Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises first recovery device for recovering the black ink discharge portion for discharging black ink, second recovery device for recovering the color ink discharge portion for discharging color ink, a waste liquid collection member provided with a waste liquid absorbent for absorbing waste liquid exhausted from the first recovery device and the second recovery means, and a waste liquid correction frame for housing the waste liquid absorbent; a first waste liquid carrying path for carrying waste liquid exhausted from the first recovery means to the waste liquid collection member, and a second waste liquid carrying path for carrying waste liquid exhausted from the second recovery means to the waste liquid collection member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in the form of an inkjet printer and a printing method utilizes a light-activated ink release system. The apparatus includes at least one nozzle having an ink body that is comprised of light-sensitive ink. The ink can form an unextended droplet meniscus. By directing a light beam onto the unextended droplet meniscus, the surface tension of the light-sensitive ink decreases, and provides for an extended droplet meniscus. The formation of the extended meniscus droplet meniscus permits the transfer of ink to a receiver or media.

Abstract: A method for servicing a printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism is provided. Firstly, a plurality of time difference information is collected by the printing mechanism. Each time difference information represents a period of time passed between end of a last print job and receipt of a succeeding print job. The print jobs are sent from a computer connected to the printing mechanism. Subsequently, the printing mechanism uses the plurality of time difference information to determine a nominal time information representing an amount of time. After the determination of the nominal time information, the printing mechanism periodically performs a first level servicing dependent upon the nominal time information.

Abstract: Flushing regions for receiving ink droplets to be ejected when flushing signal is supplied to a recording head are provided in both of non-print regions situated at both sides of print region in order to prevent throughput during the flushing operation from deteriorating. A guide member having a slant surface is disposed between the recording head and an ink absorbing member to which the ink landed on the slant surface flows in order to reduce in size of the ink absorbing member. A porous sheet member closely faced to nozzle orifices of the recording head for receiving the ink droplets ejected therefrom is provided in order to prevent undesired mist of fine ink droplets from generating. A plurality of plate members closely faced to the nozzle orifices are provided at a predetermined angle with respect to the flight direction of the ink droplets in order to prevent the undesired mist from generating. The flushing operation is performed so as to prevent solidification of the ejected ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method constituted as follows can suppress a mix color phenomenon and the like without consuming a large amount of pre-ejected ink. A cap for attaching to/detaching from a liquid eject portion of the recording head is arranged. The recording head ejects liquid while the cap is moving from an attached state to the liquid eject portion to a detached state. Alternatively, a recording head for recording, the cap for capping a liquid eject portion of the recording head and a pump for sucking via the cap may be arranged. The recording head ejects liquid while the cap is moving from an attached state to the liquid eject portion to a detached state, after a sucking operation by the pump is executed.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for implementing spit strips to reduce service station fluid waste, and to improve throughput. The printing system includes a controller, printhead assembly, and a service station assembly, operating to produce an image on a print media. The operations of the system are produced by controlling the direction of a motor. First, a portion of ink in the nozzles that have become dye enriched are determined and then the dye enriched ink is purged on available margins on a periphery of print media outside an area reserved for images.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a carriage having mounted thereon a recording device provided with discharge port surface with discharge ports for discharging ink to a recording material, a wiper blade for wiping and cleaning the discharge port surface of the recording device, and a blade cleaner for wiping off ink adhering to the wiper blade. For this ink jet recording apparatus, the side face portion of the carriage blocks or reduces ink spreading to the recording material conveyance area when wiper blade moves out from the blade cleaner. With the structure thus arranged, this ink jet recording apparatus can prevent ink adhering to the wiper blade from spreading to the recording material conveyance area by resilient restoring force of the wiper blade when the wiper blade moves out from the blade cleaner, hence preventing a recording material from being stained by spreading ink.

Abstract: A method for increasing the waste ink storage capacity in an ink jet printer includes the steps of providing a printer frame including a first frame portion and a second frame portion; providing a platen extending between the first frame portion and the second frame portion; providing a maintenance station coupled to the first frame portion; providing a printhead carrier for carrying a first printhead and a second printhead, and adapted for reciprocating movement along a carrier path, the carrier path extending over the first frame portion and the platen; defining a first ink spit area located at the maintenance station; defining a second ink spit area located at the platen; and selectively controlling an operation of the first printhead during spitting operations to eject a first ink in the first ink spit area and selectively controlling an operation of the second printhead during spitting operations to eject a second ink in the second ink spit area.

Abstract: An ink supply recovery system comprises a pack body including a main tank and a waste ink receptacle. The pack body is detachably mounted on a printer body. The printer body includes a sub-tank mounted on a carriage, a cap for capping ink ejection openings of a printing head, and a cylinder pump. The pump has a reciprocally movable piston, a cylinder body having air and ink suction chambers, defined on opposite sides of the piston, respectively connectable with a negative pressure introducing portion of the sub-tank, the cap via an input port and the waste ink receptacle via an output port, and a port switching mechanism which switches the input and output ports open and close associating with movement of the piston. Movement of the piston of the cylinder pump is controlled at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a recording function to record images on a sheet material by installing an ink jet recording head that discharges ink from the ink discharge ports, and also, with an image reading function to read images from a sheet material by installing an image reading head exchangeably. This apparatus includes the discharge port surface of the ink jet recording head having the ink discharge ports formed on it, the image reading surface of the image reading head to read images to this head from the image reading surface, and a member that abuts upon the ink discharge port surface arranged to be in contact with the ink discharge port surface of the ink jet recording head. This member is arranged so as not to be in contact with the image reading surface of the image reading head. Thus the image reading surface of the image reading head is prevented from being stained by ink.

Abstract: The present invention appropriately determines a point of time when a pressurization member such as a pump roller starts squeezing an elastic tube, that is, a point of time when a tube pump starts to generate pressure. The present invention thereby provides a pressure generating apparatus that can stably generate pressure without increasing costs, a printing apparatus including this pressure generating apparatus, and a method for controlling this printing apparatus. To achieve this, a tube pump is provided that operates after a pump roller acting as a pressurization member has come in pressure contact with a tube, to allow the pump roller to squeeze the tube to generate pressure therein. Then, after the pump roller has moved a predetermined amount to come in pressure contact with the tube, movement of the pump roller is stopped. Subsequently, a valve lever is allowed to perform a closing operation and the pump roller is then moved again.

Abstract: A bellows capping system is provided for sealing ink-ejecting nozzles of an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism, such as a printer, during periods of printing inactivity. The system includes a support which moves between a sealing position and a rest position. The system also has a cap which extends from the support and terminates in a lip. The lip surrounds the nozzles when the support is in the sealing position. The cap has a wall with first and second leg portions joined together at a knee portion between the support and the lip. When sealing the printhead, the knee bends or buckles so the first and second portions collapse toward each other. Multiple knee portions may join together multiple wall portions in a bellows or accordion arrangement. An inkjet printing mechanism having the bellows capping system and method of using this capping system are also provided.

Abstract: A fast acting printhead maintenance assembly is provided and includes a support frame and a flexible wiping member mounted to the support frame. The flexible wiping member has a body portion, and a wiping edge adjoining the body portion for making wiping contact with a nozzle face of a printhead during relative motion between the printhead and the flexible wiping member. The fast acting printhead maintenance assembly also includes a liquid ink wicking and absorbing member attached to the body portion of the flexible wiping member for immediately and quickly wicking and absorbing liquid ink wiped by the wiping edge from the nozzle face of the printhead, thereby resulting in continued high quality printed images and a relatively longer printhead life.

Abstract: A ferro-fluidic inkjet printhead sealing and spitting system is provided for maintaining inkjet printhead health, prior to and after installation in an inkjet printing mechanism. As a ferro-fluidic capping system for sealing printhead nozzles which eject ink having either polar properties or non-polar properties, the system includes a support structure engageable with the printhead, and a magnetic element supported by the support structure. A ferro-fluidic fluid overlays the magnetic element to seal against the printhead nozzles when the support structure is engaged with the printhead. The ferro-fluidic fluid has polar properties when the ink has non polar properties, and non-polar properties when the ink has polar properties. The ferro-fluidic fluid may be used to receive ink spit from the printhead, or when used with an adhesive tape, to protect an inkjet cartridge during shipping. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a ferro-fluidic system, along with associated methods are also provided.

Abstract: A melting device for melting an ink unit used in an inkjet printer, including a melting chamber provided with a wide end for dispensing the ink unit to the melting chamber and a narrow end, the melting chamber having a form such that the ink unit moves, as a result of melting, in a direction from the wide end to the narrow end, the ink unit being laterally enclosed with respect to said direction by one or more walls of a melting chamber, wherein the walls which form a lateral enclosure for the ink unit are heated, during the melting, to above a temperature at which the ink is liquid.

Abstract: A method for wiping a printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism is provided. The printhead surface defines a printhead plane. In the method, firstly a wiper is moved substantially parallel to the printhead plane for wiping a first portion of the printhead surface. After the first portion of printhead surface is wiped, the wiper is moved away from the printhead plane for wiping a second portion of the printhead surface.

Abstract: There are provided a capping device capable of sealing a recording head mounted on a carriage and of sucking and discharging ink from the recording head, and a wiping member which advances to a moving path of the recording head and wipes waste ink off a nozzle forming surface of the recording head to clean the nozzle forming surface. A first drainage-amount integrating device for integrating and counting an amount corresponding to the waste ink to be wiped off the recording head by the wiping member is provided, and it is possible to prevent the contamination of the interior of the apparatus by excess waste ink.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus utilizing a capping element having a sealing element or gasket which is pushed against the orifice plate of an acoustic ink printhead when capping and filling. This traps a small volume of air around an array of orifices in the orifice plate which prevents ink from exiting the orifices while the printhead is being filled with ink.

Abstract: An airtight elastic cap of an ink-jet recording head and a storage container employing the airtight elastic cap provide high airtightness between a nozzle face and the airtight cap and minimizes ink leak from the recording head even when the head is mounted or dismounted, or when a storage environment changes suddenly. The airtight elastic cap includes a body and an inside wall provided inside thereof. A portion of the wall defines a first space and another portion defines a second space positioned continuously to a center of the first space. The storage container includes a container body that houses the ink-jet recording head and the airtight elastic cap, placed within the container body, that abuts against and protects an ink emission face of the ink-jet recording head while the ink-jet recording is housed.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device comprising first and second pens and first and second service stations, the first and second service stations being arranged in a split servicing configuration and being arranged to service the first and second pens respectively, the device being adapted to detect the failure of a said pen and to print in a reserve mode in response to the detection, the device being further adapted to implement a modified servicing routine during reserve mode printing, the modified servicing routine being adapted to omit servicing of the failed pen.