Abstract: A printing system that includes a printhead head containing ink, and a tray cooperatively associated with the printhead and containing a waste solution in which the printhead is immersed to seal the printhead to prevent the ink from clogging the printhead when the printing system is not in operation.

Abstract: A pressure production unit provided in an ink jet printer. The pressure production unit includes: an air pump unit; a drive source that drives the air pump unit; a storage unit; a temperature sensing unit; and a control unit. The storage unit stores a first correlation characteristic indicating correlation between a drive frequency of the drive source and the air pressure of pressurized air produced in the air pump unit, and the first ambient temperature indicating an ambient temperature of the air pump unit when the first correlation characteristic is acquired. The control unit corrects the first correlation characteristic according to the first ambient temperature and the second ambient temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit, and controls the drive source on the basis of the corrected first correlation characteristic so that a predetermined air pressure is produced.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a cap capable of moving in approaching and receding directions against and away from a discharge port surface of a recording unit for covering the discharge port surface, a wiper sliding while contacting with the discharge port surface to wipe the discharge port surface to clean it, a wiper driving gear for transferring drive to the wiper, a cam and gear member equipped with a cam portion for controlling the movement of the cap and a gear portion for transferring drive to the wiper driving gear, in which the cam and gear member is configured so that the gear portion engages with the wiper driving gear after the cap has moved to a position where the cap does not interfere with the wiper. By such a configuration, both of the capping operation and wiping operation can be controlled with the single cam and gear member, which makes it possible to miniaturize a recovery mechanism portion for maintaining and recovering the ink discharging performance of the recording unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording an image by discharging an ink, and including a recording head capable of recording to at least one edge of recording medium without any margin, a receiving portion for receiving ink droplets discharged at a position extending beyond the edge of the recording medium, and a conveyance rotary body located at an upstream side of the receiving portion with respect to a conveyance direction of the recording medium. The conveyance rotary body is made conductive to an apparatus body.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, capable of preventing defective idle suction, comprises a cap movable toward/away from an ejection port surface of a recording head for capping/uncapping the ejection port surface, an absorbing member chamber opened to the ejection port surface, a suction port formed through the bottom of the absorbing member chamber, an ink suction device connected to the suction port, and an ink absorbing member disposed in the absorbing member chamber. In the apparatus, the absorbing member comprises a first absorbing portion covering approximately the entire region in the absorbing member chamber and a second absorbing portion in intimate contact with the suction port.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for executing recording preparation processing in accordance with a time interval in which a recording operation has not been performed includes a first control unit which controls generation of image data to be recorded, a pseudo-time measuring unit which generates pseudo-time data, a calculation unit which calculates the time interval in which a recording unit is not executing the recording operation in accordance with the pseudo-time data, and a second control unit which determines the recording preparation processing executed before recording the generated image data and controlling the processing based on the determination.

Abstract: A printer apparatus comprising one or more printing elements arranged to print on print media located in a print position, the apparatus further comprising first and second media paths respectively adapted to feed media to and away from the print position, the apparatus being arranged to selectively divert a print media sheet from the second media path to the print position, the apparatus being arranged to implement a servicing routine comprising marking the diverted sheet with one or more of the printing elements.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to a printer apparatus, comprising an orifice plate having a nozzle orifice formed therein. Ink can flow through the nozzle orifice. The orifice plate has an orifice plate surface energy and the ink has an ink surface tension. A wiper blade can be disposed proximate the orifice plate. The wiper has a wiper blade surface energy. The wiper blade surface energy is greater than or equal to the ink surface tension. The ink surface tension is greater than or equal to the orifice plate surface energy.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printer is described which includes printhead (11) with a plurality of print nozzles (30) for ejecting ink drops towards a print medium. A space is defined between the nozzles and a nozzle guard (43) with a series of apertures (44) aligned with the nozzles. During printing operation, positive air pressure is supplied to this space, the air exiting the space through the apertures, preventing blockage by paper dust. When not printing, the air supply is closed off by air valve member (66) and a capping member (80) on a rotary platen (14) contracts the printhead to maintain a closed atmosphere at the surface of the nozzles, reducing drying of ink on the nozzles.

Abstract: Ink absorption pads are associated with waste ink storage apparatus in ink jet printers. Waste ink is emitted from the tubes. The waste ink is absorbed by the pads.

Abstract: Print cartridges on printers using stationary print cartridges are accessed by service station components such as wipers, scrapers, cleaning fluid applicators, ink receiving receptacles and cappers in a manner similar to what is done in a conventional scanning printhead printing system. A print cartridge support structure holds one or more print cartridges in a stationary position while applying ink on a media. A printhead is located on each of the print cartridges. The printhead has nozzles for ejecting ink which are arranged in a nozzle array of one or more columns of nozzles. A media movement mechanism provides movement of the media though a print zone located beneath the nozzle array. A printhead servicing station is located outside of the print zone and has one or more servicing modules dedicated for interaction with one of the nozzle arrays when the one of the nozzle arrays is positioned in aligned proximity with its dedicated servicing module.

Abstract: A positive air system, for a fluid jetting device that jets a fluid in a fluid droplet path prevents the ingress of dust and debris to the fluid jetting device and further prevents the introduction of dust and debris into the fluid droplet path. The air system includes an enclosure having at least one wall defining a barrier and enclosing the fluid jetting device. The barrier defines a local environment. The at least one wall has a plurality of orifices formed therein that are configured to direct a stream of pressurized air therefrom in a direction that diverges from the fluid droplet path. The fluid droplet path and the pressurized air stream direction do not converge so that the pressurized air flowing from the orifices does not interfere with the fluid moving through the droplet path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inkjet image forming apparatus capable of recording non-margin images on a recording medium by discharging ink from a recording head to regions within as well as beyond edges of the recording medium. The apparatus includes an ink absorbing material for receiving ink discharged at a position beyond the recording medium and a platen having a holding portion to hold the ink absorbing material and supporting the recording medium at a recording position. The holding section formed at the platen has an opening for receiving the ink and is formed with a wall for holding a periphery of the ink absorbing material and a rib supporting a bottom of the ink absorbing material.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a printhead of an ink-jet printer. The cleaning device includes, a cleaning unit provided with a cleaning blade, and a traveling unit that carries the cleaning unit. The traveling unit reciprocates between first and second positions to perform a cleaning cycle of the printhead. The cleaning blade is held by the cleaning unit perpendicular to an ink ejecting surface of the printhead to clean the ink ejecting surface when the traveling unit moves in one direction. Further, The cleaning blade is inclined against the ink ejecting surface to avoid being rubbed against the ink ejecting surface when the traveling unit moves in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A maintenance unit of an ink jet recording apparatus includes a maintenance motor, a cap member that covers nozzles of a print head, a wiper that wipes ink off a nozzle opening area after a cleaning operation for the print head, a suction pump that suctions the ink, a switching valve that includes a plurality of suction ports connected to the cap member, the wiper, and an ink receiver and a discharge port connected to the suction pump, and a cam that controls a rotating angle of the switching valve. The maintenance motor, the suction pump, the switching valve, and the cam are connected by a plurality of gears. The ink discharged during wiping and flushing operations, as well as the cleaning operation, is selectively suctioned by the maintenance unit.

Abstract: A region to be covered by a cover plate (208) on an ejection opening forming surface (205) of an ink-jet head or an ink-jet head to which the cover plate (208) is installed are determined, on a basis of content of a rebounding mist generated upon ejection of an ink and a processing liquid in overlaying fashion. By this, in the ink-jet printing apparatus performing printing by ejecting the ink and the processing liquid for making the ink insoluble, deposition of the insoluble substance contained in the rebounding mist generated upon ejection of an ink and a processing liquid in overlaying fashion can be successfully prevented.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus which is equipped with a recording head having a discharge opening surface on which plural different-length discharge opening arrays are disposed in parallel, plural wipers are provided for wiping off the discharge opening surface in a direction intersecting the discharge opening arrays. Each of the plural wipers has a main wiping section corresponding to the length of the corresponding discharge opening array, notch sections capable of avoiding convex portions or concave portions located in the vicinity of both the ends of the corresponding discharge opening array, and a sub wiping section corresponding to an area other than the discharge opening array and the convex or concave portions, whereby it is possible to effectively wipe off the discharge opening surface by a simple structure and easily output a high-quality recording result by an inexpensive mechanism.

Abstract: This invention concerns a printhead capping mechanism for preventing evaporation of ink from a printhead when it is not in use. The invention has utility, for instance, in a color printer which uses a drop-on-demand inkjet printhead. The mechanism includes a cap fitted with an elastomeric seal to seal against the face of the printhead, and a sponge to catch drops ejected from the printhead during the nozzle cleaning cycle. The mechanism also includes an actuating structure operable to selectively move the cap between an engaged position to press against the printhead and a disengaged position spaced away from the printhead.

Abstract: An image forming device having a rotatable drum, at least one printhead mounted adjacent to the rotatable drum, and a printhead service station. The printhead and rotatable drum together define a print zone in which fluid travels from the printhead towards the rotatable drum, and the printhead service station is within the print zone.

Abstract: When a printhead is not in use, it remains filled with ink. In order to prevent evaporation of the ink through the nozzles of the printhead, and the consequential depositing of ink components in and around the ink nozzles, the invention provides capping of the nozzle during the non printing modes of the printer. The capping mechanism uses a page width elastomeric seal, which can move between a first capping position, in which it seals said nozzles of the printhead in an air tight manner, and a second position in which the elastomeric seal moves away from said print head to allow paper to be printed upon by said print head.