Abstract: A fluid dispensing system for ink-jet printing can comprise an ink-jet ink including anionic dye colorant and from 0.05 wt % to 1.0 wt % of an anionic dispersant polymer, and a fixer composition including a cationic crashing agent that is with a component of the ink-jet ink. The fixer composition can be stored separately from the ink-jet ink, and the fluid dispensing system can be configured for overprinting or underprinting the fixer composition with respect to the ink-jet ink.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing system for ink-jet printing can comprise an ink-jet ink including anionic dye colorant and from 0.05 wt % to 1.0 wt % of an anionic dispersant polymer, and a fixer composition including a cationic crashing agent that is with a component of the ink-jet ink. The fixer composition can be stored separately from the ink-jet ink, and the fluid dispensing system can be configured for overprinting or underprinting the fixer composition with respect to the ink-jet ink.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an optical sensor carried by a print carriage. An optical guide has an input end in optical alignment with a maintenance item and has an output end in optical alignment with a location to which the optical sensor may be moved by the print carriage.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an optical sensor carried by a print carriage. An optical guide has an input end in optical alignment with a maintenance item and has an output end in optical alignment with a location to which the optical sensor may be moved by the print carriage.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus and method of assembly therefor for cleaning an inkjet print head. The cleaning apparatus comprises a web supply for supplying a cleaning web therefrom and a web receiver for receiving the web. A web drive drives the web from the web supply to the web receiver. The web drive pulls the web from the web supply with a first tension force and also pulls the web onto the web receiver with a second tension force greater than the first tension force, so that the web is wrinkle-free while the web slidably engages an exterior surface of the print head to clean the print head. The web remains wrinkle-free to ensure that the surface of the web will contact the surface of the print head without gaps in contact coverage. This enhances cleaning effectiveness compared to a cleaning web having wrinkles.

Abstract: Absorbent pads are provided at various positions on a substrate of a service station. The substrate may be in the form of a device intended to be implemented during a capping operation of ink ejection elements, e.g., printheads, pens, etc. Ink accumulated in the absorbent pads may be substantially removed and stored in a receptacle to thereby enable to absorbent pads to be capable of absorbing additional amounts of ink. The transfer of ink from the absorbent pads to the receptacle may be facilitated by a transfer member connecting the two components. The absorbent pads may selectively contact and disengage from the transfer member at various moments during, for example, a servicing routine. The receptacle may be a spittoon that may also be implemented to receive spit ink from the ink ejection element.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device for printing plots comprises a printhead, which has a plurality of nozzles each nozzle having at least a working status and a failing status, a servicing unit capable of applying recovery functions to said plurality of nozzles, detection means for checking if a nozzles is in a working status or in a failing status, memory means and a plurality of functions executable by said device to improve image quality. Said memory means, responsive to said detection means, contains data on how the status of a nozzle is varying over time. Said device further comprises means to select and execute at least one of said plurality of functions, responsive to the data stored in said memory means.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus and method of assembly therefor for cleaning an inkjet print head. The cleaning apparatus comprises a web supply for supplying a cleaning web therefrom and a web receiver for receiving the web. A web drive drives the web from the web supply to the web receiver. The web drive pulls the web from the web supply with a first tension force and also pulls the web onto the web receiver with a second tension force greater than the first tension force, so that the web is wrinkle-free while the web slidably engages an exterior surface of the print head to clean the print head. The web remains wrinkle-free to ensure that the surface of the web will contact the surface of the print head without gaps in contact coverage. This enhances cleaning effectiveness compared to a cleaning web having wrinkles.

Abstract: Absorbent pads are provided at various positions on a substrate of a service station. The substrate may be in the form of a device intended to be implemented during a capping operation of ink ejection elements, e.g., printheads, pens, etc. Ink accumulated in the absorbent pads may be substantially removed and stored in a receptacle to thereby enable to absorbent pads to be capable of absorbing additional amounts of ink. The transfer of ink from the absorbent pads to the receptacle may be facilitated by a transfer member connecting the two components. The absorbent pads may selectively contact and disengage from the transfer member at various moments during, for example, a servicing routine. The receptacle may be a spittoon that may also be implemented to receive spit ink from the ink ejection element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a print job includes determining which nozzles of a printhead are currently failing, estimating a number of additional printhead nozzles that will fail while printing the print job, calculating a maximum number of failing nozzles that may not be exceeded in order to maintain a specified quality level for the print job, and determining if the number of currently failing printhead nozzles added to the estimated number of additional printhead nozzles that will fail exceeds the calculated maximum number of failing nozzles. The method and apparatus also includes providing a notification in the event that the number of currently failing printhead nozzles added to the estimated number of additional printhead nozzles that will fail exceeds the calculated maximum number of failing nozzles.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device for printing plots includes a printhead, which has a plurality of nozzles, and is capable of performing a variety of servicing functions.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device for printing plots comprises a printhead, which has a plurality of nozzles each nozzle having at least a working status and a failing status, a servicing unit capable of applying recovery functions to said plurality of nozzles, detection means for checking if a nozzles is in a working status or in a failing status, memory means and a plurality of functions executable by said device to improve image quality. Said memory means, responsive to said detection means, contains data on how the status of a nozzle is varying over time. Said device further comprises means to select and execute at least one of said plurality of functions, responsive to the data stored in said memory means.

Abstract: A structure of bands is associated with printhead-array image-forming elements, forming a printmask. Some band pairs are complementary. A low usage percent is stated for at least one band and a like value for another, a complement to each “at least one” band, to smooth the mask and image. The invention best sets a number N of passes, a wavenumber multiplier M for the image, and overall number B of bands N×M×2, the “2” accounting for odd and even elements; bands appear in order: first group of M bands, odd and even, second group of M bands, odd and even, . . . (N−1)th group of M bands, odd and even, Nth group of M bands, odd and even. In another novel aspect the invention has programming for creating a geometrical structure of bands, respectively associated with the image-forming elements and constituting the printmask.