Abstract: A thermal printer capable of producing labels, in addition to printing on normal paper. The printer includes a switching unit for switching between a label making mode and a normal printing mode. In the label making mode, characters are printed onto a receptor tape using a special label-making ink ribbon cassette. In the normal printing mode, a normal ink ribbon cassette is substituted for the special label-making cassette.

Abstract: In the embodiments of the simplified ink jet head described in the specification an orifice plate has specially profiled orifice openings to assure axial projection of drops when ink is supplied from an asymmetric ink path leading to the orifice. For this purpose the orifice includes cylindrical ink inlet and outlet portions with the ink outlet portion having a smaller diameter and a shorter length than the inlet portion and a tapered conical portion joining the ink inlet portion and the ink outlet portion. Preferably, the diameter of the inlet portion is no more than about twice the diameter of the outlet portion.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording operation that is performed after a disposable liquid ejection recording head is mounted. The discrimination is made as to whether the recording head mounted is proper or not relative to the main assembly to which the recording head is mounted, when the main switch is actuated or the recording head is mounted. The discrimination is made with use of a part of a structure in the recording head: a temperature sensor, a temperature keeping heater, an ejection heater or a driving semiconductor function element, for example. If it is not proper, the recording operation is prevented, and/or the improperness is displayed.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes an ink jet head having a plurality of ejecting ports arranged in a predetermined pattern and a plurality of heat generating elements arranged corresponding to the ejecting ports, and a driving controlling means for applying a driving signal to heat generating elements 1e in response to a driving information wherein a printing mode of printing a printing medium by ejecting ink from the ejecting ports and a preliminary ejecting mode of performing no ejection toward the printing medium are settled for the apparatus. The driving controlling means includes a defoaming position changing means for changing the position of a defoaming point P.sub.B arising on each heat generating element 1e when ink is ejected in conformity with the preliminary ejecting mode.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus includes a developing unit for developing a dot pattern, a recording unit for recording a dot pattern on a recording medium using an ink, a transfer unit for transferring the dot pattern developed by the developing unit to the recording unit, and a transfer control unit for controlling a transfer timing rate of the transfer unit to improve a fixing property of the ink to the recording medium recorded by the recording unit. The transfer timing rate is controlled in accordance with the time required to produce the dot pattern, in accordance with the type of dot pattern to be printed, or with the type of recording medium used.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. To accommodate placement of both input and output media trays on the same side of the printer housing for operator convenience, a paper path with a direction reversal is employed. A paper preconditioning preheater with a curved surface and a multi-purpose paper path component accomplish the direction reversal. As the print medium is driven through the paper path, it contacts the preheater. The preheating dries and shrinks the paper to condition it for the printing operation. The preheater is a thin flexible film carrying heating elements, and is suspended in air, to provide extremely low thermal mass and eliminate the need for long warmup times. The preheater defines a first, hotter, preheating area adjacent the printing area, and a second, cooler, preheating area separated from the printing area by the first preheating area.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying ink deposited upon cut sheet of paper. The apparatus includes a microwave generating member to generate microwave energy for the ink and an applying member connected to said microwave generating member to apply resonating traveling microwaves to the paper. The applicator member includes a serpentine applicator for drying the ink and includes input slots and output slots for moving cut sheet of paper through the serpentine applicator. A transport member transports ink printed cut sheet paper stock from the input slot to the output slot by a belt running through the center of the applicator.

Abstract: A foam unit for storing ink includes a porous member impregnated with ink and a film member wrapped around the porous member. A foam storing case has an opening for allowing insertion and removal of the foam unit into and from the case and a lid adapted to engage with the opening of the foam storing case. When the foam unit is inserted into the foam storing case, an O-ring engages with a projecting portion, and the film is burst by the projecting portion causing the foam member to abut against a filter. Then, a lid is fitted to the opening of the foam storing case. Thus, the foam unit is quickly and neatly replaced, and the ink impregnated in the replaced foam unit can be supplied to a print head.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording unit for ejecting an ink to a recording member, a detection unit for detecting a remaining amount of ink, a memory for storing received data, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the recording unit to record an image in accordance with the received data, and controlling the memory to store image data in the memory. The control unit controls the memory in accordance with an output from the detection unit upon completion of recording of a predetermined volume of data, clears data stored in the memory when the output from the detection unit indicates a presence of ink, and preserves data stored in the memory when the output from the detection unit indicates an absence of ink.

Abstract: Techniques for obtaining an ejection rate independent, spatial relationship between an acoustic focal area and the free surface of a liquid. Variations in the spatial relationship are reduced or eliminated by applying substantially the same acoustic energy to the liquid's free surface during periods when droplets are not ejected as when they are, but at power levels insufficient to eject a droplet. During ejection periods in which a droplet is not ejected, the acoustic energy is applied at a lower level, but for a longer time. Because it is more convenient to measure and control, the transducer drive voltage is used to control the acoustic energy applied to the liquid's free surface.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method including the steps of providing a movable carriage having a sensor and which carries a recording head, as well as a plurality of flags in a movable range of the carriage. The method further includes the steps of determining a position of the carriage on a basis of an output of the sensor responsive to the flags, effecting a movement of the carriage through a predetermined distance on the basis of the output of the sensor, and effecting a predetermined operation on the basis of an output of the sensor.

Abstract: A method and device for raised letter or graphics printing, by means of a sprayed wet ink deposition on a print substrate. Subsequent dispensed thermographic powder thereon, with adherence of the powder only to the wet ink and heating thereafter, to a fixing temperature of the powder, results in the raised lettering or graphics. A standard portable ink jet printer of the bubble jet type, controlled, with graphics software control, by a personal computer, provides the requisite non-contacting ink deposition. The dispensing cartridge(s) of the ink jet printer is (are) provided with non-contact-drying ink formulations (with two or more separate colors, if desired) for the portion of graphics or printing which is to be in raised form. A thermographic powder dispenser and heating member is connected to the output of the ink jet printer, or integrated therewith for completion of the raised printing process.

Abstract: The invention minimizes liquid-ink deposition on the top and edge of a guide-plate (or "hold-down" plate), and also minimizes running of deposited liquid ink along the top to the edge. Through these two effects together the rate of ink deposition on the top and edge of the plate is held below the volume of ink per unit time that can dry there. The invention also minimizes ink transfer from the edge onto the print medium. The deposition-minimizing provisions include two features: serration, and a very fine vertical dimension of the edge itself. These features enhance air flow, and thus transport of ink spray, rapidly across the edge--discouraging formation of a dead-air zone from which spray readily precipitates onto the edge. The thin edge also presents a smaller direct target for ink droplets.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head which is scanned, a supply system containing an amount of ink and a detector for the residual ink quantity in the supply system. The residual ink quantity is detected by detecting deviation of a deviation member; this deviation occurs upon a change in pressure in an ink supply path in the ink supply system. The detection is performed after a predetermined time delay with respect to a signal relating to a change of scan direction or with respect to operation of a pump.

Abstract: Two intermediate transfer ink jet recording methods and a recording device suitable for practicing the methods and an ink composition for use in the methods are disclosed. The first recording method comprises forming jetting an ink composition containing a thermoplastic resin on an intermediate transfer drum to form an ink image, heating the ink image to at least the softening or melting temperature of the thermoplastic resin to bring the ink image to a film form and then transferring the ink image to recording paper. The second recording method comprises jetting an ink composition containing a thermoplastic resin on an intermediate transfer drum to form an ink image, heating the ink image to form a concentrated ink image, transferring the concentrated ink image to recording paper and then heating the transferred ink image to at least the softening or melting temperature of the thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: An image communication apparatus includes a communication unit for communicating a procedure signal associated with communication, and image data, a recording unit for ejecting a liquid droplet onto a recording member in accordance with image data received by the communication unit, a recovery unit for performing a predetermined recovery operation of the recording unit, and a control unit for causing the recovery unit to perform the recovery operation in accordance with a predetermined procedure signal communicated before reception of the image data.

Abstract: An ink container includes an ink discharging portion for discharging ink; an air vent; first liquid absorbing material for absorbing the ink therein and; a second ink absorbing material, disposed between the air vent and the first absorbing material, for absorbing the ink. The first and second absorbing materials at least partly contacting each other.

Abstract: A recording device which performs recording on a recording medium, comprises a recording head equipped with a row of recording elements arrayed as slanted to the direction vertical to the relative moving direction to said recording medium, and control means which, in dividing the plurality of recording elements constituting said row of recording elements into blocks each of a plurality of recording elements and driving by time division for each of the blocks, stores image data, and in carrying out returning way recording, reads and applies the image data stored in the respective blocks to be driven in the order opposite to that in going way recording.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus which includes a recording medium for carrying an electrostatic image, an ink-ejecting section opposing the recording medium and located in non-contact state with respect to the recording medium medium, and having an ink holding section for holding ink and an opening section for ejecting ink, at least one counter electrode located in the ink-ejecting section to be immersed in ink. The ink is ejected by virtue of an electric field between the electrostatic image formed on the recording medium and the counter electrode.

Abstract: The printing paper can be formed by applying a slight amount of paint including a white pigment having a given BET specific surface area onto at least one side surface of base paper having a given apparent density. Also, according to the printing paper, in a time T=L/S to be determined by the shortest inter-nozzle distance L of different colors of a multi-color ink-jet printer and a printing paper/head relative moving speed S, the ink absorbing capacity V of the printing paper according to a blister method satisfies the following equation: V.gtoreq.2ax.sup.2 /(0.0254).sup.2 (where a represents an amount of ink drop to be jetted out from a nozzle, and x represents definition). The present ink-jet printing method uses the above-mentioned printing paper.