Abstract: In an example implementation, an authentication system includes a printer having a controller and a memory. The authentication system also includes an authentication algorithm stored in the memory and executable on the controller to issue a cryptographic timing challenge, and to authenticate a print supply cartridge when the cartridge provides a challenge response corresponding to an expected response within an expected time window.

Abstract: A valve comprises an orifice plate (1) having one or more orifices (4) through which a fluid may flow, and one or more piezo-electric elements (2). Each element (2) has a face positioned to contact the orifice plate at an orifice. Each element has a first state in which it abuts the plate to prevent flow of fluid through the associated orifice and a second state in which the face is spaced from the plate to allow flow through the associated orifice. A controller (50) selectively applies a first voltage to an elements to cause it to adopt the first state and applies a second voltage to the one or more elements to cause the elements to adopt the second state.

Abstract: When a liquid ejection head and a first wiping unit are moved relatively to clean a surface, the first wiping unit making a first wiping member travel in a first direction, a direction opposite to the first direction is used as a moving direction of the head with reference to the first wiping member in relative moving therebetween. When the head and a second wiping unit are moved relatively to each other to clean the surface, the second wiping unit making a second wiping member travel in a second direction having a component of a direction opposite to the first direction, a direction opposite to the second direction is used as a moving direction of the head with reference to the second wiping member in relative moving therebetween to move the second wiping unit and the head relatively to clean the same area on the surface.

Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber configured to store a liquid, an inlet through which the liquid is poured into the liquid storage chamber, and a liquid flow channel configured to let the liquid flow therethrough from the liquid storage chamber; a cap configured to be attachable to the tank to cover the inlet; a cover configured to be movable relative to the tank between a closed position where a surface, of the tank, in which the inlet is formed is covered and an open position where the surface of the tank is exposed; and a holder configured to hold the cap removed from the tank. The cover is prevented from moving to the closed position by the cap held by the holder to be positioned in a movement area of the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A decoloring device according to an embodiment includes a decoloring unit that erases a first image formed with erasable colorant on a first side of a sheet and a second image formed with erasable colorant on a second side of the sheet. A reading unit reads the first and second sides of the sheet and determines whether the first side and the second side are reusable. A single-side reusable paper tray stacks the sheet if the reading unit determines that only one of the first and second sides is reusable. A marking unit adds a mark to the one of the first and second sides that is determined to be not reusable when only one of the first and second sides is determined to be reusable.

Abstract: In one example, a heating system includes a first heater having a first resistive heating element, a second heater having multiple second resistive heating elements arranged in parallel with a group of the second heating elements having a combined resistance equal to a resistance of the first heating element, and a controller to periodically switch power between the first heating element and the group of second heating elements at a zero crossing of an AC power source.

Abstract: In one example, a method for wiping the face of a printhead includes wiping across the face of the printhead and then wiping along the face of the printhead with a web of cleaning material. In another example, a wiper for wiping a face of a printhead includes a rotatable shaft having an axis of rotation and a helical blade affixed to the shaft. The helical blade is simultaneously rotatable on the shaft against the face of the printhead and translatable along the face of the printhead in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A unit that is used in a liquid jet recording apparatus and is used for connection of a liquid container, the liquid container including: a liquid container part that is capable of storing a liquid; and a liquid supply part that is in communication with an inside of the liquid container part and is capable of supplying the liquid to an liquid jet part of the liquid jet recording apparatus, the unit including: a medium positioning part that is capable of positioning a recording medium to which the liquid is ejected by the liquid jet part; and a flow channel connection part that is connectable to the liquid supply part and supplies the liquid from the liquid supply part to the liquid jet part, wherein the unit is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a main body of the liquid jet recording apparatus, the main body being provided with the liquid jet part.

Abstract: A co-extrusion print head has at least one channel, and a set of orifices fluidically connected to the channel, wherein the set of orifices has at least one orifice at each edge of the set has a smaller vertical extent than the other orifices.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a first chamber and a second chamber to contain liquid to be supplied to a head and a liquid path to connect the first chamber and the second chamber so that liquid communicates between the first chamber and the second chamber. Each of the first chamber and the second chamber has a flexible wall. The first chamber includes a first spring inside the first chamber to press the flexible wall of the first chamber outward. The second chamber includes a second spring inside the second chamber to press the flexible wall of the second chamber outward. A pressing force of the first spring is greater than a pressing force of the second spring. A first feeler disposed outside the first chamber and in contact with the flexible wall of the first chamber, and the first feeler is displaced according to a movement of the flexible wall of the first chamber.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head including a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction, and a determination unit configured to determine a first mode in which a specified image is recorded or a second mode in which a pattern is recorded in each of recording scannings in forward and backward directions to form an adjustment pattern for adjusting a recording position in the intersecting direction of the recording head, and the recording position of the recording head in accordance with the formed adjustment pattern is adjusted, in which a driving unit controls driving of the recording elements in a manner that a correspondence relationship between positions in the predetermined direction and the intersecting direction among a plurality of dots that form the same column is varied or is the same in the recording scannings in the forward and backward directions in accordance with the determined mode.

Abstract: A density determination method includes a first process, a second process, and a third process. In the first process, ink is discharged onto a medium to print a plurality of colorimetric patches having mutually different densities on the medium so as to allow each of the colorimetric patches to include a base portion serving as a background of the each of the colorimetric patches and a low density portion forming a symbol and having a density lower than a density of the base portion. In the second process, images each associated with a corresponding one of the colorimetric patches are acquired. In the third process, a maximum printing density value for the medium is determined on the basis of a result of recognizing the symbol through each of the images, having been acquired in the second process.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for forming images comprising Braille, raised print, regular print, or a combination is described. The architecture for the printing of Braille dots using marking material such as UV gel ink. The UV gel ink is deposited on a drum that has an array of closely packed raised features like mesas that are cup-shaped. The mesas on drum are filled with the UV gel ink and transferred to paper or another substrate. Partial curing can occur on the drum and the dots can be fully cured after transfer to the substrate. The mesas are shaped so that the dots take on a final shape consistent with usual Braille features.

Abstract: Provided is an ink image matter generating method for selecting a fluorescent ink by performing (a) a process of color-measuring a target color which is a target of color reproduction on a medium and the medium on which an inkjet color ink for color reproduction of the target color is printed; (b) a process of calculating a difference between a colorimetric value of the target color and a colorimetric value of the medium on which the color ink is printed; and (c) a process of selecting a fluorescent ink for reducing the difference between the colorimetric value of the target color and the colorimetric value of the medium on which the color ink is printed, from fluorescent inks that are set in advance, and jetting droplets of the selected fluorescent ink together with the color ink, or after the droplets of the color ink are jetted to cause the fluorescent ink to exist on a surface of an ink image matter, thereby making it possible to select and use an appropriate fluorescent ink with respect to a specific col

Abstract: The driving order of driving blocks is controlled so that ink landing positions from driving blocks differ from each other in multiple scans. Recording data is generated so that, of pixels where ink is discharged in one scan, the number of pixels adjacent at both sides in the scanning direction to pixels where ink is discharged in another scan is greater than the number of pixels not adjacent at both sides in the scanning direction to pixels where ink is discharged the other scan.

Abstract: A method of printing an image with a printhead having spatially offset groups of drop ejectors, each group having a plurality of drop ejectors that are aligned substantially along a scan direction, includes enabling simultaneous firing of drop ejectors that are corresponding members of a first set of groups. Drop ejectors within each group of the first set are sequentially fired until each member of each group has had opportunity to fire. Corresponding drop ejectors of a second set of groups are simultaneously fired, and drop ejectors within each group of the second set are sequentially fired. Any additional groups of drop ejectors are likewise fired until all drop ejectors have had opportunity to fire during a first stroke. Drop ejectors are fired in subsequent strokes similar to the first stroke as the recording medium is moved relative to the printhead along the scan direction until printing is completed.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head and a liquid ejection apparatus are provided by which the variation of the droplet ejection amount can be suppressed and the occurrence of the unevenness can be suppressed. To realize this, grooves sandwiching an ejection port and a liquid chamber are provided.

Abstract: As a sealing member to be disposed on the periphery of an element substrate, a cured substance of a first sealing material at least containing an epoxy resin, a curing agent, and a filler containing a silica filler and a silicone filler, the first sealing material having a filling amount of the filler of 40% by mass or more and having a difference between the median diameter of the silica filler and the median diameter of the silicone filler of 4.0 ?m or less is used.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a carriage including an ejecting unit which ejects liquid onto a medium, and can move in a reciprocating direction, in which the carriage includes catching units which catch mist which occurs along with ejecting of the liquid from the ejecting unit on at least one side of the ejecting unit in the reciprocating direction, and the catching units include a fan which moves the mist from the catching units by generating an air current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a external-perfusion hollow-fiber membrane module containing a hollow-fiber membrane bundle including a plurality of hollow-fiber membranes; and a casing that houses the hollow-fiber membrane bundle, wherein the hollow-fiber membrane bundle has one end that is fixed to an inside of the casing by a potting portion in an open state, and the external-perfusion hollow-fiber membrane module is configured to perform degassing on a gas contained in a liquid inside the casing, the gas being introduced into an inside from an outer surface of the hollow-fiber membrane.