Abstract: A function liquid is sent under pressure into the flow passages inside the liquid droplet ejection heads. Thereafter, the function liquid is sucked from nozzles of the liquid droplet ejection heads. In filling the liquid function droplet ejection heads with a function liquid, air bubbles in the flow passages inside the liquid droplet ejection heads can be efficiently discharged, whereby the liquid droplet ejection head is surely filled with the function liquid.

Abstract: An ink delivery apparatus includes a chamber configured to contain ink, where that chamber includes a proximal end for connection to the ink delivery apparatus, and opposing side portions having at least one tapered section configured to support the chamber and to facilitate at least partial controlled collapse of the chamber in response to a negative pressure.

Abstract: An ink delivery regulation apparatus includes a support configured to be positioned within an ink chamber and a resilient deflection member coupled to the support. The resilient deflection member is configured to resiliently deflect from a generally concave shape to a generally convex shape in response to a change in said negative pressure.

Abstract: A fluid control valve capable of reducing or preventing a foam from being retained inside and reducing the likelihood or preventing the other fluid equipment placed downstream from causing a failure due to the foam, and a droplet discharging device using the fluid control valve, are provided. Fluid control valves and include a tank through which fluid flows, an inflow port through which fluid flows into the tank, an outflow port through which fluid flows out from the tank and a valve body for opening and closing the inflow port or the outflow port, the inflow port being provided below the outflow port.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a first monitor which detects whether a non-paper-medium supplier is attached to the main body of the image-forming apparatus. When a normal copying process is selected, the copying process is stopped immediately if the first monitor determines that the non-paper-medium supplier is attached and an error message indicating that a printing process cannot be performed since the non-paper-medium supplier is attached is shown on the main body. In addition, if a facsimile is received while the non-paper-medium supplier is attached to the main body, the user is informed that the facsimile call is received. Accordingly, the user can change the setting of the image-forming apparatus so that the facsimile can be received. Thus, the facsimile is received manually if the non-paper-medium supplier is attached to the main body and is received by operation after the line is acquired by a handset telephone.

Abstract: A modular service station assembly for use with an inkjet printer having a housing with front and rear ends having a print zone and one or more carriage assemblies adapted to accommodate at least one print cartridge having a print head. The service station assembly has at least one ink spittoon. The service station also includes a wiping station having at least one wiper for cleaning the print head. The at least one ink spittoon and the wiping station are separately disposed to one side of the print zone. The service station further includes a capping station having at least one cap for sealing the print head disposed within the print zone. These discrete modules are arranged to minimize the width of the printer housing.

Abstract: A controller for a fluid ejecting system having a refillable container includes an ejection count initializing circuit, routine or application, a count incrementing circuit, routine or application, at least one fluid level indicator, and a fluid quantity circuit, routine or application for determining an expended quantity of fluid, a fluid reserve capacity circuit, routine or application for determining a fluid reserve capacity in the container, an ejection job determining circuit, routine or application for determining a fluid job requirement, a reserve comparing circuit, routine or application to compare the fluid reserve capacity and the fluid job requirement, and a refill condition determining circuit, routine or application to determine that the container is to be refilled. Counts for a ejection amount and a reserve capacity are incremented in response to a specific amount of fluid being ejected from the container.

Abstract: An inkjet consumable cartridge having an inkjet cartridge having nozzles. The inkjet consumable cartridge also has an inkjet cartridge holding device for holding the inkjet cartridge, a cap configured to interface with the inkjet cartridge, and a cap actuator that, when actuated, moves the cap from a position where the cap does not interface with the inkjet cartridge to a position where the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge sealingly covering the nozzles. Furthermore, the consumable cartridge is removable from a printer as a self-contained unit.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for effecting recording on a recording medium by a recording head includes a carriage for reciprocally scanning with the recording head carried thereon, a guide member for guiding the reciprocal scanning of the carriage, a drive source for driving the reciprocal scanning of the carriage, a transmitting member for transmitting a driving force from the drive source to the carriage, a holding member for holding the transmitting member, a projected portion disposed on the carriage and having the holding member mounted thereon, and an attenuating member for attenuating vibrations from the drive source between the carriage and the holding member, the attenuating member being of a shape surrounding the projected portion of the carriage, and the holding member holding the transmitting member being mounted on the projected portion with the attenuating member interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged to eject ink from an associated nozzle opening onto media in an ejection direction, and a nozzle guard arranged to cover the nozzles in the ejection direction so as to provide a space between the nozzles and the nozzle guard. The nozzle guard comprises a plurality of passages positioned so that each passage is in register with a corresponding one of the nozzle openings and an inlet arranged to direct fluid over the nozzles and through the passages so that a fluid pressure within the space is less than that within the space without the fluid. This low pressure region above the nozzles inhibits the build up of foreign particles on the nozzles.

Abstract: The printheads of an inkjet printer have a service station movable in a direction transversely of a printhead scanning direction and comprising servicing modules for undertaking different functions, one of the modules being detachable from the rest. The detachable connection comprises a rotating hook and a fixed hook which automatically interengage and disengage.

Abstract: A printhead capping assembly includes a cap holder and a printhead cap. The cap holder defines a cavity and a vent exit. The printhead cap has a base and a lip portion extending from the base. The lip portion defines an open interior region. The base is inserted into the cavity of the cap holder. The base includes a serpentine channel extending from the open interior region to the vent exit of the cap holder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an end cap for capping an end of an extrusion of a printhead assembly. The extrusion defines a plurality of respective channels for each carrying a medium such as air or ink and each channel has an opening at the end. The end cap comprises a body and a plurality of protrusions which extend from the body. The protrusions are located so as to each correspond with a respective channel opening. During capping, the body is located so that each protrusion is inserted into a corresponding channel opening to thereby plug each channel and cap the end of the extrusion. A print head assembly comprising an extrusion which is capped at an end with the end cap is also provided.

Abstract: A first region is defined on the head face so as to include a first group of nozzles among all nozzles formed with a recording head. A first amount is defined as a difference between a first reference position at which a leading edge of a recording medium situated at a recording start position is placed and a first shifted position at which the leading edge of the recording medium, which has been most shifted in a subscanning directions and most inclined within a feeding tolerance of a feeder, is placed. A first virtual leading edge is defined at a position where is shifted from the first reference position to a downstream side of the subscanning directions by the first amount. A second virtual leading edge at a position where is shifted from the first reference position to an upstream side of the subscanning directions by the first amount.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, which records by discharging ink from a recording head includes a cap for covering a discharge port surface of the recording head; a suction unit for effecting suction of ink from the discharge ports; and ink flow paths connecting a suction port of the cap to the suction unit. After effecting suction of ink from the discharge ports by the suction unit, the side of the cap opposite to the side where the suction port is arranged is parted, and when the cap and the recording head are set apart, the cap is positioned horizontally or in a posture having the side of the suction port arranged therefor made lower than horizontal. With the structure thus arranged, ink remaining in the cap can be suctioned and removed efficiently when the cap is parted and idle suction is performed inside the cap after the suction recovery process or the like for the maintenance of stable ink discharge performance at all times.

Abstract: An apparatus for servicing an inkjet print head includes a print head wiper for wiping the inkjet print head and a wiper cleaner adjacent to the print head wiper for cleaning the print head wiper.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a tube pump for generating negative pressure in a tube, the tube pump being provided with a tube disposed along an arcuate guide portion, a pressing roller for squeezing the tube, a rotary member to which the pressing roller is rotatably journalled, and a supporting member to which the rotary member is rotatably journalled. The tube, the pressing roller, the rotary member and the rotary member supporting member are assembled to thereby form a pump unit, and are separable from the guide portion in the state of the pump unit. Thereby, the incorporation of the tube becomes easy, and the erroneous incorporation of the tube in its buckled state or its twisted state can be eliminated easily.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having therein a controller including a warning function to warn a user of deterioration of a cleaning wiper for a jetting head, the cleaning wiper rubbing a jetting plane of the jetting head having the jetting plane on which a jetting port for jetting liquid to be jetted is provided, and thereby removing jetted liquid sticking to the jetting plane.

Abstract: A method is described for removing residue from a fluid deposited on the interior surface of an inkjet printhead after the printhead has contained or dispensed the fluid at least once. The method makes use of a reverse flushing technique optionally used in combination with sonication. A cleaning station for flushing an inkjet printhead with a wash fluid, rinse fluid, and/or inert gas is provided as well.

Abstract: In a method of filling an ink-jet head of an ink-jet type printing apparatus with a liquid stored in an ink cartridge or in a reservoir tank, the head is filled up to the tip of nozzles by bringing a suction cap into close contact with a nozzle opening face of the ink-jet head via a gas-permeable filters and drawing the air inside the suction caps with a pump.