Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a body housing a print engine. The print engine is configured to transport and print upon print media. A retractable cover is pivotally mounted relative to the body and is able to be pivoted to form a guide which can guide print media to the print engine for printing. A capping mechanism configured to cap the printhead assembly. In one embodiment, the capping mechanism comprises a sponge surrounded by an elastomeric seal.

Abstract: A liquid jet apparatus of the invention includes a drive waveform generator that generates a drive waveform signal, a modulator that pulse-modulates the drive waveform signal so as to produce a modulated signal, a digital power amplification circuit that amplifies the power of the modulated signal so as to produce an amplified digital signal, and a low pass filter that smoothes the amplified digital signal so as to produce a drive signal. The digital power amplification circuit includes multiple stages of digital power amplifiers each including a pair of switching elements that are push-pull-connected. The amplified digital signal is a multi-value signal that reaches a larger number of steps of electric potentials than the number of digital power amplifiers.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a medium-convey belt; a recording head; an image sensor being movable together with the recording head and including an image-pickup element, an image-forming optical system, and a light-entering surface which is more distant from the medium-convey belt than an ejection surface of the recording head, and a raising and lowering mechanism which positions the recording head, wherein the recording head is positioned, when in an inspecting mode in which the recording head is inspected, at a first height at which an optical image of an image recorded on the medium-convey belt or recorded on the recording medium on the medium-convey belt is formed on the image-pickup element by the image-forming optical system, while positioned, when in a normal recording mode, at a second height at which the ejection surface is more distant from the medium-convey belt than at the first height, and wherein the image sensor picks up the image when the recording head is positioned at the first h

Abstract: A printer-equipped disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes: a disk drive; a printer; a single light-emitting indicator unit able to luminously indicate colors; an ink tank containing color inks of which the number corresponds to the number of colors the light-emitting indicator unit can indicate; an ink level detection unit that detects color ink levels in the ink tank and outputs detected signals; a printing operation detection unit that detects a printer operation and outputs a detected signal; a drive operation detection unit that detects a disk drive operation and outputs a detected signal; and a first light emission control unit that controls a luminous color and state of the light-emitting indicator unit in accordance with the printer operation, the disk drive operation and the color ink levels on the basis of the detected signals from the ink level detection unit, printing operation detection unit and drive operation detection unit.

Abstract: The invention provides for an ink cartridge unit for an inkjet printer. The ink cartridge includes a main body defining a number of ink reservoirs, each reservoir having a layered stack of absorbent material forming a micro-capillary array for suspending ink inside said reservoir. The ink cartridge also includes a lid assembly covering the main body to seal ink inside the ink reservoirs, and a printhead assembly operatively fed with ink from the ink reservoirs in the main body.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head and a drive signal generating section. The head has an element performing operation for ejecting ink and ejects a plurality of types of inks, an amount of each ink ejected by the head being different depending on a designated tone value. The drive signal generating section generates a drive signal having a waveform section for operating the element and generates a plurality of types of the drive signals for a specific tone value, the waveform section of each of the drive signals for the specific tone value being different depending on the types of inks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing inkjet printer cartridges are disclosed. An embodiment includes a plurality of adapters, where each adapter is configured to electrically connect to a predetermined inkjet printer cartridge configuration, and at least one receiver configured to electrically connect to the plurality of adapters. The system further includes electronics connected to the receiver and configured to eject drops of fluid from specific nozzles of the inkjet printer cartridges, and a sensing device configured to detect which nozzles of the inkjet printer cartridge are ejecting drops of fluid.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, including plural ink-jet head units which are daisy-chain-connected to a control section and eject ink; and the control section which sends serial driving data to the plural ink-jet head units, wherein each ink-jet head unit includes a head drive control section, which includes: a serial/parallel conversion section which converts the serial driving data inputted from a pre-ceding ink-jet head unit to parallel driving data, and sends the parallel driving data to a post-ceding ink-jet head unit; an identification information setting section which sets identification information for selecting a signal essential to drive the ink-jet head unit, a data extracting section which selects the signal essential to drive the ink-jet head unit, based on identification information, and a data processing section which conducts process for driving the ink-jet head unit, by the signal essential to drive the ink-jet head unit selected by the data extracting section.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting device includes a head unit group in which head units are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction in which a head unit having a nozzle group formed by aligning nozzles that eject liquids and a landing target relatively move with each other. The liquids are ejected based on ejection serial data that represents ejection or non-ejection of each of the nozzles, and the nozzle group includes a preliminary nozzle corresponding to an area outside a regulated landing area of the landing target. The liquid ejecting device further includes a meandering correction pattern forming unit that forms a meandering correction pattern along the first direction in a margin outside the regulated landing area of the landing target and a meandering correction pattern detecting unit that detects the meandering correction pattern formed in the landing target by the meandering correction pattern forming unit.

Abstract: A discharge amount measurement method is configured to measure a discharge amount of a liquid discharged from at least one nozzle of a droplet discharge head. The discharge amount measurement method includes discharging the liquid as a droplet from the at least one nozzle of the droplet discharge head by a number of discharges that is set to obtain a measurable quantity by driving the droplet discharge head based on measurement discharge data that is substantially identical to data used when a drawing pattern is formed by discharging the liquid from the at least one nozzle of the droplet discharge head, measuring the discharge amount of the liquid discharged from the at least one nozzle of the droplet discharge head, and calculating an average discharge amount based on the discharge amount and the number of discharges.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a chamber, a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel each communicated with the chamber, a first peninsula extended along the first fluid channel and a second peninsula extended along the second fluid channel, and a first sidewall extended between the first peninsula and the chamber, and a second sidewall extended between the second peninsula and the chamber. The first sidewall is oriented at a first angle to the chamber and the second sidewall is oriented at a second angle to the chamber such that the second angle is different from the first angle.

Abstract: The invention provides for an inkjet printer assembly. The assembly includes a cartridge having an integrated pagewidth printhead integrated circuit (IC), and a cradle configured to receive the cartridge such that the printhead IC is adjacent a media feed path. The assembly also includes a driven mechanism configured to maintain the printhead and to feed print media through the media feed path, as well as a controller operatively connected to the cartridge and configured to determine a performance characteristic of the cartridge and to control operation of said driven mechanism and printhead IC in response to the determined performance characteristic of the cartridge.

Abstract: A printhead auto-alignment detection system includes a UV LED configured and positioned to transmit light in ultraviolet wavelengths onto a printed printhead alignment pattern formed using an aqueous ink having a UV fluorescing material. A sensor is configured and positioned to detect light in visible wavelengths emitted by the fluorescing material. A controller is communicatively coupled to the UV LED and the sensor. The controller is configured to execute program instructions for controlling the output of the UV LED and for reading a signal output of the sensor during a printhead alignment operation.

Abstract: Provided is a cradle unit for receiving a print cartridge to form a print engine. The cradle unit includes a main body defining an opening for receiving said cartridge, the main body having a frame structure including end plates with drive and exit rollers mounted therebetween. The cradle unit also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) pivotally mounted between the end plates for housing control electronics for controlling the operation of the print engine, and a cover assembly for securing said cartridge in the opening. The cover assembly is pivotally mounted between the end plates, with the cover assembly configured to pivot the PCB into electrical contact with a printhead controller on the cartridge when in a closed position, and to pivot the PCB out of electrical connection with said printhead controller when in an open position.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a holding face, an inkjet head including plural nozzles arranged along a predetermined direction correspondingly with a predetermined resolution, a first moving mechanism which performs a first movement of moving at least one of the inkjet head and the holding member in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, a second moving mechanism which performs a second movement of moving the holding member in the predetermined direction, and a first movement controlling unit which controls the first moving mechanism to perform the first movement first and second times. In the second time, the inkjet head and the holding member are moved in directions that are opposite to directions in the first time. A second movement controlling unit controls the second moving mechanism to, after the first movement for the first time, perform the second movement by one half of a distance corresponding to the predetermined resolution.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program for calibration of a printer having a printed head with multiple dies creates linearization tables that compensate for different drop weight uniformities printed by die-to-die boundaries. The linearization tables are provided to a calibration routine to create an actual linearization table for ink printed by a die-to-die boundary of the print head. The calibration routine creates an actual linearization table by determining a measurement related to drop weight uniformity when the die-to-die boundary of the print head prints the ink. Based on this measurement, a pre-built linearization table is selected for compensating output drop weight and for allowing printing with a substantially uniform drop weight across the die-to-die boundary of the print head.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer includes a substratum and a cover attached to the substratum and having an aperture provided therein. A printhead is attached to the substratum and provided at least partially within the aperture. At least one connector extends from the printhead into the aperture, and an adhesive material covers at least a portion of the at least one connector. At least one barrier is provided for preventing the adhesive material from flowing to locations away from the at least one connector.

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus includes: a recording head which ejects an ejection liquid; a liquid container which accommodates air and the ejection liquid; a recording head connection flow channel which leads from the liquid container to the recording head; a pressure determination device which determines pressure of the ejection liquid accommodated in the liquid container; a first pressure supply device which drives a rotating body to remove or introduce the air from or to the liquid container so as to keep pressure of the air in the liquid container constant; a phase determination device which determines a phase of the rotating body; a second pressure supply device which is disposed in a pulsation suppressing flow channel that connects the liquid container with the recording head connection flow channel and which removes and introduces the ejection liquid from or to the liquid container; and a control device which controls rotation speed of the second pressure supply device in accordance with the phase of

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes: a piezoelectric body that deforms and ejects liquid droplets as a result of a voltage being applied thereto and, when a superposed voltage, obtained by superposing a constant voltage of a constant voltage level and a waveform voltage of a sinusoidal waveform is applied thereto, an electrostatic capacitance and a deformation amount changes in response to the voltage level of the constant voltage; and a voltage applying unit that uses, as a reference voltage level, a voltage level of the constant voltage when the square of the deformation amount divided by the electrostatic capacitance is at a maximum value, and which applies to the piezoelectric body, when the piezoelectric body is to eject the liquid droplets, a drive voltage in which a drive waveform is superposed on the constant voltage that is within a predetermined range that includes the reference voltage level.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided including: a recording medium setting portion on which a plural recording media are set in a stacked state; a feed roller that feeds a recording medium set on the recording medium setting portion in a feeding direction; a recording medium return lever that returns a recording medium next or subsequent to a recording medium continuously fed out from the recording medium setting portion along with the recording medium to be fed; a control unit that controls the recording medium return lever; and a recording unit that performs recording on the recording medium, wherein the control unit controls the recording medium return lever so that the position is switched from a first position, a second position and to a third position.