Abstract: A printer includes a printing unit configured to print on a sheet medium, a reading unit configured to read an identification mark when a sheet medium on which the identification mark is formed is used, and a control unit configured to specify a print setting for the sheet medium based on a read result of the reading unit, wherein the identification mark is a coded pattern drawn using a material containing a substance that scatters or absorbs ultraviolet light and containing no fluorescent substance, and wherein the reading unit includes an emitter configured to mainly emit ultraviolet light and a detector configured to detect fluorescence generated by excitation from a fluorescent whitening agent contained in the sheet medium and modulated by the coded pattern.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a print medium identifying device that can accurately detect various print media. Thus, according to the present invention, a light emitting section (LED) irradiates a surface of a print medium P with ultraviolet light and different light of a longer wave. A light receiving section (regular-reflection photo sensor and diffusive-reflection photo sensor) receives the light reflected by the surface of the print medium P to output a signal corresponding to the quantity of light received. Identifying section (signal processing section) identifies the type of the print medium on the basis of a signal output by the light receiving section when the print medium is irradiated with the ultraviolet light and a signal output by the light receiving section when the print medium is irradiated with the different light.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a print medium identifying device that can accurately detect various print media. Thus, according to the present invention, a light emitting section (LED) irradiates a surface of a print medium P with ultraviolet light and different light of a longer wave. A light receiving section (regular-reflection photo sensor and diffusive-reflection photo sensor) receives the light reflected by the surface of the print medium P to output a signal corresponding to the quantity of light received. Identifying section (signal processing section) identifies the type of the print medium on the basis of a signal output by the light receiving section when the print medium is irradiated with the ultraviolet light and a signal output by the light receiving section when the print medium is irradiated with the different light.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for recovering an ink jet head having an opening communicating with a discharge port, the opening being provided on a same planar surface on which the discharge port for discharging ink is provided. An area of the opening is larger than an area of the discharge port. The method includes the steps of forcibly introducing gas into the ink jet head simultaneously through the discharge port and the opening, and exhausting the gas introduced into the ink jet head in the introducing step with ink through the discharge port. The gas introduced into the ink jet head enables the ink to be exhausted at an increased velocity in the exhausting step.

Abstract: A system using an ink jet recording head for scanning between a recording area and a non-recording area and for discharging ink to record an image on a recording medium at the recording area. The system includes wiping a discharge surface of the ink jet recording head, preliminarily discharging ink from the recording head after wiping, and performing normal recording in response to a recording signal without wiping the discharge surface of the ink jet recording head after the preliminary discharge.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a head for forming an image on a recording medium or for reading an image formed on a recording medium; a supporting member for holding the head; a first unit for electrical connection provided for the head; a second unit for electrical connection provided for the supporting member, which can be electrically connected to the first unit for electrical connection; and a member for deelectrifying static electricity, which is provided for the supporting member in the vicinity of the second unit for electrical connection. This deelectrifying member prevents static electricity from flowing into the signal lines provided for the second unit for electrical connection when the supporting member is actuated to hold the head.

Abstract: An ink refilling system includes an ink jet recording apparatus, in which a cartridge with an ink containing portion can be installed. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a driver for driving a conveyer for conveying a recording medium, and a first transmitter for transmitting the driving force from the driver out of the ink jet recording apparatus. Also provided is an ink filling apparatus for filling the ink into the cartridge, the ink filling apparatus including: an ink storing portion for storing the ink to be filled into the cartridge; a connector for injecting the ink from the ink storing portion to the cartridge; a pressure-feeding device for pressure-feeding the ink through the connector; and a second transmitter for transmitting the driving force to drive the pressure-feeding device. The driving force from the driver of the ink jet recording apparatus is transmitted to the pressure-feeding device through the first and second driving force transmitters.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus according to the present invention has a pawl separator for separating sheets one by one by regulating the tip ends and upper surfaces of tip end portions of the sheets, which pawl separator can be retarded from a sheet regulating position when it is urged by the sheet with a predetermined force. With this arrangement, sheets having small resiliency such as plain sheets are separated one by one by successively riding over the pawl separator, and sheets having great resiliency such as post cards and envelopes urge the pawl separator to a retracted position to pass through the pawl separator and are separated one by one by of another separation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus comprising a supply means for supplying a sheet in a predetermined direction, a convey means for conveying the sheet supplied by the supply means in a predetermined direction, a recording means for recording an image on the sheet conveyed by the convey means, in response to image information, a reversible drive means for driving the supply means and the convey means, and a drive transmitting means for transmitting a driving force from the drive means to the supply means or the convey means, and wherein the drive transmitting means comprises a plurality of planetary gears as means for rotating the supply means only in a sheet supplying direction regardless of a rotational direction of the convey means, and the planetary gears are revolved around gears having different speed reduction ratios from the drive means as sun gears, respectively.

Abstract: A container for storably receiving an ink jet cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head section for discharging ink from a plurality of ink discharging orifices and an ink storing section. The container includes a holding member for firmly holding the ink jet cartridge at a predetermined position in the container, a capping member for sealably covering the ink discharging orifices therewith while the ink jet cartridge is firmly held in the container, a pump for sucking ink from the ink discharging orifices for activating the ink jet cartridge, and a waste ink chamber having an ink absorber received therein for retaining the sucked ink. In addition, the container includes a squeezing member adapted to be actuated from the outside for deforming the ink absorber and an ink drain port.

Abstract: A device for controlling the power supplied to windings of a stepping motor includes a pulse generator for splitting one step drive period of the motor into a plurality of sections, the number of sections and increasing or decreasing depending upon the drive frequency. The pulse generator, also sets the duty cycle of a pulse applied to the motor. The device also includes a stepping motor drive circuit for exciting each phase of the motor with a current determined by the duty cycle of pulse, and a duty changing device for changing the duty cycle for each of plural sections in one excitation phase of the stepping motor, wherein a current wave input into the motor can be maintained as a sinusoidal wave from low-speed rotation to high-speed rotation of the motor by changing the number of sections in excitation depending upon serial drive operations, thereby achieving motor control with less rotation inconsistencies and less noise.

Abstract: A contact structure between a flexible cable for transmitting a signal from a control unit and a signal receiving unit for receiving the signal from said flexible cable characterized in that a plurality of projections are provided on a contact plane of said flexible cable, to which an elastic member having a plurality of protrusions formed at locations corresponding to respective projections in said flexible cable is attached, with the cross section of said protrusion being larger than that of corresponding projection, and the contact plane at a top end of each protrusion being flattened, whereby each projection is pressed against said signal receiving unit with a stress produced by elastic deformation of each protrusion.

Abstract: An ink refilling apparatus for loading ink into a recording ink cartridge having an ink discharging outlet, and an air vent for communication with ambience includes a filling ink cartridge for containing ink to be used for refilling the recording ink cartridge; a pressure controller having a first pressure controlling portion for controlling a pressure of the ink outlet and a second pressure controlling portion for controlling a pressure of the air vent; pressure a transmitter for transmitting a pressure variation of the second pressure controlling portion to the filling ink cartridge.

Abstract: A storage container for housing and storing an ink jet cartridge which has a recording head to discharge ink, and an ink tank to contain ink to be supplied to the recording head and which is structured to be exchangeable with respect to a recording apparatus comprises a capping member to be in contact with the ink discharge port surface of the recording head to cover the surface thereof and absorbing members conductively connected to the capping member to absorb ink which leaks from the recording head. With the capping member and absorbing member, an airtightness higher than that of the discharge ports is obtained in order to suppress the ink evaporation from the discharge ports of the recording head while the cartridge which is still in use is kept in the storage container.

Abstract: The operation of this invention is such that a rotational quantity of a motor is determined in accordance with a rotation indicating command of a motor, rotation actuating control of the motor is changed according to the determined rotational quantity of the motor, and a magnetization maintaining time of a magnetization phase of the motor is varied based on the rotation actuating control of the motor.

Abstract: An ink quantity detecting device includes a plurality of ink chambers for containing inks, displacement members each provided for a corresponding one of the ink chambers and capable of being displaced in accordance with a quantity of a corresponding ink, a coupling member for coupling a plurality of displacement members, and a detecting unit for detecting displacement of at least one of the displacement members or the coupling member. The coupling member can be displaced in accordance with a quantity of at least one ink.

Abstract: A recovery process for an ink jet recording head of a recording apparatus and a device for performing the recovery process are disclosed. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head with a plurality of discharge ports and a liquid chamber common to the discharge ports. The liquid chamber is supplied with ink through an ink supply path from an ink tank. The recovery device includes a device for introducing air into the liquid chamber of the recording head, a cap unit for covering the discharge ports of the recording head, and a pumping device for applying suction to the cap unit to suck the introduced air and ink through the discharge ports.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an ink jet recording head uses a flexible blade that is moved forwardly and backwardly in response to the capping operation of the front surface of the recording head and the movement of a carriage, and the front surface of the recording head is wiped by the blade in response to the movement of the carriage. An ink jet recording apparatus has a recording head disposed on a carriage, cap means for covering the front surface of the recording head and a blade for cleaning the front surface of the recording head, characterized by blade moving means for moving the blade forward or backward in the direction of the recording head by movement of the cap means and movement of the carriage.

Abstract: An origin of a robot coordinate system is determined exactly as a center of a circular arc described by actuating a first axis only thereof and marking at least three points on a horizontally arranged sheet, at which an origin of an absolute coordinate system is set. In order to obtain the relationship between two coordinate system, making the both origin coincide with each other, then two y axis symmetrical points are measured to determine y axis. Then another two points are measured to obtain structural errors. Using structural errors, compensation of a numerical instructed point is carried out to make the robot position with high accuracy. Further, in order to remove backlash of the driving system, an intermediate point is set on a route toward a certain positioning point so that the driving system always rotates in one direction by some amount when moved to the final, aimed point.

Abstract: A recording apparatus on which a cut sheet feeder is removably mountable includes an outer case, a feed roller contained in the outer case and rotatable by the power of a drive source, a pinch roller urged against or spaced apart from the feed roller, and a controlling device exposed out of the outer case and engageable with the cut sheet feeder to forcibly control the pinch roller into a state in which it is urged against the feed roller. The cut sheet feeder has a first stacker piling thereon cut sheets to be fed to the recording apparatus, a second stacker piling thereon cut sheets discharged from the recording apparatus, and a controlling device for forcibly controlling the pinch roller into its urged state when the cut sheet feeder is mounted on the recording apparatus.