Abstract: Methods for curing ink printed on a print medium are disclosed. The methods comprise heating air to a temperature suitable for curing the ink, and blowing the air through a plurality of holes onto the print medium.

Abstract: A printer, method, computer program or cutter accessory for cutting media while printing is provided.

Abstract: A printer comprises a heating system to produce a hot-air flowimpinging on a print media, the heating system comprising a heat source, a fan, and an air chamber. The air chamber has an air-impinging plate with air-impinging holes adjacent to the print media. The heating system provides first and second partially overlapping hot-air circulation circuits. The first hot-air circulation circuit leads from the heater through the holes of the air-impinging plate to direct hot air through the air-impinging holes to the print media in the course of printing operation. The second hot-air circulation circuit leads back to the heater through a recirculation channel without passing through the air-impinging holes of the air-impinging plate to prevent air from being directed onto the print media, in the course of the heat-up operation. The heating system further comprises circuit-switching arranged to switch the air flow between the first and second hot-air circulation circuits.

Abstract: System for supplying ink printed on a print medium comprises a heater to heat air, an impingement plate with a plurality of holes, and a blower for blowing heated air through the holes of the impingement plate onto the print medium. The impingement flux length in the system which may be defined as the length of the impingement plate through which heated air is blown, is adjustable.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a method of calibrating a printing system. The printing system is configured to supply print media and calibration media to a print zone. The method comprises controlling the printing system to position calibration media in the print zone, printing a predetermined set of color patches on the calibration media, measuring color characteristics of the printed set of color patches, and comparing the measured color characteristics with a set of reference color characteristics. The method further comprises calibrating the printing system based on the compared characteristics.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a print unit to print a plurality of swaths to form an image on a media, a media transport unit to transport the media to the print unit and an advancement error determination unit to determine an amount of advancement error corresponding to the transportation of the media. The image forming system also includes a swath adjustment module to dynamically adjust a swath size of a respective swath.

Abstract: A printer comprises a heating system to produce a hot-air flowimpinging on a print media, the heating system comprising a heat source, a fan, and an air chamber. The air chamber has an air-impinging plate with air-impinging holes adjacent to the print media. The heating system provides first and second partially overlapping hot-air circulation circuits. The first hot-air circulation circuit leads from the heater through the holes of the air-impinging plate to direct hot air through the air-impinging holes to the print media in the course of printing operation. The second hot-air circulation circuit leads back to the heater through a recirculation channel without passing through the air-impinging holes of the air-impinging plate to prevent air from being directed onto the print media, in the course of the heat-up operation. The heating system further comprises circuit-switching arranged to switch the air flow between the first and second hot-air circulation circuits.

Abstract: System for supplying ink printed on a print medium comprises a heater to heat air, an impingement plate with a plurality of holes, and a blower for blowing heated air through the holes of the impingement plate onto the print medium. The impingement flux length in the system which may be defined as the length of the impingement plate through which heated air is blown, is adjustable.

Abstract: Methods for curing ink printed on a print medium are disclosed. The methods comprise heating air to a temperature suitable for curing the ink, and blowing the air through a plurality of holes onto the print medium.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a method of calibrating a printing system. The printing system is configured to supply print media and calibration media to a print zone. The method comprises controlling the printing system to position calibration media in the print zone, printing a predetermined set of color patches on the calibration media, measuring color characteristics of the printed set of color patches, and comparing the measured color characteristics with a set of reference color characteristics. The method further comprises calibrating the printing system based on the compared characteristics.

Abstract: A system for pre-heating print media includes a carriage: a plurality of printheads disposed on the carriage; and a plurality of heating lamps disposed on the carriage such that each of the printheads is associated with at least one of the heating lamps. Each of the heating lamps heats a corresponding portion of a print medium prior to arrival of a printhead associated with that heating lamp at that portion of the print medium.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a print unit to print a plurality of swaths to form an image on a media, a media transport unit to transport the media to the print unit and an advancement error determination unit to determine an amount of advancement error corresponding to the transportation of the media. The image forming system also includes a swath adjustment module to dynamically adjust a swath size of a respective swath.

Abstract: A system for pre-heating print media includes a carriage: a plurality of printheads disposed on the carriage; and a plurality of heating lamps disposed on the carriage such that each of the printheads is associated with at least one of the heating lamps. Each of the heating lamps heats a corresponding portion of a print medium prior to arrival of a printhead associated with that heating lamp at that portion of the print medium.

Abstract: A convertible printer usable with either a flexible media or rigid media is disclosed.

Abstract: A convertible printer usable with either a flexible media or rigid media is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved capping method and apparatus is provided for capping a plurality of inkjet printer cartridges. A plurality of capping device are mounted on a common support member which is biased towards the respective printheads of a plurality of cartridges. Relative movement in the capping direction between the capping device and the printheads is limited by a mechanical stop and the biasing force provided is sufficiently large to ensure that in use this relative movement is always so limited. By providing a substantially constant displacement in the capping direction between a set of cartridges and a set of capping means, the capping force between a particular printhead and its respective capping device dependent only on the manufacturing tolerances associated with the particular printhead and capping device and not those associated with all other printheads and capping device in the set.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system with a translational inkjet service module. The system includes a carriage which moves along a scan axis over a print zone, with a plurality of printheads mounted on the carriage, each printhead having an array of nozzles for applying ink to the print media in the print zone. The service module has wipers for engagement with the array of nozzles during a period when the nozzles are not applying ink to the media. A motor moves the servicing module in a linear direction orthogonal to the scan axis in order to simultaneously wipe each array of nozzles. The servicing module also provides a capper function and a priming function.

Abstract: An inkjet printer service carriage mounted for movement in a printhead servicing direction between a first position in which the carriage is remote from the printhead cartridges to be serviced and a second position in which the service carriage abuts the printhead carriage to service the printheads includes two independent motorized actuators, the first of which linearly moves the carriage in a horizontal x-axis direction and the second of which arcuately moves the carriage in a vertical z-axis plane perpendicular to the x-axis direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for aligning the printer carriage of an inkjet printer with a service station of the printer where for example capping, wiping or spitting of inkjet cartridges held by the printer carriage can be performed. The method utilizes an optical sensor mounted on the printer carriage to scan a reference mark within the service area. Preferably the reference mark exhibits a change in reflectance in the scanning direction of the printer carriage and is mounted on a service station carriage which also holds removable service modules. An embodiment employs an iterative method in which calibration steps are interspersed by capping operations so as to ensure accurate alignment is achieved.

Abstract: A manually removable service module is provided for use with an inkjet printer having a service zone for printhead servicing functions including printhead priming. The service module comprises a nozzle plate cap for interfacing with a nozzle plate of a printhead to perform priming functions, a primer port for connecting the service module to a primer located within the printer, and a path through the service module between the interfacing cap and the primer port. The primer port is automatically connected to the primer as the service module is inserted into the printer by a user of the printer. In a embodiment there is also provided an ink separation chamber having a plurality of baffle walls within the service module so as to prevent ink from contaminating the primer port.