Abstract: The invention provides an ink cartridge including a molded article including a polypropylene-based resin composition, the polypropylene-based resin composition including: (A) a polypropylene-based resin polymerized by a gas-phase method and having a weight-average molecular weight of 2.0×105 to 2.5×105; and (B) a hydroxide of an alkali earth metal, and a method for producing the ink cartridge.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes: an ink ribbon conveyor unit that conveys an ink ribbon; a sheet conveyor unit that conveys a sheet; a dummy pattern generation unit that generates a dummy pattern; an image data generation unit that generates print image data joining n screens together, the print image data including the dummy pattern inserted between two adjacent screens among the n screens; a thermal head that transfers a dye coated on the ink ribbon in accordance with the print image data; and a peeler unit that peels the ink ribbon from the sheet. An average density of the dummy pattern is equal to an average density of the image over an area equivalent to a distance between a tail end portion of the thermal head and the peeler unit, on one screen that follows the dummy pattern.

Abstract: An inkjet head comprises a plurality of individual electrodes each of which includes a first part and a second part connected to an end portion B of the first part. The end portion B is one of the end portions of a first part in a longitudinal direction of a pressure chamber. The second part of each of the individual electrodes corresponding to a first pressure chamber line is positioned between two first parts corresponding to two respective pressure chambers neighboring each other in a second pressure chamber line, so that an end portion C of the second part crosses over a line connecting each end portion D of the two first parts.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning unit having a light transmitting portion, the cleaning mechanism that includes a cleaning rod with a pad at a front end portion thereof to be capable of cleaning a surface of the light transmitting portion by sliding on the light transmitting portion, and a retaining mechanism that retains the cleaning rod slidably in a longitudinal direction of the light transmitting portion, and that retains the pad positioned above the optical scanning unit and spaced apart from the optical scanning unit in a state where the cleaning rod is at an insertion completed position.

Abstract: A remaining-liquid-amount apparatus for displaying an amount of conductive liquid (ink) remaining in a container includes electrode units which are arranged along a direction in which the liquid level falls when the amount of liquid in the container decreases and which conduct current when the electrode units are in contact with the liquid, a voltage source (pulse generator) which applies a voltage to the electrode units, a liquid detector (DFFs) which detects the presence/absence of the liquid at positions of the electrode units on the basis of whether or not the electrode units conduct current when the voltage is applied by the voltage source, and a remaining-liquid-amount display unit (LEDs) which displays, in steps, the amount of liquid remaining in the container on the basis of the detection result of the presence/absence of the liquid at positions of the electrode units obtained by the liquid detector.

Abstract: An ink jet printer is provided with an ink jet head, an ink tank, and a carriage. The ink jet head has a passage unit, an actuator, and a control board. The passage unit has an ink passage and a nozzle communicated with the ink passage. The actuator is capable of applying energy to ink within the ink passage such that the ink is discharged from the nozzle. The control board controls the actuator. The ink tank is communicated with the ink passage of the passage unit. The ink jet head and the ink tank are mounted on the carriage. The carriage is capable of moving. In a plan view of the ink jet printer, the ink jet head and the ink tank offset. In a height direction of the ink jet printer, the ink jet head and the ink tank overlap.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus includes a regulating guide for regulating a position of a recording medium and a passage changing unit for changing a passage of the recording medium to the other passage thereof. The regulating guide includes a pair of outer guides arranged at outermost positions in a width direction and having in a perpendicular direction to a transport plane for the recording medium plural outer passage portions for regulating a position of the recording medium in the width direction and at least one inner guide arranged between the pair of outer guides and having on both sides in the width direction inner passage portions for regulating a position of the recording medium in the width direction at a position in the perpendicular direction corresponding to one outer passage portion of the pair of outer guides. The regulating guide forms plural passages in the perpendicular direction.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead has a wafer substrate incorporating CMOS drive circuitry. A plurality of nozzle assemblies is arranged in an array on the substrate and is the product of dielectric and metal layers deposited on the wafer substrate and etched, such that the wafer substrate and layers define ink inlet apertures. Each nozzle assembly has a wall portion bounding a respective ink inlet aperture. A crown portion defines a nozzle opening. A skirt portion depends from the crown portion to form part of a peripheral wall of the nozzle assembly. The crown and skirt portions are displaceable with respect to the wall portion to alter a volume of a nozzle chamber defined by the wall, crown and skirt portions such that when the volume is altered, ink is ejected from the nozzle opening. A thermal actuator interconnects the crown and skirt portion with the substrate and is connected to the drive circuitry to displace the crown and skirt portions on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry.

Abstract: An ink-jet head having a passage unit including pressure chambers each having one end coupled to a nozzle and the other end to be coupled to an ink supply source. The pressure chambers are arranged along a plane to neighbor each other. The ink-jet head further includes actuator units attached to a surface of the passage unit for changing the volume of each pressure chamber. Each actuator unit includes pressure generation portions respectively corresponding to pressure chambers, and is formed to extend over the pressure chambers. The actuator units are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the passage unit so that each neighboring actuator units partially overlap each other in the lateral direction of the passage unit.

Abstract: An ink pinning assembly comprises a source of UV radiation suitable for pinning ink on a record medium. A radiation guide device has an inlet facing the source and an outlet through which radiation is emitted towards a record medium, in use, the length of the inlet being greater that the length of the radiation source. The radiation guide device has a substantially rectangular or square wall in plan surrounding a cavity extending between the inlet and outlet, the internal surface of the wall being reflective to the pinning radiation so that pinning radiation with a substantial uniform intensity is emitted from the outlet.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method for cleaning inkjet cartridges. The system includes a fixture configured to mount an inkjet cartridge where a printhead of the inkjet cartridge is mounted to a cleaning plate. The cleaning plate includes one or more orifices connected to a vacuum source and one or more orifices connected to a wash solution source. The vacuum source can be used to extract ink from within the cartridge through nozzles in the printhead. The wash solution source can supply a pressurized wash solution through the nozzles of the printhead. The vacuum source can also be use to extract the wash solution from within the cartridge through the nozzles.

Abstract: An ultraviolet ray curable ink-jet ink comprising at least a mono-functional monomer, a bi-functional monomer, and a photo-polymerization initiator, wherein an amount of the mono-functional monomer is at least 35 weight % based on the total weight of the ink-jet ink, and an amount of the photo-polymerization initiator is at least 20 weight % based on the total weight of the mono-functional monomer.

Abstract: A printer having a sheet feed system for feeding an image receiving sheet to a print station, and a sheet treatment system for subjecting the paper to an anti-cockle treatment including a humidity sensor arranged to detect the degree of humidity of ambient air, and a control system adapted to control the sheet treatment system in response to the detected degree of humidity.

Abstract: A sealing structure includes a first and a second passage-forming member, and an elastic member interposed between the surfaces and including: a plate-like body which has an inlet-side and an outlet-side surface and through which through-holes are perpendicularly formed, a first protruding portion protruding from one of the inlet-side and outlet-side surfaces in an axial direction of the through-holes to contact the first passage-forming member and a second protruding portion axially protruding from the other surfaces toward the second passage-forming member. The inner circumferential surface of one of the first protruding portion and those of the corresponding second protruding portion and through-hole are continuous to form a smooth surface.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an ink reservoir system. The ink reservoir system includes a housing configured to hold ink and comprising a first opening and a second opening. The ink reservoir system further includes a fluid connector that traverses the first opening and communicates ink from inside the housing to a refilling system. The ink reservoir system further includes an interconnection region comprising a needle, where the needle traverses the second opening and is configured to mate with a septum cap on an ink bottle. When the ink bottle is placed within the second opening the needle punctures the septum of the septum cap and allows the ink to flow from the bottle into the interior of the housing.

Abstract: A printer cartridge that has a body configured for user insertion in and removal from an inkjet printer. The cartridge has at least one printing fluid reservoir and a printhead attached to the body. Also attached is a blotter for absorbing the fluid when the cartridge is inserted into the printer. The cartridge allows simultaneous insertion and replacement of the printhead the printing fluid reservoir and the blotter.

Abstract: A recording sheet including base paper including pulp fiber and filler, wherein the recording sheet further includes carboxylic acid. An ink jet recording method and an electrophotographic image recording method using the recording sheet.

Abstract: In a phase-change ink image producing machine, better control flow of molten solid ink may be provided by a solid ink valve system including a valve plate with one or more valve ports, an umbilical connector, and a valve positioned between the valve plate and the umbilical connector. Ink flow between the valve plate and the umbilical connector may be asynchronously regulated by actuating the valve. Such actuation may be performed by heating and cooling the valve, by applying electric current to a coil that surrounds a valve element of the valve and to a wire provided in the valve element and/or by asynchronously actuating a valve associated with the valve port.

Abstract: A system for detecting failures in a sensitive region of an inkjet printhead is described. The system includes an inkjet printer that uses a printhead for printing an image on a substrate. The image has a sensitive portion that is more sensitive to printing failures than the rest of the image. The printhead includes a first portion that prints an area of the substrate corresponding to the sensitive portion of the image. A radiant energy source is used with a photodetector located downstream from the printhead to detect background florescence from the substrate in the area of the substrate corresponding to the sensitive portion of the image that should be quenched by printing of the image. If background fluorescence is detected, a failure is indicated.

Abstract: In a method for activation of a print head operating according to the thermotransfer principle, the print head having a number of printing elements, in which the energy quantity to be supplied to a printing element is determined in a determination step, and the energy quantity is supplied to the printing element in a supply step in order to transfer ink from an ink carrier device associated with the print head onto a substrate associated with the ink carrier device. A print parameter set characteristic of the ink carrier device is read from a memory associated with the ink carrier device in a read step preceding the determination step and the energy quantity is determined in the determination step using at least the print parameter set.