Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a recording head having an array of nozzles disposed in a surface of the recording head to eject liquid droplets vertically upward to form an image on a recording medium conveyed above the recording head, a suction cap to cover the surface of the recording head from above, and a waste liquid receiver provided to a periphery of the recording head to receive liquid streaming down the periphery of the recording head upon removal of the suction cap from the surface of the recording head.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a recording head; a cap member capping the nozzle surface of the recording head and including a release port and a suction port; a suction unit in communication with the suction port; a switch unit opening and closing the release port to the air and capable of adjusting the opening amount of the release port to at least a first opening amount and a second opening amount larger than the first opening amount; and a control unit that controls the suction unit and the switch unit so that the release port is opened to the first opening amount to have a predetermined amount of air flow into the cap member after the cap member is suctioned by the suction unit, and the release port is then opened to the second opening amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a recording head having a nozzle surface in which nozzles to eject liquid droplets in a horizontal direction or a direction slanted from the horizontal direction are formed, the nozzle surface being disposed in a vertical direction or a direction slanted from the vertical direction; a head tank to supply liquid to the recording head; a suction cap to cap the nozzle surface of the recording head; a suction member connected to the suction cap to suck out liquid from the nozzles by the suction cap; a valve member to open or close a sealed space formed by capping the nozzle surface with the suction cap to atmosphere; a liquid supplier to supply the liquid to the head tank and return the liquid from the head tank; and a control unit to control servicing of the recording head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a nozzle face on which nozzles that discharge liquid droplets are formed; a cap configured to cap the nozzle face of the recording head; a discharge path configured to be connected to the cap; a suction pump configured to be provided in the discharge path and be made of a tube pump; and an atmosphere opening part configured to open an airtight space, created when the nozzle face is capped by the cap, to the atmosphere. The atmosphere opening part is configured to communicate with the inside of the cap at a position higher than a surface of liquid discharged into the cap, and a check valve configured to prevent a flow of the liquid toward the cap from the suction pump is provided in the discharge path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a recording head having an array of nozzles disposed on a nozzle face of the recording head, a suction cap to cover the nozzle face of the recording head, a cap holder movable relative to the recording head to movably hold the suction cap, an induction member provided between the cap holder and the suction cap to receive liquid dropping from the suction cap, and a discharge channel connected to the induction member through which the liquid retained by the induction member is discharged externally. The suction cap is first removed from the nozzle face of the recording head while the induction member still remains in contact with the nozzle face of the recording head so that the induction member receives liquid dropping from the suction cap upon retraction of the cap holder from the recording head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head having a nozzle surface including plural nozzles configured to eject liquid droplets, a suction cap configured to seal the nozzle surface of the recording head, a cap holder configured to displaceably hold the suction cap via an elastic member and retractably disposed corresponding to the recording head, and a wiping member configured to wipe the nozzle surface of the recording head in a direction from an upper side to a lower side. The cap holder is provided with a guide part configured to come into contact with an upper end surface of the recording head to frictionally move on the upper end surface of the recording head, and the guide part is disposed on an upper side of the recording head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a cap, a suction unit, and a recovery device. The recording head has nozzles at a nozzle face to horizontally eject droplets of liquid. The cap caps the nozzle face of the recording head. The suction unit is connected to the cap. The recovery device drives the suction unit with the nozzle face capped with the cap to create a negative pressure in an internal space of the cap and suck the liquid from the recording head. The cap has a contact portion to contact the nozzle face and a suction port to communicate with the suction unit. The suction port is disposed away from the contact portion with a minute gap at a lowermost area of the cap in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a recording head having an array of nozzles disposed in a surface of the recording head to eject liquid droplets vertically upward to form an image on a recording medium conveyed above the recording head, a suction cap to cover the surface of the recording head from above, and a waste liquid receiver provided to a periphery of the recording head to receive liquid streaming down the periphery of the recording head upon removal of the suction cap from the surface of the recording head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a recording head having an array of nozzles disposed on a nozzle face of the recording head, a suction cap to cover the nozzle face of the recording head, a cap holder movable relative to the recording head to movably hold the suction cap, an induction member provided between the cap holder and the suction cap to receive liquid dropping from the suction cap, and a discharge channel connected to the induction member through which the liquid retained by the induction member is discharged externally. The suction cap is first removed from the nozzle face of the recording head while the induction member still remains in contact with the nozzle face of the recording head so that the induction member receives liquid dropping from the suction cap upon retraction of the cap holder from the recording head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a recording head having a nozzle surface on which multiple nozzles to eject droplets are arranged in a line; a suction device; and a cap to cover the nozzle surface of the recording head. The cap includes a suction hole to connect a space formed by the cap and the nozzle surface with the suction device; an air hole to connect the space with air; and an absorbent located inside the cap. The top surface of the absorbent is retracted from the contact portion of the cap to be contacted with the nozzle surface so that when the nozzle surface is capped with the cap, a flow passage is secured between the air hole to the suction hole without obstructed by the absorbent.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a recording head; a cap member capping the nozzle surface of the recording head and including a release port and a suction port; a suction unit in communication with the suction port; a switch unit opening and closing the release port to the air and capable of adjusting the opening amount of the release port to at least a first opening amount and a second opening amount larger than the first opening amount; and a control unit that controls the suction unit and the switch unit so that the release port is opened to the first opening amount to have a predetermined amount of air flow into the cap member after the cap member is suctioned by the suction unit, and the release port is then opened to the second opening amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a recording head having a nozzle surface in which nozzles to eject liquid droplets in a horizontal direction or a direction slanted from the horizontal direction are formed, the nozzle surface being disposed in a vertical direction or a direction slanted from the vertical direction; a head tank to supply liquid to the recording head; a suction cap to cap the nozzle surface of the recording head; a suction member connected to the suction cap to suck out liquid from the nozzles by the suction cap; a valve member to open or close a sealed space formed by capping the nozzle surface with the suction cap to atmosphere; a liquid supplier to supply the liquid to the head tank and return the liquid from the head tank; and a control unit to control servicing of the recording head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a nozzle face on which nozzles that discharge liquid droplets are formed; a cap configured to cap the nozzle face of the recording head; a discharge path configured to be connected to the cap; a suction pump configured to be provided in the discharge path and be made of a tube pump; and an atmosphere opening part configured to open an airtight space, created when the nozzle face is capped by the cap, to the atmosphere. The atmosphere opening part is configured to communicate with the inside of the cap at a position higher than a surface of liquid discharged into the cap, and a check valve configured to prevent a flow of the liquid toward the cap from the suction pump is provided in the discharge path.

Abstract: A method and system for licensing intellectual properties. A user can acquire a license conveying rights in intellectual properties by accessing a designated site and making a digital license request. Terms and conditions that can be accepted by the user are then made available to the user in the form of a model digital license agreement. Agreement to the terms of the model digital license agreement by the user, and acceptance thereof by the Licensor, creates a digital license agreement that conveys the intellectual property rights defined in the digital license agreement. The final form of the digital license agreement, after agreement thereto by the Licensor and the user, creates a digital license agreement representation that is a digital representation of the terms and conditions that define the intellectual property rights conveyed.

Abstract: A method and system thereof for establishing legal rights and limitations regarding the use of electronically distributed intellectual property (e.g., a “digital rights framework”). The intellectual property is modeled and offered for different types of distribution (e.g., for sale, rent, etc.). In response to a request for access to and use of the intellectual property, the legal rights and limitations associated with the type of distribution requested are provided. For example, a hypertext reference can be used to invoke the legal rights and limitations associated with the type of distribution. An agreement to these legal rights and limitations is reached and executed, and stored for subsequent reference and use. The digital rights framework provides a method and system for processing information encoded in a standardized and extensible format (e.g.

Abstract: A method and system thereof for establishing legal rights and limitations regarding the use of electronically distributed intellectual property (e.g., a “digital rights framework”). The intellectual property is modeled and offered for different types of distribution (e.g., for sale, rent, etc.). In response to a request for access to and use of the intellectual property, the legal rights and limitations associated with the type of distribution requested are provided. For example, a hypertext reference can be used to invoke the legal rights and limitations associated with the type of distribution. An agreement to these legal rights and limitations is reached and executed, and stored for subsequent reference and use. The digital rights framework provides a method and system for processing information encoded in a standardized and extensible format (e.g.