Abstract: Each of controllers includes an error management section that generates an error command including an error code indicating the content of an error when the controller detects the error. A host apparatus includes a host controller. If the error command from the master controller and the error command from the slave controller are identical to each other, the host controller displays a single piece of error information on a monitor. Specifically, the single piece of error information includes the error code included in the error command and an error message corresponding to the error code.

Abstract: A control device for a printer includes a master controller and a slave controller, and the constituent elements of the master controller and the slave controllers are configured symmetrically. The master controller includes a virtual mechanical controller.

Abstract: P recording heads are arranged a recording unit. The P recording heads are divided into N (groups in the sub-scanning direction. The N controllers respectively control the recording heads pertaining to corresponding groups. When it is determined that variable data straddles a boundary (M/S boundary line) of recording regions (a master recording region and a slave recording region) of the recording heads, which are controlled by different controllers, the feed quantity of the recording unit is adjusted to a feeding quantity such that the variable data do not straddle the M/S boundary line.

Abstract: A liquid discharge method including: performing a discharge operation of discharging liquid from each nozzle in a plurality of nozzle arrays, to each of which liquid is supplied from a corresponding container, the plurality of nozzle arrays corresponding to the plurality of containers which respectively contain a plurality of kinds of liquid, the nozzles being arranged in an array direction; detecting whether or not the liquid is discharged from each nozzle by the discharge operation; containing liquid to be discharged from a certain nozzle array in a container corresponding to a nozzle array which is different from the certain nozzle array when it is detected that there is a nozzle which does not discharge liquid in the certain nozzle array; and controlling the nozzle array which is different from the certain nozzle array to discharge the liquid to be discharged from the certain nozzle array.

Abstract: A print area is a print target region by a recording unit on a sheet (recording medium). First, in first lateral scanning, raster lines (white beads) of a base image are printed by moving a recording unit in a main scanning direction by using nozzles arranged in a sub-scanning direction and printing of total M passes is performed while shifting the recording unit for each pass in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A controller includes an information transferring unit in a main control unit. A mechanical controller transmits device state information at predetermined time intervals. The information transferring unit performs some processing on the device state information received from the mechanical controller as necessary and stores the information in a second storage unit. Upon receiving a device state acquisition command from a host control unit, the information transferring unit transmits device state information read out from the second storage unit to the host control unit as a response to the device state acquisition command.

Abstract: Commands, which are stored in a queue within controllers in order of acquisition, are transmitted to mechanical I/F units (steps (1) and (2) in FIG. 7). A determination portion in each mechanical I/F unit determines whether or not the command is an internal command (for example, an error command) which is generated in the controllers. If the command is the internal command, the command is directly output to the mechanical controller. In contrast, if the command is not the internal command, a virtual mechanical controller outputs the command through synchronization processing for confirming whether the commands issued from the controllers are synchronized (steps (3) to (7) in FIG. 7).

Abstract: A control device for a printer includes a master controller and a slave controller, and the constituent elements of the master controller and the slave controllers are configured symmetrically. The master controller includes a virtual mechanical controller.

Abstract: Each of controllers includes an error management section that generates an error command including an error code indicating the content of an error when the controller detects the error. A host apparatus includes a host controller. If the error command from the master controller and the error command from the slave controller are identical to each other, the host controller displays a single piece of error information on a monitor. Specifically, the single piece of error information includes the error code included in the error command and an error message corresponding to the error code.

Abstract: Controllers on the master and slave sides each perform an ink cartridge checking process and transmit a detection result, for example “NG”, obtained though the ink cartridge checking process to the other controller. Furthermore, the same ink cartridge checking process is performed in the other controller and the detection result thereof, for example “OK” is transmitted to the first controller. A mechanical control unit merges (combines) the respective detection results and if at least one of the results is NG, a merged result of NG is obtained. In the case of NG, this fact is transmitted to a host control unit and if YES is selected in a Y/N display, the error is cleared. On the other hand, in the case of a merged result of OK, an ink cartridge OK state notification is issued to a mechanical controller.

Abstract: A control device for a printer includes a master controller and a slave controller, and the constituent elements of the master controller and the slave controllers are configured symmetrically. The master controller includes a virtual mechanical controller.

Abstract: Each of controllers includes an error management section that generates an error command including an error code indicating the content of an error when the controller detects the error. A host apparatus includes a host controller. If the error command from the master controller and the error command from the slave controller are identical to each other, the host controller displays a single piece of error information on a monitor. Specifically, the single piece of error information includes the error code included in the error command and an error message corresponding to the error code.

Abstract: A printer includes an intermediate buffer that holds plain data produced by subjecting print data to extraction processing and microweave processing, and a control buffer that holds head control data produced by subjecting plain data to vertical-horizontal conversion processing. The control buffer is allocated storage capacity that allows it to hold data equivalent to one impression and data equivalent to one-fourth an impression (one pass in printing at four passes per impression).

Abstract: A method is for heating a functional liquid of a droplet discharging device that has a storage which houses a container storing a functional liquid containing a functional material; a droplet discharge head discharging the functional liquid in a droplet; a cooling means included to the storage and cooling the functional liquid; and a supply tube supplying the functional liquid that is cooled in the storage to the droplet discharge head. The method includes: heating the functional liquid in the supply tube with waste heat that is generated correspondingly to cooling of the cooling means.

Abstract: A liquid discharge method including: performing a discharge operation of discharging liquid from each nozzle in a plurality of nozzle arrays, to each of which liquid is supplied from a corresponding container, the plurality of nozzle arrays corresponding to the plurality of containers which respectively contain a plurality of kinds of liquid, the nozzles being arranged in an array direction; detecting whether or not the liquid is discharged from each nozzle by the discharge operation; containing liquid to be discharged from a certain nozzle array in a container corresponding to a nozzle array which is different from the certain nozzle array when it is detected that there is a nozzle which does not discharge liquid in the certain nozzle array; and controlling the nozzle array which is different from the certain nozzle array to discharge the liquid to be discharged from the certain nozzle array.

Abstract: P (fifteen) recording heads are arranged in two columns in a zigzag pattern in a recording unit. The P recording heads are divided into N (two) groups in the sub-scanning direction (up-down direction in the figure). The N (two) controllers respectively control the recording heads pertaining to corresponding groups. Therefore, the number of the boundary (M/S boundary line) of the recording regions (master recording region and slave recording region) of the recording heads controlled by the different controllers becomes at least N?1 (one).

Abstract: P recording heads are arranged a recording unit. The P recording heads are divided into N (groups in the sub-scanning direction. The N controllers respectively control the recording heads pertaining to corresponding groups. When it is determined that variable data straddles a boundary (M/S boundary line) of recording regions (a master recording region and a slave recording region) of the recording heads, which are controlled by different controllers, the feed quantity of the recording unit is adjusted to a feeding quantity such that the variable data do not straddle the M/S boundary line.

Abstract: A print area is a print target region by a recording unit on a sheet (recording medium). First, in first lateral scanning, raster lines (white beads) of a base image are printed by moving a recording unit in a main scanning direction by using nozzles arranged in a sub-scanning direction and printing of total M passes is performed while shifting the recording unit for each pass in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A method for producing a pattern on a substrate includes discharging a droplet on a top surface of a breathable substrate being heated, the droplet being formed with a functional fluid containing a functional material, so as to produce the pattern on the top surface of the breathable substrate.

Abstract: A film-forming method includes: a) discharging a liquid including a film material on an object so as to form a liquid film made of the liquid; b) irradiating the liquid film with light and thus detecting light from the liquid film so as to measure distribution of an optical constant, which is related to a film thickness of a thin film, with respect to the liquid film; and c) drying the liquid film on the object so as to form the thin film by converting the distribution of the optical constant into distribution of a temperature of the liquid film based on converting information that relates the optical constant of the liquid film to the temperature of the liquid film and thus forming the distribution of the temperature on the liquid film.