Abstract: A recording device including a recording head for recording on a recording medium; a drive motor; a temperature detection circuit for detecting temperature of the recording head and outputting an analog signal corresponding to the detected temperature; a conversion circuit for converting the analog signal into a digital signal; and a CPU for receiving the digital signal from the conversion circuit only when at least one of the recording head and the drive motor are not being driven and for controlling energy applied to the recording head based on the received digital signal.

Abstract: An ink jet comprises a restrictor with an asymmetrical opening that creates a vortex in the ink flowing into an ink jet chamber. The vortex is created as the ink in an ink manifold is transferred from the ink manifold to the ink jet chamber. The asymmetrical geometry of the opening, in which a throat of the opening is laterally offset with respect to a vertical center line dividing the opening, creates a vortex in the ink flow within the ink jet chamber. The vortex creates a swirling motion which helps to sweep air bubbles trapped in the ink jet chamber toward an ink droplet ejection orifice so that an air bubble purge system can then easily expel the air bubbles through the ink droplet ejection orifice. By removing the trapped air bubbles, jet outages can be prevented.

Abstract: A control system for an inkjet printer to deliver a drive voltage to a piezoelectric element to discharge an ink drop and to reduce the effects of post-discharge vibrations propagated through an ink reservoir within a printing head of the inkjet printer. The control system can reduce the effects of post-discharge vibrations by delivering a secondary pulse to the piezoelectric element following delivery of the drive voltage and/or tailoring the leading and trailing edges of the driving voltage.

Abstract: A bidirectional print position alignment system for automatically aligning bidirectional printing position of a printhead in a serial printer as a function of high sensor accuracy and clock frequency of a CPU controlling the sensor. The alignment system includes a sensing section for sensing a position of a printhead for vertical alignment, a misalignment detecting section for detecting mechanical misalignment of the printhead, and a printing section for correcting said mechanical misalignment of the printhead and printing information on a printable medium after said mechanical misalignment of the printhead is corrected. Since the vertical alignment operation according to the present invention is dependent upon sensor stability and clock accuracy instead of the user's visual confirmation, the accuracy in setting of a print position of the printhead can be realized and the printing quality can be enhanced.

Abstract: In order to perform detection of remaining amount of an ink in an ink tank used in an ink-jet printing apparatus, a current to be supplied to an ejection heater for driving the ejection heater to perform ink ejection via a stabilized power source 3 is detected by an FC timer. The FC timer is constructed to cause variation of position of an electrolyte in a mercury depending upon integrated amount of the detected current. Thus, by visually observing the position of the electrolyte in the FC timer, the total consumed amount of the ink can be detected.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method for controlling the delivery of fluids and, in particular, to the delivery of fluids to a receptor, e.g., delivery of pigments to a printing media or delivery of fluids to a reaction cell.

Abstract: In a printer according to the present invention, a diaphragm provided with a thermoplastic layer and a pattern layer is set on the main surface of a pressure chamber forming part in which a liquid supply passage is formed, when the thermoplastic layer of the diaphragm is pressed, heated and bonded onto the pressure chamber forming part, pressure is applied only to the pattern layer of the diaphragm, no unnecessary pressure is applied to a part opposite to the liquid supply passage in which the pattern layer is not formed, the liquid supply passage is prevented from being blocked by the thermoplastic layer, and operation for bonding the diaphragm to the pressure chamber forming part in which the pressure chamber is formed is facilitated.

Abstract: A printer apparatus for successively printing input data at a high speed having an input unit for inputting printing information to be printed on a print medium; a printing unit for printing a predetermined image on the print medium based on the input printing information; an image sensor unit for reading the printed image on the print medium; and an inspecting unit for inspecting the state of printing by the printing unit by comparing the input image and the image read from the top of the print medium. Further, a printed matter inspecting apparatus having an image sensor unit for reading the image printed on the print medium; an input unit for inputting printing information to be printed on the print medium; and an inspecting unit for inspecting the state of the printing on the print medium by comparing the image read from the print medium and the input printing information.

Abstract: Treatment of the inner and outer surfaces of an orifice plate for ink-jet pens with self-assembled monolayers is disclosed. The outer surface of a gold-plated orifice plate is treated with self-assembled monolayers to control wettability of the surface in order to reduce the accumulation of residual ink. The inner surface is treated with self-assembled monolayers to improve and control drop ejection. Various monolayers can also be used on the inner surface allowing for greater flexibility in controlling the steady state firing rate and uniformity of drops from a pen. In addition, treatment of orifice plate surfaces with self-assembled monolayers inhibits corrosion and contamination of the plate while presenting a uniform surface for the ink. The self-assembled monolayers for use in the present invention include thiols, disulfides, and sulfinates, having terminal functional groups which determine the wettability of the surface.

Abstract: An ink jet output apparatus for performing recording operation by ejecting ink from a nozzle section onto a material to be recorded, comprises an input system for setting a type of the material to be recorded, a memory system for storing an optimum viscosity and an optimum droplet amount of the ink to be ejected onto the recording material according to types of materials to be recorded, a control system for regulating the viscosity of the ink to be ejected onto the recording material into an optimum viscosity stored in the memory system in accordance with the material type set in the material type input system, and a regulation system for regulating an amount of an ink droplet to be ejected in accordance with the material type set in the material type input system into an optimum droplet amount stored in the memory system.

Abstract: In an image recording method, the toner particles are preferably obtained by microencapsulation techniques. The techniques form a dispersion of a core material in a medium containing the shell material. The shell material is deposited upon the surface of the core material to form the capsules. The capsules are hardened to prevent their agglomeration. The capsules are then recovered. Preferably, the continuous phase is normally a solution of the shell material. The core structure advantageously comprises a colorant and at least one additive, such as, for example, a resin binder.

Abstract: Ink jet printing apparatus and method using timing control of electronic waveforms for variable gray scale printing while eliminating image artifacts and while also reducing printing time and improving accuracy of ink droplet placement on a receiver medium. More specifically the prints an output image on a receiver medium in response to an input image file defined by a plurality of pixels, each pixel obtaining a pixel value. The apparatus includes a print head and a plurality of nozzles integrally attached to the print head. Each of the nozzles is capable of ejecting a plurality of ink droplets therefrom. A waveform generator generates a plurality of electronic waveforms, each of the waveforms being defined by a plurality of electric pulses supplied to the nozzles for ejecting the ink droplets. A printer performance look-up table is also provided for storing a plurality of waveform serial numbers therein.

Abstract: A liquid-ejecting apparatus of the present invention is for ejecting a liquid on a printing medium to print. The apparatus has a carriage that moves along a main-scanning direction, on which a liquid-ejecting head for ejecting the liquid is removably mounted as a removable head or is fixed as a stationary head, a transporting device for transporting the printing medium, a control device for controlling movements of the liquid-ejecting head, the carriage, and the transporting device.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing apparatus performs a printing process by discharging ink from color ink heads and treatment liquid from a liquid head for making the ink insoluble or coherent. The printing apparatus has the minimum amount of memory required to eject the treatment liquid as far as possible and performs excellent printing. For discharge data of one scanning performance of the color ink heads, the apparatus has only memories for each color ink head. Discharge data for the treatment liquid is formed by a treatment liquid discharge data creating portion based on the data stored in the memories upon switched by data-switching portion. Then the discharge data for the liquid head is supplied to the head after being stored in a buffer as much as the number of orifices of the head.

Abstract: A method for preserving a liquid-ejection head is disclosed. The method uses the liquid-ejection head having a first liquid-flowing passage that receives a supply of a first liquid and communicates with an ejection port; a second liquid-flowing passage that receives a supply of a second liquid that differs from the first liquid; a bubble generation area formed on the second liquid-flowing passage for heating the second liquid to generate a bubble in said second liquid; and a movable member positioned between the bubble generation area, having a free end on an ejection port's side of the first liquid-flowing passage and a supporting end on other side of the first liquid-flowing passage, where the free end of the movable member is displaced toward the first liquid-flowing passage by a pressure caused by a generation of the bubble when said second liquid is heated.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing an images on a receiver in response to a digital image, includes a print head adapted to transfer radiation curable inks on the receiver to form image pixels on the receiver, and a radiation source adapted to apply radiation for treating inks transferred on the receiver. The apparatus provides relative movements between the receiver, the print head, and the radiation source; and has circuitry coupled to the print head and the radiation source, and for providing relative movements in at least two directions between the receiver, the print head, and the radiation source, and for causing the print head in response to the digital image to deliver radiation curable inks to the receiver and for treating such delivered inks to thereby produce an image on the receiver.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has ink pressure chambers defined by opposed walls formed of a piezoelectric material. The walls distorts in shear mode to eject ink drops from the ink pressure chambers when voltages are applied to the walls in accordance with print data. A row of ink pressure chambers eject ink drops through orifices during printing operation. A second ink pressure chamber is in communication with the other ink pressure chambers. An ink-state detector provides a voltage to the second ink pressure chamber to measure the impedance of the ink between the walls of the second ink pressure chamber. The impedance reflects the remaining amount of remaining ink.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet printhead apparatus for modulating drop size. Drop size modulation is achieved by providing an ink jet printhead chip for use in an ink jet printhead having a cavity in communication with a supply of ink and a nozzle. The chip includes an unitary actuator having a first active section and a second active section. The first and second active sections are defined at a substantially equal distance from the nozzle by a location of attachment of at least three conductors.

Abstract: A signal line is provided for outputting, from a chip on board to a CPU, a drive voltage setting signal to be used to set drive voltage applied by an IC driver to an ink jet print head. The signal line divided into a first through third signal lines at the chip on board side. A first resistance is connected to the second signal line. A second resistance is connected to the third signal line. A first switch point capable of being brought into a continuous condition by application of solder is provided along the first signal line. A second switch point, also capable of being brought into a continuous condition by application of solder, is provided along the second signal line. The first and second switch points are selectively brought into continuous condition depending on a desired drive voltage to be applied to the print head. With this configuration, only a single signal line is required to set three different drive voltages.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes an image transfer drum and a print head for ejecting drops of ink toward the image transfer drum as the drum rotates relative to the print head undergo. A control mechanism controls operation of the print head relative to rotation of the drum in response to a dot clock signal. The control mechanism includes a position encoder which generates an encoder signal at a frequency dependent on rotation of the image transfer drum and a digital phase locked loop circuit which receives the encoder signal and generates the dot clock signal at a frequency equal to the frequency of the encoder signal multiplied by a rational number.