Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cleaning wipers for printheads of a printing system. The system includes a cleaning mechanism for a wiper of a printing system. The cleaning mechanism includes a scraper able to scrape ink off of the wiper, and a suction device that is proximate to the scraper and is able to remove the ink from the scraper.

Abstract: A printhead substrate, comprising a plurality of printing elements which are assigned to a plurality of groups, a plurality of driving circuits which are arranged in correspondence with the respective groups and drive the printing elements, a first current source configured to generate currents of a plurality of current amounts corresponding to the respective groups, second current sources which are arranged in correspondence with the respective driving circuits and configured to generate currents to be supplied to the printing elements, and setting units configured to generate voltages in accordance with currents generated by the first current source and set currents to be generated by the second current sources based on the voltages.

Abstract: According to one example there is provided apparatus for curing ink on a substrate. The apparatus comprises a substrate support, a curing sheet positionable above the substrate support to create a gap between a substrate on the substrate support and the curing sheet. The apparatus further comprises an oxygen-depletion mechanism for reducing the oxygen level in the gap and an ultra-violet, UV, radiation source to apply UV radiation through the curing sheet to a substrate on the substrate support.

Abstract: A method for producing a liquid ejecting head of the present invention includes the steps of: forming an etching stop layer on a portion corresponding to a region in which an independent supply port is formed, on a first face of a substrate; conducting dry etching treatment for the substrate from a second face side until the etched portion reaches the etching stop layer; and removing the etching stop layer by isotropic etching to form the independent supply port, after having conducted the dry etching treatment, wherein the isotropic etching is conducted in such a state that a side etching stopper portion having etching resistance to the isotropic etching is formed in the side face perimeter of the etching stop layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head includes the steps of (1) forming a recess in a second surface of a substrate to form a common supply port, (2) forming an etching mask, which specifies opening positions of independent supply ports, on a bottom surface of the common supply port, and (3) performing ion etching using plasma with the etching mask employed as a mask, thereby forming the independent supply ports. The etching mask has an opening pattern formed therein such that respective distances from an ejection energy generation element to openings of two independent supply ports adjacent to the ejection energy generation element on the first surface side of the substrate are equal to each other.

Abstract: A liquid jet head includes an actuator substrate on which a plurality of grooves is arranged, and a nozzle plate having nozzle holes communicated with the grooves. Drive electrodes extend in the longitudinal direction along both side surfaces of a wall portion of the grooves. An insulating film is disposed between the wall portion and the longitudinal end portions of the drive electrodes so that only the mid-portion of the drive elecrodes directly contacts the side surfaces of the wall portion. When a voltage is applied to the drive electrodes, only the region of the wall portion in the vicinity of the nozzle holes is actuated to eject liquid from the nozzle holes.

Abstract: In an arrangement to supply ink to a print head unit having a print head, an input, and an output, a back-pressure tank having ink is provided and connected with the input of the print head unit. A degassing unit for ink and having an input and an output is also provided. A first selector valve is connected to the degassing unit input, the first selector valve in a first position establishing a connection of the degassing unit with the output of the print head unit. A second selector valve is connected to the degassing unit output, the second selector valve in a first position establishing a connection of the degassing unit with the back-pressure tank.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical transducer film forming method including a surface modification process; an application process; and processes of drying, thermally decomposing, and crystallizing sol-gel solution applied to a portion of a surface of a first electrode. An electromechanical transducer film is formed on a desired pattern area on the surface of the first electrode by repeating the above processes. In the application process, each of dots of the sol-gel solution applied by the inkjet method drops onto both a first area inside the desired pattern area and a second area outside the desired pattern area. The first area is a hydrophilic area on the surface of the first electrode, and the second area is a hydrophobic area on the surface of the first electrode. The hydrophilic area and the hydrophobic area have been modified by the surface modification process.

Abstract: An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus uses a light source to illuminate an area below a printhead and a digital camera to generate image data of drops of material ejected by inkjets in the printhead. The image data of the ink drops passing through the field of view of the camera are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets in the printhead.

Abstract: The printing head module includes a bracket, a plurality of cartridges, a first piston, a pivot shaft, and a control unit. The bracket includes a plurality of through holes. The cartridges coaxially aligned with each other, each of the cartridges includes a leaning portion and contains the modeling material and a nozzle for extruding the modeling material. The leaning portion is leaning against the bracket when the cartridge is located at the printing position. The first piston is configured to slide along an extensional axis of the cartridge and drive the cartridge to move toward the printing position. The pivot shaft is connected to the bracket and adapted to rotate the cartridge to a working location. The control unit is coupled to the pivot shaft and the first piston for controlling the first piston and the rotation of the bracket.

Abstract: A media drying system removes a moistening liquid from a moistened medium. A heating member rotatable around an axis has a liquid-blocking layer with an inner surface and an outer surface. A backing layer affixed to the liquid-blocking layer defines a liquid cavity not including the axis. A heating liquid heated above a moistening-liquid boiling point is sealed between the liquid-blocking layer and the backing layer and in contact with the inner surface. A media-transport system transports the moistened medium so it contacts or is entrained around the liquid-blocking member. The moistened medium contacts the outer surface of the liquid-blocking layer, heat is transferred through the liquid-blocking layer from the warmed heating liquid to the moistening liquid, and the moistening liquid is vaporized and removed from the moistened medium.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead cleaning system that enables improved cleaning of the printhead and reduces nozzle contamination. The printer includes a pair of parallel walls and an elongated member extending through at least one of the walls. The elongated member is connected to a vacuum source and has a slit positioned between the pair of walls. A controller is operatively connected to the vacuum source and to an actuator, and operates the actuator to move a printhead into contact with the pair of walls to place a face plate of the printhead opposite the slit. The controller further operates the vacuum source to generate a vacuum in the elongated member to pull air into the elongated member when the printhead is opposite the slit.

Abstract: A digital inkjet printing method capable of imparting a transparent color to a UV-curable transparent ink includes: on multiple color ink inkjet heads and a transparent ink inkjet head, setting a first output area and a second output area, respectively; controlling at least one color ink inkjet head to output from the first output area a color ink corresponding to the first output area in a first printing stroke, and at the same time of the output, so as to form a pattern area; and at a partial position, where a transparent effect is to be formed, on the pattern area, simultaneously controlling at least one color ink inkjet head and the transparent ink inkjet head to simultaneously output from the second output area a color ink and a transparent ink corresponding to the second output area in a second printing stroke.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a correction section maintains a predetermined voltage range in which a displacement is greater than a predetermined ratio as a drive voltage range from a relationship between each voltage and the displacement when a reference waveform having a process that changes the voltage from a first voltage to a second voltage having a voltage difference and a process that changes the voltage from the second voltage to the first voltage is supplied by making the voltage difference between the first voltage and the second voltage constant and changing the first voltage and the second voltage, and wherein the correction section changes the drive waveform into a drive waveform having a minimum voltage and a maximum voltage defined within the drive voltage range.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a first-member that has a first liquid-flow-path and discharges liquid in the first liquid-flow-path from a nozzle; a second-member that has a second liquid-flow-path communicating with the first liquid-flow-path; a seal-member that seals a coupling portion between the first liquid-flow-path of the first-member and the second liquid-flow-path of the second-member; and a support-member that is fixed to the first-member at a fixing area side which is located in a position different from a position where the nozzle is located when a plane in which the nozzle is formed is seen from above. The support-member is supported at the fixing area and projects toward the coupling portion, and supports, at a coupling portion side, the seal member at a first-member-side of the seal-member. The seal-member seals the coupling portion by applying pressure in a diameter direction of the first liquid-flow-path.

Abstract: A recording substrate treatment apparatus includes a transporting mechanism for transporting a sheet of a recording substrate; a suction device to provide an underpressure force at an outer surface of the transporting mechanism arranged for holding down a sheet of a recording substrate; a heater for directly heating the recording substrate; and a blower for providing a flow of a gaseous medium at the outer surface of the transporting mechanism, wherein in operation the blower receives the gaseous medium from the suction device. The present invention also pertains to a printing system comprising such a recording substrate treatment apparatus and a method of drying a recording substrate using such a recording substrate recording apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet recording method for printing a pigment in which a pigment printing ink composition including at least pigment as a colorant is discharged from a nozzle opening as an ink droplet having an amount of the ink of the ink droplet of 9 ng or less with an average discharging speed V of 5 m/s or greater at a distance in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm in the direction from the nozzle opening to cloth, and whereby the pigment printing ink composition is adhered to the cloth.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a substrate including an energy generating element that generates energy used to discharge liquid and a discharge port member having a discharge port surface with a discharge port line including discharge ports, through which the liquid is discharged, arrayed in a first direction. The discharge port surface includes a groove portion disposed between the discharge port line and a first end of the discharge port member in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The groove portion extends along the discharge port line. The discharge port surface further includes an inclined surface disposed between an end of the discharge port line and a second end of the discharge port member in the first direction. The inclined surface is inclined toward the second end.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a housing, a carriage in which a print head is mounted, the carriage moving inside the housing, and an openable cover provided for the housing. A restricting member configured to restrict movement of the carriage during transport of the printing apparatus is attachable to the printing apparatus. While the restricting member is attached to the apparatus, the restricting member engages with the carriage, the cover in a closed position, and the housing and part of the restricting member is exposed outside of the cover in the closed position. When the part is pulled, the restricting member disengages from the carriage, the cover, and the housing and is detached from the apparatus.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a substrate having a plurality of discharge energy generation elements and having an ink supply port, a protective film provided on the substrate and configured to protect wiring connected to the discharge energy generation elements, and an ink discharge port forming member, wherein the protective film has a protruding portion, wherein the ink discharge port forming member has a beam-like protrusion, wherein the beam-like protrusion has a reinforcing rib, and wherein a separation film containing gold is formed at a portion where the protruding portion and the reinforcing rib are held in close contact with each other.