Abstract: An inkjet printer for jetting ink of the optimal viscosity for image-recording during recording operation. The inkjet printer includes: a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the ink in a recording head; a heater for heating the ink in the recording head by generating heat; and a control unit for controlling the heater based on a result detected by the temperature sensor. In the control unit, a set value for defining a heating temperature of the heater is stored, and first factors including movement speed of a carriage and the number of times of movement of a carriage, and a first correction value corresponding to the first factors are stored as a first data table. The control unit specifies the first correction value from image information, corrects the set value based on the first correction value, and controls the heater for generating heat according to the corrected set value.

Abstract: The inkjet head ejects ink droplets through ejection nozzles with pressurizing elements and includes ink channels and ink circulation paths. Each ink channel is provided in a gap between a substrate and a nozzle plate and closed at one end and permitting ink to be supplied at another end and flow toward an ink pressurizing zone where the pressurizing element and the ejection nozzle of the nozzle plate are positioned on wall surfaces in the ink channel. Each ink circulation path is provided in the ink channel such that ink pressurizing energy which has been produced by pressurizing the ink with the pressurizing element and which is traveling from the ink pressurizing zone toward downstream of ink supply flow is allowed to propagate toward more upstream of the ink supply flow than the ink pressurizing zone, whereby the ink pressurizing energy is returned toward the ink pressurizing zone. The inkjet printer mounts the inkjet head.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting drawing accuracy in a liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs drawing by ejecting a function liquid droplet while moving a function liquid droplet ejection head relative to a workpiece by using a moving mechanism. In response to the relative movement, a laser irradiating mechanism performs visually recognizable stippling on the workpiece by irradiating coherent light thereon. A control part drives the laser irradiating mechanism for stippling at a predetermined frequency timing.

Abstract: Provided is a temperature detection method capable of more accurately acquiring an environmental temperature and more accurately correcting temperature detection of a printhead. In a printing apparatus to which this method is applied, a previous printing time when the printhead has performed a printing operation is stored in a nonvolatile memory. The current time is acquired using a timer which always performs a time counting operation by power supply from an auxiliary power supply capable of supplying power independently of a main power supply that supplies power for performing the printing operation by the printing apparatus. A time elapsed after the previous printing time is calculated on the basis of the current time and previous printing time. The elapsed time and a predetermined time are compared. The temperature is measured using a sensor arranged in at least one of the printing apparatus and the printhead in accordance with the comparison result.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus in which printing is performed by a printhead having a plurality of printing elements, each driven by electrical energy, and the number of printing elements driven at the same time is changed depending upon the print data, the timing at which the number of printing elements driven simultaneously increases by a large amount is detected by using M bits of drive data transferred first in serially transferred N bits of drive data, and the electrical energy supplied to the printhead is increased before this timing.

Abstract: Nozzle scheduling algorithms that provide a unified approach to designing nozzle firing algorithms that incorporate a variety of specifiable nozzle-firing constraints such as print head (nozzle) geometry, nozzle spacing, number of nozzles, head movement (number of passes), ink-media interaction, etc. Such constraints are provided as design rules for a given printer/output medium, and the result is an appropriate nozzle firing algorithm. The design algorithms may be used to generate nozzle firing sequences in a halftone-dependent or halftone-independent manner.

Abstract: A method of detecting a blockage within an inkjet nozzle is provided. The inkjet nozzle comprises an ink chamber, an opening defined in a roof of the ink chamber, an actuating arm movable between a rest position and an operating position, and a movement sensor associated with the actuating arm. The movement sensor is activated by movement of the actuating arm to a predetermined position beyond the operating position. The detection method comprises the steps of: (a) passing a blockage-detecting current pulse having a predetermined duration tp through the actuating arm; (b) detecting for movement of the actuating arm to the predetermined position; and (c) comparing the detected movement with the movement in an unblocked condition. The movement of the actuating arm in a blocked condition is less than movement of the actuating arm in an unblocked condition.

Abstract: A mechanism for sealing a cover to a container for storing ink in an inkjet cartridge is provided. The mechanism includes a container for storing ink, a cover and a gasket. The cover fits over the container and the gasket is interposed between an inside edge of the cover and an outside edge of the container. Inkjet cartridges and printing apparatuses employing such mechanisms are also provided.

Abstract: A method includes ejecting ink from a first set of one or more nozzles to form a first image pattern at least partially within an image field. The method likewise includes ejecting ink from a second set of one or more nozzles to form a second image pattern at least partially within the image field. The first image pattern and second image pattern form a composite pattern within the image field. Then, an optical detector obtains a measurement of an optical characteristic of the image field. The measurement may be compared with a reference optical characteristic for the composite pattern within the image field.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a recording head having nozzles for jetting ink onto a recording medium, an intermediate tank for temporarily storing ink in a lower position of the recording head, and an ink supply line for feeding the ink between the intermediate tank and the recording head, wherein when a viscosity of the ink is ? and pressure loss which allows the ink to be stably jetted is h, a length L and a diameter d of the ink supply line satisfy an inequality: (2.823×109×d4)/L>?/h.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly is provided comprising an inkjet printhead and a print controller for controlling printing performed by the printhead. The print controller comprises an interface for receiving compressed page data, a decoder for decoding any infrared tags in the received compressed page data, a dot merger unit controlled by a color mask for mapping the decoded infrared tags into channels corresponding to what inks are supplied in the inkjet printhead, and a printhead driver for outputting the mapped infrared tags to the inkjet printhead.