Abstract: A optical scanning apparatus includes a surface emitting type laser diode, a collimator lens which converts the emitted laser beam into an substantially parallel laser beam, a stop member which shapes the substantially parallel laser beam into a desired shape, a polygon mirror which deflects and scans the shaped laser beam, an electro-optical crystal member which is provided in the optical path between the stop member and the polygon mirror, and deflects the shaped laser beam by an applied voltage, a light amount sensor which detects the amount of laser beam deflected by the electro-optical crystal member, and a light amount control unit which controls the amount of laser beam emitted from the laser diode while repeatedly comparing the detected light amount obtained from the light amount sensor with a light amount corresponding to a reference voltage for control light amount.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes an ink cartridge having a first housing portion for containing a liquid and a waste liquid storage cartridge having a second housing portion for containing a waste liquid, and a rewritable nonvolatile storage portion which stores a first threshold, a second threshold, liquid amount information and waste liquid amount information. The first threshold indicates a near liquid end state in which the liquid in the first housing portion is near to end. The second threshold indicates a near full state in which the waste liquid in the second housing portion is near to full. The liquid amount information indicates a liquid amount of the liquid contained in the first housing portion. The waste liquid amount information indicates a waste liquid amount of the waste liquid contained in the second housing portion. The ink cartridge and the waste liquid cartridge are integrally formed.

Abstract: An ink-discharging apparatus includes a discharge head discharging an ink, of which viscosity is increased by being irradiated with a predetermined energy ray, from a nozzle onto a recording medium; a first light source radiating the predetermined energy ray; and an irradiation mechanism which irradiates an energy ray for increasing the viscosity of the ink to the nozzle. When the energy ray is irradiated to the ink remaining in the nozzle, the viscosity on the surface of the ink is increased to thereby form a film which covers or closes the nozzle. As a result, it is possible, with the film, to prevent the ink located inside the film from leaking out from the nozzle even when any shock is imparted to the body of the apparatus. Further, it is possible, with the film, to prevent the viscosity of the ink, located inside the film, from further increasing.

Abstract: The inkjet apparatus for double-side recording, comprises: liquid ejection heads which are disposed on either side of a recording medium and face each other across the recording medium, the liquid ejection heads ejecting liquid onto recording surfaces of the recording medium; conveyance devices which hold the recording medium in such a manner that a normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal, and convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction in such a manner that the recording surfaces face ejection surfaces of the liquid ejection heads; and end supporting devices which support an upper end and a lower end of the recording medium, as the conveyance devices convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction while holding the recording medium in such a manner that the normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal.

Abstract: The inkjet apparatus for double-side recording, comprises: liquid ejection heads which are disposed on either side of a recording medium and face each other across the recording medium, the liquid ejection heads ejecting liquid onto recording surfaces of the recording medium; conveyance devices which hold the recording medium in such a manner that a normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal, and convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction in such a manner that the recording surfaces face ejection surfaces of the liquid ejection heads; and end supporting devices which support an upper end and a lower end of the recording medium, as the conveyance devices convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction while holding the recording medium in such a manner that the normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes an ink feed apparatus. The ink feed apparatus includes an ink feed channel for conducting discrete substantially solid ink sticks along a feed channel path, a plurality of ink sticks in the ink feed channel, each of the ink sticks comprising an ink stick body having an ink stick sensing feature on an external surface of the ink stick body that is located between a first end and a second end of the ink stick body, and each of the ink stick bodies has substantially the same mass as the other ink stick bodies in the plurality, a detector positioned at a fixed position proximate the ink feed channel and configured to be triggered by an ink stick sensing feature on an ink stick in the ink feed channel as the ink stick moves along the ink feed path past the detector, and a counter configured to accumulate the number of times the detector is triggered.

Abstract: Disclosed an image forming apparatus equipped with an exposure section including a plurality of LED elements, the apparatus forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body with the exposure section, the apparatus including: an RFID tag provided in the exposure section, the RFID tag including a light quantity correction data storing section and a communication section to perform wireless communication; an RFID reader/writer to perform the wireless communication with the RFID tag; a control section to allow the RFID reader/writer to perform the wireless communication with the RFID tag so as to read or write the light quantity correction data from/to the light quantity correction data storing section of the RFID tag during a period when no processing related to the image data is being performed; and a storage section to store the read light quantity correction data.

Abstract: An inkjet head, comprises an ink jetting chamber unit in which a plurality of ink jetting chambers to jet ink from respective nozzles is arranged along at least one array; a manifold to distribute ink to the plurality of ink jetting chambers; a first ink flow path to supply ink from the outside to the manifold; an air chamber structured to form an air-liquid interface at which air contacts with ink in the air chamber; and a second ink flow path branched from the first ink flow path and connected to the air chamber.

Abstract: The printing device is ink jet, parallel or serial-parallel type and comprises a plurality of ejection modules each of which with ejection chambers suitable for containing ink and with associated relative heating elements for ink ejection control. The device includes a support and a nozzle plate common to the modules, and in which the support includes a base plate of rigid material that defines through its thickness a feeding duct for the ink which, in use, is substantially parallel to the line of printing (X axis) and the ejection modules are fixed side by side on the base plate and with the ejection chambers arranged in a line in the same direction (X axis), is a hydraulic, tight connection with the feeding duct. The nozzle plate is fixed on the ejection modules constituting an upper, hydraulically tight, closing surface, for the chambers and comprises a plurality of ejection nozzles in a line, in turn in hydraulic connection with corresponding cells of the modules.

Abstract: Provided is a hand held personal digital assistant (PDA). The PDA includes body and display sections interconnected via a hinge section, as well as an internal printer arranged in the body section. The internal printer includes a printhead, a motor driver and media transport device arrangement for transporting print media from a roll of print media past the printhead, and a motor driver and guillotine motor arrangement for severing the printed print media from the roll of media. Also included is a microcontroller for controlling the printhead and respective motor driver arrangements.

Abstract: When a jam occurs between respective inkjet recording heads and a belt platen, the belt platen is moved down to a preset lower limit position, and a suction fan is rotated to suck and hold a recording medium onto a carrying belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers and an optical writing device including light sources that emit light beams of different wavelengths, a deflector that deflects the light beams emitted from the light sources and synthesized on an identical axis in a sub-scanning direction, a first beam separator, a second beam separator, a first imaging device, and a second imaging device. The first beam separator and the second beam separator are located between the first imaging device and the second imaging device and transmit or reflect the light beams according to travel directions or wavelengths thereof. One of the targets is scanned with the light beam transmitted through the second beam separator. Another target is scanned with the light beam reflected by the second and first beam separators. The first and second imaging devices narrow the beams in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, respectively.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir connector for dispensing a fluid from a fluid container to a reservoir is described. The reservoir includes a tank and a lid mounted to the top of the tank. A needle includes a tip end and an opposite end, and the needle traverses the housing and is adapted to pierce a septum of a fluid container. The needle also includes a first channel extending from a first opening at the tip end to an opening at the opposite end, and a second channel extending from a second opening at the tip end to an opening at a position between the tip end and the opposite end.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead is disclosed. The printhead has an array of ink chambers. Each ink chamber has a nozzle and a thermal actuator for generating vapor bubbles to eject ink through the nozzle. The thermal actuator has a pair of contacts and at least two parallel current paths between the contacts. Each of the current paths has a plurality of heater elements for nucleating a vapor bubble.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet channel; a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel, the nozzle chamber including an ink ejection port defined through a roof of the nozzle chamber, and a pivotal wall formed as part of one sidewall of the nozzle chamber; a paddle attached to the pivotal wall in a cantilevered manner, and extending into the nozzle chamber; a pair of anchors extending from the substrate assembly, a first anchor of the pair connected to a positive electrical contact and a second anchor of the pair connected to a negative electrical contact; and a thermal expansion actuator forming a bridge between the pair of anchors and the pivotal wall, the thermal expansion actuator having two arms each respectively attached to each of the pair of anchors, the thermal expansion actuator further having a bridge portion bridging the two arm.

Abstract: A printer ink cartridge with a spring assembly pressurising the ink to dispense it when the outlet establishes fluid communication with the printer. The cartridge has an outer portion with the spring assembly and a base portion containing a deformable ink membrane for containing ink. At least part of the base portion slides against the outer portion, and the spring assembly presses the deformable ink membrane to dispense ink as the at least part of the base portion slides within the outer portion by application of a force. The cartridge also has an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printer.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus is provided. The liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid storage container for storing a liquid therein; a carriage configured to reciprocate; an ejecting head mounted on the carriage and configured to eject liquid droplets; a liquid tank which is mounted on the carriage and is connected to the ejecting head and which is connected to the liquid storage container via a flexible tube; an air supply and discharge unit configured to supply air to the liquid tank and discharge air from the liquid tank; and a pressure controller controls the air supply and discharge unit so as to reduce a pressure fluctuation in the internal pressure of the liquid tank generated due to an inertial force applied to a liquid in the tube when the carriage changes a moving direction thereof.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprises a body housing a print engine configured to transport and print upon print media; a cover pivotally mounted relative to the body and able to be pivoted to form a guide which can guide print media to the print engine for printing; a support configured to support the print media guided to the print engine and pivotally mounted relative to the cover so that the support can be retracted between the cover and the body; and a stepper motor for driving a sheet feed roller and a paper transport. The stepper motor drives the paper transport when operated in a forward direction, and drives the sheet feed roller when operated in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system comprises: a stationary pagewidth printhead having an ink ejection face; an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting the ink ejection face; and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face. In use, the printhead remains stationary when the roller is rolled across the face.

Abstract: A solid ink delivery system provides solid ink sticks to a melting device in a printer. The delivery system includes a guide for guiding the stick in a prescribed path. The guide defines an inlet for receiving the stick. The inlet provides unobstructed passage of the stick through the inlet. The guide also defines a channel having a first end and a second end. The first end extends from the inlet. The channel provides unobstructed passage of the stick through the channel. The channel is adapted to contain a plurality of sticks in the channel. The guide further defines an outlet extending from the second end of the channel. The outlet provides unobstructed passage of the stick through the channel. The outlet is positioned below the inlet whereby only gravity is used to advance the sticks from the inlet to the outlet.