Abstract: A thermal developing apparatus in which a photothermographic element having a latent image is interposed between a heated member and a plurality of guiding rollers and when the photothermographic element is conveyed and heated while the guiding rollers are rotated, the thermal developing is conducted, and the visible image is obtained, a plurality of guiding rollers are arranged so that the variation cycle of the radius of each guiding roller is not synchronized with each other on the photothermographichic element during the rotation of each guiding roller.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of forming an image on optical disks by printing a white ground on an optical disk and drawing, using an inkjet printer, on optical disks arranged in a line. The printer head of the inkjet printer is scanned in the linear arrangement direction and all of the linearly arranged optical disks are contained within in a scanning range of the head of the inkjet printer so the printer head scans the optical disks in a single scan.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. Each heater element is configured such that the energy applied to it to heat the bubble forming liquid (which can also be the ink) to cause the ejection of a drop is less than that required to heat a volume of the ejectable liquid equal to the volume of such a drop, from an ambient temperature (being the temperature at which the bubble forming liquid enters the printhead) to the temperature of such a drop when it is ejected. The printhead thus has a self-cooling function.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. Each heater element has two opposite sides and is configured such that the gas bubble formed by that heater element is formed at both of these sides.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering solvent free marking material to a receiver is provided. A printhead includes a discharge device having an inlet and an outlet with a portion of the discharge device defining a delivery path. An actuating mechanism is moveably positioned along the delivery path. A material selection device has an inlet and an outlet with the outlet of the material selection device being connected in fluid communication to the inlet of the discharge device. The inlet of the material selection device is adapted to be connected to a pressurized source of a thermodynamically stable mixture of a fluid and a marking material, wherein the fluid is in a gaseous state at a location beyond the outlet of the discharge device. A calibration station is positioned relative to the printhead. Additionally, or alternatively, a cleaning station is positioned relative to the printhead.

Abstract: Determination of an adjustment value for adjusting the shifting of recording positions is made easier. The adjustment value is one for adjusting the shifting of recording positions in the direction of main scanning when ink drops are ejected and dots formed on a print medium. Patches T21-T25 and patches T31-T35 are printed in order to determine the extent (adjustment value) to which dot formation positions are shifted on a reverse pass during bidirectional printing. Each patch is formed based on the same print data D1 related to yellow (Y), light cyan (LC), and light magenta (LM) dots. Each dot is formed on the forward and reverse passes of main scanning when the patches T21-T25 are formed. The patches are printed by varying the dot recording positions on a reverse pass in small increments. The patches T31-T35 are formed solely on the forward pass of a main scan.

Abstract: By implementation of an optical scanner, the calibration of printheads of a printing mechanism may be performed in a relatively short period of time as compared to known techniques. In one respect, the time required to perform the calibration may be substantially reduced by virtue of the relatively wide field of view of the optical scanner. The relatively wide field of view generally enables for the scanning of test patterns to be performed with a relatively fewer number of scanning passes, thus reducing the time required to perform the scanning operations as well as the calibration operations. In addition, the scanning operations may yield relatively more accurate results as compared to known scanning operations. In one respect, optical scanners are capable of detecting smaller drops of ink on print media by virtue of their higher resolution capabilities.

Abstract: A printhead chip for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate. A plurality of nozzle arrangements is positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle arrangement includes a nozzle chamber structure that defines a nozzle chamber in which ink is received. An ink-ejecting member is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber so that displacement of the ink-ejecting member results in ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber. At least one actuator is positioned on the substrate. The, or each, actuator is displaceable with respect to the substrate on receipt of a driving signal. A motion transmitting structure is interposed between the actuator and the ink-ejecting member so that displacement of the actuator relative to the substrate is transmitted to the ink-ejecting member so that ink is ejected from the nozzle chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering ink solvent to a printhead in a printing device is provided, the apparatus including a reservoir structure configured to hold ink solvent, a dispensing structure configured to dispense ink solvent drawn from the reservoir structure, and elongate conveyance structure fluidly connecting the reservoir structure to the dispensing structure, and having along its length a surface-energy characteristic which conveys a flowable continuum of ink solvent to the dispensing structure at least partially via surface-energy phenomena.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. The bubble forming liquid (which may also be the ink) is collapsible, having a point of collapse towards which it collapses, and each heater element is configured such that the point of collapse of a bubble formed by it is spaced from that heater element.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein. The generation of the bubble causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through the respective corresponding nozzle, to effect printing. The printhead has a plurality of nozzle chambers each corresponding to a respective nozzle, with a plurality of the heater elements being disposed within each chamber. The heater elements within each chamber are formed on different respective layers to one another.

Abstract: A serial recording apparatus in accordance with the present invention appropriately selects ink nozzles of an ink head and prints on a sheet so that the amount of printing is substantially equal to an ordinary amount, when an inadequate amount of sheet feed occurs, and then, selects the ink nozzles of the ink head in accordance with how the inadequate amount of sheet feed is so as to carry out the next printing. This avoids that the inadequate sheet feedings are accumulated in the succeeding printings. Accordingly, even when a plurality of inadequate sheet feedings occur during the printings with respect to a single sheet, the inadequate sheet feedings are not accumulated, thereby avoiding that the quality of the printing deteriorates. Thus, it is possible to provide a serial recording apparatus which can resolve the inadequate printing by detecting the amount of sheet feed for each feeding, determining the print area in accordance with each amount of sheet feed, and carrying out the printing.

Abstract: A document is reproduced by capturing an image of the document, generating a set of vector commands, and creating a duplicate document from the vector commands. The image is captured by scanning or other suitable means. The set of vector commands is generated by identifying vectors within the raster image and for each vector identified within the raster image, generating at least one vector command for replicating the identified vector. The duplicate document is created by executing the set of vector commands on an output device. The set of vector is either delivered directly to the output device or stored to a file and the file delivered to the output device.

Abstract: A fluid ejection chip for a fluid ejection device includes a substrate. A plurality of nozzle arrangements is positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle arrangement includes a nozzle chamber defining structure that is positioned on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber. An active fluid-ejecting structure is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable with respect to the substrate to eject fluid from the nozzle chamber. At least two actuators are operatively arranged with respect to the active fluid-ejecting structure to displace the active fluid-ejecting structure towards and away from the substrate. The actuators are configured and connected to the active fluid-ejecting structure to impart substantially rectilinear movement to the active fluid-ejecting structure.

Abstract: A printhead chip for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate. A plurality of nozzle arrangements is positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle arrangement includes nozzle chamber walls and a roof that define a nozzle chamber with the roof defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. An ink-ejecting member is positioned in the nozzle chamber. The ink-ejecting member is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable with respect to the substrate to eject ink from the ink ejection port. An actuator is connected to the ink-ejecting member, the actuator being displaceable upon receipt of an electrical drive signal to displace the ink-ejecting member and thus eject ink from the ink ejection port. A covering formation is positioned on the substrate so that the substrate and the covering formation define an air chamber, the actuator being positioned within the air chamber.

Abstract: To accurately position and fix an ink cartridge on an ink cartridge mounting unit, a first engaging depression is formed in the bottom wall of the ink cartridge and a corresponding protrusion is formed in the mounting unit. Also, an ink supply port is formed in the bottom wall. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting unit, the ink supply port is engaged first with an ink supply channel formed in the mounting unit and fluidly connected to the head unit. Then, the first engaging depression is brought into engagement with the corresponding protrusion in the mounting unit. A second engaging depression is further formed in the top. The engaging pawl of a locking arm engages the second engaging depression when the locking arm locks the ink cartridge to the head unit. Further, a pair of ribs is provided on the rear side wall of the ink cartridge. The ribs oppose each other with a prescribed interval.

Abstract: A fluid ejecting device includes a substrate containing drive circuitry. Nozzle chamber walls and a roof wall are positioned on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber in which fluid is received and a fluid ejection port from which the fluid is ejected, in use. A fluid ejecting mechanism is operatively arranged with respect to the nozzle chamber to act on the fluid in the nozzle chamber to eject fluid from the fluid ejection port. A thermal bend actuator is connected to the drive circuitry to receive an electrical signal from the drive circuitry and to provide actuation of the fluid ejecting mechanism. The thermal bend actuator has a laminated structure of at least three layers in the form of a pair of opposed, outer layers and at least one inner layer. The outer layers have substantially the same thermal expansion and elasticity characteristics.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a microwave drying station passing media through a waveguide thereof. A vacuum source coupled to the waveguide draws air into the waveguide and thereby aides in disturbing and scrubbing a boundary layer of vapor at the media surface otherwise hindering efficient drying of media thereat. Supporting the media on a perforated belt through the waveguide couples media to the belt by vacuum force and thereby contributes to an overall media feed mechanism.

Abstract: A paddle (5) for a liquid ejection device (1) is located in a chamber (2) and is moveable in a forward direction between a rest state and an ejection state, for ejecting fluid from the chamber through an outlet port (11) as it moves from the rest state to the ejection state. The paddle (5) is positioned to substantially close an inlet port (3) when in the rest state and the paddle (5) and the inlet port (3) define an aperture (16) between themselves. The paddles (5) includes means (12) to reduce fluid flow through the aperture (16) toward the inlet port (3) as the paddle (5) moves from the rest state to the ejection state.

Abstract: An inkjet print head comprises a mandrel having flat front and rear surfaces disposed between an initially curved rear membrane and an initially flat front membrane. The rear membrane is initially hemispherically curved, in close contact at its periphery with the rear surface of the mandrel but substantially removed from the mandrel in its central region. Because the membranes are mechanically coupled, the initially curved rear membrane causes the initially flat front membrane to bow away from the front surface of the mandrel. Ink contacts only one membrane, preferably the front membrane, which is typically held at a ground potential. By applying a voltage sequence to the membranes and mandrel, the position of the actuator may be controlled in a “push-pull” manner.