Abstract: A portable large format inkjet printer for printing an image at a media print area of a stationary flat media includes an inkjet print engine having a printhead carrier system configured to dynamically scan an inkjet printhead over the media print area in each of two orthogonal directions during the printing of the image. An alignment frame is configured to fixedly mount the inkjet print engine to facilitate a manual positioning of the alignment frame and the inkjet print engine in unison. The alignment frame has an open interior window within which the inkjet printhead is moved and from which all printing occurs. At least one alignment panel is mounted to the alignment frame. Each respective alignment panel has an alignment indicia configured to facilitate accurate manual positioning of the portable large format inkjet printer at a desired printing position at the media print area.

Abstract: Method and devices for reducing printing artifacts. In one embodiment, a method includes directing ink onto a medium, the medium having a trailing edge; tracking the position of the medium in relation to a nip roller; adjusting the direction of ink onto the medium a first time when the trailing edge of the medium is in close proximity to the nip roller; and adjusting the direction of ink onto the medium a second time.

Abstract: A method for calibrating the printing of a lenticular image with respect to the lenticules of a lenticular sheet includes the step of printing a test pattern including a plurality of patches on a lenticular sheet with an ink jet printer. The patches are sensed though the lenticules with a sensing device and the sensed data is analyzed to determine a calibration factor that is used to subsequently print a lenticular image on the lenticular sheet. In a further embodiment, the method comprises aligning a lenticular sheet in the ink jet printer; sensing the lenticules on said lenticular sheet with the sensing device; analyzing the sensed data in the processing unit to determine the lenticule spacing; calculating a calibration factor based upon the analysis; and using the calibration factor to subsequently print a lenticular image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calibrating media indexing errors in a printing device are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises feeding a calibration media through a printing device, sensing the position of the media as it moves through the printing device, sensing positions of a media indexing component as the media moves through the printing device, determining media indexing position errors based upon the sensed positions, and calculating a compensation factor to be applied based upon the errors. In some embodiments, parameters of a line and/or other function are determined from the error data and the parameters are utilized to calculate a compensation factor. Moreover, in some embodiments, it is determined what range the data fits within, and a predetermined compensation factor is determined based upon the range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the absence of print media in an imaging device, such as a printer. The printer includes a print mechanism, a media tray for supplying sheets of print media to the printer, and a pick mechanism for moving the sheets of print media from the media tray to the print mechanism. The pick mechanism includes a pick roller, a pick motor that rotates the pick roller, and a controller in communication with the pick motor. Rotating the pick roller when there are no sheets of print media in the media tray causes the pick motor to stall. The controller produces a signal when the motor stalls indicating to the user that the printer is out of print media. A rotational position encoder coupled to the pick mechanism and in communication with the controller can be used to provide pick motor stall detection.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a print engine having a print zone. A print media feed system transports a sheet of print media in a media feed direction along a media feed path through the print zone. The print media feed system includes a plurality of exit rollers positioned across a width of the media feed path. Each of a plurality of pressure rollers engages a respective one of the plurality of exit rollers to define a plurality of exit nips. A support structure mounts the plurality of exit rollers and the plurality of pressure rollers. The support structure positions the plurality of exit nips in an arrangement to define a transverse path across the width of the media feed path in the direction transverse to the media feed direction, the transverse path having a central portion and elevated portions on each side of the central portion.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for printing an image using the printhead of an ink jet printer. The printhead ejects ink drops on a print medium in a series of scanning passes, and different addressing patterns are selected in each scanning pass to address ink drop locations for different portions of the raster lines addressed by each scanning pass. Addressing patterns having various interlacing percentages are selected in order to produce overlapping boundary regions between passes. The overlapping boundary regions minimize the banding effects that occur with inexact ink drop placement.

Abstract: A method of printing using an ink jet printer includes the steps of: defining at least one scan line with a plurality of pixel locations spaced apart at a predetermined print resolution; scanning a printhead across the scan line at a first velocity; printing on the scan line at selected pixel locations at the first scan velocity; scanning the printhead across the scan line at a second scan velocity which is different from the first scan velocity; and printing on the scan line at selected pixel locations at the second scan velocity.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for printing an image using the printhead of an ink jet printer. The printhead ejects ink drops on a print medium in a series of scanning passes, and different addressing patterns are selected in each scanning pass to address ink drop locations for different portions of the raster lines addressed by each scanning pass. Addressing patterns having various interlacing percentages are selected in order to produce overlapping boundary regions between passes. The overlapping boundary regions minimize the banding effects that occur with inexact ink drop placement.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for compensating for media indexing errors in a printing device. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying a desired amount by which the print receiving medium should be indexed in order to print at the next location for the image being printed. The method further comprises determining an ideal indexing command for causing the indexing command based upon a compensation factor in order to compensate for imperfections in the indexing system. In this embodiment, the ideal indexing command is adjusted only once per indexing of the print receiving medium by the desired amount, and the adjusted ideal indexing command is utilized to move a roller and to index the receiving medium by the desired amount in order to print at the next location for the image being printed.

Abstract: In one aspect, in a device such as a printer, an encoder system method initializes the system to produce analog output signals that fall outside the detection range of an A/D converter of the system. In another aspect, in a device such as a printer, an encoder system method initializes the system without converting analog signal levels into corresponding digital values.

Abstract: A radiation modulator system and related method for actively controlling a flame in a combustion system are provided. The system includes a plurality of radiation modulators positioned adjacent the flame. A sensor arrangement is provided for sensing combustion characteristics of the flame and generating a sensor signal representative of the combustion characteristics. The sensor signal is received in a computer which then generates a control signal for transmission to a linkage arrangement which provides for the repositioning of the radiation modulators. Thus, the flame is actively controlled by continually repositioning the modulators in response to the sensor signal and the control signal. The related method broadly includes the steps of: (1) positioning the radiation modulators adjacent the flame; (2) sensing combustion characteristics of the flame; and (3) repositioning the radiation modulators responsive to the combustion characteristics.