Abstract: An ink jet recording method is provided for recording white and non-white ink compositions onto a moving recording medium. The recording medium includes a first region where both the white and non-white ink compositions are adhered, and a second region where only the white ink composition is adhered. Further, one or both of Conditions (i) and (ii) is satisfied. Condition (i): The amount of the white ink composition adhered in the first region is less than the amount of the white ink composition adhered in the second region. Condition (ii): The number of times the white ink composition is scanned across the first region is less than the number of times the white ink composition is scanned across in the second region.

Abstract: A card processing system includes a drop-on-demand card printing system that has at least one drop-on-demand print head with a nozzle plate. An automated cleaning mechanism is provided in the drop-on-demand card printing system that is configured to clean the nozzle plate without the cleaning mechanism physically contacting the nozzle plate. Since the nozzle plate is not physically contacted by the cleaning mechanism, damage to the nozzle plate during cleaning is avoided thereby avoiding degrading the resulting print quality of the print head.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus generates data for forming a layer of ink to be cured by being irradiated with an ultraviolet ray, on an uneven portion formed on a recording medium using ink to be cured by being irradiated with an ultraviolet ray, and the information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire first data that has information corresponding to a depth of a groove to be generated on a surface of the uneven portion in a case where the uneven portion is formed on the recording medium, and a generation unit configured to generate second data that represents a number of lamination times of ink or a recording amount of ink for forming the layer of ink, based on the first data.

Abstract: A printing technique is presented for efficiently printing (i.e. with production lines rates at high resolution and high accuracy) on outer surfaces of a plurality of objects passing in an optimized stream through a printing route/zone. According to this technique, at least one array of printing head units is provided being configured to define at least one printing route along a printing axis, where the at least one printing route is a substantially linear segment of a closed loop lane along which the objects are progressing.

Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a liquid jetting head having individual channels, first and second common channels connected to the individual channels, the individual channels having nozzles respectively; a pump which circulates liquid inside the liquid jetting head; and a controller. The controller is configured to: reduce a unit circulation amount of the liquid in stages as standby time becomes longer, the unit circulation amount being a circulation amount of the liquid per unit time by the pump, the standby time being a length of time during which a standby state is continued, the standby state being a state in which the liquid jetting head is ready without jetting the liquid; and in a case of shifting the liquid jetting head from the standby state to a jetting operation, determine a type of recovery operations in accordance with the standby time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a substrate with an embedded, UV-visible pattern, wherein a liquid treatment composition comprising at least one acid is deposited onto a substrate, which comprises at least one optical brightener and optionally a filler, wherein the filler comprises 0 to 60 wt.-% of a salifiable alkaline or alkaline earth compound, based on the total weight of the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a liquid discharge head; a first channel communicating with a first communication port; a pump communicating with the first channel; a second channel communicating with the pump; a first switching valve communicating with the second channel; a third channel communicating with the first switching valve; a storage section communicating with the third channel; a fourth channel communicating with the storage section; a second switching valve communicating with the fourth channel; a fifth channel communicating with the second switching valve and the second communication port; and a sixth channel communicating with the first and second switching valves. The first switching valve connects the second channel and the third channel, or connects the second channel and the sixth channel The second switching valve connects the fifth and fourth channels, or connects the fifth and sixth channels.

Abstract: A non-contact printer controls the sensitivity of sensors provided upstream of a print head, to detect the approach of an object. In a calibration operation to set the sensitivity level of the sensors before a printing operation, the printer displays instructions to guide the operator and adjusts the sensor sensitivity to find detection threshold levels for a background (object absent) condition and when the object is present. The calibration results may be stored in association with data identifying the conveyor and the type of object used in the calibration operation. If the same conveyor and/or object type is used again in a later printing operation, the sensitivity level of the sensors can be set using the stored calibration results so that a further calibration operation is not necessary.

Abstract: A head voltage correcting method for inkjet printing apparatus which perform printing by dispensing ink droplets from a head to a printing medium. The method includes the following steps: a step of printing testing charts; a step of acquiring images of the testing charts; a step of determining presence or absence of satellite droplets for each drive voltage; a step of obtaining distances between the main droplets and the satellite droplets for each drive voltage; a step of obtaining a distance reference drive voltage from a relationship of the distances for each drive voltage and a distance threshold; a step of obtaining ink droplet sizes for each drive voltage; a step of obtaining a size reference drive voltage; and a step of comparing the distance reference drive voltage and the size reference drive voltage, and making correction by adopting a larger one as the reference voltage.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head; a cap; a switching mechanism configured to perform switching of a state of the cap between a capping state and an uncapping state; a timer; a purge mechanism; and a controller. The controller performs: calculating a value of a capping-time parameter; and measuring a capping time with the timer. In a case that a purge condition regarding the capping time and the value of the capping-time parameter is satisfied, the controller causes the purge mechanism to perform a purge, and then causes the liquid jetting head to perform a jetting operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the volume of a liquid drop, and a method for adjusting the volume of a liquid drop are disclosed, so as to improve the convenience in making adjustment and measurement, and to alleviate a measure error. The detecting apparatus includes at least one measuring unit, where each of the at least one measuring unit includes: a first measurement groove, at least one second measurement groove, and a third measurement groove arranged adjacent to the second measurement groove, where the capacity of the first measurement groove is more than the total capacity of the second measurement grooves, the height of a sidewall of the first measurement groove shared by the second measurement groove arranged adjacent thereto is less than the height of a sidewall of the first measurement groove not shared by the second measurement groove.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit capable of ejecting a liquid, a support unit configured to support a medium onto which the liquid is ejected and is movable in a movement direction between a set position where the medium is set and an ejecting start position where the ejecting unit starts ejecting the liquid, and a detector configured to detect whether an interference substance which is a substance that causes an interference with the ejecting unit is present on the support unit. The detector is movable between a first position and a second position, a distance between the second position and the ejecting unit being longer than a distance between the first position and the ejecting unit, in the movement direction.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head which includes a plurality of individual channels, a common channel which includes a supply portion and a return portion, a first filter in which a plurality of first through holes along a supply direction is formed, and a second filter in which a plurality of second through holes along a discharge direction is formed. An opening at an upstream end in the supply direction of each of the plurality of through holes is smaller than an opening at a downstream end in the supply direction of each of the plurality of first through holes, and an opening at an upstream end in the discharge direction of each of the plurality of second through holes is larger than an opening at a downstream end in the discharge direction of each of the plurality of second through holes.

Abstract: A plant and a process for printing a sheet fibrous material. The plant includes a conveyor belt, a preparing station, and a printing station. The conveyor belt is configured for temporarily receiving in contact a first side of the sheet fibrous material and, during a predetermined operative condition, for continuously moving the sheet fibrous material along an advancement direction. The preparing station is configured for placing on the sheet fibrous material a treatment composition. The printing station is adapted to ink-print at least part of a second side, opposite to the first side, of the sheet fibrous material. The printing station includes a printing module which, during the predetermined operative condition, is configured for defining a print on an overall width of the sheet fibrous material, staying in a fixed position and printing the second side of the sheet fibrous material sliding on the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A microfluidic die is disclosed that includes a plurality of heaters above a substrate, a plurality of chambers and nozzles above the heaters, a plurality of first contacts coupled to the heaters, and a plurality of second contacts coupled to the heaters. The plurality of second contacts are coupled to each other and coupled to ground. The die includes a plurality of contact pads, a first signal line coupled to the plurality of second contacts and to a first one of the plurality of contact pads, and a plurality of second signal lines, each second signal line being coupled to one of the plurality of first contacts, groups of the second signal lines being coupled together to drive a group of the plurality of heaters with a single signal, each group of the second signal lines being coupled to a remaining one of the plurality of contact pads.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an electric field forming section including a conductive member and configured to form an electric field, and the conductive member includes at least one first portion and a second portion, each of the at least one first portion being disposed at a position being nearer the recording head than a position of the second portion and included in a corresponding one of at least one liquid discarding region each of which, in an execution of borderless recording, is used for the ejection of the liquid onto an outside of a corresponding one of at least one edge whose position corresponds to each of at least one predetermined size of a medium, the second portion being disposed in a recording region other than the at least one liquid discarding region.

Abstract: First electronics may determine a count of bubble jet resistors to be fired by a fire pulse group. A fire pulse generator may generate a fire pulse train for bubble jet resistors, the fire pulse train comprising a precursor pulse and a firing pulse separated by a dead time. Second electronics may adjust a width of the fire pulse for the bubble jet resistors of the fire pulse group by maintaining a first edge of the fire pulse relative to the precursor pulse and adjusting a second edge of the fire pulse relative to the precursor pulse based upon the determined count for the fire pulse group.

Abstract: A mixer system for use with a non-contact liquid printer comprises: a printing liquid reservoir and an expansion volume; and an aspirator element, configured to reduce the pressure in the expansion volume, thereby to displace printing liquid from the reservoir to the expansion volume, and restore the pressure in the expansion volume, thereby to return the printing liquid to the reservoir so as to mix the printing liquid therein.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a scanner unit, a scanner drive section that drives the scanner unit, a head unit that is provided with an ejection section, a drive signal generation section that generates a drive signal driving the ejection section, a casing in which the head unit is disposed, a temperature information output section that outputs temperature information indicating a value corresponding to a temperature in the casing, and a stop control section that decides a time length of the stop period in which generation of the drive signal is stopped based on the temperature information, in which the time length is longer when the scanner unit is driven than when the scanner unit is not driven.

Abstract: A method of forming an inkjet printhead. The method includes the steps of: providing a metal alloy shim having a plurality of shim apertures; nitriding a surface of the shim; bonding the shim to a rigid elongate manifold having ink supply channels, such that each shim aperture is in fluid communication with a respective ink supply channel; and bonding printhead chips to the shim, thereby forming the inkjet printhead.