Abstract: A film is provided intended to be sandwiched between opposing faces of two objects. Each of the opposing faces have channels, passageways or openings that communicate with one or more that have channels or passageways or openings in the other face via holes in the film. The film is preferably inert and provided with adhesive on both faces.

Abstract: A method for transferring an image onto a non-planar surface in which an image transfer sheet comprising a shape memory polymer or like substance is used to transfer said image.

Abstract: An ink jet nozzle assembly 10 includes a substrate 16. A nozzle 22 is displaceably arranged relative to the substrate 16. The nozzle 22 defines a nozzle opening 24 such that, in use, upon displacement of the nozzle 22 relative to the substrate 16 ink is ejected through the opening 24. A seal 52 is arranged intermediate the substrate 16 and the nozzle 22 for inhibiting leakage of ink from around a periphery of the nozzle 22.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method effects recording on a recording material by ejecting ink comprising coloring material and reaction liquid reactable with the ink from an ink ejection portion for ejecting the ink and a reaction liquid ejection portion for ejecting the reaction liquid. The method includes a recording step of effecting the recording selectively in a first recording mode in which no margin is provided at least one end portion of the recording material and a second recording mode in which margins are provided at all of the end portions of the recording material. A recording condition in the first recording mode and a recording condition in the second recording mode are different.

Abstract: The invention intends to maintain a constant ink discharge amount among the recording heads, even in case a total pulse width of pulse voltages applied to heat generating resistors. For this purpose, a rank table is prepared in such a manner, even in a situation where a total pulse width of the pulses applied to the heat generating resistor is 3 ?s or less whereby the ink discharge amount decreases with a decrease in the total pulse width, that a maximum reached temperature on the surface of the heat generating resistors at the application of a preheat pulse becomes higher with a decrease in the resistance of a rank resistor, and a pulse width P1 on the rank table is made longer thereby compensating a decrease in the ink discharge amount with a decrease in the total pulse width and maintaining a constant ink discharge amount.

Abstract: A printed device is provided with an image printed thereon, having a relatively high durability and/or resolution. A printer and method are also provided to produce a high durability image by treating an item to be printed with plasma. In particular, a printer is provided that is configured to convey a plurality of individuated items through a plasma treatment stage to prepare the surfaces of the item for printing. More specifically such printer may use a non-continuous ink jet printing assembly such as a drop on demand printing assembly.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device comprises a substrate including a fluid ejector thereon, and an orifice member positioned over said substrate. The orifice member has a fluid-transfer bore extending therethrough and corresponding to the fluid ejector. The orifice member further has a counter-bore about the fluid-transfer bore.

Abstract: A water base ink for ink-jet recording comprises water, a coloring agent, a water-soluble organic solvent, and a benzotriazole-based metal-inactivating agent and alkanolamine. When the ink is used in an ink-jet recording apparatus which has the metal member containing nickel or nickel alloy in an ink supply passage, nickel is eluted from the metal member in an amount of not more than 50 ppm. The ink makes it possible to perform stable jetting operation for a long term without causing any deterioration of metal members of a discharge head due to the metallic corrosion and the elution of nickel into the ink.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is disclosed that relates to a mechanism for passing a rigid medium under an image-forming mechanism. The mechanism includes a conveyor belt and a number of rollers. The rigid medium travels on the conveyor belt under the image-forming mechanism, for image formation on the rigid medium. The rollers move the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A surface characteristic is determined by a property of a fluid capable of contacting the surface. The surface characteristic is based on the property of the fluid.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of forming mixed-phase compressive tantalum thin films using nitrogen residual gas. The method of the present invention may include selecting a pressure of nitrogen residual gas during plasma sputtering corresponding to a predefined ratio of beta- to alpha-tantalum. The method may be performed at substrate temperatures less than 300° C. Mixed-phase compressive tantalum thin films and fluid ejection devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer is provided with a container having at least a first wall. An ink supply port is formed through the first wall for supplying ink to the exterior of the container. An ink chamber and an ink supply chamber are formed by a membrane valve seat made of an elastic thin membrane and formed with a through hole therethrough. A valve body is positioned opposing the through hole formed in the membrane valve seat, the valve body and membrane valve seat adjacent said through hole formed therein being maintained selectively in contact by a pressure difference between said ink chamber and said ink supply chamber.

Abstract: In order to judge an ink end state of at least one of ink cartridges detachably mounted on a recording head incorporated in an ink jet recording apparatus, a consumed ink amount in each ink cartridge is counted. When the counted consumed ink amount of one ink cartridge reaches a first value indicating the ink end state, a count value is added to the counted consumed ink amounts of any other ink cartridges, in order to obtain verification count values. When at least one of the verification count values reaches a second value which is less than the first value, it is judged that the ink cartridge in which the verification count value reaches the second value is in the ink end state.

Abstract: There is provided a printer including a grip portion that becomes a handhold in moving the printer, and the grip portion is formed of a part of a jacket of the printer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid injection head structure and a method of fabricating the same. The fluid injection head structure is disposed on a substrate and has a bubble generator, a functional device for control the bubble generator, a first conductive trace composed of poly-silicon, a chamber, a manifold in flow communication with the chamber, and a second conductive trace. The second conductive trace electrically couples the functional device with the bubble generator and the first conductive trace. Moreover, the chamber further has at least one orifice through the substrate and a gate and the first conductive trace are formed in the same photo-etching process (PEP).

Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a liquid drop emitter, such as an ink jet device, for emitting liquid drops of different volumes. The liquid drop emitter comprises a chamber, filled with a liquid, having a nozzle for emitting drops of the liquid, a thermo-mechanical actuator having a moveable portion within the chamber for applying pressure to the liquid at the nozzle, and apparatus adapted to apply heat pulses to the thermo-mechanical actuator.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a carrier housing having an attachment feature, a carrier belt to transmit a translation to the carrier housing in a bi-directional scanning direction; and an interface device interposed between and coupled to both the carrier housing and the carrier belt. The interface device includes a body having a wing and a base. The wing is defined by a span and by a chord length. At least one of the wing and the base is mounted via the attachment feature to the carrier housing. The span extends in the bi-directional scanning direction, and the chord length is substantially perpendicular to the span.

Abstract: A head driving device includes a liquid ejecting head formed with a nozzle orifice from which a liquid droplet is ejected, a driving signal generator generating a driving signal, a pressure generating element applying pressure to liquid based on the driving signal for ejecting the liquid droplet, a charge element charged at a reference voltage lower than a drive voltage for driving the pressure generating element, and applying a bias voltage to the pressure generating element, and a discharge circuit discharging a charge on the charge element to a ground when a voltage of the charge on the charge element is equal to or higher than a first voltage which is higher than the bias voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by heating the medium having ink applied to its surface layer by a heater device, thereby to fix the ink applied to the surface layer to a fixing layer of the recording medium. A heating controlling section (78) for controlling the heater device (4) includes a fixing behavior evaluating means (9) for evaluating a fixing behavior of the ink to the fixing layer and then outputting a control amount to the heating controlling section (78) for controlling the heater device (4). The fixing behavior evaluating means (9) includes such functions as a sublimation degree evaluating function for evaluating a sublimation degree of the ink in the recording medium (1), a function for evaluating surface temperature distribution of the recording medium or a transferred energy evaluating function for evaluating transferred energy received by each area of the recording medium (1).

Abstract: An ink jet printer including a cartridge which moves along a print area, a head mounted on the carriage, an ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge for supplying ink to the head, a lever on the carriage for mounting or demounting the ink cartridge with respect to the carriage and a stopper for stopping the movement of the carriage by coming into contact with the lever when an operation of mounting the ink cartridge by the lever has not been completely effected. The ink jet printer may also include a resilient member for supporting the ink cartridge on the carriage.