Abstract: Method for direct printing on containers via a direct printing machine, with a print layer printed onto the container, in a first predefined area, in a first device, and a cover layer applied to the container in a second device, the cover layer applied to a second predefined area. A surface area of the second predefined area is larger than that of the first predefined area. The cover layer coalesces with the printing ink in the first predefined area, creating a first connection, and coalesces with the container in parts of the second predefined area differing from the first predefined area, creating a second connection. The first and second connections are insoluble in aqueous solutions having a pH value between 3 and 10 and easily soluble in aqueous solutions having a pH value in a range of less than 3 and/or higher than 10.

Abstract: A platen device can easily change where suction is applied widthwise to a recording medium. A printer has the platen device. A platen device 50 opposite a printhead 41 applies suction to conveyed roll paper P, and has a platen 34 divided perpendicularly to the conveyance direction of the roll paper P into a plurality of individual suction zones 75 with round suction holes 83 in the surface on the side that contacts the roll paper P; and a plurality of shutters 85 disposed to the platen 34 and respectively opening or closing the round suction holes 83 in the plural individual suction zones 75 according to the width of the conveyed recording medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including: recording modules each having a first conveyance path; a first common tray having a support surface; and a second conveyance path connecting each first conveyance path and the first common tray, wherein the recording modules are disposed such that the first conveyance paths are parallel to and are spaced apart from each other in a direction orthogonal to the first conveyance paths, and wherein an angle formed by any continuous two path portions in the second conveyance path, an angle formed by the second conveyance path and the support surface of the first common tray, and an angle formed by the second conveyance path and each first conveyance path are made larger than 90° and are not larger than 180°, such that a maximum bending angle of a recording medium that is conveyed between the first common tray and each recording module is less than 90°.

Abstract: Color separation processing is performed on the input image data to generate material amount data representing the recording amount of each recording material. Halftone processing of generating binary data for each recording scan in an image recording apparatus is performed based on the material amount data. A discharge of a colored material in a first recording scan of recording the colored material and a discharge of a high transmissivity material in a second recording scan of recording the high transmissivity material are represented by the binary data for each recording scan. The high transmissivity material is recorded at a predetermined thickness on a recording layer of the colored material after the first recording scan.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which reads a test pattern formed by ejecting liquid droplets onto a recording medium to adjust an ejection timing of the liquid droplets is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a reading unit including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit; a sensitivity adjusting unit; a relative movement unit; a first correction unit which detects a position of the test pattern; a second correction unit which detects the position of the test pattern; and a correction method selecting unit which selects the first correction unit or the second correction unit based on adjusting results of sensitivity adjusted by the sensitivity adjusting unit.

Abstract: A treatment liquid application device for use in an inkjet printer includes an application roller to apply a treatment liquid to a recording medium before an image is formed on the recording medium, a squeeze roller disposed below the application roller and to make a pressure-contact with the application roller, a treatment liquid supply unit to supply the treatment liquid to a nip part between the application roller and the squeeze roller, and a pressure roller disposed above the application roller and to cause the recording medium to make a pressure-contact with the application roller. When the application roller applies the treatment liquid to the recording medium, a position of the application roller is not restricted in approximate load directions of the squeeze roller and the pressure roller but is restricted in directions other than the approximate load directions.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a position detection unit which includes an optical element, a light source and a light receiving element, radiates light from the light source toward the printing surface, causes diffused reflection light of reflection light which is reflected by the printing surface to be incident to the light receiving element through the optical element and outputs positional information relating to a position of the printing surface at which the light from the light source reflects, from the light receiving element, and a controller which causes movement of the carriage to stop when lifting up of the printing medium is detected on a basis of the positional information output from the light receiving element, in which a virtual plane which contains the optical element and the light receiving element is in a state of being inclined in relation to a normal line of the printing surface.

Abstract: A method for inkjet varnishing a substrate includes the steps of jetting a micro-pattern of a varnish having a viscosity of less than 30 mPa·s at 45° C. and at a shear rate of 30 s?1 to a portion of the substrate by one or more printheads having nozzles with a nozzle diameter of no more than 30 ?m, and at least partially curing the micro-pattern within 500 milliseconds after jetting to provide a micro-roughness to the portion of the substrate.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a photoconductive body, an exposure unit configured with a plurality of light emitting elements aligned in a predetermined direction, the exposure unit being adopted to expose the photoconductive body to light emitted by the light emitting elements, a frame configured to support both sides of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction, the frame having a reference portion configured to position the exposure unit in the predetermined direction in contact with an end of the exposure unit in the predetermined direction, and a pressing member provided to one of the frame and the exposure unit, the pressing member being configured to press the end of the exposure unit against the reference portion.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a method of duplex printing. The method comprises printing recto pages and associated recto checkmarks on a first side of a web and printing verso pages and associated verso checkmarks on a second side of a web, the length of each successively printed recto and verso checkmark varying in accordance with a respective recto and verso checkmark length sequence, determining the length of successive printed verso and recto checkmarks and determining their sequence position in the appropriate checkmark length sequence, and determining whether a print error has occurred based on the determined recto and verso checkmark sequence positions.

Abstract: A method of forming an image includes a step of heating a nonporous substrate to a temperature in a range of from 30° C. to 80° C.; and a step of forming an image on the nonporous substrate by applying water-based inks of at least two colors to the nonporous substrate employing an ink jet technique, wherein an ink set that contains water-based inks each containing a coloring material, an emulsion resin, water, and a water-soluble solvent is used to apply the water-based inks of the at least two colors, and, of the water-based inks in the ink set, at least one water-based ink has a minimum film-forming temperature different from those of water-based inks of other colors.

Abstract: A capacitive load driving circuit includes: a drive waveform signal generator that generates a drive waveform signal; a subtractor that outputs a differential signal between the drive waveform signal and a feedback signal; a modulator that pulse-modulates the differential signal and outputs a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier that amplifies the power of the modulated signal and outputs a power-amplified modulated signal; a smoothing filter that smoothes the power-amplified modulated signal, and outputs a drive signal of the capacitive load; a compensator that causes a phase to precede the drive signal; and an attenuator that attenuates signal amplitude in a band at least including a modulation frequency of the modulated signal. A signal output from a connecting point between the inductor and the wire is made to pass through the compensator and the attenuator and is then used as a feedback signal to the subtractor.

Abstract: There is provided an adhesive belt configured to support and transport a recording medium, a recording head configured to record by discharging ink onto the recording medium which is supported on the adhesive belt, and a guiding section arranged at an upstream side relative to the recording head in a transport direction of the recording medium and configured to guide fluff on an end section, in an intersecting direction that intersects with the transport direction, of the recording medium in a direction to an outside of the recording medium in the intersecting direction.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus, a support frame has a support part, and supports a carriage on a first surface of the support part. A pinch roller is disposed on a second surface side of the support part, the second surface being opposite from the first surface. A conveying roller is disposed opposite to the support frame relative to the pinch roller and in confrontation with the pinch roller. A roller holder is disposed on the second surface side of the support part and supporting the pinch roller. An urging member is interposed between the roller holder and the support part, and urges the roller holder to press the pinch roller against the conveying roller. The carriage is in contact with the first surface of the support part while the urging member is in contact with the second surface of the support part.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit, a conveying unit disposed below the recording unit, a return path unit configured to return the recording medium from the upstream side of the recording unit to the conveying unit, and a casing. The return path unit is disposed below the conveying unit and includes a horizontal conveying path including an upper portion and a lower portion. The side walls of the casing include a drawing port through which the conveying unit and a least the upper portion of the horizontal conveying path are drawn out, and an opening facing in a direction perpendicular to the drawing direction thereof. The inner edge of the lower end of the opening is positioned the same or lower in height than the uppermost portion of the horizontal conveying path in the return path unit.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a rotating drum including a hollow cylinder around which a recording medium is guided while the rotating drum rotates; a discharge head that discharges liquid onto the recording medium guided around the outer surface of the rotating drum; and an air flow generator that generates an air flow that passes through the inside of the hollow cylinder of the rotating drum. The rotating drum further includes, in the hollow cylinder, a shaft member that has an axis identical to a rotation axis of the rotating drum and supporting members that are plate-shaped and that extend from the shaft member in the radial direction of the rotating drum and support the hollow cylinder, and the rotating drum rotates in a rotation direction about the shaft member. Each of the supporting members includes at least one air hole penetrating therethrough in the rotation direction.

Abstract: A recording apparatus that includes a condensation guide portion is provided. The recording apparatus includes a recording head that discharges ink onto a recording medium, a heater that dries the ink discharged on the recording medium by the recording head without making contact with the recording medium, a medium supporting portion provided with an opening portion which allows vapor that evaporates from the ink due to the heater to pass therethrough, and a condensation guide portion which causes the vapor that passes through the opening portion to condense and thereby prevent the recording medium from being wetted by the condensed vapor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control unit. The control unit is capable of executing a first mode for forming a toner image on the photosensitive member that rotates at a first speed and a second mode for forming a toner image on the photosensitive member that rotates at a second speed slower than the first speed, and the control unit causes the light illumination unit to perform the weak exposure in the first mode without thinning the scanning surface of the deflection scanning unit and perform the weak exposure in the second mode while thinning the scanning surface of the deflection scanning unit.

Abstract: A nail print apparatus, including: a placement surface on which a drawing target is placed, the drawing target has a curved shape along a width direction of the drawing target; a drawing head in which at least one drawing tool is set, the drawing tool having a tip portion that contacts with a surface of the drawing target and performs drawing on the surface of the drawing target; and a head drive unit which moves the drawing head along the placement surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printer (100) has an ink tank (113), an ink head (110), an ink supply tube (112) configured to supply ink from the ink tank (113) to the ink head (110), an ink return tube (115) one end of which is connected to an upstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112) and the other end of which is connected to a downstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112), and a pump (116) configured to circulate the ink in the ink supply tube (112) and the ink return tube (115).