Abstract: A drop detector is calibrated to determine a location of a detection zone thereof relative to a carriage and to each of one or more fluid-ejection mechanisms disposed within the carriage. Drop detect data is acquired for nozzles of each mechanism by indexing the carriage in relation to the detection zone and attempting to eject fluid from the nozzles, based on the location of the detection zone relative to the carriage and to each mechanism. It is determined whether the drop detector remains properly calibrated, based on the drop detect data, and repeating the method at calibrating the drop detector where the drop detector is no longer properly calibrated. It is also determined which of the nozzles are properly ejecting fluid therefrom, based on the drop detect data, and attempting to recover the nozzles that are improperly ejecting fluid therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to a media jam and media bent corner detector, comprising: a carriage; a transducer operatively connected to or adjacent to the carriage; and a piezoelectric film beam operatively connected to the transducer such that a portion of the beam substantially extends into a media path to detect the presence of a media jam or a media bent corner.

Abstract: A method for forming an image with at least one linear array of imaging elements. Defective ones of the imaging elements associated with a particular color are detected. A first defective imaging element compensation operation is performed for portions of the image data that are associated with a first predetermined number or fewer adjacent defective imaging elements. A different second defective imaging element compensation operation is performed for portions of the image data that are associated a second predetermined number or more adjacent defective imaging elements.

Abstract: A printhead capable of printing in multiple print modes is herein disclosed. The printhead includes multiple pens that are movable independent of one another. The collective line of the multiple pens is wider than a sheet of recording media upon which an image is to be printed and provides for at least some overlap between the respective pens. The pens of the printhead may be aligned so as to accommodate malfunctioning printing elements in one or more of the pens. Where malfunctions in the respective pens are such that the pens may not be arranged so as to print an image on the recording media across the full width of thereof, the pens may be arranged to operate as a serial type printhead in which a media handling mechanism moves the recording media past the printhead multiple times to effect printing of the image.

Abstract: A method for calibrating one or more printheads includes printing a reference image using a first portion of image forming points of a first printhead, printing a diagnostic image using a second portion of image forming points of either the first printhead or a second printhead, detecting an optical density of the combined reference image and the diagnostic image and determining a compensation value based upon the optical density.

Abstract: A method for locating a cutter in a web fed photo imaging system including the steps of measuring an actual fiducial distance between consecutive fiducials, comparing a measured actual fiducial distance between consecutive fiducials to an imaging engine feed distance, calculating a feed distance scaling factor equal to a difference between an average actual fiducial distance and the imaging engine feed distance divided by a total number of discrete incremental moves between fiducials and adjusting the imaging engine feed distance in an amount equal to the scaling factor.

Abstract: A method for locating a cutter in a web fed photo imaging system including the steps of measuring an actual fiducial distance between consecutive fiducials, comparing a measured actual fiducial distance between consecutive fiducials to an imaging engine feed distance, calculating a feed distance scaling factor equal to a difference between an average actual fiducial distance and the imaging engine feed distance divided by a total number of discrete incremental moves between fiducials and adjusting the imaging engine feed distance in an amount equal to the scaling factor.