Abstract: Embodiments of the invention take advantage of the change in gloss caused by overprinting a printed image with clear ink. Embodiments of the invention thus implement gloss control functionality in a printer without the requirements of a pin and cure or other known systems.

Abstract: To solve the problem of a liquid supply unit of the related art in that liquid supply may become difficult. The invention provides a tank capable of supplying a liquid to a liquid ejection head, the tank including: a liquid containing portion capable of containing the liquid; and an atmospheric air introducing portion constituting an atmospheric air flow channel capable of introducing atmospheric air into the liquid containing portion, wherein the atmospheric air introducing portion includes a buffer chamber capable of containing the atmospheric air, a liquid retaining member is housed in the buffer chamber, and in a state in which the liquid retaining member is housed in the buffer chamber, a gap that allows the atmospheric air to move between a first communication port and a second communication port of the atmospheric air flow channel is provided within the buffer chamber.

Abstract: An Inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead having an exposed corrodible structure containing silicon nitride, borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) or silicon oxide; and an ink reservoir containing said ink which is in fluid communication with said printhead. The ink includes: water; a dye; and a metal additive for minimizing corrosion of the exposed structure.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a moving unit configured to make a relative movement between at least one liquid ejecting unit, having an ejection port for ejecting liquid, and a print medium. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes at least one mist removing unit provided downstream of the at least one liquid ejecting unit in a movement direction in which the print medium is moved in the case of relative movement. The mist removing unit includes at least one suction hole configured to suck air existing in a region defined by the liquid ejecting unit and the print medium together with mist, and at least one blowing hole that is formed downstream of the suction hole in the movement direction, with the blowing hole configured to blow air toward the print medium so as to generate a vortex of gas downstream of the suction hole.

Abstract: A wiper cleaner unit moves a wiper-off part to a capping position orthogonally relative to a direction in which inkjet heads are disposed in synchronization with movement of a cap holder, thereby wiping off wiper blades in a standby position orthogonally relative to the direction in which the inkjet heads are disposed. This allows the wiper-off part to clean the wiper blades off ink droplets. Consequently, cleaning unevenness of a print unit due to the wiper blades is avoidable.

Abstract: An inkjet print head including a plurality of single jet elements. Each single jet element includes an aperture configured to eject ink during a jetting event, a channel for receiving ink. The inkjet print head also includes a first manifold structured to supply ink to the channel; and a plurality of recirculation paths. Each recirculation path configured to receive ink during the jetting event and a non-jetting event. Each recirculation path includes a recirculation channel connected to the channel for receiving ink, the recirculation channel is formed by half-etching one of the steel plates that forms part of the each of the single jet elements and the recirculation paths, and a second manifold structured to receive ink from the recirculation channel. The ink flows from the first manifold to the second manifold through each of the plurality of single jet elements and the recirculation paths during a non-jetting event.

Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid storage chamber which stores a liquid, an inlet formed in a surface of the tank, and an outlet through which the liquid from the liquid storage chamber flows; a cap which is movable between a first position and a second position; a cover which is movable relative to the tank between a closed position and an open position; and a holding member which is connected to the cap and which holds the cap at the second position. The cap at the second position or the holding member is configured to obstruct a movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: Provided is an ink tank including: a wall portion that constitutes a liquid containing portion for containing ink; a liquid injection port for injecting the ink into the liquid containing portion, the liquid injection port being provided above the liquid containing portion; and a liquid visual check portion that is translucent and through which a position of a liquid surface of the ink can be visually checked from the outside, the liquid visual check portion being a part of the wall portion constituting the liquid containing portion. The liquid visual check portion has an inclined portion that inclines relative to a vertical direction.

Abstract: A wiper configuration enables a single wiper to clean a faceplate of a printhead in a printer without requiring solvent to prepare the printhead faceplate. The wiper configuration includes a wiper having a hooked end, a mounting bar, and a reinforcing bar. The wiper has two flanges that form a recess that receives the mounting bar so the wiper can be mounted to the mounting bar without the use of threaded members or other fasteners. A pivot in the mounting member is positioned at a predetermined distance from the hooked end of the wiper that is approximately ten times the radius of the internal curvature of the hooked end.

Abstract: A method of forming hydrophobic structures in a hydrophilic print medium includes operating a plurality of inkjets to form an arrangement of hydrophobic material on first side of a print medium that moves in a process direction at a predetermined velocity. The method further includes moving the print medium through a convection heater at the predetermined velocity to enable the hydrophobic material to penetrate the print medium to form hydrophobic structures within the print medium.

Abstract: The wall of each supply path formed in a silicon substrate has such a shape that a plurality of regions distinguished from each other due to different inclinations to a first surface of the silicon substrate are connected to each other between the first surface and a second surface of the silicon substrate and the width of the supply path is maintained or expands from the first surface to second surface of the silicon substrate. An internal opening is formed by one of the regions that is most steeply inclined to the first surface of the silicon substrate. A region reducing the squeezing of an adhesive into the internal opening is placed between the internal opening and the second surface of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: The flow path resistances of ink feeding holes (51, 52) of this pressure-type inkjet head (21) differ from each other. When ink is not being discharged, a driver circuit (46) generates a driving signal for circulating ink, which differs from a driving signal for discharging ink, and applies the driving signal for circulating ink to an actuator (32). The actuator (32) causes the flow rate of ink flowing from the respective ink feeding holes (51, 52) to differ between when ink is being drawn into a pressure chamber (31a) and when ink is being discharged from the pressure chamber (31a) and circulates the ink within the pressure chamber (31a) by being driven on the basis of the driving signal for circulating ink.

Abstract: An example media processing device includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position, wherein a cavity is defined between the base and the lid; a printhead assembly attached to the lid; and a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises: at least one cartridge channel configured to receive therein a ribbon cartridge; and at least one printhead assembly channel configured to guide the printhead assembly along the printhead assembly channel in response to the lid being moved between the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a printer, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor printer which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the printer. A printer may include a base and a lid hingedly attached to the base, moveable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position. A cavity may be defined between the lid and the base, where the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The printer may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.

Abstract: A fluid printhead including a plurality of heater elements that are driven to nucleate bubbles in fluid so that the fluid is ejected from the printhead in the form of drops, a plurality of drive elements, each drive element selectively driving a corresponding one of the plurality of heater elements in accordance with a printer controller, and a drop detection system that includes a plurality of drop detection cells, each drop detection cell detecting a change in electrical resistance of a corresponding one of the plurality of heater elements that occurs upon drop formation.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an inkjet ink degassing method that can sufficiently remove bubbles contained in active ray curable inkjet ink and improve dispensing stability and curability. The inkjet ink degassing method according to the present invention comprises a step of using hollow fibers to degas active ray curable inkjet ink that has been heated to between 60° C. and 120° C. and contains a colorant, a photopolymerizable compound, and a photoinitiator.

Abstract: A labelling machine comprises a first motive apparatus configured to advance a label web along a label web path; an encoder arranged to output a sensor signal which is indicative of a rate of movement of said label web along said label web path; and a printer configured to print on said label web, the printer including a second motive apparatus configured to advance a print ribbon along a ribbon path. The labelling machine further comprises a controller configured to receive said sensor signal and control the second motive apparatus based on the sensor signal. The controller is configured to supply a pulsed control signal to the second motive apparatus, the intervals between pulses of the pulsed control signal being a function of a desired rate of movement of the print ribbon along the ribbon path.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ink circulation device includes a first tank which stores ink to be supplied to an inkjet head, a second tank which stores the ink returned from the ink jet head, and a circulation pump which circulates the ink stored in the second tank to the first tank. In addition, the ink circulation device according to the embodiment further includes a heating device which is in contact with and heats a bottom surface of the first tank, a bottom surface of the second tank, and a bottom surface of the circulation pump.

Abstract: An inkjet printing method for manufacturing decorative surfaces includes the steps of a) jetting a color pattern with one or more aqueous inkjet inks including a polymer latex binder on a thermosetting resin impregnated paper; and b) drying the one or more aqueous inkjet inks.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a front face having a polymer coating, the polymer coating including an oleophobic grafted polymer having a crosslinked fluoroelastomer and a perfluorinated fluorosilicone grafted to the crosslinked fluoroelastomer. The polymer coating has an ink contact angle of at least about 45 degrees and an ink slide angle of less than about 35 degrees.