Abstract: A printer has a print head check unit that performs an ink ejection check to confirm whether or not ink is being ejected normally from nozzles, based on induced voltage generated when charged ink droplets are ejected onto a check area. Upon receipt of a print instruction (S100), the printer sets a flag F to 1 so as to start an ink ejection check and starts a paper feed process (S110). When the processes has been terminated (S120, S130), the printer starts printing. Accordingly, as an ink ejection check takes place concurrently with the paper feed process, the overall time required for the processes can be reduced, in comparison with any method in which the processes are executed separately. In this way, because of efficient implementation, the overall time required for the processes of the ejection check of the print recording liquid and an image forming process can be reduced.

Abstract: A printer has a print head check unit that performs an ink ejection check to confirm whether or not ink is being ejected normally from nozzles, based on induced voltage generated when charged ink droplets are ejected onto a check area. Upon receipt of a print instruction (S100), the printer sets a flag F to 1 so as to start an ink ejection check and starts a paper feed process (S110). When the processes has been terminated (S120, S130), the printer starts printing. Accordingly, as an ink ejection check takes place concurrently with the paper feed process, the overall time required for the processes can be reduced, in comparison with any method in which the processes are executed separately. In this way, because of efficient implementation, the overall time required for the processes of the ejection check of the print recording liquid and an image forming process can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a printing device including: a printing unit which has a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid and printing an image; an inspection unit which inspects whether or not the liquid is able to be ejected from the nozzles; and a controller which divides each pixel of image data into a plurality of pixels, and allows the printing unit to perform printing if at least one of at least a predetermined number of nozzles corresponding to each pixel of the image data is able to eject the liquid in the inspected result of the inspection unit, when dots are formed using at least the predetermined number of nozzles with respect to the plurality of divided pixels.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head which ejects a liquid from nozzles; a first electrode which charges the liquid with a first potential; a second electrode which is charged with a second potential different from the first potential; and an inspector which inspects whether the liquid is ejected from the nozzles based on a variation in a potential caused in at least one of the first and second electrodes by ejecting the liquid charged with the first potential from the nozzles to the second electrode and which determines whether the inspection of liquid ejection from the nozzles is normally executed based on the variation in the potential during a non-ejection period in which the liquid is not ejected from all of the nozzles.

Abstract: When an actually measured voltage Vsu detected by a voltmeter 58 is within an inspection permissible range, a print head inspection apparatus 50 performs an inspection as whether or not ink has been normally ejected, on the basis of a changes in voltage that occur in an inspection area 52 as a result of ejected ink droplets. On the one hand, when the actually measured voltage Vsu is less than the inspection range, the apparatus increases a relative distance between a nozzle plate 27 and the inspection area 52 by separating the capping member 41 from the print head 24, by then bringing the capping member 41 and the print head 24 into contact, and after a suction pump 45 performs a separated-suction process, by then gradually separating the capping member 41 from the print head 24 until the actually measured voltage Vsu is within the inspection permissible range.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head that causes liquid to be ejected from nozzle openings by driving of an ejection driving portion; a driving signal generation portion that generates a driving pulse for driving the ejection driving portion; a liquid receiving portion that is disposed so as to oppose a nozzle forming face of the liquid ejecting head and receive the ink ejected from the nozzle openings; and an ejection inspecting portion that detects an electrical variation occurring between a conductive portion of the liquid ejecting head and the liquid receiving portion when liquid is ejected towards the liquid receiving portion from the nozzle openings in a state where an electric voltage is applied between the conductive portion and the liquid receiving portion, thereby inspecting the ejection and non-ejection of the liquid from the nozzle openings.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from nozzle openings by driving of an ejection driving portion; a driving signal generation portion that generates a driving pulse for driving the ejection driving portion; a liquid receiving portion that is disposed so as to oppose a nozzle forming face of the liquid ejecting head and receive ink ejected from the nozzle openings; and an ejection inspecting portion that detects an electrical variation occurring between a conductive portion of the liquid ejecting head and the liquid receiving portion when liquid is ejected toward the liquid receiving portion from the nozzle openings in a state where an electric voltage is applied between the conductive portion and the liquid receiving portion, thereby inspecting whether or not liquid has been ejected from the nozzle openings.

Abstract: A nozzle inspection device 50 includes: an inspection area 52 that is provided inside a capping member 41 and is capable of receiving ink; a voltage application circuit 53 that applies voltage to a print head 24 to generate a predetermined potential difference between the print head 24 and the inspection area 52; and a switching module 53a that is switched between the ground side where a nozzle plate has ground potential and the voltage-application side where the nozzle plate is independent from ground potential and voltage is applied to the print head. During a nozzle inspection to determine whether or not ink can be ejected from nozzles 23 on the basis of voltage variations in the inspection area 52, a CPU 72 switches the switch 53a to the voltage-application side. During printing, the CPU 72 switches the switch 53 to the ground side. In this structure, the print head is free from electrical impact during printing, and the head can be at a predetermined potential during a nozzle inspection.

Abstract: An ink jet printer 20 of the present invention can carry out a head check on whether or not ink is normally ejected from nozzles 23, by having a voltage detection circuit 54 detect electrical change resulting from ejecting of charged ink droplets onto an ink receiving area 52. When instructed to do borderfree printing, the ink jet printer 20 has a voltage application circuit 50 to charge ink in the print head 24, and ejects ink onto an area within the ink receiving area 52 where a recording sheet S is present and an area where a recording sheet is not present. The ink jet printer 20 also carries a print head 24 and determines a front edge of the recording sheet S based on a position where a voltage detection circuit no longer detects voltage. Thus, the ink jet printer 20 determines a front edge, side edges, and rear edge of the recording sheet S by directly using ink.

Abstract: When an actually measured voltage Vsu detected by a voltmeter 58 is within an inspection permissible range, a print head inspection apparatus 50 performs an inspection as whether or not ink has been normally ejected, on the basis of a changes in voltage that occur in an inspection area 52 as a result of ejected ink droplets. On the one hand, when the actually measured voltage Vsu is less than the inspection range, the apparatus increases a relative distance between a nozzle plate 27 and the inspection area 52 by separating the capping member 41 from the print head 24, by then bringing the capping member 41 and the print head 24 into contact, and after a suction pump 45 performs a separated-suction process, by then gradually separating the capping member 41 from the print head 24 until the actually measured voltage Vsu is within the inspection permissible range.

Abstract: A nozzle inspection device 50 includes: an inspection area 52 that is provided inside a capping member 41 and is capable of receiving ink; a voltage application circuit 53 that applies voltage to a print head 24 to generate a predetermined potential difference between the print head 24 and the inspection area 52; and a switching module 53a that is switched between the ground side where a nozzle plate has ground potential and the voltage-application side where the nozzle plate is independent from ground potential and voltage is applied to the print head. During a nozzle inspection to determine whether or not ink can be ejected from nozzles 23 on the basis of voltage variations in the inspection area 52, a CPU 72 switches the switch 53a to the voltage-application side. During printing, the CPU 72 switches the switch 53 to the ground side. In this structure, the print head is free from electrical impact during printing, and the head can be at a predetermined potential during a nozzle inspection.

Abstract: A printer has a print head check unit that performs an ink ejection check to confirm whether or not ink is being ejected normally from nozzles, based on induced voltage generated when charged ink droplets are ejected onto a check area. Upon receipt of a print instruction (S100), the printer sets a flag F to 1 so as to start an ink ejection check and starts a paper feed process (S110). When the processes has been terminated (S120, S130), the printer starts printing. Accordingly, as an ink ejection check takes place concurrently with the paper feed process, the overall time required for the processes can be reduced, in comparison with any method in which the processes are executed separately. In this way, because of efficient implementation, the overall time required for the processes of the ejection check of the print recording liquid and an image forming process can be reduced.

Abstract: An ink jet printer 20 of the present invention can carry out a head check on whether or not ink is normally ejected from nozzles 23, by having a voltage detection circuit 54 detect electrical change resulting from ejecting of charged ink droplets onto an ink receiving area 52. When instructed to do borderfree printing, the ink jet printer 20 has a voltage application circuit 50 to charge ink in the print head 24, and ejects ink onto an area within the ink receiving area 52 where a recording sheet S is present and an area where a recording sheet is not present. The ink jet printer 20 also carries a print head 24 and determines a front edge of the recording sheet S based on a position where a voltage detection circuit no longer detects voltage. Thus, the ink jet printer 20 determines a front edge, side edges, and rear edge of the recording sheet S by directly using ink.