Abstract: A method for assessing the condition and improving the printing quality of printing nozzles in printheads of an inkjet printing machine includes printing a nozzle test chart formed of a specific number of horizontal rows of equidistant vertical lines printed periodically underneath one another, with only every nth printing nozzle contributing to the test chart in every row of the test chart and n corresponding to a different number between one and the specific number of horizontal rows, recording and digitizing the test chart and analyzing the test chart regarding the condition of the contributing nozzles by using a computer. The nozzles printing horizontal lines between the horizontal rows complementing the equidistant vertical lines to form quadrangular objects used by the computer to analyze the condition of the contributing nozzles. Measures are taken to improve the printing quality of the nozzles depending on the condition of the contributing nozzles.

Abstract: A method for determining a working gap includes a first recording step for ejecting ink from a recording head onto a first recording medium to record a test pattern, a first imaging step for capturing the test pattern recorded on the first recording medium in each of a state where a distance between the recording head and the first recording medium is a first distance, and a state where a distance between the recording head and the first recording medium is a second distance, a function calculating step, a second recording step for recording the test pattern on a second recording medium, a second imaging step for capturing the test pattern recorded on the second recording medium, and a working gap determining step for determining, based on the number of pixels of the captured test pattern and a function, a distance between the recording head and the second recording medium.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage member and an energy generating element. The flow passage member includes an individual flow passage including a nozzle and a pressure generating chamber communicating with the nozzle, a supply-side common flow passage, and a drain-side common flow passage. The energy generating element effects a pressure change in the liquid in the pressure generating chamber to discharge the liquid from the nozzle. The individual flow passage includes a supply-side individual flow passage between the supply-side common flow passage and the nozzle and a drain-side individual flow passage between the nozzle and the drain-side common flow passage. A second partition wall that separates a plurality of the drain-side individual flow passages from each other is thicker than a first partition wall that separates a plurality of the supply-side individual flow passages from each other.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a size of an element substrate is reduced, and a printhead using the element substrate can print high-quality image. The multilayer structured element substrate comprises a plurality of print elements, and a circuit configured to input a data signal and a clock signal used for driving the plurality of print elements. And, a print element array formed by arranging the plurality of print elements in line is diagonally arranged with respect to a side constituting an outer shape of the element substrate. A print element at one end of the print element array is a dummy element not contributing to printing. The circuit is provided not only at the same position as that of the dummy element but also in a layer different from that of the dummy element.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting device includes a supporting unit supporting a medium, an ejecting unit ejecting liquid onto the medium, a scanning driving unit moving the ejecting unit, and a control unit controlling the ejecting unit and the scanning driving unit. The control unit is configured to be capable of performing, a first processing for forming a test pattern, and acquiring an ejection velocity parameter associated with an ejection velocity of the liquid detected from the test pattern, a second processing for calculating the ejection velocity of the liquid from the ejection velocity parameter, calculating a first correction component that depends on the calculated ejection velocity, and setting a correction value including the first correction component, and a third processing for correcting ejection timing of the liquid using the correction value, when the liquid is ejected from the ejecting unit onto the medium as the ejecting unit is moved.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a driving substrate including a driving element configured to, in response to a signal from an external controller, expand or contract so that a liquid is discharged from a pressure chamber through a nozzle, and a connection portion connecting the driving element to a wiring substrate connectable to the external controller; a sealing member that covers the connection portion and a part of the wiring substrate; and a mask plate partially covering a part of the driving substrate including the connection portion and contacting the sealing member.

Abstract: A light irradiation device according to the disclosure comprises: a light source comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements; a heat-dissipating member thermally connected to the light source; an air blower section capable of blowing air on the heat-dissipating member; a drive section which drives the light source; and a housing which receives therein the light source, the heat-dissipating member, the air blower section, and the drive section, the housing comprising a plurality of ventilating slots serving as inlets and outlets for outside air, a lower face provided with an irradiation opening for external irradiation of light from the light source, a side face which is vertically oriented, and an inclined face which is located on an upper side of the housing and is opposed to the lower face, and the inclined face is provided with at least one ventilating slot.

Abstract: A portable printer according to the present invention includes: a main body part having a paper feeding port and a paper discharge port; a cover part coupled to the main body part to be opened and closed; a cutting part disposed to be adjacent to the paper discharge port and cutting paper discharged from the paper discharge port; and an operating part sliding in at least two directions by an external force so as to operate the cover part or the cutting part.

Abstract: A cleaning unit for cleaning the nozzle plate of a print head of an inkjet printing device having cleaners with respective different levels of cleaning quality and respective different strengths of loading of the nozzle plate. The different cleaners for cleaning the nozzle plate are selected depending on a cleaning indicator in order to achieve an improved compromise between print quality and service life of the print head.

Abstract: A scanning laser having a wavelength compatible with a coating binder so as to cure it as the laser scans and irradiates the coating on a moving web. A system and method for curing flakes by providing a scanning laser which scans across a moving coated substrate in a magnetic field allows images to be formed as magnetically aligned flakes are cured into a fixed position. The images have regions of cured aligned flakes. The scanning laser cures the magnetically aligned flakes within it region it irradiates. Alternatively an array of lasers can be used wherein individual lasers can be switched on and off to fix irradiated coating as a moving web is moved at a high speed.

Abstract: Provided are a position detection device, a printing apparatus equipped with the position detection device and a position detection method which make it possible to set an original point on a deviation-free appropriate position with no need of highly accurate adjustment of built-in positions of a linear encoder and an original point sensor.

Abstract: A marker transport system and a method of operating the marker transport system can include one or more print heads and a marker transport platen upon which a sheet of media moves. The transport platen can include airflow sections comprising process-direction slots. The plates can move in a cross-process direction, and can control airflow in an area under the print heads. The one or more plates in a first position can allow for airflow when the sheet of media is located at the first position and in a second position can block the airflow at the second position. A vacuum can be provided under the sheet of media as the sheet of media traverses a print path across the marker transport platen. A no-vacuum inter-document zone can be provided, which moves along with the sheet of media under the one or more print heads.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.

Abstract: A printer includes a printing unit having a printing head and a platen positioned opposite the printing head, the printing head being configured to print on a print medium that is fed between the printing head and the platen, a ribbon holding shaft configured to hold an ink ribbon that is wound thereon, a ribbon winding shaft configured to wind and collect the ink ribbon supplied from the ribbon holding shaft, and first and second guide shafts provided along a feeding route of the ink ribbon between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft to apply tension to the ink ribbon. At least one of the first and second guide shafts has a tilt adjuster that applies a twist to the ink ribbon in a width direction of the ink ribbon through said at least one of the first and second guide shafts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for printing comprising the steps of selecting eight or fewer process colors from a known process ink color set, providing a color channel for the selected process colors from the known process ink color set, providing two or more spot color channels, wherein one or more of spot colors correspond to a non-selected process color of the process ink color set, applying a first ink limit and a first linearization to the one or more spot color channels to produce a color set including the non-selected process color of the known process ink color set, applying a second ink limit and a second linearization to the one or more spot color channels to produce a color set including the spot color, and optionally printing an image.

Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a prescribed insertion space of a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction to be attached thereto in an attached posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes: a housing including a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply hole, an electrical interface disposed at an upper surface of the housing, and an interfering surface. The interfering surface is positioned upward of the storage chamber and extends in a widthwise direction of the housing. The interfering surface is positioned downward and frontward relative to the electrical interface and is configured to abut against a projection provided at another insertion space different from the prescribed insertion space of the cartridge-attachment section during an insertion of the printing-fluid cartridge into the another insertion space.

Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge a printing fluid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a printing fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction. The printing fluid cartridge includes: a storage chamber, a supply portion, a rear surface, an upper surface, an electrical interface, a locking surface, one protrusion, and another protrusion. The storage chamber is configured to store printing fluid. The one protrusion and the another protrusion define a plurality of imaginary planes each of which passes through the one protrusion and the another protrusion. The plurality of imaginary planes includes a specific imaginary plane. The specific imaginary plane is positioned higher than any other imaginary plane between the one protrusion and the another protrusion. The electrical interface is positioned downward relative to the specific imaginary plane in the gravitational direction in the attached posture.

Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a printing-fluid consuming apparatus in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction and attached thereto in a first posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes a front surface, a rear surface, a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply port, an upper surface, an electrical interface disposed at the upper surface, and a locking surface. The printing-fluid cartridge inserted in the printing-fluid consuming apparatus is pivotable between the first posture and a second posture. The electrical interface is positioned closer to the supply port than the locking surface is to the supply port in the insertion direction. The electrical interface is positioned rearward relative to the pivot center in the insertion direction. The locking surface is positioned upward relative to the storage chamber and closer to a rearmost point of the printing-fluid cartridge than to the electrical interface in the insertion direction.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a first tank storing a first ink and a second tank storing a second ink different from the first ink. The first tank and the second tank are arranged so as to have overlap when viewed in a vertical direction in an apparatus-using state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, an optical sensor, a storage, and a hardware processor, wherein the storage stores a first threshold for determining a type of the recording material based on the basis weight, and the hardware processor calculates a first transmittance from the mount of the first emission light and the amount of the first transmission light, calculates a second transmittance from the amount of the second emission light and the amount of the second transmission light, derives a first basis weight corresponding to the first transmittance and a second basis weight corresponding to the second transmittance, by using predetermined determination criteria, determines the type of the recording material based on the first basis weight and the second basis weight, and derives the basis weight according to the determination criteria based on the determined type of the recording material.