Abstract: Method of printing from a printer, where the printer includes one or more maintenance firings from a printhead nozzle. Formatting a print job to be printed in determining which nozzles on a printhead require maintenance during printing of the print job. Modifying the formatted print job to include one or more maintenance firings for the nozzles requiring maintenance.

Abstract: A hand-operated printer includes a body, a printhead mounted to the body, a target sight mounted to the body, and a display device mounted to the body. The display device is configured to display an image and a representation of the target sight in relation to the image, and wherein the relation between the representation of the target sight and the image that are displayed on the display device corresponds to a relationship between the target sight and a print position for the image.

Abstract: A method of printing multiple swaths with a hand-operated printer having a target sight includes printing at least one alignment mark for a subsequent print swath during a printing of a current print swath; and aligning the target sight with the alignment mark prior to beginning printing of the subsequent print swath.

Abstract: A docking station includes a housing operable to receive and releasably secure a handheld printer, and a freeing mechanism, where the freeing mechanism is operable to release the handheld printer from the housing. The docking station also includes a print head cap operable to receive a print head of the handheld printer when the handheld printer is secured in the housing, and a print head wiper, where the print head wiper is operable to wipe the print head of the handheld printer during the release of the handheld printer from the housing.

Abstract: An automatic edge guide assembly comprises a sheet feeding mechanism, a slide housing mounted within the sheet feeding mechanism and an edge guide slidably connected to the slide housing. The edge guide is biased by a first biasing force and a second biasing force, wherein the first force is greater than the second force, allowing for automatic edge alignment within a predetermined range of widths.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a printhead carrier configured for movement along an X-axis. The printhead carrier includes a carrier housing having a first bearing pocket and a second bearing pocket. The first bearing pocket and the second bearing pocket are spaced apart along the X-axis. A Z-axis passes through a central region of the carrier housing. The Z-axis is substantially perpendicular to the X-axis. A first bearing is configured to be received in the first bearing pocket. The first bearing includes a first curved outer surface having a curve that extends in a direction of the X-axis. The curved outer surface is received in the first bearing pocket to facilitate a rotation of the first bearing in relation to the Z-axis of the carrier housing. A second bearing is configured to be received in the second bearing pocket.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a sheet separation surface positioned along the sheet feed path downstream from a media tray. A plurality of pivoting arms is mounted in the imaging apparatus. The pivoting arms are moveable between a first position and a second position. The pivoting arms are positioned and individually spaced along a width of the sheet feed path. Each of the pivoting arms has a media stack engaging surface. When the pivoting arms are in the first position, the media stack engaging surface is non-parallel to the sheet separation surface. When the plurality of pivoting arms is in the second position, the media stack engaging surface is parallel to the sheet separation surface.