Abstract: A printer system includes a host computer, K, C, M, and Y printer elements for four colors, a paper feeding section, and a head cleaning section. The printer elements each include a head controller and print head groups. The head controllers are connected to the host computer via SCSI interfaces in a daisy chain. When printing, the host computer transfers information, such as an image-printing region, image-printing data, to the head controllers via the SCSI interfaces, thereby executing image printing. The printer system can control a large number of print heads with a simple configuration and also can perform high-accuracy image printing.

Abstract: On a carriage which a plurality of ink heads are arranged and from which an arm rotatable supporting an introduction roller for an image forming medium extends on an upstream side of a conveying path of the image forming medium; a conveying mechanism which is provided under the carriage in such a manner as to face the carriage and which conveys the image forming medium on a downstream side of the conveying path; and a plurality of regulation sections arranged in the carriage and the conveying mechanism respectively, wherein a positional relation between the carriage and the conveying mechanism is regulated by contacts among the plurality of regulation sections.

Abstract: A plurality of bubble flow-regulating bubble paths are disposed in first and second distributor units of an image forming apparatus of an ink jet system; and bubbles mixed in ink liquids are collected by the flow-regulating bubble paths.

Abstract: There is disposed a sealing mechanism having a container which stores an ink liquid; an ink head which spouts the ink liquid; and an ink channel switching section which is disposed in an ink channel connecting the container to the ink head and which switches the ink channel to a sealed state or an opened state, wherein the ink liquid flowing into the ink head from the container is quickly replaced with air (bubble) flowing through the container from the ink head during the switching of the ink channel to the opened state from the sealing state.

Abstract: A method of assembling an ink jet head unit, according to the present invention, is used to assemble the ink jet head unit configured by fixing a plurality of ink jet heads such that one ink jet head is fixed to the other ink jet head adjacent thereto, each ink jet head having an ink ejecting portion in which a plurality of nozzles to eject ink are arrayed. In this method, the ink jet heads are positioned by abutting the ink jet heads on a common positioning unit, and the plurality of ink jet heads are fixed such that one ink jet head is fixed to the other ink jet head adjacent thereto, in a state that the ink jet heads are so positioned as described above.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes ink jet heads for recording an image on a recording medium, an ink bottle for holding ink, an ink supply path connecting the ink bottle to each ink jet head, and an electromagnetic valve provided on the path. In the printer, the bottle, the valve and the heads are arranged downward in this order in the vertical direction, the path constantly exists upwards in the vertical direction in such a manner that air entered into the path moves up above the valve due to a difference in the specific gravity between the air and the ink, the path is provided with a branching portion provided between the valve and the heads, and a sub ink tank is provided at an end of the branching portion so as to be positioned lower than the heads in the vertical direction.

Abstract: In discharge recovery processing, a continuous sheet 23 is moved from a facing position facing a head portion 21 to a first position (in the down direction in the drawing) as an evacuating position in the discharge recovery processing, thereafter, a discharge recovery processing unit 22 in the standby mode at a second position (in the up direction in the drawing) different from the facing position is moved to the facing position, and the discharge recovery processing is performed. In the discharge recovery processing, the head unit 21 is not moved and therefore the preferable positional reproducibility is obtained after ending the discharge recovery processing.

Abstract: A recovery device for an ink jet printer includes a recovery unit having a wiper and a cap. When performing recovery processing, the recovery unit is inserted into a lower portion of a print head. The wiper moves along the +Y direction above the cap in a retreated state, and wipes the ink discharge surface of the print head. Also, in a state where the wiper is retreated outside the moving locus of the cap, the cap moves upward and caps the ink discharge surface of the print head. In this capping state, discharging and sucking of ink are performed for cleaning. This recovery device for an ink jet printer has a simple structure, and allows the suction of discharged ink during recovery processing to be efficiently performed. Furthermore, the present recovery device has a smaller space required for placement, thereby enabling the size-reduction of a printer apparatus.

Abstract: A printer comprises a transportation belt, a printer head, and a pneumatic paper sucker. The transportation belt is driven by a driving roller that drives a driven roller. The printer head includes a plurality of head units each having ink-jet surfaces. In the printer, print paper is adsorbed to the transportation belt by the sucker, and transported in a direction of transportation. Ink drops jetted out from the head units are shot at correct points on the print paper specified in print data. Thus, printing is achieved. According to the printer, the printer head need not be shifted in the process of printing, but printing can be achieved at a high speed. Moreover, the costs of manufacturing can be reduced, and the printer can be designed compactly.

Abstract: This invention provides equipment for fabricating partitioning ribs of a plasma display device. The equipment comprises a head, a driver, an X position sensor and a Y position sensor, a laser displacement sensor for detecting the distance of the head from a glass plate or substrate, a motor and a motor driver for moving the head relative to the glass plate, and a CPU for controlling various circuits. The head has nozzle members for ejecting partitioning rib grains by an electrostatic ejection method or ink jet technology to form partitioning ribs. The driver controls the volume of the partitioning rib grains ejected from the head. The X and Y position sensors detect the position of the head relative to the glass plate within a plane.

Abstract: A printer comprises a transportation belt, a printer head, and a pneumatic paper sucker. The transportation belt is driven by a driving roller that drives a driven roller. The printer head includes a plurality of head units each having ink-jet surfaces. In the printer, print paper is adsorbed to the transportation belt by the sucker, and transported in a direction of transportation. Ink drops jetted out from the head units are shot at correct points on the print paper specified in print data. Thus, printing is achieved. According to the printer, the printer head need not be shifted in the process of printing, but printing can be achieved at a high speed. Moreover, the costs of manufacturing can be reduced, and the printer can be designed compactly.

Abstract: A printer is provided which includes a printer head disposed above a transportation belt, a paper attraction apparatus, and an ink discharge surface recovery apparatus. In order to conduct recovery treatment of an ink discharge surface, the transportation belt is retractable and the recovery apparatus is inserted into the gap formed between the printer head and transportation belt in a direction perpendicular to a paper transportation. In the inserted state, ink is discharged from the ink discharge surface toward a cap of the recovery apparatus, the clogged state of the nozzle is eliminated, and recovery treatment is completed. The recovery apparatus is thereafter retracted to the side of transportation belt. With this structure, the recovery treatment of the ink discharge surface can be easily conducted, an increase in the printer size is avoided, and adjustment, maintenance, and control can be easily conducted.

Abstract: A printer system includes a host computer, K, C, M, and Y printer elements for four colors, a paper feeding section, and a head cleaning section. The printer elements each include a head controller and print head groups. The head controllers are connected to the host computer via SCSI interfaces in a daisy chain. When printing, the host computer transfers information, such as an image-printing region, image-printing data, to the head controllers via the SCSI interfaces, thereby executing image printing. The printer system can control a large number of print heads with a simple configuration and also can perform high-accuracy image printing.

Abstract: A printer comprising a printer head disposed above a transportation belt and composed of a plurality of head units having an ink discharge surface, a paper attraction apparatus, and an ink discharge surface recovery apparatus, wherein in order to conduct the recovery treatment of the ink discharge surface, the printer head is moved upward and the recovery apparatus is inserted into the gap formed between the printer head and transportation belt in the direction perpendicular to the paper transportation direction of transportation belt. In the inserted state, ink is discharged from the ink discharge surface toward a cap of the recovery apparatus, the clogged state of the nozzle is eliminated, and recovery treatment is completed. The recovery apparatus is thereafter retracted to the side of transportation belt.

Abstract: A printer comprises a transportation belt, a printer head, and a pneumatic paper sucker. The transportation belt is driven by a driving roller that drives a driven roller. The printer head includes a plurality of head units each having ink-jet surfaces. In the printer, print paper is adsorbed to the transportation belt by the sucker, and transported in a direction of transportation. Ink drops jetted out from the head units are shot at correct points on the print paper specified in print data. Thus, printing is achieved. According to the printer, the printer head need not be shifted in the process of printing, but printing can be achieved at a high speed. Moreover, the costs of manufacturing can be reduced, and the printer can be designed compactly.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus comprises a housing having a movable front panned in which a card inserting slot for loading an optical card is formed, a cleaning device, provided detachable to the inside of the housing in a card conveying passage on the side of the card inserting slot, for cleaning the optical card to be conveyed, a shuttle reciprocal in the conveying passage in the housing along the conveying passage while holding the optical card, and a lock mechanism capable of locking the shuttle in the conveying passage on the card inserting slot side. The lock mechanism is controlled to lock the shuttle when the cleaning device is detached from the housing, and unlocking a lock state of the lock mechanism when the cleaning device is attached to the housing.

Abstract: There is disclosed an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing information on/from an optical card having a plurality of tracks. The apparatus comprises a frame having a convey path for the optical card, an optical head for recording/reproducing information on/from the optical card, the optical head being movable in a direction perpendicular to information tracks on the optical card, an moving mechanism for moving the optical card along the convey path relative to the optical head, and a detecting mechanism for detecting the amount of movement of the optical card. The detecting mechanism has two drive rollers which are put in contact with the optical card to rotate in accordance with the movement of the optical card.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading and writing a data signal from and on an optical card including an optical head having a semiconductor laser for emitting a writing light beam, a light emitting diode for emitting a reading light beam, a first object lens for projecting the reading light spots onto the optical card, a second objective lens for projecting the reading light beam reflected by the optical beam onto a photodetector and a half mirror arranged in an optical axis of the second objective lens, a driving mechanism for moving the optical card in it lengthwise direction, and a focusing control mechanism for moving the optical head in a direction normal to the surface of the optical card.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a movable shuttle on which an information recording medium is mounted, a movable head for reproducing or recording information from or on the information recording medium mounted on the shuttle, a shuttle lock mechanism for locking the shuttle, a head lock mechanism for locking the head, and a drive source and a link member for commonly driving the shuttle lock mechanism and the head lock mechanism.

Abstract: An optical card for storing a data signal as optically readable pits including a plurality of track units, each track unit being composed of a single control track having an array of square control blocks extending in first direction, and a plurality of data tracks disposed on respective sides of the control track. The control and data tracks are aligned in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Data signals forming a single byte are recorded over a plurality of data tracks at positions which are aligned in the second direction. The control blocks in the control track are arranged such that focusing error, tracking error and clock pulses can be detected by processing signals obtained by optically scanning the control blocks.