning direction substantially concentrates on the exit surface having an arcuated sectional shape in the main scanning direction, and the arcuated shape (curvature) in the main scanning direction is so determined as to make the magnification in the sub scanning direction uniform.

Abstract: The ink jet print head according to this invention includes a plurality of nozzles; a plurality of electrothermal transducers with one transducer provided for each of the plurality of nozzles, the electrothermal transducers being adapted to eject ink supplied into the nozzles when energized; an energization start circuit to start energizing the electrothermal transducers; a voltage detection circuit to detect a voltage applied to the electrothermal transducers after starting the energization; and an energization stop circuit to stop the energization of the electrothermal transducers according to the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit.

Abstract: It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an image recording method and image recording apparatus for performing high-density recording without degrading the resolution. A desired image is recorded on a recording medium by exposing the image on the recording medium while moving the recording medium in the main scan direction where a toner layer of a transfer sheet is overlaid on an image reception layer of an image reception sheet as well as moving a plurality of laser beam spots arranged on the recording medium in the sub-scan direction orthogonal to the main scan direction. In this practice, a recording process on the transfer sheet is repeated a plurality of times to record a same image repeatedly with transfer sheets replaced after the transfer sheet has been exposed.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a substrate, drop generators formed on the substrate at a high density, primitive select lines, and a ground line. The drop generators are arranged in primitives of drop generators. Each drop generator includes a heater resistor having a high resistance. Each primitive select line is separately electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the primitives and is configured to connect to a power source. The ground line is electrically coupled to all of the primitives.

Abstract: An apparatus for ion attachment mass spectrometry provided with a reaction chamber for causing positively charged metal ions to attach to a gas to be detected; a mass spectrometer for mass separation and detection of the detection gas; an analysis chamber in which the mass spectrometer is placed; differential evacuation chambers for connecting the reaction chamber and analysis chamber; a data processor for receiving and processing the mass signal from the mass spectrometer; and vacuum gauges for measuring the total pressure of the reduced pressure atmosphere of the reduced pressure atmosphere reaction chamber, a differential evacuation chamber, and an analysis chamber. The total pressure signal from the vacuum gauge measured during the measurement is input to one of the data processor, introduction mechanism, and evacuation mechanism.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus, a recording head is mounted on a carriage which reciprocately moves in a widthwise direction of recording paper. A subtank is mounted on the carriage for supplying ink. A main tank stores ink which is replenished to the subtank. An ink amount detector detects an amount of ink stored in the subtank. A replenishment controller controls replenishment of ink stored in the main tank to the subtank, in accordance with the ink amount detected by the ink amount detector.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods to facilitate printing on a media surface. For example, a topography of a print surface on a media may be determined. A firing time of a print nozzle may then be adjusted based upon the determined topography.