Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a liquid discharge head and a first light source. The liquid discharge head is configured to discharge a transparent liquid onto a discharged object. The first light source is configured to irradiate a pattern formed by the transparent liquid discharged onto the discharged object with light having a single peak wavelength to cause a difference between brightness and darkness.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a liquid discharge head and a first light source. The liquid discharge head is configured to discharge a transparent liquid onto a discharged object. The first light source is configured to irradiate a pattern formed by the transparent liquid discharged onto the discharged object with light having a single peak wavelength to cause a difference between brightness and darkness.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus discharges ink onto a recording medium to form an image on a surface of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a preprocessing unit that applies preprocess liquid on the surface of the recording medium before the image is formed; and a postprocessing unit that applies postprocess liquid, which is different from the preprocess liquid, onto the recording medium after the image is formed. An application quantity of the preprocess liquid is determined based at least on a kind of the ink, and an application quantity of the postprocess liquid is determined based at least on the kind of the ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image and an ink cartridge that includes a deformable ink supply bag having an ink supply port; a deformable waste ink collection bag having a fluid gateway; and a cartridge housing to accommodate the deformable ink supply bag and the deformable waste ink collection bag at the same time. A connecting member having a non-return valve is provided to connect the deformable ink supply bag and the deformable waste ink collection bag with each other at a section other than the ink supply port and the fluid gateway. The non-return valve prevents ink from flowing from the waste ink collection bag into the ink supply bag. A non-return valve control mechanism is provided not to operate the non-return valve in an initial state in which the ink supply bag is initially filled with ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus discharges ink onto a recording medium to form an image on a surface of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a preprocessing unit that applies preprocess liquid on the surface of the recording medium before the image is formed; and a postprocessing unit that applies postprocess liquid, which is different from the preprocess liquid, onto the recording medium after the image is formed. An application quantity of the preprocess liquid is determined based at least on a kind of the ink, and an application quantity of the postprocess liquid is determined based at least on the kind of the ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a carriage which moves and scans, the carriage being provided with a recording head which ejects liquid droplets; and a sheet-shaped receiving face member which forms a receiving face which receives non-contributing liquid droplets which do not contribute to image forming, the non-contributing liquid droplets being ejected from the recording head. The receiving face member is movably arranged, and the image forming apparatus further includes a drive unit which moves the receiving face member in conjunction with movement of the carriage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a print head, including nozzle heads, configured to discharge ink droplets upward and movable between an image forming area in which images are formed on a recording medium and an idle discharge area in which idle discharge of the ink droplets is performed to clean the nozzles; an endless belt ink receiving member, disposed above the print head in the idle discharge area in which the print head performs idle discharge and configured to hold the idly-discharged ink; an ink receiving member driver operatively connected to the ink receiving member to circularly drive the ink receiving member; and a cleaner disposed downstream of the idle discharge area in the direction of rotation of the ink receiving member and configured to remove the ink from the ink receiving member.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head to horizontally eject ink droplets to print on a recording medium and an ink receiving assembly to receive ink droplets ejected for dummy ejection from the inkjet head. The ink receiving assembly includes a non-porous ink receiving plate and a collection tank. The ink receiving plate has a hydrophilic receiving face broader than an ejection range of the ink droplets ejected for dummy ejection. The receiving face is substantially vertically disposed to receive the ink droplets ejected for dummy ejection. The collection tank is disposed below the ink receiving plate to collect ink droplets received by and dropped from the ink receiving plate. Ad/stance between the inkjet head and the receiving face of the ink receiving plate is set to be shorter than a distance in which the ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head for dummy ejection turn into mist.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image and an ink cartridge that includes a deformable ink supply bag having an ink supply port; a deformable waste ink collection bag having a fluid gateway; and a cartridge housing to accommodate the deformable ink supply bag and the deformable waste ink collection bag at the same time. A connecting member having a non-return valve is provided to connect the deformable ink supply bag and the deformable waste ink collection bag with each other at a section other than the ink supply port and the fluid gateway. The non-return valve prevents ink from flowing from the waste ink collection bag into the ink supply bag. A non-return valve control mechanism is provided not to operate the non-return valve in an initial state in which the ink supply bag is initially filled with ink.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a recording head; a cap member capping the nozzle surface of the recording head and including a release port and a suction port; a suction unit in communication with the suction port; a switch unit opening and closing the release port to the air and capable of adjusting the opening amount of the release port to at least a first opening amount and a second opening amount larger than the first opening amount; and a control unit that controls the suction unit and the switch unit so that the release port is opened to the first opening amount to have a predetermined amount of air flow into the cap member after the cap member is suctioned by the suction unit, and the release port is then opened to the second opening amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a nozzle face on which nozzles that discharge liquid droplets are formed; a cap configured to cap the nozzle face of the recording head; a discharge path configured to be connected to the cap; a suction pump configured to be provided in the discharge path and be made of a tube pump; and an atmosphere opening part configured to open an airtight space, created when the nozzle face is capped by the cap, to the atmosphere. The atmosphere opening part is configured to communicate with the inside of the cap at a position higher than a surface of liquid discharged into the cap, and a check valve configured to prevent a flow of the liquid toward the cap from the suction pump is provided in the discharge path.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head to horizontally eject ink droplets to print on a recording medium and an ink receiving assembly to receive ink droplets ejected for dummy ejection from the inkjet head. The ink receiving assembly includes a non-porous ink receiving plate and a collection tank. The ink receiving plate has a hydrophilic receiving face broader than an ejection range of the ink droplets ejected for dummy ejection. The receiving face is substantially vertically disposed to receive the ink droplets ejected for dummy ejection. The collection tank is disposed below the ink receiving plate to collect ink droplets received by and dropped from the ink receiving plate. Ad/stance between the inkjet head and the receiving face of the ink receiving plate is set to be shorter than a distance in which the ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head for dummy ejection turn into mist.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a cap, a suction unit, and a recovery device. The recording head has nozzles at a nozzle face to horizontally eject droplets of liquid. The cap caps the nozzle face of the recording head. The suction unit is connected to the cap. The recovery device drives the suction unit with the nozzle face capped with the cap to create a negative pressure in an internal space of the cap and suck the liquid from the recording head. The cap has a contact portion to contact the nozzle face and a suction port to communicate with the suction unit. The suction port is disposed away from the contact portion with a minute gap at a lowermost area of the cap in a vertical direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a print head, including nozzle heads, configured to discharge ink droplets upward and movable between an image forming area in which images are formed on a recording medium and an idle discharge area in which idle discharge of the ink droplets is performed to clean the nozzles; an endless belt ink receiving member, disposed above the print head in the idle discharge area in which the print head performs idle discharge and configured to hold the idly-discharged ink; an ink receiving member driver operatively connected to the ink receiving member to circularly drive the ink receiving member; and a cleaner disposed downstream of the idle discharge area in the direction of rotation of the ink receiving member and configured to remove the ink from the ink receiving member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, including a carriage which moves and scans, the carriage being provided with a recording head which ejects liquid droplets; and a sheet-shaped receiving face member which forms a receiving face which receives non-contributing liquid droplets which do not contribute to image forming, the non-contributing liquid droplets being ejected from the recording head. The receiving face member is movably arranged, and the image forming apparatus further includes a drive unit which moves the receiving face member in conjunction with movement of the carriage.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a recording head; a cap member capping the nozzle surface of the recording head and including a release port and a suction port; a suction unit in communication with the suction port; a switch unit opening and closing the release port to the air and capable of adjusting the opening amount of the release port to at least a first opening amount and a second opening amount larger than the first opening amount; and a control unit that controls the suction unit and the switch unit so that the release port is opened to the first opening amount to have a predetermined amount of air flow into the cap member after the cap member is suctioned by the suction unit, and the release port is then opened to the second opening amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a nozzle face on which nozzles that discharge liquid droplets are formed; a cap configured to cap the nozzle face of the recording head; a discharge path configured to be connected to the cap; a suction pump configured to be provided in the discharge path and be made of a tube pump; and an atmosphere opening part configured to open an airtight space, created when the nozzle face is capped by the cap, to the atmosphere. The atmosphere opening part is configured to communicate with the inside of the cap at a position higher than a surface of liquid discharged into the cap, and a check valve configured to prevent a flow of the liquid toward the cap from the suction pump is provided in the discharge path.