Abstract: A system and method of determining paper system position and velocity are provided. The method includes receiving a first data triplet at a first time. The first data triplet includes data related to a first coarse digital position, a first channel X analog voltage and a first channel Y analog voltage. The method also includes storing the first time and the first data triplet. The method further includes receiving a second data triplet at a second time. The second data triplet includes data related to a second digital position, a second X analog voltage and a second Y analog voltage. The method also includes evaluating a control loop associated with controlling paper position and velocity. Evaluating the control loop includes determining a velocity of the paper based on the first data triplet, the second data triplet, the first time and the second time.

Abstract: An ink cartridge supported on a housing portion includes a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory communicates with a control portion mounted to a recording apparatus main body through a memory access controlling portion as an interface.

Abstract: A side rib provided on an inner wall of a housing creates space, which extends to reach an air hole, between a second ink retainer and the inner wall of the housing. A contact area where a first ink retainer and the second ink retainer are in contact with each other is provided with grooves that communicate with the space provided on the inner wall of the housing.

Abstract: A pump including a rotor is connected between a print head and an ink cartridge. A housing of the pump is provided with a suction inlet and a discharge outlet. A partition member is disposed in the rotor placed in a hollow defined in the housing. The rotor of the pump is rotated to purge ink from nozzles of the print head. Thereafter, ink is wiped off the nozzle surface of the print head by a maintenance unit. While the ink is being wiped by a maintenance unit, the rotor is rotated at a rotating speed in which ink is not ejected from the print head.

Abstract: A method of driving an ink-jet printhead, the ink-jet printhead having a pressure chamber to be filled with ink, a piezoelectric actuator for varying a volume of the pressure chamber, and a nozzle, through which an ink droplet is ejected, connected to the pressure chamber, the method including applying a driving pulse to the piezoelectric actuator to change the volume of the pressure chamber, thereby ejecting the ink droplet through the nozzle due to a change in pressure in the pressure chamber caused by the change in volume of the pressure chamber, and changing a volume of the ink droplet ejected through the nozzle by maintaining a rising time of the driving pulse constant and adjusting a duration time of a maximum voltage of the driving pulse.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus has a recording head which has a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, a storage device which stores local variation processing parameters determined according to nozzle locality showing displacement from an ideal state of dot depositions due to defectiveness of the nozzles, a digital halftoning processing device which converts inputted image data to dot data, a local variation processing device which varies the dot data obtained by the digital halftoning processing device so as to compensate the nozzle locality by using the local variation processing parameters stored in the storage device, and a control device which controls ink ejection of the plurality of nozzles of the recording head according to the dot data generated through processing by the local variation processing device.

Abstract: A second sealing film F2 is thermally bonded onto a leading end portion R1 of an ink lead-out member 32b of an ink pack and an annular projecting portion R2 provided on an ink casing 31. Thereby, a gap D produced between the ink lead-out member 32b and the ink casing 31 can be closed from outside the ink casing 31. Accordingly, the airtightness of a space S in the ink casing 31 is kept, thus making it possible to raise the pressure in the space S and generate such a force as to crush the ink pack.

Abstract: A carriage for an ink cartridge of an image forming apparatus employing an improved locking structure that draws out the ink cartridge with a simple unlocking thereof, thereby improving a user convenience in replacing the ink cartridge. The carriage for the ink cartridge of the ink jet printer has: a carriage body with a mounting portion, in which the ink cartridge is accommodated; a latch rotatably disposed at the carriage body to open and close the mounting portion; a resilient latch member to resiliently bias the latch in an opening direction; and a locking unit to lock the latch to the carriage body, wherein when the latch is unlocked with respect to the carriage body, the locking unit rotates together with the latch, and draws out the ink cartridge from the mounting portion.

Abstract: A printer comprises an arm mounted on a pivot member. The arm has a first portion adapted to move along an arcuate path. A drive motor rotates the arm about the pivot member. An electromagnetic radiation emitter mounted on the first portion is adapted to emit pulses onto an electromagnetic radiation-sensitive medium.

Abstract: A pump including a rotor is connected between a print head and an ink cartridge. A housing of the pump is provided with a suction inlet and a discharge outlet. A partition member is disposed in the rotor placed in a hollow defined in the housing. The rotor of the pump is rotated to purge ink from nozzles of the print head. Thereafter, ink is wiped off the nozzle surface of the print head by a maintenance unit. While the ink is being wiped by a maintenance unit, the rotor is rotated at a rotating speed in which ink is not ejected from the print head.

Abstract: The power consumption of the entire recording apparatus is decreased in the structure that the recording element and the light emitting portion are provided on the ink tank, processes according to the amount of the residual ink is performed by communicating information stored in the recording element to the main body of the recording apparatus, and the condition of the ink tank can be informed by emitting light. The ink tank comprises the recording element, the light emitting portion, and the controlling portion driving the the recording element and the light emitting portion at the appropriate timing, and further comprises the voltage level chanigng menas for supplying the appropriate voltage to each thereof. Relatively low voltage is constantly supplied to the controlling portion, thereby driving the recording element and the light emitting portion at the appropriate timing.

Abstract: An ink container shell for an ink jet cartridge has spaced apart side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a bottom wall, a partition in said shell dividing the interior thereof into first and second chambers for respectively receiving an ink and an ink absorbing material, an opening through the partition for communicating ink in said first chamber with ink absorbing material in the second chamber, and which has a height greater than its width. The shell further includes an outlet port in the bottom wall of the second chamber provided with a wick retaining arrangement, and a block of ink absorbing material in the second chamber having an angled surface facing the opening through the partition and having an area greater than the area of the opening. A lever and tongue component for releasably interengaging the container with a holder therethrough has smooth surfaces and edges to facilitate handling of the container.

Abstract: A joint structure including a first member and a second member which are jointed to each other to define a flow passage in which a fluid flows. One of the first and second members includes a weldable portion which projects toward an opposed surface of the other of the first and second members in a first direction and whose end portion is fused and welded to the opposed surface, so as to joint the first and second members to each other at a first position in the first direction. One of the first and second members includes a first projecting portion which is provided between the weldable portion and the flow passage in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and projects toward the other of the first and second members such that a free end of the first projecting portion is located at a second position different from the first position in the first direction, while the first projecting portion cooperates with the weldable portion to define a first space therebetween in the second direction.

Abstract: A printing fluid dispenser including: a deformable container containing a full complement of printing fluid; a housing including a base slidingly engaging a plunger and locating the deformable container; and an outlet coupled to the deformable container and arranged to convey the printing fluid to a point external to the housing; wherein the first and second portions include mated features arranged to prevent motion of said portions relative to each other until a predetermined level of operative force is applied across said portions.

Abstract: A printing cartridge (1230) includes a housing (1231). An array (1232) of pressure sensor actuators (1236) is positioned on the housing. The array of pressure sensor actuators represents data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant, so that when a pressure sensor array is actuated by the array of the pressure sensor actuators, a signal carrying such data can be generated.

Abstract: A pressure adjustment mechanism can provide ink to a subtank with the inside of the subtank being opened to outside air, by using a low driving force. A liquid tank holds liquid to be used by a printing apparatus. The liquid tank has a structure in which a capacity of the liquid tank can be changed so as to generate a negative pressure in the liquid tank. The liquid tank includes a case having an opening at one side of the tank, and a flexible film that covers the opening, and a compressed spring in the tank for pressing the film outwards.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer head is characterized by comprising an organic film coated on the surface of the nozzle plate for discharging ink, in which solid particles having abrasion resistance are dispersed, and a water-repellent film on the surface of the organic film, in which the chains of fluorocarbon polymer is grown. The head shows improved durability of the chains of the fluorocarbon polymer on the nozzle plate during cleaning of the nozzle surface.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which generates satellites droplets, problems in an image attributable to the satellites are mitigated as far as possible. For this purpose, each parameter is adjusted to satisfy a relationship such that the distance between positions of placement of a main droplet and a satellite substantially agrees with an integral multiple of the width of an index pattern. As a result, a satellite is likely to be placed in a position overlapping a dot formed by a main droplet printed in the same area of a pixel located in the vicinity of the satellite, which prevents satellites from placement blank positions where no dot should be printed. Thus, the influence of satellites is mitigated, and problems in an image attributable to satellite are reduced.

Abstract: A system providing ink to a printing device includes a carriage including a fluid interconnect probe, a plurality of ink supply cartridges, and an autoloader configured to fluidly couple one of the ink supply cartridges to the carriage.

Abstract: A flexible wiring cable 60 connects a recording head 7 and a relay board, and includes COF (chip on film) 62 for connecting an output side wiring pattern of an IC chip 61 to the recording head 7, and general purpose FFC (flexible flat cable) 63 formed with a parallel wiring pattern. The flexible wiring cable 60 connects the output side wiring pattern of the IC chip 61 to the relay board 50 via FFC 63, thereby decreasing the use of more expensive COF 62 by the use of cheap, general purpose FFC 63. Thus, the product cost as the entire recording apparatus is reduced by using the general purpose flexible board for a part of a flexible board having a driving circuit mounted thereon and serving as a connecting means for connecting a recording means and a relay board, suppressing the manufacturing cost of parts for connecting means.