Abstract: A nozzle wiping apparatus comprises an ink-absorbent sheet placed below the ink discard hole to collect the sucked ink discarded through the ink discard hole and an ink absorbent sheet winding mechanism to wind up the ink-absorbent sheet. The ink-absorbent sheet is kept in contact with a part of the nozzles after completion of the purging operation so the nozzles may be moved relative to the ink-absorbent sheet to thereby wipe ink deposited on the nozzles.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a plurality of ink jet recording heads for executing color recording, a recovery structure for maintaining and recovering a discharge state with respect to the plurality of recording heads, and a waste ink collecting container for collecting waste ink discharged from the recovery structure. The recovery structure has a plurality of waste ink collecting routes to the collecting container in accordance with each of the plurality of recording heads, and the plurality of waste ink collecting routes are disposed so as to discharge a predetermined kind of waste ink and other plural kinds of waste ink to different portions of the collecting container, respectively.

Abstract: Service station components for interacting with one type of printhead are located to be aligned in operative position only in a first servicing mode, and service station components for interacting with another type of printhead are differently located to be aligned in operative position only in a second servicing mode. This allows for different servicing schemes of two or more modes to be applied based on the individual characteristics of the ink and/or nozzle plates employed in inkjet printheads. In some instances, an individual printhead can be serviced in more than one servicing mode. In a preferred embodiment, replaceable service station units are provided for each different printhead.

Abstract: A network interface circuit employs an extended feedback circuit topology for impedance matching across a high voltage boundary between a line side portion and low voltage portion of a network. The network interface circuit includes an operational amplifier-based circuit which is responsive to a signal applied from user equipment on the low voltage portion. Specifically, the present invention includes a transmit path having a first, second, and third amplifier circuit and an impedance element, and a receive path that includes a transfer function implemented as a second order low pass filter for correcting amplifier gain and phase effects in the complex feedback loop of the circuit. The output impedance is remotely set by multiplying the impedance element by a scale factor to match the network impedance. The feedback loop is extended across the high voltage boundary using high voltage interfaces such as linear optical coupling devices (LOCs).

Abstract: A dot data generator receives print data from a host apparatus and generates dot data from the print data. Dots have different diameters according to a gradation level. A drive frequency setting section sets a drive frequency in accordance with the print data. A drive signal generator generates a timing in timed relation with the drive frequency. A recording head is driven at the generated timing to form a plurality of dots on a print medium. An operation circuit determines a total drive time forming dots for each line in the main scanning direction. The drive frequency is set on a line-by-line basis in accordance with the total drive time. The timing may be delayed so that dots are formed always at accurate print positions irrespective of the scanning speed in the main scanning direction and in the sub scanning direction.

Abstract: Multi-fluidic cleaning for an ink jet print head (10) and a method for assembling the same. The print head (10) has a surface (14) defining at least one orifice (16) therethrough, the at least one orifice (16) being susceptible to being obstructed by contaminants. A cleaning assembly (22) of the invention is disposed proximate the surface (14) for directing a flow of fluid along the surface (14) and across the at least one orifice (16) to clean contaminants from the surface (14) and the at least one orifice (16). The cleaning assembly (22) includes a cup (24) sealingly surrounding the at least one orifice (16), the cup (24) defining a cavity (26) therein.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a print head having ink nozzles, which is movable in a direction across the feeding path. A supply mechanism is provided at one side of the feeding path, which supplies ink to the print head located in the ink supply station. A maintenance mechanism is provided at the other side of the feeding path, which operates a predetermined operation. The ink jet printer is further provided with a first clutch which transmits the rotation of the actuator to the supply mechanism only when the print head is located in the above-mentioned one side, and a second clutch which transmits the rotation of the actuator to the maintenance mechanism only when the print head is located in the above-mentioned the other side. With this, the supply mechanism and the maintenance mechanism are actuated by a common actuator.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system with a translational inkjet service module. The system includes a carriage which moves along a scan axis over a print zone, with a plurality of printheads mounted on the carriage, each printhead having an array of nozzles for applying ink to the print media in the print zone. The service module has wipers for engagement with the array of nozzles during a period when the nozzles are not applying ink to the media. A motor moves the servicing module in a linear direction orthogonal to the scan axis in order to simultaneously wipe each array of nozzles. The servicing module also provides a capper function and a priming function.

Abstract: An ink jet head 31 is formed with two rows of ink ejection channels 33. A manifold 40 is provided for supplying ink from an ink cartridge 50 to the ink jet head 31. The manifold 40 has an ink supply path 43. The ink supply path 43 includes a connection path 44 fluidly connected with the ink cartridge 50 and a broad portion 45 which encompasses ink inlet ports 33a. The broad portion 45 broadens from the connection path 44 toward the end of ejection channels 33. A float 46 is provided in the broad portion 45. The float 46 serves as a guide member for guiding ink form the connection path 44 to flow along the inner surface of the broad portion 45 in a rapid speed.

Abstract: A sheet shaped heating device attached on a contact surface of a mounting part of a hot melt type inkjet head for applying heat to the mounting part in order to heat hot melt ink in the hot melt type inkjet head, the sheet shaped heating device having: an insulating sheet having an attaching surface to be attached on the contact surface of the mounting part and a wiring surface located opposite to the attaching surface; and a heating element disposed on the wiring surface of the insulating sheet for generating heat, wherein at least one air passage passing through the insulating sheet is formed.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead service station for an inkjet printing mechanism includes a printhead wiping system having a wiper blade with a contoured cross sectional shape selected to impart a lower wiping force along an ink-ejecting nozzle region of the printhead than along side regions of the printhead. In a relaxed state, the blade has opposing leading and trailing surfaces, with each surface having a concave contour running along at least a portion of the length of the blade, preferably from the support sled to the wiping tip. During a wiping stroke, the blade flexes along both the length and width of the blade, with the trailing surface having a greater degree of concavity than when relaxed, and the leading surface having a linear contour at the wiping tip and tapering into the concave contour adjacent the sled. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a wiping system, and a method of cleaning a printhead are provided.

Abstract: A multi-tiered, multi-faceted, anti-flicking wiper scraper system cleans an inkjet printhead wiper without flicking or splattering ink residue onto other components in an inkjet printing mechanism. This system includes a scraper apparatus supported by a service station frame to contact the wiper through relative motion of the wiper and scraper apparatus. The scraper apparatus may take the form of two scraper bars which extend into the path of the wiper, with the first scraper bar being shorter than the second scraper bar, and with the first scraper bar being rigidly or pivotally supported by the frame. The scraper apparatus may be a unitary body defining two ramped wiping surfaces joined at an apex portion of the body, or a body having a scraping surface covered with a series of ridges. A method is also provided to clean ink residue from an inkjet printhead.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a head for ejecting ink and a carriage for conveying the head. When the cartridge has moved to a maintenance area and rotates a lever, the rotational force is transformed into a force for causing a pressing plate supporting a strip to move against the nozzle, by means of bevel gears, a pressing piece and a pivot arm. The strip comes in contact with the nozzle surface to wipe ink. The recording apparatus has a pump for applying a pressure to the interior of the head for purging the head and a conveyer for conveying the strip to refresh the part of the strip opposing the head. The pump and conveyer can be driven by a common motor which is also used for conveying the recording medium. The driving source used for the recording apparatus is shared thus making it possible to achieve a simplified configuration of the recording apparatus.

Abstract: An assembly for cleaning an ink jet print head which is stationary in a postage meter and/or addressing machine behind a guide plate for imprintable media in a print window. The ink jet print head is pivotable between a printing position and a cleaning and/or sealing position. A cleaning and sealing device is also disposed behind the guide plate and it is selectively movable towards the ink jet print head for cleaning and/or sealing. The cleaning and sealing device includes a sealing cap adapted to the front side of the ink jet print head, along with a transversely sweeping wiper lip and a vacuuming device. The sealing cap defines a suction region for the wiper lip, and the ink jet print head in its housing has a compartment with a replaceable absorbent filling. The wiper lip is not only stripped along the filling but also vacuumed via the suction region. The suction region is also used to vacuum the filling. This prevents soiling of the nozzle face from residual ink on the wiper lip.

Abstract: A method for controlling a maintenance unit in a printer includes determining an image type of an image to be printed, the image type being selected from at least a first image type and a second image type different from the first image type, setting a maintenance interval for the maintenance unit in accordance with the image type, wherein a maintenance interval for the first image type is different from a maintenance interval for the second image type. A printer embodying such a method, and in particular a printer for printing an image an a substrate, includes a printhead, a maintenance unit for performing periodic maintenance on the printhead, and a controller for controlling said maintenance unit according to the described method.

Abstract: A priming system for ink jet printers includes an ink tank, an ink supply line, an ink bypass line and a valving arrangement which alternately permits either pressurized ink to be supplied to a remote printhead for printing purposes or unpressurized ink to be drawn to the printhead by use of a vacuum source applied to the bypass line.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink consumption operating unit that adds a quantity of ink to be discharged by suction processing as a quantity of ink consumed before performing the suction processing. The ink jet recording apparatus includes also a suction control unit that performs the suction processing after such addition. A remaining ink level is calculated by estimating a quantity of ink to be used in a large volume for sucking as a quantity of ink consumed, and, even if a power supply switch is turned off before the sucking operation is terminated, the calculated remaining ink level as a quantity of ink consumed is added to a consumption storage unit 33. As a result, a possible erroneous overestimation of the remaining ink level in an ink cartridge can be avoided.

Abstract: An inkjet printer service carriage mounted for movement in a printhead servicing direction between a first position in which the carriage is remote from the printhead cartridges to be serviced and a second position in which the service carriage abuts the printhead carriage to service the printheads includes two independent motorized actuators, the first of which linearly moves the carriage in a horizontal x-axis direction and the second of which arcuately moves the carriage in a vertical z-axis plane perpendicular to the x-axis direction.

Abstract: The discharging sections for the respective colors are arranged on the ink case at an interval P in the main scanning direction. On the carriage, the melting hoppers for the respective colors are arranged at an interval T in the main scanning direction. The carriage is also provided with the hook abutting protrusions for the respective colors. The hook abutting protrusions are arranged at an interval R in the main scanning direction. On the pellet dispensing mechanism, the hooks for the respective colors are arranged at an interval L in the main scanning direction. The value L is greater than the value R. The carriage is scanningly movable in the main scanning direction. The carriage is moved in the direction B or C to be stopped at an appropriate position with respect to the ink case and the pellet dispensing mechanism. When all the hooks are moved, only a selected one hook slides against a corresponding hook abutting protrusion, and pivots.

Abstract: An image forming device provided with a main cover 6 that is capable of freely opening and closing and that covers an internally provided recording medium feed mechanism and the area scanned by the recording head during recording operations; and a maintenance cover 7 that is provided separately from the main cover in order to cover the maintenance mechanism and that is capable of freely opening and closing. Being provided separately from the main cover, the maintenance cover can be constructed relatively small and is, therefore, easy to open and close when replacing the maintenance paper. In addition, by only opening the maintenance cover while the recording head is positioned in the scanning area, the temperature of the recording head is not lowered.