Abstract: Methods and Apparatus for Image Transfer to Multiple Articles Having Non-planar Surfaces are disclosed. Also disclosed is an apparatus that utilizes a modified microprocessor-based printer. The apparatus has end portions and at least one intermediate portion for holding two or more three-dimensional articles for printing images thereon. The apparatus further includes holding cups for securely gripping the ends of the three-dimensional articles while the images are being transferred thereto. The apparatus is further adjustable in order to accommodate articles having differing lengths.

Abstract: An inkjet print head chip. The chip has a first column of firing chambers and a second column of firing chambers in which each firing chamber comprises a heater and an ink channel. A first ink slot is formed between the first column of firing chambers and the periphery of the chip, in which the first ink slot comprises a plurality of first ink sub-slots and each first ink sub-slot provides ink to part of heaters in the first column of firing chambers. A second ink slot is formed between the second column of firing chambers and the periphery of the chip to provide ink to the heaters in the second column of firing chambers. A dry film is patterned on the entire surface of the chip to separate the first ink sub-slots.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a light scanning device capable of suppressing a scanning line bend to a low level, which is caused by the arrangement error of a single-element lens serving as an imaging optical element, and an image forming apparatus using the device. In order to achieve the object, according to this invention, an imaging optical system is formed from a single-element lens, and a sectional shape of an exit surface in the main scanning direction is an arcuated shape. The power in the sub scanning direction substantially concentrates on the exit surface having an arcuated sectional shape in the main scanning direction, and the arcuated shape (curvature) in the main scanning direction is so determined as to make the magnification in the sub scanning direction uniform.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus, a recording head is mounted on a carriage which reciprocately moves in a widthwise direction of recording paper. A subtank is mounted on the carriage for supplying ink. A main tank stores ink which is replenished to the subtank. An ink amount detector detects an amount of ink stored in the subtank. A replenishment controller controls replenishment of ink stored in the main tank to the subtank, in accordance with the ink amount detected by the ink amount detector.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a printhead and a print medium that move relative to one another in a printing direction. The printhead includes a plurality of ink delivery channels, and an ink outlet corresponding to each of the ink delivery channels. Each ink outlet includes at least two ink orifices offset from one another in a direction transverse to the printing direction, so that as the printhead traverses a print medium, control signals to the printhead can deposit two drops from each delivery channel, which drops are offset in the transverse direction, thereby permitting the use of smaller ink drops and a higher apparent print resolution for the image deposited on the print medium than the resolution of the print control signals in the transverse direction.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method and device in which an interpreter of the ink jet recording device reduces a splash (splash event) of ink during the printing of a solid-drawing area. The interpreter analyzes a command and data which indicate the drawing of a thick-line or a filled-in area. After the analysis, vector data of the thick line or the filled-in area is converted into raster data based on a given data pattern and, based on the raster data, ink is ejected with the recording head moving over a recording medium. Prior to the rasterization, the interpreter checks each of the thick line or the filled-in area to be drawn as to whether the data pattern indicates solid-drawing (S44). If the data pattern indicates solid-drawing, the interpreter changes the data pattern to a lower-density pattern (S47).

Abstract: An ink jet head includes a nozzle plate having a nozzle hole and a film having at least one of a water repellent function and an oil repellent function formed on one plate face thereof. The film includes a metal oxide and fluorine based resin.

Abstract: In a method for independently wiping a first and a second printhead of an inkjet printing device, a first and a second wiping assembly separated from each other are provided in the printing device. When the first wiping assembly wipes the first printhead, the second wiping assembly is separated from the second printhead so that the second wiping assembly does not simultaneously wipe the second printhead. When the second wiping assembly wipes the second printhead, however, the first wiping assembly is separated from the first printhead so that the first wiping assembly does not simultaneously wipe the first printhead.

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus includes nozzles formed in a member provided on one side of a substrate, droplet ejection units each of which corresponds to one of the nozzles, and which are formed on a surface of the one side of the substrate, individual flow paths each of which feeds liquid to one of the nozzles, and which are formed on the one side of the substrate, one or more front surface feed paths for feeding liquid correspondingly to the individual flow paths and one or more back surface feed paths communicating with the one or more front surface feed paths. The one or more front surface feed paths are formed by etching process from the surface of the one side of the substrate and the one or more back surface feed paths are formed by sandblast process from a surface of another side of the substrate. The inkjet printer includes the liquid ejection apparatus as the inkjet print head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imprinting high quality images on non-planar surfaces, including the surfaces of various types of three-dimensional articles, such as baseball bats, formed from a number of different types of materials. In the preferred method of the invention, the non-planar surfaces of the three-dimensional articles are printed using a uniquely modified ink jet image transfer technique. The apparatus of the invention includes a modified ink jet printer coupled with a novel article positioning apparatus which functions to controllably rotate the article to be imprinted and to maintain the longitudinal axis of the article within a plane substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the plane within which the ink jet nozzles of the ink jet printer travel.

Abstract: Printhead substrate for inputting a data signal (DATA) in synchronization with a clock signal (CLK). The printhead substrate comprises: input terminals inputting the clock signal and data signal; shift registers inputting and maintaining the data signal in synchronization with the clock signal inputted from the input terminals; and a time lag adjuster arranged between an input terminal and the shift register to adjust a time lag of at least one of the clock signal or data signal. By virtue of adjusting the time lag by the time lag adjuster, setup time and hold time between the clock signal and the data signal inputted to the shift register is ensured.

Abstract: An inner surface of a ceiling wall is provided at an angle of approximately 5 degrees to 10 degrees, with respect to a horizontal surface. An outlet to a second ink channel is disposed at a higher position of the ceiling wall than a first ink channel. An inlet connected to the first ink channel is provided such that an end of the inlet terminates near a bottom of a buffer tank. When a circulation purge operation is performed by circulating ink from a sub-tank to the buffer tank, through the first ink channel, and from the buffer tank to the sub-tank, through the second ink channel, air bubbles in the buffer tank move along the angled or inclined inner surface of the ceiling wall, to the outlet provided at a higher position. The air bubbles are smoothly discharged through the outlet. The air bubbles collected to the sub-tank are released into the atmosphere through an air releasing portion.

Abstract: To control movement of a member to be driven by using a scale having a plurality of indices at a predetermined interval, and a sensor which is attached to the member to be driven along the scale and detects the indices, a time until the next index is detected is predicted on the basis of the output waveform of the sensor. Then, a signal concerning the current position of the member is generated on the basis of the predicted time. The current position of the member can be controlled with high precision even during acceleration/deceleration.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for ink jet printing of wide format substrates such as textiles in a manner to simulate screen printing, in which image data in one or more acceptable formats is input, transformed into a suitable L*a*b* file format, further converted into a driver format for a printer, then communicated to such printer. Optionally, the color gamut of the image in the L*a*b* file format is checked against an estimated screen gamut of a screen printer, and limited to the estimated screen gamut as required.

Abstract: Systems and methods for curing inks with radiation. An apparatus includes a housing that includes a pair of reflectors and/or two separate lamps of different power that direct ultraviolet radiation onto the inks being cured. The pre-cure reflector only reflects a portion of the radiation such that the inks are not fully cured. The pre-cure reflector causes the inks to change or thicken slightly such that they do not move on the media or merge with other inks while still retaining a liquid or wet nature. All colors of ink can then be placed in a single layer before the cure reflector fully cures the UV inks by reflecting sufficient UV radiation onto the single layer of UV ink.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a marking engine for use in a marking machine. The marking engine is responsive to control signals for selectively depositing marking material on media. The marking engine includes a housing associated with the marking engine. The housing is configured for docking with the printing system. Also included is a radio frequency linking device mounted to the housing for providing a radio frequency link for transferring information between the marking engine and surveillance devices different from the marking machine.

Abstract: A scanning optical system that emits a plurality of beams to a plurality of surfaces to be scanned, respectively. The scanning optical system includes a light source and a polygonal mirror. The plurality of beams incident on the polygonal mirror are inclined with respect each other in an auxiliary scanning direction. The scanning optical system further includes an imaging optical system that converges the deflected beams on the plurality of surfaces, respectively. The imaging optical system includes a front lens group and a plurality of rear lens groups. All the beams are incident on the front lens group, and then incident on the respective rear lens groups. Each of the plurality of rear lens groups has a shape which is designed in accordance with an angle of a beam incident thereon with respect to an optical axis of the front lens group.

Abstract: At least defective printing element information about a defective printing element among a plurality of printing elements is stored in an EEPROM. A complementary printing element for masking printing data corresponding to the defective printing element indicated by the defective printing element information and complementarily printing the printing data corresponding to the defective printing element is determined. The printing data of the defective printing element is printed using the determined complementary printing element.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device according to a particular embodiment of the invention includes a base, a layer supported by the base, the layer defining an opening of variable size for containing fluid to be ejected from the fluid ejection device, a fluid driver supported by the base and adapted to eject fluid drops of different sizes from the fluid ejection device, and at least one controller operably coupled with the layer to adjust the size of the opening and operably coupled with the fluid driver to adjust the size of the ejected drops. Apparatus and method aspects according to other embodiments of the invention also are disclosed.

Abstract: In a printing liquid droplet ejector, a liquid holding unit in a cavity has a volume sufficient to hold some of the printing liquid in the cavity and is mechanically translatable toward an opening in a nozzle. The liquid holding unit is volumetrically alterable to reduce its volume to cause at least some of the printing liquid held by the unit to be expelled from the unit, to in turn cause either printing liquid expelled from the unit or other printing liquid in the cavity to be ejected from the opening as at least one droplet, when the unit is mechanically translated toward the opening.