Abstract: A cartridge body contains one or more printheads on a first surface thereof and one or more connection apertures in flow communication with the one or more printheads, each aperture having an opening on a second surface opposite the first surface, and one or more separate ink filtration devices, each having an ink outlet port connected to the second surface of the cartridge body through an opening so that each ink outlet port is in flow communication with at least one connection aperture. The separate devices enable production of a cartridge body made of a material which is effective for removing heat from the printheads.

Abstract: An image forming device for forming optically inputted two-dimensional images. A light valve, including a bistable electrooptic medium and a photoconductive material, acts as an image recording device which records an image inputted from an image inputting device. When the light valve is irradiated by the light from the image inputting device, the electrooptic medium makes a state transition by photoelectric converting action of the photoconductive material. The state of the electrooptic medium is dependent on the threshold voltage across the light valve and on the threshold intensity of the input light. The recorded image can be outputted to film or any type of visual display apparatus. The image inputting device can be a modulated scanned light beam, as from a laser.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus provided with a recording head and a conveyor for relatively moving the recording head and an image recording medium, an image composed of a large number of pixels is recorded by plural recording elements of the recording head on the image recording medium relatively moved by the conveyor. Each recording element of the recording head is controlled to conduct turning on or off plural times (N times) so that one pixel is recorded by plural recording periods of each recording element, and a time length T(m) of each recording period is not increased monotonously or is not decreased monotonously with respect to recording sequential order “m” of each recording period in recording of each pixel, wherein “m” is an integer not less than 0 and not more than N−1. The time length of each recording period is obtained by adding one or two coefficients to a binary-weighted value.

Abstract: A driving circuit generates an internal control voltage that controls the driving current supplied to a group of driven elements in a printer or other device. Generation of the control voltage involves the flow of current on one or more static current paths. The driving circuit includes switching elements that open these static current paths in response to a standby command, to reduce standby power consumption of the printer or other device, and to enable quiescent-current testing of the driving circuit. The standby command may be given by a combination of signals that are also used for other purposes.

Abstract: A method for correcting the performance of a continuous ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles each having an orifice, at least one of the nozzles being a malfunctioning nozzle, the method including: a) determining which nozzle of the nozzle plate is malfunctioning; b) applying a heat-activatable material over the surface of the nozzle plate; c) applying heat to the malfunctioning nozzle, thereby causing the heat-activatable material to flow into the orifice of the malfunctioning nozzle to block it; and d) removing any excess heat-activatable material.

Abstract: A non-impact printer has a print data correction circuit for providing a print data correction processing for video signals transmitted from a printing control unit to produce correction output data or patterns for printing on basic raster lines and other correction output data or patterns for printing on sub-raster lines. Those correction output data or patterns are supplied to the print head in the form of a real printing data signal.

Abstract: In a thermal ink jet printhead, an emission resistor includes a layer of electrically conductive material for making connections to the resistor. A temperature sensor and a reference temperature sensor, provided for detecting the temperature of enucleation of a bubble and used to directly determine the amount of energy needed for the emission resistor to effectively reach the temperature of enucleation, are arranged in correspondence with an integrated test resistor identical in construction to the emission resistor. The temperature sensor is formed from the layer of electrically conductive material. A differential amplifier having inputs connected to the temperature sensor and the reference temperature sensor effects regulation of a variable duration of pulses applied to the emission resistor.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a wiper in which a printhead cartridge having an integral wiper cleaning station is moved in opposite directions along a path of travel, whereby a stationary wiper is scraped across wiping surfaces of the cleaning station. The wiper does not contact the printhead cartridge when the wiper is positioned over parts of the cleaning station sandwiching a printhead on the printhead cartridge so that the wiper is out of contact with the cleaning station when printhead cartridge reverses direction.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus, ink tubes are flushed by replacing a plurality of components of an ink delivery system with a plurality of purging components. Purging is controlled In response to the replacement of the components, wherein purging fluid is introduced into the inlet end of a tube in an ink delivery system, a printhead is operated to cause the purging fluid to flow through the tube and be expelled by the printhead, and the purging fluid is collected. Each of the components is provided with identifying information which can be provided to a microprocessor in the apparatus.

Abstract: E1 A CIJ printhead includes a droplet deflector electrode having one or more windows formed therein, and a phase or velocity detector electrode disposed within the window. A method of forming the electrodes by plating multiple conductive and dielectric layers is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided by this invention a unique printing system that utilizes a notch deflector in the ink delivery channel of a continuous ink jet printing system to control the angle of deflection ink droplets in a print and non-print direction. The width and depth of the notch in the ink delivery channel can be varied to produce different angles of deflection of the ink droplets for a given velocity of ink through the channel. Also, for any predetermined width and depth of the notch in the ink delivery channel, the deflection angle of the droplets will vary with varying velocities of ink flow. Control circuits are connected to the notch deflector to adjust the depth of the deflector for different angles of deflection.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is provided in a printer for removable installation in a carriage which typically holds a plurality of print cartridges of different color printing liquids. In order to minimize overall size of the printer and its carriage, a handle is pivotally mounted on a crown of the print cartridge to move from a down recessed position during normal printing and servicing operations to an upraised position for gripping while removing the printhead from a carriage chute. The handle forms a loop to facilitate gripping with the fingers and thumb, and in its preferred form is bendable in order to provide flexible yielding upon application of undesirable lateral or torsional forces during a removal procedure.

Abstract: A pressure control device for regulating the ink pressure of a multi-reservoir ink cartridge. The pressure regulator employs an external spring or springs plate assembly mounted between two neighboring ink reservoirs. The external surfaces of the spring or assembly are attached to the respective side face of the reservoirs. Each ink reservoir has at least a side face formed from a flexible non-elastic material. When all of the ink reservoirs are full, the spring or assembly is in a relaxed state. By withdrawing a small quantity of ink from each ink reservoir, atmospheric pressure exerts forces on the ink reservoirs leading to a small contraction. The resulting distortion of the spring or assembly produces a force that resists further contraction of the reservoirs. Since the pressures inside the reservoirs are smaller than external atmospheric pressure, a back-pressure that prevents any leakage of ink from the reservoirs is created.

Abstract: A print head device has a seal packing and pressure fluctuation-accommodating structure. The seal packing is arranged such that when an ink cartridge storing ink therein and having an ink delivery port for delivering the ink therefrom is mounted in the print head, the seal packing is brought into airtight contact with the ink cartridge such that the seal packing encloses the ink delivery port, thereby defining an inner space within the seal packing, for airtight communication between the ink delivery port and the inner space. The pressure fluctuation-accommodating structure accommodates pressure fluctuations within the ink delivery port and the inner space in communication with each other. Alternatively, the ink cartridge includes the pressure fluctuation-accommodating structure. An ink jet printer includes the print head device.

Abstract: A droplet generator for generating a plurality of streams of ink droplets in a continuous ink jet printer comprises a stimulator plate, and the capability of supplying ink to the stimulator plate. The stimulator plate is substantially planar and comprises a substrate, a flexible membrane having a line of nozzles, and an actuator for vibrating the membrane at a resonant frequency. During use, a standing wave is generated such that the line of nozzles is positioned on a locus of uniform vibrational amplitude.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing apparatus and method in which a head unit having at least one nozzle ejects ink drops on demand, a sheet transporting path disposed below the head unit transports a sheet through the head unit, and an ink deposit unit disposed below the sheet transporting path is arranged to directly receive ink drops ejected form the nozzle when a nozzle-clog-preventing/ink ejection operation is executed. A controller initiates and stops the nozzle-clog-preventing/ink ejection operation based on whether or not a sheet is detected by sheet detecting elements disposed adjacent to the head unit.

Abstract: A current control circuit including at least one bit corrector for performing full-scale activation or deactivation of a voltage to gate terminals of output units according n-bit correction data, and at least one digital to analog converter for adjusting a voltage to be applied between drain and source terminals of transistors of the output units. This circuit is used for the bit correction and gradation control.

Abstract: A recording apparatus provided with a covering member which can be attached to or removed from a main assembly of the apparatus includes a conveying device for conveying recording material; a recording device for carrying out a recording operation while moving along a surface of the recording material; and a movement prevention device for regulating movement of the recording device, depending on an open or closed state of the covering member; wherein the movement prevention device confines the movement of the recording device when the covering member is open, and releases the recording device from the confining action of the movement prevention device when the covering member is closed. Further, a preventing mechanism prevents opening of an opening mechanism which opens a nip in the conveying mechanism when the recording device is out of a recording region.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead having a nozzle face in which at least one printhead nozzle is formed is cleaned by disposing a suction nozzle in front of the nozzle face, so that it forms a small gap therewith, and sucking ink out of the prinhead nozzle. The ink is caused to spread or flow in the gap in a direction parallel to the nozzle face so as to clean the nozzle face.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge has a generally box like shape, a recessed channel area on which a printhead is mounted, and an integrally formed wiper cleaning station. The wiper cleaning station includes a pair of spaced apart cleaning surfaces on right and left sidewalls for engaging a wiper, a pair of debris accumulation plateaus, and right and left recessed debris collectors which sandwich the recessed channel area and which are disposed below corresponding ones of the plateaus. The printhead cooperates with the right and left side walls to form right and left debris accumulation channels which extend into the right and left recessed debris collectors. A pair of spaced apart cutout areas are provided for allowing the wiper to disengage from the wiper cleaning station when the printhead stops and reverses its direction.