Abstract: A resin powder for solid freeform fabrication includes a particle having a pillar-like form, wherein the ratio of the height of the particle to the diameter or the long side of the bottom of the particle is 0.5 to 2.0, the particle has a 50 percent cumulative volume particle diameter of from 5 to 200 ?m, and the ratio (Mv/Mn) of the volume average particle diameter (Mv) to the number average particle diameter (Mn) of the particle is 2.00 or less.

Abstract: A droplet discharge head includes: a liquid reservoir which holds a liquid; a channel through which the liquid is guided to the liquid reservoir; and a driving element which changes the pressure in the liquid reservoir so as to discharge droplets of the liquid contained in the liquid reservoir through a nozzle, in which wall surfaces of the liquid reservoir and of the nozzle are arranged in a continuous line at a side opposite the channel with respect to the center of the nozzle as seen in a cross-sectional view through a central axis of the nozzle.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes: a liquid discharging head having liquid discharging faces; a cleaner unit having a cleaner that is separated from or brought into contact with the liquid discharging faces; a platen that is disposed to face the liquid discharging faces and retains the recording sheet; a unit driving mechanism that moves the cleaner unit along the liquid discharging faces; and a platen driving mechanism that moves the platen in a direction away from or toward the liquid discharging faces, wherein a movement pathway of the cleaner unit is formed between the liquid discharging head and the platen by moving the platen in a direction away from the liquid discharging faces, and when the cleaner unit has been located between the liquid discharging head and the platen, the cleaner is separated from or brought into contact with the liquid discharging faces by movement of the platen.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a liquid discharging head that has a nozzle surface formed with nozzles discharging liquid, and a surrounding portion that is protruded from the nozzle surface and surrounds the nozzles; and a support member that is moved between a contact position coming into contact with the surrounding portion and a separation position separated from the surrounding portion, when being situated in the separation position, the support member supporting a medium on which liquid discharged from the nozzles is landed, and when being situated in the contact position, the support member sealing the nozzles.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head performing recording onto a recording sheet; a platen section guiding the recording sheet to a position facing the recording head; a suction unit which includes a plurality of suction openings provided at the platen section and sucks and holds the recording sheet, a suction duct provided facing the suction openings, and a suction fan connected to the suction duct, and sucks and holds the recording sheet on the platen section through the suction openings; and a shutter mechanism which opens and closes the suction duct, wherein the shutter mechanism includes a shutter sheet in which at least one exposure opening portion exposing the suction duct is formed corresponding to the width of the recording sheet, and a shutter sheet movement mechanism which makes the shutter sheet travel between the suction duct and a back surface of the platen section.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a plurality of nozzles that discharges liquid; a liquid discharge head that includes nozzle arrays where the respective nozzles are arranged in one direction; a liquid adsorbent that adsorbs liquid attached to a portion of the liquid discharge head where the nozzle arrays are formed; a moving means for relatively moving the liquid adsorbent in an arrangement direction of the nozzles; and a liquid suction means for sucking liquid adsorbed in the liquid adsorbent.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge includes spools each including a ratchet gear in one end portion. A cartridge body includes integrally formed resilient engagement pieces each including a ratchet portion that engages and disengages the ratchet gear of the respective spool and a compressed portion that is compressed by a compressing portion of a thermal transfer printer apparatus. When the ink ribbon cartridge is installed in the thermal transfer printer apparatus, the resilient engagement pieces behave such that the compressed portions are compressed by the compressing portions of the thermal transfer printer apparatus. Thereby, engagement between the ratchet gears of the respective spools and the ratchet portions is released, and the spools become rotatable in the cartridge body.

Abstract: A droplet discharge head includes: a liquid reservoir which holds a liquid; a channel through which the liquid is guided to the liquid reservoir; and a driving element which changes the pressure in the liquid reservoir so as to discharge droplets of the liquid contained in the liquid reservoir through a nozzle, in which wall surfaces of the liquid reservoir and of the nozzle are arranged in a continuous line at a side opposite the channel with respect to the center of the nozzle as seen in a cross-sectional view through a central axis of the nozzle.

Abstract: A print apparatus includes a print unit that records a print pattern with a thermal head and a ribbon film, the ribbon film having a base film on which transfer-material areas and margin areas including cue marks are arranged; a cue-mark detector that detects the cue marks; a ribbon-moving mechanism that moves the ribbon film on which the transfer-material areas and the cue marks are arranged such that L1<L2 is satisfied, where L1 is a distance between the leading edge of each transfer-material area and the corresponding cue mark and L2 is a distance between a transfer position and a cue-mark detection position; and a ribbon movement controller that monitors the cue-mark detection and moves the ribbon film backward by a distance corresponding to the difference between the distances L1 and L2, thereby positioning the ribbon film with respect to a print start position.

Abstract: A print apparatus includes a print unit that records a print pattern with a thermal head and a ribbon film, the ribbon film having a base film on which transfer-material areas and margin areas including cue marks are arranged; a cue-mark detector that detects the cue marks; a ribbon-moving mechanism that moves the ribbon film on which the transfer-material areas and the cue marks are arranged such that L1<L2 is satisfied, where L1 is a distance between the leading edge of each transfer-material area and the corresponding cue mark and L2 is a distance between a transfer position and a cue-mark detection position; and a ribbon movement controller that monitors the cue-mark detection and moves the ribbon film backward by a distance corresponding to the difference between the distances L1 and L2, thereby positioning the ribbon film with respect to a print start position.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge includes spools each including a ratchet gear in one end portion. A cartridge body includes integrally formed resilient engagement pieces each including a ratchet portion that engages and disengages the ratchet gear of the respective spool and a compressed portion that is compressed by a compressing portion of a thermal transfer printer apparatus. When the ink ribbon cartridge is installed in the thermal transfer printer apparatus, the resilient engagement pieces behave such that the compressed portions are compressed by the compressing portions of the thermal transfer printer apparatus. Thereby, engagement between the ratchet gears of the respective spools and the ratchet portions is released, and the spools become rotatable in the cartridge body.

Abstract: A holder for roll-type print media and a roll-type print media cassette, for easing replacement of a roll, including a printing apparatus capable of detecting the presence of a roll-type print media. The holder and cassette include supporting means for supporting the roll-type print media rotatively and regulating means for regulating the unwinding of the print media. The printing apparatus includes print media supporting means for supporting the roll-type print media rotatively such that the position of the axis of rotation is fixed. A contact sensor for detecting the presence of roll-type print media is also provided.

Abstract: A color video printer can identify the length of a print sheet inserted therein for ejecting any print sheets other than a standard print sheet. The printer has a sheet feed sensor and another sensor disposed downstream of the sheet feed sensor with respect to the direction in which a print sheet is fed in the printer. After the leading end of an inserted print sheet is detected by the sheet feed sensor, the print sheet is fed until the leading end thereof is detected by the other downstream sensor. At this time, the length of the print sheet which is fed is equal to the distance, typically of 128 mm, between the sensors. The true length of the print sheet is calculated by adding, to 128 mm, the length of the print sheet which is further fed until the trailing end of the print sheet is detected by the sheet feed sensor.

Abstract: A video printing apparatus and method in which, without interlocking the movement of the printing head with the capstan for carrying the printing paper and the paper feeding mechanism by a cam and linkage mechanism, they are respectively operated by three independent motors. The printer includes a first normally and reversely rotatable DC motor for searching the head of the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette housed in the printer and for taking up the ink ribbon by the take-up reel base during the printing operation. A second normally and reversely rotatable stepping motor is provided for carrying the printing paper housed in the tray by the capstan and the pinch roller to the printing position and the paper delivering position. A third normally and reversely rotatable DC motor is provided for moving the printing head which subjects the printing paper to the printing processing by pressing the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette thereon in cooperation with the platen.

Abstract: A printer in which an ink ribbon is not wound when a ribbon code ring is read, a dedicated motor for rotating the ribbon code ring is not required, and it is possible to rotate the ribbon code ring with the same motor used for moving a printing head. When an information code of an ink ribbon is to be read, a print head is held in an initial position HO, and a pendulum gear, which can be rotated only when a cam is reversed, is brought into mesh with a ink ribbon code ring which rotates irrespective of a supply spool of a ribbon cassette. The information code on the ribbon code ring is detected by a sensor as the code ring is rotated. A locking system is provided for preventing accidental opening of a ribbon door of the printer during printing operations.

Abstract: A device for identifying an ink ribbon cartridge used in a printing apparatus includes a spool rotatably disposed in the ink ribbon cartridge and having an ink ribbon wound thereabout. A ring is mounted on the spool so as to be rotatable relative to the spool and has information marks recorded thereon. A photo-sensor is disposed in the printing apparatus in opposite relation to the ring and detects the information marks recorded on the ring.

Abstract: A transfer/recording paper cartridge comprises: a case having a recording paper container containing recording papers, and a transfer paper container containing a feed spool on which is wound a transfer paper and a winding spool to which is fastened the leading end of the transfer paper, and provided with a paper feed opening; and a cover covering the paper feed opening. When a recording apparatus is loaded with the transfer/recording paper cartridge, the cover is moved automatically to an open position to open the paper feed opening so that the paper feed mechanism of the recording apparatus is able to gain access to the recording papers contained in the transfer/recording paper cartridge. The recording papers and the transfer paper are consumed proportionally, so that the recording papers and the transfer paper are exhausted simultaneously.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing a paper sheet on a platen by a thermal head with a three color image includes a feeding device and a paper ejecting device. The paper feeding device includes feeding rollers, a feeding tray, a feeding lever and a two-stage discharge bay. With the paper feeding device, a receiving plate for receiving a stack of paper sheets is lifted upwardly toward the feeding rollers so as to keep the leading paper sheet in contact with the feeding rollers; at the same time, a discharged sheet is moved from the first to second discharge stage. The feeding lever is adapted for moving the receiving plate slightly downwardly so as to separate the printing paper sheet from the feeding rollers before the rear edge of the sheet passes under the feeding rollers. Shock is thereby avoided when the leading edge of the sheet passes under the roller.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing a paper sheet on a platen by a thermal head with a three color image includes a feeding device and a paper ejecting device. The paper feeding device includes feeding rollers, a feeding tray, and a feeding lever. After printing, the printed paper sheet is ejected forwardly in the printing apparatus by the ejecting device to a stepped discharge plate so as to facilitating removal of the printed paper sheet therefrom.