Abstract: Printer and method adapted to reduce variability in ejected ink drop volume. A print head includes a plurality of nozzles integrally attached to the print head, each nozzle being capable of ejecting an ink droplet therefrom. At least one of the nozzles has an undesirable characteristic producing ink droplets of non-nominal volume. A waveform generator is connected to the nozzles for generating a plurality of waveforms to be supplied to the nozzles, so that the nozzles eject the ink droplets in response to the waveforms supplied thereto. Each waveforms has a plurality of pulses controlling ink droplet volume. A controller is provided for controlling the waveforms supplied to the nozzles and for transmitting the waveforms to the nozzles in order to eject the ink droplets so as to compensate for the non-nominal volume by controlling the number of pulses in the waveform. In this manner, all nozzles produce ink droplets of nominal volume regardless of physical or electrical variations between nozzles.

Abstract: A printing method identifies where parts of an image will not be printed due to device failure and if possible prints extra ink dots in adjacent columns so as to lessen the visual effect of failure to print correctly at the original location.

Abstract: With a printing apparatus and a head driving method according to the present invention, a plurality of printing heads having a plurality of recording elements and a printing medium are relatively moved in a prescribed direction, and the plurality of recording elements of each printing head are divided into a plurality of blocks and each element in each block are driven in a prescribed sequence during the relative movement. As a print position offset between the plurality of printing heads in the prescribed direction on the printing medium is detected and the detected amount is greater than a prescribed amount, on the basis of block sequence designater, an in-block driving sequence is set independently for the each printing head and on the basis of a sequence generated by block sequence generater, the each printing head is driven.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, an inkjet printer includes a replaceable print cartridge which is inserted into a scanning carriage. An ink tube extends from the scanning carriage to a separate ink supply located within the printer. A fluid interconnect on one side of the print cartridge connects to a fluid interconnect on the carriage when the print cartridge is inserted into the carriage to complete the fluid connection between the external ink supply and the print cartridge. In one embodiment, the fluid interconnection is made between the print cartridge and the ink tube simply by placing the print cartridge into a stall in the scanning carriage. The print cartridge has contact pads on another side. The contact pads electrically contact electrodes on the carriage when the print cartridge is placed in the stall.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid supply system comprises a negative pressure generating member containing chamber provided with a liquid supply portion for supply liquid to the outside and an atmosphere connecting portion for connecting with atmosphere for containing a negative pressure generating member holding the liquid inside, a liquid containing chamber connected to the negative pressure generating member containing chamber, forming a sealed space except the connection, and having a liquid containing portion which can generate a negative pressure by deformation, and liquid residual amount detecting means for detecting a liquid level position of the liquid in the liquid containing portion to detect a liquid residual amount in the liquid containing portion. Since the liquid residual amount can be known, a user can know the time to exchange the liquid containing chamber. Moreover, by detecting the liquid state in the liquid containing portion, more stable liquid supply operation can be realized.

Abstract: In a module for monitoring the print quality of a dot printer (10), comprising a radiation source (41), a condensor lens system (43′) for forming an illuminated area (45) on a printing medium (13) and an imaging lens system (87,89) for imaging the illuminated area on a detector (49′), the detector comprises at least a linear array of detector elements and the imaging system is configured in such a way that both the illuminated area and a small portion thereof can be imaged. This allows detection of both the gray scale of a print line (35) and the size and colour of an individual dot. A dot printer provided with this modules gives an improved print quality.

Abstract: A nozzle unit having a plurality of nozzle heads is vertically moved by an elevating mechanism between a printing position where it prints on a printing surface, and a non-printing position above the printing position and separate from the printing position by a predetermined distance. When the nozzle unit moves to the printing position, it is disengaged from the elevating mechanism to be free from it. The nozzle unit which has moved to the printing position is supported by a head support mechanism to be movable in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A printing cartridge includes a housing. A two dimensional code is positioned on the housing. The two dimensional code carries data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes an ink jet printing head, having plural recording elements arranged in a main scan direction. Feeder roller sets move continuous recording sheet relative to the printing head in a sub scan direction, to print an image to the continuous recording sheet. A printing head inspecting device for the printer is provided. A controller causes the feeder roller set to set first and second line positions of the continuous recording sheet sequentially at the printing head. While one of the first and second line positions is set at the printing head, the controller simultaneously drives recording elements in one of first and second groups into which the recording elements are grouped in the printing head, to print one check dot train to the continuous recording sheet. Thus, two check dot trains are printed in the first and second line positions. Each of the first and second groups includes plural recording elements intermittently arranged in the printing head.

Abstract: A monitoring system monitors a pressure wave developed in the surrounding ambient environment during inkjet droplet formation. The monitoring system uses either acoustic, ultrasonic, or other pressure wave monitoring mechanisms, such as a laser vibrometer, an ultrasonic transducer, or an accelerometer sensor, for instance, a microphone to detect droplet formation. One sensor is incorporated in the printhead itself, while others may be located externally. The monitoring system generates information used to determine current levels of printhead performance, to which the printer may respond by adjusting print modes, servicing the printhead, adjusting droplet formation, or by providing an early warning before an inkjet cartridge is completely empty. During printhead manufacturing, an array of such sensors may be used in quality assurance to determine printhead performance. An inkjet printing mechanism is also equipped for using this monitoring system, and a monitoring method is also provided.

Abstract: A postage meter (franking machine) uses a digital print head such as an ink-jet or thermal transfer or dot-matrix print head, for which it is necessary to know the velocity of the mail piece passing by the print head. Two collimated monochromatic beams strike the mail piece, one at an angle leading the mail piece velocity and the other at an angle lagging the mail piece velocity. The beams converge yielding a sensing region filled with a diffraction pattern. The mail piece, assumed to be rough at a scale that is appropriate for the velocity measurement, moves at some velocity. A detector detects light intensity (photon flux) at a small region within the sensing region, and the intensity signal has a frequency that is proportional to the mail piece velocity. The frequency is detected or measured, the instantaneous velocity is derived therefrom, and the velocity is used to control the print head.

Abstract: A particular ink tank, and therefore its characteristics, are determined by detecting the existence or absence of magnets at predetermined positions on the ink tank. The detection of the magnets is performed by hall effect sensors located on an ink tank holder of an image recording apparatus when the ink tank is positioned in the ink tank holder.

Abstract: A function test device for optical print head heaters in thermal bubble printers, which includes: a test end power supply to provide the power needed for the test device; a linear optical coupling device serially connected between a pulse power supply for driving a print head circuit and the print head heater to detect variation of a triggering current; and an amplification circuit to amplify an output signal of the linear optical coupling device and send the signal to a microprocessor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating print data from a printed image produced by a printing device operating at a first dots per inch (dpi) value, so that the image is composed of a plurality of dots, the image incorporating defects resulting during printing of the image, such as rotation of a print medium and blemishes of the image. The method includes the step of scanning the printed image, at a sampling rate which corresponds to a second dpi value that exceeds the first dpi value by a predetermined factor so that each dot of the image results in the generation of at least two markers. Data relating to the position and colour value of each marker is generated. The defects in the image are detected and a data value is assigned to such defects. The data is processed and the data value is used to determine which of each of the markers generated for a respective dot should be recorded as a center for that dot.

Abstract: An ink jet print head is controllable based at least in part on q number of first control signals and p number of second control signals. The print head includes a print head integrated circuit chip having ink-heating resistors for generating heat when activated. The print head chip also has a switching circuit for receiving the first and second control signals, and for selectively activating the resistors by allowing electrical current to flow through selected resistors based at least in part on the first and second control signals. The switching circuit is operable in either a first operating mode or a second operating mode, where q is equivalent to q1 in the first operating mode, and is equivalent to q2 in the second operating mode, and where q1 is twice q2. In the first operating mode, p is equivalent to p1, and in the second operating mode, p is equivalent to p2, where p2 is twice p1. The product of q1 multiplied by p1 is equivalent to the product of q2 multiplied by p2.

Abstract: A printer and components of the printer are described, along with methods of adjusting and using the printer. The printer includes a carriage that supports at least one printhead. The at least one printhead ejects ink onto a print media that is fed though a space between the printhead and a platen as the carriage moves laterally along slider rods supported by a beam. The space between the at least one printhead and platen is adjusted along the length of the printing path by applying a bending force to the underside of the beam that raises or lowers the beam relative to the platen at selected points. The adjustment is effected by one or more adjustment assemblies that abut the lower surface of the beam. In one embodiment, the first adjustment is an acorn nut and the second adjustment a differential screw that is engaged with the acorn nut.

Abstract: A method of preparing print data for a multi-segment printhead in which is established a set of dither matrices for a multi-segment printhead comprised of a plurality printhead chips with end portions overlapped, the set consisting of a lead-in dither matrix associated with a lead in overlap portion, a lead-out dither matrix associated with a lead out overlap portion and a common dither matrix associated with a central portion of the printhead chip. Received print data composited with dither values from the set. The lead-in dither values establish fade-in of one segment and the lead-out dither values establish fade-out of the preceding segment. In each two overlapping segments overlap is characterized in terms of a misalignment and the misalignment is used to generate an offset leading into the common dither matrix.

Abstract: The present invention achieves formation of a 2n-value image with data of n bits, thereby reducing the amount of image information to be transferred and processed, while improving the tonal rendition, and thereby realizing a high-quality recording system for dot matrix recording suitable for personal use. For this purpose there is disclosed an ink jet recording apparatus and a method therefor, comprising an image process unit for generating multi-value information, an identification unit for identifying that the image data are multi-value information, an identification unit for the recording head, and an analysis unit for decoding the n-bit information, and featured by effecting multi-value recording while processing the n-bit data as multi-value information.

Abstract: An ink containing apparatus for containing ink includes a negative pressure producing material; a first container for containing the negative pressure producing material, the first container having an air vent and a supply port for supplying the ink out; a second container for containing ink; a communication part for communication between bottom portions of the first and second containers; and ribs for introducing ambient air adjacent the air vent for introducing air into the communication part.

Abstract: A test image is formed by performing overlap printing using a plurality of printing heads provided for a printing agent of one color. Density data attained by reading this test image is averaged. On the basis of this average value, a common correction is performed for drive signals for the printing heads. This makes it possible to perform head density unevenness correction at a high efficiency in performing overlap printing by using the plurality of printing heads.