Abstract: In order to realize stable image printing, this invention provides an image printing apparatus capable of supplying a stable voltage to a printhead, and maintaining a compact shape. For this purpose, in the image printing apparatus in which a carriage which supports a printhead is scanned on a printing medium to print an image, a power converter which converts power to be supplied to the printhead is mounted on the first print circuit board of the carriage so as to supply a predetermined voltage to the printhead. The printhead and a power smoothing unit which smoothes the voltage converted by the power converter in accordance with the load of the printhead are mounted on the second print circuit board. The first and second print circuit boards are separately arranged at a proper gap in the image printing apparatus, which prevents an increase in the size of the image printing apparatus.

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: 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 utilizing a single 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 liquid sensor (802) composed of a piezoelectric device is provided on an ink cartridge (800). An actual consumption detection processing section (816) of a recording apparatus control section (810) detects an actual consuming state by detecting an oscillating state corresponding to an ink consuming state using a piezoelectric device. An estimate consumption calculation processing section (814) finds an estimate consuming state by calculating an ink consuming state based on printing amount when printing using ink. For example, a consuming volume is calculated by adding up and multiplying the number of printing dots. An estimate consumption calculation processing for finding a consuming volume in detail and an actual consumption detection processing capable of detecting precisely are used in combination. Preferably, the passage of liquid level is detected as detection of an actual consumption. Consuming volumes prior to and after it are estimated by adding up and multiplying the number of dots.

Abstract: A printhead pressure relief mechanism using a non-mechanical media thickness monitoring apparatus. An increase in media thickness is monitored by an emitter/detector pair, a piezo-electric pressure sensor mounted on the print head, a metal detector or a RFID read/write assembly.

Abstract: A method of printing cartridge maintenance including determining remaining useful life of a printing cartridge, and refilling at least a portion of the printing cartridge if the remaining useful life is above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A pixel clock pulse generating apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus includes high frequency clock pulse and pixel clock pulse generators. The high frequency clock pulse generator generates relatively high frequency clock pulses. The pixel clock pulse generator generates pixel clock pulses based on the phase data for instructing a transition time of pixel clock pulses and the high frequency clock pulses.

Abstract: A printhead for use in an ink jet printing device includes a heater substrate having a plurality of heating elements and an intermediate layer disposed adjacent the heater substrate. The intermediate layer defines a plurality of ink flow paths. A channel plate is disposed adjacent the intermediate layer and includes an integral filter having a plurality of filter teeth extending toward the intermediate layer. The channel plate defines an ink reservoir on one side of the integral filter and a cross-flow channel on a second side of the integral filter. Preferably, the channel plate, including the integral filter, comprises a single piece of plastic.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a printhead and a print medium that move relative to one another in a printing direction. The printhead includes a plurality of ink delivery channels, and an ink outlet corresponding to each of the ink delivery channels. Each ink outlet includes at least two ink orifices offset from one another in a direction transverse to the printing direction, so that as the printhead traverses a print medium, control signals to the printhead can deposit two drops from each delivery channel, which drops are offset in the transverse direction, thereby permitting the use of smaller ink drops and a higher apparent print resolution for the image deposited on the print medium than the resolution of the print control signals in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A method of storing usage information in an ink jet printer includes storing low priority usage information in a first memory field. First high priority usage information is stored in a second memory field. Second high priority usage information is stored in a third memory field. The second high priority usage information is substantially identical to the first high priority usage information.

Abstract: An apparatus (22, 122) for filtering a substance (13) includes an electrically insulating substrate (30, 130) that separates a source volume (12) containing the substance (13) from a target volume (18). The substrate (30, 130) has a first side in fluid communication with the source volume (12) and a second side in fluid communication with the target volume (18). The substrate (30, 130) further includes a plurality of openings (42, 142) connecting the first side with the second side. The openings (42, 142) are sized to provide filtering fluid communication between the source volume (12) and the target volume (18) for at least one phase of the substance. A heater film (32) is deposited over selected portions of the substrate (30, 130). The heater film (32) contacts the substrate (30, 130) to heat at least a portion of the openings (42, 142).

Abstract: An ink jet head includes a nozzle plate having a nozzle hole and a film having at least one of a water repellent function and an oil repellent function formed on one plate face thereof. The film includes a metal oxide and fluorine based resin.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method and device in which an interpreter of the ink jet recording device reduces a splash (splash event) of ink during the printing of a solid-drawing area. The interpreter analyzes a command and data which indicate the drawing of a thick-line or a filled-in area. After the analysis, vector data of the thick line or the filled-in area is converted into raster data based on a given data pattern and, based on the raster data, ink is ejected with the recording head moving over a recording medium. Prior to the rasterization, the interpreter checks each of the thick line or the filled-in area to be drawn as to whether the data pattern indicates solid-drawing (S44). If the data pattern indicates solid-drawing, the interpreter changes the data pattern to a lower-density pattern (S47).

Abstract: The invention relates to so-called scanning tips of probes necessary for scanning a measured object, in particular in scanning force microscopes and other scanning microscopes, so-called scanning probe microscopes. The possible resolution of such microscopes depends primarily on the fineness of the tip, i.e. its curvature or radius being as small as possible. According to the invention, a photostructurable material, e.g. a photosensitive resists, serves as the material for the scanning tip which is exposed via a mask and is subsequently developed/hardened in a manner known per se. The unexposed parts of the photosensitive resist are removed as usual. By the shape of the exposure mask, the preferably directed exposure of the photosensitive resist, and the subsequent hardening, a tip is formed preferably laterally on or at a carrier, usually made from a different material, which is provided with a very small radius, thus very well suitable for scanning probe microscopy and similar applications.

Abstract: An image forming system and an associated method for correcting ink droplet placement errors across a printhead. By creating an ink droplet characterization of the printhead, the image forming system is able to time the firing of printhead ink ejectors to avoid drop placement errors caused by ink ejector velocity variations or printhead alignment errors.

Abstract: In a method for independently wiping a first and a second printhead of an inkjet printing device, a first and a second wiping assembly separated from each other are provided in the printing device. When the first wiping assembly wipes the first printhead, the second wiping assembly is separated from the second printhead so that the second wiping assembly does not simultaneously wipe the second printhead. When the second wiping assembly wipes the second printhead, however, the first wiping assembly is separated from the first printhead so that the first wiping assembly does not simultaneously wipe the first printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet print head (10) includes one or more laser sources (12). Each laser source (12) is actuable to emit laser radiation and each laser source is associated with one or more ink chambers (18). Each ink chamber (18) includes a nozzle aperture (20) through which ink is dispensed and is arranged to, in use, communicate with an ink supply. Each chamber has a membrane (16) arranged to contact the ink in the ink chamber, the membrane being responsive to laser radiation from an associated laser source to produce an acoustic emission capable of displacing ink from the chamber.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus in which after each purging operation, a wiping operation is performed, and then a preliminary ejection is performed. In the preliminary ejection operation, a preliminary ejection by a small dot waveform is performed, and then a preliminary ejection by a larger dot waveform than the small dot waveform is performed.

Abstract: An inner surface of a ceiling wall is provided at an angle of approximately 5 degrees to 10 degrees, with respect to a horizontal surface. An outlet to a second ink channel is disposed at a higher position of the ceiling wall than a first ink channel. An inlet connected to the first ink channel is provided such that an end of the inlet terminates near a bottom of a buffer tank. When a circulation purge operation is performed by circulating ink from a sub-tank to the buffer tank, through the first ink channel, and from the buffer tank to the sub-tank, through the second ink channel, air bubbles in the buffer tank move along the angled or inclined inner surface of the ceiling wall, to the outlet provided at a higher position. The air bubbles are smoothly discharged through the outlet. The air bubbles collected to the sub-tank are released into the atmosphere through an air releasing portion.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for ink jet printing of wide format substrates such as textiles in a manner to simulate screen printing, in which image data in one or more acceptable formats is input, transformed into a suitable L*a*b* file format, further converted into a driver format for a printer, then communicated to such printer. Optionally, the color gamut of the image in the L*a*b* file format is checked against an estimated screen gamut of a screen printer, and limited to the estimated screen gamut as required.