Abstract: To provide a liquid ejecting head that has a simple structure for attaching an introduction needle holder to a case member and whose width in the main scanning direction can be reduced, and a method for assembling the same. A case member includes a head unit attachment portion to which a head unit is attached, a holder attachment portion that is located on the opposite side from the head unit attachment portion and to which the introduction needle holder is attached, and a supporting wall provided on one side of the holder attachment portion. The supporting wall has an engaging claw on the introduction needle holder side surface thereof. The introduction needle holder has an engaged claw capable of being engaged with the engaging claw at one end thereof. There is formed an introduction needle holder fixing portion that fixes the other end of the introduction needle holder to the holder attachment portion of the case member.

Abstract: The present invention is a liquid discharge device having a function of supplying liquid to liquid chambers in a stable manner, and also has a function of suppressing interference between liquid discharge portions due to discharging of liquid droplets. The liquid discharge device has a liquid discharge head in which a plurality of liquid discharge portions including an ink liquid chamber (12) for storing a liquid to be discharged, and nozzles (18) for discharging the liquid stored in the ink liquid chamber (12), are arrayed on a substrate. The liquid discharge device comprises: individual channels (20) provided for each of the liquid discharge portions so as to communicate with the ink liquid chamber (12) and supply liquid to within the ink liquid chamber (12); and a common channel (30) which is provided to the plurality of individual channels (20) so as to communicate with each of the plurality of individual channels (20), for supplying liquid to the plurality of individual channels (20).

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a plurality of ejection ports which eject liquid; a plurality of pressure chambers which are connected respectively to the ejection ports; pressure generating elements which are provided to correspond respectively to the pressure chambers and create a pressure change in the liquid in the respective pressure chambers; a common flow channel which is connected to the pressure chambers and supplies the liquid to the pressure chambers; a movable member which is disposed inside the common flow channel and can move while making contact with a flow channel wall forming one portion of an internal circumferential surface of the common flow channel; and a movement device which moves the movable member inside the common flow channel.

Abstract: A valve unit includes a valve portion arranged in a laminate body operable to open and close a flow passage; a drive portion that generates drive force for driving the valve portion; and a transmission portion arranged between the valve portion and the drive portion for transmitting the drive force of the drive portion to the valve portion. The laminate body includes: a first plate member including the drive portion; and a second plate member including a hole functioning as part of the flow passage; and a third plate member arranged above the second plate member and including a plate spring so as to urge the valve portion to a closing position. The valve portion pivots and inclines about a position in contact with the plate spring based on the drive force from the drive portion.

Abstract: A method for modifying an input digital image having one or more color channels corresponding to one or more color inks and a protective ink channel corresponding to a substantially clear protective ink, each channel having an (x,y) array of pixel values, to form a modified digital image including computing a first value responsive to corresponding pixel values of the one or more color channels; computing a second value responsive to the corresponding pixel value of the protective ink channel; and modifying the corresponding pixel value of the protective ink channel responsive to the first and second values.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for regulating energy delivered to a load includes: determining a quantity of energy that has been delivered to the load during a time interval; comparing the quantity of energy delivered with a threshold value; and delaying delivery of additional energy to the load until the time interval has expired if a magnitude of a difference between the threshold value and a sum of the quantity of energy and the additional energy exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes a recording head and a cap placed in tight contact with a nozzle forming surface for defining a sealed space. A head moving mechanism moves the recording head along a direction in which the nozzle forming surface is extended, toward or separately from a contact position at which the cap is placed in tight contact with the recording head. A cap moving mechanism moves the cap toward or separately from the contact position at which the cap is placed in tight contact with the nozzle forming surface. A cap holding mechanism including a slider holds the cap such that the cap is allowed to slide along a moving direction of the recording head and positions the cap at the contact position.

Abstract: A head adjustment method of adjusting overlaps of a plurality of print heads, which are arranged in a widthwise direction of a print medium in an image forming apparatus, in the widthwise direction. The head adjustment method includes setting a theoretical input pattern image to be formed by the print heads, outputting a practical output pattern image on the print medium by driving the print heads according to the input pattern image, estimating practical overlap values of the print heads through the output pattern image, and adjusting degrees of overlap between the print heads according to the estimated overlap values.

Abstract: A melt assembly that includes a drip plate; and a self regulating heating device thermally connected to the drip plate, wherein the heating device is a positive temperature coefficient material (PTC material). Also, a drip plate having an open interior into which a heating device may be inserted or molded.

Abstract: A high-quality image forming apparatus that is capable of accurately adjusting the size and position of an image during image formation on a second surface of a transfer material, even when there has been expansion/contraction of the transfer material due to thermal fixing after image formation on a first surface thereof, to thereby avoid image displacement during two-sided image formation and multiple image formation.

Abstract: In an apparatus for printing images on a moving primary imaging member by jetting ink, containing a fluid and marking particles, in an image-wise fashion onto the primary imaging member, a device for concentrating the ink prior to transferring a marking particle image to a receiver member. The ink concentrating device includes a fractionating unit for separating fluid of the ink from the marking particles. The fractionating unit is located a predetermined spaced distance from the primary image bearing member. An electrostatic field is established between the primary image bearing member and the fractionating unit for concentrating the marking particles in the liquid of the ink.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assembling identification documents in an over-the-counter issuing environment. In one implementation of the present invention, an ink jet printer-based assembling system is provided. An identification document substrate receives ink jet printed information. The printed substrate is laminated. In another implementation, a carrier web carries lamination pieces. Both the carrier web and the document substrate include form feed holes or other registration notches. The holes or notches are used to align the substrate with the lamination pieces, and to align a laminated document substrate for final cutting.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an aerosol trap for an inkjet printer includes a conductor at least partially surrounding ink ejection nozzles such that, when the conductor is charged, aerosol generated when ink is ejected from the nozzles is contained by the conductor, and a source of electric power operatively connected to the conductor.

Abstract: A high speed digital printing apparatus having an imaging member, an ink jet head capable of image-wise jetting ink onto the imaging member, a mechanism for fractionating such image-wise ink on the imaging member to remove liquid therefrom, an intermediate transfer member onto which such image-wise ink is transferred from the imaging member, and a transfer member forming a nip with the intermediate transfer member for transferring a liquid-depleted image-wise ink to a receiver. An ink suitable for use in the printing press apparatus is formed by dispersing an ink concentrate with a suitable solvent.

Abstract: A packaging arrangement includes an ink cartridge and a packaging member enclosing the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge includes a body, a movable member, and at least one resilient member disposed between the body and the movable member. The movable member is configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to the body when the at least one resilient member expands and contracts, and a distance between the second position and the body is less than a distance between the first position and the body. A pressure inside the packaging member is less than a pressure outside the packaging member, and the movable member is retained in the second position when the ink cartridge is enclosed within the packaging member.

Abstract: An ink cartridge holding device includes: a holder holding the ink cartridge and having an opening so as to allow the ink cartridge to be inserted and withdrawn through the opening; a door which is attached to the holder and is pivotable between (a) an open position at which the opening is uncovered for permitting insertion and withdrawal and (b) a closed position at which the opening is covered for inhibiting the insertion and withdrawal; a locking member which is attached to the door and is displacable between (A) an engaging position in which the locking member is engaged with the holder for locking the door at the closed position and (B) a releasing position in which the locking member is released from the holder so as to allow the door to be pivoted from the closed position.

Abstract: A paper stacking unit and an image forming apparatus having the same, the paper stacking unit including: a base frame supporting a print media, a cover pivotally connected to the base frame and supporting the print media together with the base frame, and a plate connected to the cover for auxiliarily supporting the print media.

Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a casing, a carriage, a discharge head, a sub tank, an energy supply device, and a controller. The casing has a space for housing a main tank. The carriage is capable of moving. The discharge head is arranged on the carriage. The sub tank is arranged on the carriage. The sub tank communicates with the discharge head. The sub tank is connected with the main tank when the carriage is located at a predetermined position. The sub tank is disconnected with the main tank when the carriage is located at positions other than the predetermined position. The energy supply device supplies energy to liquid within the main tank such that the liquid within the main tank is discharged. The controller controls the energy supply device such that the ink within the main tank is supplied to the sub tank when the carriage is located at the predetermined position.

Abstract: The liquid ejection head includes: a plurality of ejection ports which eject liquid; a plurality of pressure chambers which are respectively connected to the ejection ports; a plurality of piezoelectric elements which respectively deform the pressure chambers, the piezoelectric elements being arranged on sides of the pressure chambers opposite to sides thereof where the ejection ports are formed; a common liquid chamber which supplies the liquid to the pressure chambers, the common liquid chamber being arranged on the sides of the pressure chambers opposite to the sides thereof where the ejection ports are formed; a plurality of wiring members which have electrodes for driving the piezoelectric elements, respectively, each of the wiring members being formed in such a manner that at least a portion thereof rises through the common liquid chamber in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane on which the piezoelectric elements are arranged; and a drive circuit which drives the piezoelectric elements, th

Abstract: An electronic brush (10) for dispensing ink (22) onto a writable medium (30) employs an electronic-brush housing (12), at least one ink dispenser (20) coupled to the electronic-brush housing, an electronic-brush scanner (14) coupled to the electronic-brush housing, and a controller (16). The controller is in electrical communication with the ink dispenser and the electronic-brush scanner. A position of the electronic brush is determined based on at least one position indicator in a first portion of a dispensed image that is scanned by the electronic-brush scanner and communicated to the controller. An ink-dispense signal is sent from the controller to the ink dispenser based on the determined electronic-brush position.