Abstract: A humidification unit has a structure in which a first humidification chamber and a second humidification chamber are connected in series. Humidified gas produced in the humidification unit and having a high humidity is supplied to a space where nozzles of a recording head are exposed and produces a flow current.

Abstract: In order to efficiently perform preliminary ejection of ink at a bend of an ink circulation passage, the number of preliminary ejections of a nozzle group located on the outer side of the bend is set larger than the number of preliminary ejections of a nozzle group located in the middle of the bend.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a sensor unit which optically detects, at a measurement position, a surface of a sheet, for measuring a moving state of the sheet. The sensor unit measures the moving state of the sheet when the sheet is located at the measurement position, and measures a moving state of a surface of the rotary member when the sheet is not located at the measurement position. The sensor unit has at least one of an image sensor arranged to perform imaging of one of the surface of the sheet and the surface of the rotary member so as to obtain image data, based on which the moving state is measured and a Doppler velocity sensor.

Abstract: A recording apparatus, includes a recording head including ink nozzles configured to record an image on a sheet being conveyed along a direction, a reading unit configured to read the image recorded on the sheet by the recording head at a reading position, a supply unit configured to supply a gas to flow along the direction through a space where the ink nozzles are exposed, and a exhaust unit including an inlet which is placed in the vicinity of a position between the recording position and the reading position, at least a part of the gas flowed through the space being sucked from the inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a recording head having nozzle chips arranged in a staggered configuration along a second direction that intersects a first direction in which a sheet is conveyed, a first suction portion corresponding to a first row of nozzle chips in the staggered configuration, and a second suction portion corresponding to a second row of nozzle chips. The first suction portion and the second suction port are in a positional relationship in which they are displaced in the second direction so as to correspond to displacement between a first nozzle chip in the first row and its neighboring second nozzle chip in the second row in the second direction. The apparatus further includes a positioning member having a plurality of reference surfaces for use in positioning the recording head at different locations in a third direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A humidification unit has a structure in which a first humidification chamber and a second humidification chamber are connected in series. Humidified gas produced in the humidification unit and having a high humidity is supplied to a space where nozzles of a recording head are exposed and produces a flow current.

Abstract: Prior to recording, the gap between ink nozzles and a sheet is set to a first gap and a humidified gas is supplied in a short time. After that, the gap is varied from the first gap to a second gap smaller than the first gap and recording is then started.

Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus in which bubbles in a print head are easily removed. The printing apparatus includes a first one-way valve disposed between the pump and the ink tank in the collection channel, the first one-way valve allowing movement of ink from the pump to the ink tank and blocking movement of ink from the ink tank to the pump; a circulation channel that connects the ink tank to the collection channel at a position between the pump and the first one-way valve, the circulation channel enabling circulation of ink from the ink tank, through the print head, and to the ink tank; and a second one-way valve disposed in the circulation channel, the second one-way valve allowing movement of ink from the ink tank to the pump and blocking movement of ink from the pump to the ink tank.

Abstract: In order to efficiently perform preliminary ejection of ink at a bend of an ink circulation passage, the number of preliminary ejections of a nozzle group located on the outer side of the bend is set larger than the number of preliminary ejections of a nozzle group located in the middle of the bend.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a recording head arranged so as to oppose a sheet moving in a first direction, in which a plurality of first nozzle chips and a plurality of second nozzle chips each having a nozzle array are arranged as different arrays in a second direction crossing the first direction, and in which the first nozzle chips and the second nozzle chips adjacent to each other are shifted from each other in the second direction, a first suction unit opposed to the first nozzle chips and configured to suction ink from a part of the nozzle arrays included in the first nozzle chips, a second suction unit opposed to the second nozzle chips and configured to suction ink from a part of the nozzle arrays included in the second nozzle chips, a suction holder configured to retain the first suction unit and the second suction unit, and a movement mechanism configured to cause relative movement between the recording head and the suction holder in the second direction, wherein the first suction unit and the second suct

Abstract: An apparatus includes a humidifying unit that generates humidified gas, a drying unit that dries ink applied to a sheet by a recording unit, a first duct that supplies gas discharged from the drying unit to at least one of the humidifying unit and the recording unit, and a second duct that supplies the humidified gas generated by the humidifying unit to the recording unit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a recording head having a sealing portion arranged in proximity to nozzle arrays and protruding beyond a nozzle surface. A wiper unit configured to wipe the nozzle surface of the recording head has a first wiper blade and a second wiper blade, and the first wiper blade is arranged to be inclined by an angle ?1 (?1>0) with respect to a direction orthogonal to the wiping direction within a plane parallel to the nozzle surface, while the second wiper blade is arranged to be inclined by an angle ?2 (?2<0) with respect to the direction orthogonal to the wiping direction within the plane.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a supply unit having a humidifying portion that supplies humidified gas near a nozzle array of a line-type recording head. In correspondence to displacement of the recording head in a direction of the nozzle array, at least one of an introducing direction and an introducing position of the supplied humidified gas can be changed.

Abstract: First humidified gas is supplied from a first supply port to a sheet to be conveyed, thereby increasing the moisture content of the sheet. Simultaneously, second humidified gas is supplied to a space where nozzles of the inkjet recording head are exposed, from a second supply port provided at a position closer to the inkjet recording head than the first supply port, thereby increasing the atmosphere humidity of the space. The part of the sheet of which the moisture content has been increased is made to enter the space where the atmosphere humidity has been increased, and recording is performed by the inkjet recording head.

Abstract: A supply unit is provided to supply humidified gas near a nozzle array of a line-type recording head. The flow-rate distribution of the supplied humidified gas in a direction of the nozzle array is changeable in accordance with a conveying region where a sheet is conveyed while opposing the nozzle array.

Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus, including a sensor unit which optically detects, at a measurement position, a surface of a sheet, for measuring a moving state of the sheet. The sensor unit measures the moving state of the sheet when the sheet is located at the measurement position, and measures a moving state of a surface of the rotary member when the sheet is not located at the measurement position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a plurality of image sensors imaging a sheet to be conveyed, and a direct sensor unit performing the signal processing of the outputs of the image sensors to detect the movement of the sheet. Here, the plurality of image sensors are provided on the carriage at least at two positions with at least the recording element array diagonally put between the two positions. The plurality of image sensors can image the sheet at two positions separated in a main scan direction and a sub-scan direction.

Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus including a sensor unit for measuring a moving state of a sheet by optically detecting a surface of the sheet conveyed by a conveying unit. The sensor unit measures and compares the moving states of the sheet at a first measurement position and a second measurement position which are distinct from each other in a main scanning direction, to thereby obtain information on a skew state of a skew component of the moving sheet.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a conveyance mechanism configured to convey a sheet in a predetermined direction, a printing unit configured to print an image on the sheet, a direct sensor having an image pickup device configured to image the sheet, which is used to sense movement of the sheet by signal processing of an output from the image pickup device, a movement mechanism configured to move the image pickup device in a direction including a component of the predetermined direction, and a control unit configured to control the conveyance mechanism, the printing unit, and the movement mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus has a first stacking portion with a sheet, a second stacking portion movable relative to the first stacking portion, and a supplying roller used in common to the first and second stacking portions, for supplying the stacked sheets. The second stacking portion is movable between a retreat position where the second stacking portion retreats so that the sheet can be supplied from the first stacking portion, and, a supply position where the second stacking portion advances, so the sheet can be supplied from the second stacking portion.