Abstract: A method including attempting to provide a first amount of power to a component of an image forming system during a first time period and determining a second amount of power applied to the component during the first time period using a first power measurement made during the first time period and at least a second power measurement made during a second time period outside of the first time period is provided.

Abstract: Misalignments of dot forming positions are adjusted by selectively using a position adjustment value for a used bi-directional print mode out of a plurality of position adjustment values that are respectively suitable for a plurality of bi-directional print modes including a first bi-directional print mode and a second bi-directional print mode that are made available by changing ink types.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an ejection head which ejects liquid onto a recording medium to form a desired image on the recording medium; a conveyance device which moves at least one of the recording medium and the ejection head so as to move the recording medium in a conveyance direction relatively to the ejection head; a liquid removal device which performs liquid removal to remove the liquid on the recording medium and is arranged on a downstream side of the ejection head in the conveyance direction; a determination device which determines a state after the liquid removal is performed by the liquid removal device; and a liquid removal control device which implements control to adjust a liquid removal capability of the liquid removal device according to determination results of the determination device.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead is disclosed which includes nozzles for ejecting ink droplets; a cavity unit incorporating pressure chambers; and an actuator in the form of a laminate of sheets. The actuator includes individual electrodes and a top sheet having bonding terminations. The inkjet printhead is bonded at the bonding terminations to a flexible flat cable. The bonding terminations include surface electrodes formed on the top sheet. The top sheet includes through holes, each of which is filled with a conductive material locally communicated with a corresponding one of the surface electrodes at a communication portion thereof. The top sheet includes external conductive areas, each formed on a surface of a corresponding one of the surface electrodes, and each having a thickness larger than that of the corresponding surface electrode. Each of the external conductive areas overlays an open end of the corresponding through hole located in the communication portion.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least one printhead module, at least one controller and a casing in which the printhead module and controller are removably mounted. The module is a unitary arrangement of a support member, at least two print nozzle integrated circuits, at least two fluid distribution members each mounting the print nozzle integrated circuits to the support member, and respective electrical connectors. The controller is configured to process print data and to communicate the processed print data to microprocessing circuitry of at least one of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the respective electrical connector so as to control the printing operation of the print nozzle integrated circuit(s) to print the processed print data.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a sheet feeding tray, a sheet discharge tray, an image recording portion including an ink jet recording head and a platen, a sheet feeding roller, a first roller portion, disposed between the sheet feeding tray and the image recording portion, and a second roller portion, disposed at a position across the image recording portion from the first roller portion. After the recording material fed from the sheet feeding tray is passed between the ink jet recording head and the platen and is nipped by the first roller portion, recording is carried out when the recording material is fed in an opposite direction between the ink jet recording head and the platen.

Abstract: A multi-nozzle ink jet head using piezoelectric elements and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. A head (1) has a nozzle member (10) in which a plurality of nozzles (12) are formed, a pressure chamber wall member (14) in which a plurality of pressure chambers (15) are formed, and piezoelectric type actuators that have a diaphragm (18) and a plurality of piezo elements (19) and apply pressure to each of the plurality of pressure chambers for ejecting ink from the nozzles. A rigid coating member (23, 25) is provided on inner surfaces of the pressure chamber walls or on parts of the diaphragm in contact with the pressure chamber wall member, thus increasing the rigidity of the pressure chamber walls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing method that repeats in alternation a carrying operation of carrying a medium in a carrying direction, and a formation operation of forming an image on the medium by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles that are aligned in the carrying direction and that move in a movement direction.

Abstract: A station for storing and refilling a cartridge of a printhead has a container in which a seat is arranged for accommodating the cartridge to be refilled; the ink for refilling being contained in a collection chamber located in the bottom part of the container. The collection chamber communicates freely with a back-flow compartment located at the top, surrounding the housing and in free communication with the chamber. The feeding is effected by means of a capillary element contained inside an impermeable sheath extending vertically into the collection chamber and arranged centrally in a symmetrical position with respect to the base of the container. The capillary element penetrates into the housing in contact with the sponge of the cartridge to transfer the ink through capillarity. Feeding takes place solely and exclusively with the container in the vertical position whereas in any other position the ink flows into the back-flow compartment and the capillary element is no longer lapped against by the ink.

Abstract: A voltage supplied to each printing element can be stabilized even when a number of concurrently driven printing elements varies. A printhead with a plurality of printing elements includes a driving circuit for applying a predetermined voltage to each printing element according to a pulse signal defining a drive of a printing element inputted to the printhead. More specifically, the driving circuit is provided with a set voltage generation section for generating the predetermined voltage according to a setting signal inputted to the printhead. The section receives as the setting signal information on the number of concurrently driven printing elements, and the predetermined voltage applied to each printing element is set so as to have a constant value even when the number of concurrently driven printing elements varies.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head having a plurality of ink discharging portions provided in a juxtaposed linear relationship. A discharging direction of an ink droplet to be discharged from each ink discharging portion can be deflected in a plurality of directions. A printing resolution is determined in response to print data from among a plurality of printing resolutions, and the ink discharging portion from which an ink droplet is to be discharged are selected based on the determined printing resolution. Further, the discharging direction of an ink droplet of each selected ink discharging portion is determined, and a discharge execution signal with which the discharging direction is specified is transmitted to the selected ink discharging portion so that printing is executed with the printing resolution determined in response to the print data from among the plurality of printing resolutions.

Abstract: This invention provides for an inkjet printhead having an array of micro-electromechanical nozzles arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes side walls located on a wafer substrate with a roof layer deposited on said walls to define an ink chamber, with the roof layer defining a nozzle aperture. The nozzle arrangement also includes an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the ink chamber with printing fluid. Further includes is at least one heater element having a mass of less than 10 nanograms suspended between the side walls in the chamber, so that when electrical actuation energy of less than 500 nanojoules is applied to the heater element, a vapour bubble is formed in the fluid leading to a pressure increase in the chamber thereby ejecting the fluid via the nozzle aperture. The heater element has an annular shape with a point of collapse of the bubble near a centre thereof.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes: an input unit to input image data; a conversion unit to convert the image data to conversion data on a plurality of colors for forming an image on a recording medium; and an image forming unit to form an image of the conversion data on a recording medium using a plurality of colors of coloring materials. The image is formed on the recording medium by the image forming unit using at least three types of black coloring materials having transparency and density different to one another in accordance with the conversion data on a black color upon conversion to the conversion data on plural colors.

Abstract: Plural nozzle arrays of which each comprises plural nozzle holes (247a) from which ink is ejected are arranged slantingly in a main scanning direction. A distance between a first arbitrary nozzle hole (247a-1) and a second nozzle hole (247a-2), in a nozzle array adjacent to the array to which this first nozzle hole (247a-1) belongs, which is adjacent to the first nozzle hole (247a-1), and a distance between the first nozzle hole (247a-1) and a third nozzle hole (247a-3), in the nozzle array to which the second nozzle hole (247a-2) belongs, which is further adjacent to the first nozzle hole (247a-1) are different from each other.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an ejection head which forms an image on an ejection receiving medium, by ejecting liquid having electrorheological properties onto the ejection receiving medium; a holding device which holds the ejection receiving medium on a surface facing a liquid ejection surface of the ejection head; a conveyance device which conveys at least one of the ejection head and the ejection receiving medium held by the holding device relatively to each other in a conveyance direction; a first electrode group which includes at least a pair of a positive electrode and a negative electrode provided in the holding device, has a lengthwise direction coinciding with a sub-scanning direction substantially parallel to the conveyance direction of the conveyance device, and is disposed so as to be aligned with the main scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction; and a voltage supply device which supplies a prescribed voltage to the first electrode group.

Abstract: The liquid ejection head comprises: a nozzle which ejects a liquid; a pressure chamber which is connected to the nozzle; a common liquid chamber which supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric element which causes the pressure chamber to deform; and a liquid supply channel which connects between the common liquid chamber and the pressure chamber, wherein the liquid supply channel passes through an active section of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A printing medium baffle for protecting printheads printing on an image transfer member from particulates associated with the printing medium. The baffle may have one or more adhesive surfaces.

Abstract: A liquid ejection inspecting apparatus includes (A) a sensing section, (B) a detection circuit, (C) a determination section, and (D) a substrate. The sensing section is arranged in a state of non-contact with a liquid ejection nozzle for ejecting a liquid. The detection circuit is for detecting an induced current generated in the sensing section due to the liquid ejected from the liquid ejection nozzle and charged electrically. The determination section is for determining whether or not the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejection nozzle normally, based on the induced current detected by the detection circuit. The substrate is provided with the sensing section and a circuit component that constitutes the detection circuit. The sensing section is provided on one surface of the substrate. The circuit component that constitutes the detection circuit is provided on the other surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method and an ink jet printing apparatus are provided which minimize an area to be printed that overruns from edge portions of the print medium, even for an irregular-shaped print medium. The printing apparatus has an overrunning ink reception opening formed in the platen as a notched portion to accommodate ink ejected beyond the edges of the print medium. When the edge portions of an irregular-shaped print medium are to be printed, a control is made to accommodate almost all volume of ink ejected beyond the edge portions in the overrunning ink reception opening. With this arrangement the amount of ink ejected from the edge portions of even the irregular-shaped print medium can be adjusted so that the interior of the platen and printing apparatus can be prevented from being contaminated and a wasteful ink consumption minimized, thus realizing a satisfactory “marginless printing.

Abstract: In an image forming device comprising an image forming part forming an image on a recording sheet, a sheet ejection part provided above the image forming part and stacking the recording sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming part, and an image reading part provided above the sheet ejection part and reading an image of an original document, the sheet ejection part is provided with a cover which is capable of being opened or closed to the sheet ejection part.