Abstract: A printer includes: an inkjet print head; an image processing part that processes image data and supplies the data to the print head; a main power supply that is connected to a commercial power source and supplies first power to the print head; a rechargeable sub-power supply that supplies second power for supporting the first power to the print head when power necessary for driving of the print head exceeds the first power during execution of printing; and a switch part that is located on a power supply line and electrically connects the sub-power supply to the power supply line when the power necessary for driving of the print head exceeds the first power.

Abstract: Image quality is improved by adjusting the ejection amount of quality enhancing ink based on the ejection amount of colored ink containing colorant. When a relatively high gross printing medium is used, the quality enhancing ink is ejected in an image area where virtually no colored ink is ejected, thereby improving unevenness in gloss within the print image. When a relatively low gross printing medium is used, on the other hand, the quality enhancing ink is ejected in an image area where the colored ink is ejected on virtually all pixels, thereby improving unevenness in color within the print image. The relationship between the ejection amounts of the quality enhancing ink and the colored ink may be modified by the user.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for increasing the number of ink drops in an ink drop jet of a continuously operating inkjet printer, in which the ink drops of at least two separately produced ink drop jets are combined into an ink drop jet. In one example embodiment this is done so that the combined ink drop jet includes the ink drops of the respective separate ink drop jets. The invention also concerns a device for production of an ink drop jet of a continuously operating inkjet printer, which includes at least two pressure chambers for generation of a separate ink drop jet with electrically charged ink drops and an electrode arrangement wherein the separate ink drop jets can be combined into a singe ink drop jet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying a type of media installed in a two- or dual-sided thermal printer is provided. In one embodiment, one or more functions of the dual-sided thermal printer may be enabled or disabled depending on the identified media type.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus 1 for recording an image on a recording medium using colored ink and clear ink, including: an ink dot arrangement data generator 10B for generating colored ink dot arrangement data concerning arrangement of dots of the colored ink on the recording medium; a colored ink amount calculator 10C for calculating the amount of colored ink in a predetermined print area composed of pixels from the colored ink dot arrangement data; a clear ink amount calculator 10D for calculating the amount of clear ink in the predetermined print area from the amount of colored ink in the predetermined print area calculated by the colored ink amount calculator 10C; and a clear ink arranger 10E for arranging dots of clear ink in the predetermined print area, wherein, the clear ink arranger has two or more clear ink arrangement order patterns and when a preset condition is realized, selects the clear ink arrangement order pattern according to the condition and arranges dots of clear ink in the predetermined

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: a first group of large nozzles which eject large droplets of liquid for a color; a second group of small nozzles which eject small droplets of the liquid for the color, the small droplets having volume smaller than the large droplets; a dot data creation device which creates dot data according to input image data; a dot data correction device which corrects the dot data if there is an abnormal nozzle in one of the first and second groups, in such a manner that a corrective nozzle is selected from the other of the first and second groups, and droplet ejection performed by the corrective nozzle substitutes for droplet ejection that is originally to be performed by the abnormal nozzle; and a driving device which drives the large and small nozzles to eject the large and small droplets according to the corrected dot data.

Abstract: An ink supply arrangement is provided for supplying ink to an inkjet printhead. The ink supply arrangement includes an elongate ink distribution molding, in turn, defining a printhead channel in which the printhead can be received. The ink distribution molding further defines sets of passages for supplying respective types of ink to the printhead. A baffle unit is configured to be engaged relative to the ink distribution molding, and defines a plurality of elongate walls and a plurality of baffles extending from the walls. A housing can receive the baffle unit to define a plurality of ink storage chambers in fluid communication with respective sets of passages.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a configuration in which a liquid for a head is supplied to a wiper sliding, and abutting, on a face of an ink jet head, the face being provided with ink ejection openings, and in which the face is cleaned by performing a wiping operation. Although the configuration is simple, such an apparatus maintains performance of supplying the liquid stably and sufficiently under various environments. To this end, the liquid is designed to be held by a holding member below a section where the liquid is going to be transferred to the wiper, and the liquid is designed to thus be supplied, and transferred, to the wiper by drawing up the liquid by a capillary force in a transferring member. This makes it possible to maintain performance of supplying, and transferring, the liquid to the wiper stably and sufficiently under various environments.

Abstract: A pagewidth printhead is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes an elongate support. A plurality of printhead modules is supported by the support. Each printhead module includes rows of unit cells. Each unit cell includes a nozzle through which ink can be ejected and an actuator configured to eject ink from the nozzle. Opposite edges of each printhead module define complementary formations so that the printhead modules can be engaged together in series along the support.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes an ejecting unit for ejecting ink droplets toward a recording medium and an ejection port substrate in which ejection ports from which ink droplets are ejected are opened, in which a surface of the ejection port substrate on a side from which the ink droplets are ejected is coated with a diamond like carbon layer. Alternatively, the ink jet head includes a head substrate in which resin-made ink guides are formed, each ink guide for forming a meniscus of the ink and ejection electrodes, each for forming an electric field on a tip end of the ink guide and ejecting the ink as the ink droplets by exerting an electrostatic force onto the ink, in which the ink guide is coated with a protective layer such as the diamond like carbon layer. An ink jet recording apparatus includes the ink jet head and a moving unit for moving the ink jet head and the recording medium relatively.

Abstract: The present invention is a liquid discharge device having a function of supplying liquid to liquid chambers in a stable manner, and also has a function of suppressing interference between liquid discharge portions due to discharging of liquid droplets. The liquid discharge device has a liquid discharge head in which a plurality of liquid discharge portions including an ink liquid chamber (12) for storing a liquid to be discharged, and nozzles (18) for discharging the liquid stored in the ink liquid chamber (12), are arrayed on a substrate. The liquid discharge device comprises: individual channels (20) provided for each of the liquid discharge portions so as to communicate with the ink liquid chamber (12) and supply liquid to within the ink liquid chamber (12); and a common channel (30) which is provided to the plurality of individual channels (20) so as to communicate with each of the plurality of individual channels (20), for supplying liquid to the plurality of individual channels (20).

Abstract: An ink jet head with a plurality of ink jetting units enabling the easy filling of ink and an operation for recovering from defective jetting, a method of manufacturing the ink jet head, and an ink jet recording device. The ink jet head comprises a nozzle plate in which a nozzle jetting the ink is formed, a pressure application means applying a pressure to the ink, a wall member holding the nozzle plate, a head plate holding the plurality of ink jetting units, sealing members sealing clearances between the ink jetting units and the head plate so that air is not passed there through and movably supporting the ink jetting units on the head plate by deforming by itself, and fixing members fixing the ink jetting units to the head plate.

Abstract: The liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid from nozzles includes: pressure chambers connecting to the nozzles; a common liquid chamber which is connected to the pressure chambers, is arranged across the pressure chambers from the nozzles, and is defined by at least a multi-layer wiring substrate which has a recess-shaped structure including a base section forming one of a ceiling and a floor of the common liquid chamber and a projecting section forming a side wall of the common liquid chamber; electrical wires which are formed at least partially inside the multi-layer wiring substrate; and a connection electrode which is provided in a top of the projecting section of the multi-layer wiring substrate.

Abstract: The liquid ejection head includes: a plurality of pressure chambers into which liquid is filled; a plurality of nozzles which are connected to the pressure chambers; a common flow channel which supplies the liquid to the pressure chambers; a plurality of liquid ejection devices which cause the liquid inside the pressure chambers to be ejected through the nozzles; a selector circuit which selects one of the liquid ejection devices to be a destination of a drive signal; a first wiring substrate which transmits the drive signal outputted from the selector circuit to be applied to the one of the liquid ejection devices; and a second wiring substrate which transmits the drive signal to be inputted to the selector circuit, wherein the first wiring substrate is connected to a first face of a member constituting the selector circuit, and the second wiring substrate is connected to a second face of the member constituting the selector circuit, the first and second faces being different to each other.

Abstract: An ink that may be used in ink jet devices is a photochromic ink comprising an ink vehicle that includes at least one radiation curable component, at least one photochromic material and at least one photoinitiator. The ink is cured via exposure to radiation that cures the at least one radiation curable component of the ink. A radiation curable ink capable of exhibiting photochromatic color changes, which may be used to indicate a document's authenticity, is thus achieved.

Abstract: An ink composition is provided that includes (A) an N-vinyllactam, (B) a radically polymerizable compound, and (C) a polymerization initiator, the content of the N-vinyllactam (A) being at least 10 wt % of the ink total weight, and the content ratio by weight of (A):(B) being 1:8.5 to 1:1. There is also provided an inkjet recording method that includes (a1) a step of discharging the ink composition onto a recording medium and (b1) a step of curing the ink composition by irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation. A printed material recorded by the inkjet recording method is also provided. Furthermore, a process for producing a lithographic printing plate is provided that includes (a2) a step of discharging the ink composition onto a hydrophilic support and (b2) a step of curing the ink composition by irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation so as to form a hydrophobic image on the hydrophilic support by curing the ink composition.

Abstract: An inkjet printer nozzle assembly includes a substrate. Drive circuitry is positioned on the substrate. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate and defines a nozzle chamber into which ink can be fed and an ink ejection port though which the ink can be ejected. An elongate actuator assembly is fast with the substrate at one end to be connected to the drive circuitry and extends cantilever-fashion towards the nozzle chamber structure. A paddle is fast with an opposite free end of the actuator assembly, the paddle being positioned in the nozzle chamber so that displacement of the paddle serves to eject ink from the ink ejection port.

Abstract: A print assembly is provided having an elongate carrier that is mountable on a support structure of a printer, printhead integrated circuits mounted on the carrier, and CMOS drive circuitry positioned on the carrier and operatively connected to the printhead integrated circuits to drive operation thereof. The printhead integrated circuits are provided in a number and configuration such that the printhead integrated circuits define an elongate printing zone of at least 914 mm. Each printhead integrated circuit incorporates nozzle arrangements each having a nozzle, an ink chamber, an ink inlet, an actuator, and a drive circuit to achieve the ejection of ink from the nozzle arrangement.

Abstract: An inkjet head includes a passage unit and an actuator unit. The passage unit includes a common ink chamber and an individual ink passage leading from an outlet of the common ink chamber through a pressure chamber to an ejection port. The actuator unit can selectively take a first state in which the volume of the pressure chamber is V1 and a second state in which the volume of the pressure chamber is V2 larger than V1. The actuator unit changes from the first state into the second state and then returns to the first state to eject ink from the ejection port. The individual ink passage is formed such that the volume Vd of a partial passage in the individual ink passage corresponding to a region from an outlet of the pressure chamber to the ejection port, and the volume Vc of the individual ink passage, satisfy a condition that Vd/Vc is not less than 0.12 and not more than 0.40.

Abstract: For providing a producing method for a liquid discharge head having an excellent reliability in the insulation of test electrode pad, the invention provides a method for producing a liquid discharge head including a liquid discharge energy generating element for generating a liquid discharge energy, a liquid discharge port, a liquid flow path, an electric circuit for driving the liquid discharge energy generating element, a first electrode pad for exchanging electrical signals with the exterior and a second electrode pad for testing the electric circuit, the method including, preparing a substrate provided with a first wiring layer for forming the first electrode pad and a second wiring layer for forming the second electrode pad, forming an insulating film on the substrate so as to expose the first wiring layer and to cover the second wiring layer, forming a metal film by an electroless plating method on the surface of the first wiring layer, and stripping the insulating film.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink supply passage. The substrate assembly includes a drive circuitry layer. A heater is positioned on the substrate assembly and includes a heater element terminating in a pair of oppositely arranged electrical contacts. In turn, the electrical contacts are electrically coupled to the drive circuitry layer. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the heater to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink supply passage and in which the heater element is located. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected when current is supplied from the drive circuitry layer to the heater element.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head comprises a substrate, on which are formed energy generating means for generating energy to be used for the discharge of a liquid through a discharge port, and a precious metal protective layer for protecting the energy generating means, an inorganic adhesive layer formed of at least one material selected from titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum nitride and chromium nitride, said inorganic adhesive layer being closely adhered to the precious metal protective layer, an organic adhesive layer made of an organic material, and a flow path formation member, serving as a wall of a flow path communicated with the discharge port. The substrate, the inorganic adhesive layer, the adhesive layer and the flow path formation member are bonded to the substrate in the this order.

Abstract: A droplet ejection head includes: a first laminate having plural nozzles; a second laminate bonded to the first laminate and internally having plural pressure generating chambers communicating with the plurality of nozzles; plural piezoelectric devices having individual electrodes and common electrodes, the plural piezoelectric devices being provided in the second laminate correspondingly to the plural pressure generating chambers, the plural piezoelectric devices changing volumes of the plural pressure generating chambers in accordance with driving signal supplied to the individual electrodes so that fluid reserved in the pressure generating chambers is ejected as droplet from the nozzles; a first wiring board connected to the individual electrodes and supplying the driving signal to the individual electrodes; and a second wiring board connected to the common electrodes in common.

Abstract: A printing fluid dispenser that has a housing with first and second portions, the first portion being displaceable relative to the second portion. A quantity of printing fluid is contained in the housing and a resilient member deforms in response to displacement of the first portion relative to the second portion to apply pressure to the printing fluid such that it dispenses from an outlet. The first portion has a maximum displacement relative to the second portion, which is designed to correspond with a maximum possible pressure applied by the resilient member to the printing fluid.

Abstract: A droplet discharging head includes: a nozzle portion that discharges a liquid material; a liquid chamber that is in communication with the nozzle portion and supplies the liquid material to the nozzle portion in receiving a pressure from outside; and a reservoir that is in communication with a plurality of the liquid chamber through a plurality of ink supply passages and supplies the liquid material fed from outside via a material inlet to the plurality of liquid chambers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate including an active element formation face on which an active element is formed; detection electrodes detecting a remaining amount of ink by being wet in the ink; an antenna transmitting and receiving information; a storage circuit storing information relating to the ink; and a control circuit controlling the detection electrodes, the antenna, and the storage circuit.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus in which a single ink supply path for hermetically sealing an ink tank and a recording head from the atmosphere is formed by connecting the ink tank to first and second hollow needles. When the ink tank is detached, the flow path is sealed in association with mounting and dismounting of the ink tank, thereby leakage of ink to the outside of the apparatus is prevented.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an ink flow channel including a pressure chamber, a nozzle to communicate with the pressure chamber, an actuator to provide a driving force to eject ink from the pressure chamber, and a plurality of electrodes, a lower voltage is applied to an electrode closer to the nozzle as compared to an electrode farther from the nozzle to form a non-uniform electric field in the ink flow channel, and a method of removing bubbles in the inkjet printhead.

Abstract: An ink set is made up of at least three differently colored phase change inks, for example cyan, magenta and yellow, wherein at least one of the colored phase change inks is a photochromic ink that contains a photochromic material. Upon exposure to activating radiation such as ultraviolet light, the at least one photochromic ink changes to a color different from the color of the photochromic ink prior to exposure to the activating radiation.

Abstract: An ink-jet ink includes a jettable vehicle, a plurality of pigment solids dispersed in the jettable vehicle, and a plurality of structurally related polymers dispersed in the jettable vehicle. Additionally, a system for printing images on a porous photo medium includes a jettable ink and a printhead loaded with the jettable ink.

Abstract: An ink set is provided which produces a printed article having excellent physical durability. The ink set comprises a first liquid composition containing a reactive carbonyl group and a second liquid composition containing a co-reactive amine group, at least one of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition further containing a coloring material. When the two inks are printed on a substrate in at least a partially overlapping arrangement, the reactive amine and reactive carbonyl species can crosslink to form a more durable image.

Abstract: A device and a method for improving the quality of prints using a printer with at least one ink-jet printing device for colored printing of a printing naterial, such as a continuous roll feed material, said printing device including a heating device that applies microwaves to the printing material in order to dry a print applied to the printing material.

Abstract: A process including selecting an ink having a viscosity that varies continuously over a range of transfuse process temperatures; forming an image on a preliminary receiving surface or on a final receiving substrate with the selected ink; providing a final receiving substrate at a selected temperature optionally comprising modifying the temperature of the final receiving substrate to achieve a selected temperature; optionally passing the final receiving substrate through a nip; optionally exerting pressure on the final receiving substrate in the nip to transfer the ink image from the preliminary receiving surface to the final receiving substrate; optionally fusing the ink image onto the final receiving substrate at a transfuse temperature; and controlling the viscosity of the ink during printing to match a selected characteristic of the final receiving substrate; and preserving the ink image.

Abstract: An ejection inspection device includes: an inspection stage on which an inspection sheet is sucked and mounted; a sheet feeding mechanism which feeds the inspection sheet wound in a roll form onto the inspection stage; a sheet taking-up mechanism which takes up the fed inspection sheet from the inspection stage; a suction air valve unit which controls the suction air of the inspection stage; a floating air valve unit which controls the floating air of the inspection stage; and a control unit which controls the suction air valve unit, the floating air valve unit, the sheet feeding mechanism, and the sheet taking-up mechanism. The control unit floats the inspection sheet for performing the feeding operation of the inspection sheet and the taking-up operation thereof.

Abstract: An inkjet recording element comprises a support having thereon at least one ink-receiving layer, including a porous fusible layer comprising fusible polymeric particles and a thermoresponsive polymer that is capable of exhibiting a lower critical solution temperature below 20° C.

Abstract: An image printing device including (1) a first tray that holds a print medium on which an image is to be printed, (2) a first opening disposed at a front of the image printing device, in which the first tray is disposed, (3) a second opening disposed at the front of the image printing device, through which an ink cartridge is inserted and from which the ink cartridge is removed, and (4) a card slot disposed at the front of the image printing device, the card slot electrically connecting a memory card that stores image data to the image printing device. Wherein an insertion direction of the first tray into the first opening, an insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the second opening, and an insertion direction of the memory card into the card slot are made to be a first single direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for two-sided direct thermal printing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a dual-sided direct thermal printer comprising a first thermal print head and a second thermal print head is provided wherein a surface of the first thermal print head acts as a platen for the second thermal print head.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A) according to the present invention includes a heating resistor (5) formed on a substrate (1), an electrode (3) for energizing the heating resistor (5), and a protection film (6) for covering the heating resistor (5) and the electrode (3). The protection film (6) has a surface with a ten-point mean roughness of no smaller than 0.2 ?m.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a dual-sided printer including a direct thermal print head positioned proximate to a first platen and an inkjet print head positioned proximate to a second platen. The direct thermal print head is in a substantially opposed relation to the second platen and the inkjet print head is in a substantially opposed relation to the first platen to facilitate thermal printing on a first side of installed media and inkjet printing on a second side of the installed media.

Abstract: A dual-sided two-ply direct thermal image element is provided. In one embodiment, the dual-sided two-ply direct thermal image element comprises a first substrate having a first side and a second side, and a second substrate having a first side and a second side, wherein both the first substrate and the second substrate include a thermally sensitive coating on at least a first side thereof, and wherein the second side of the first substrate is releasably attached to the second side of the second substrate.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus (1) utilizing electrophotographic technology, position and posture of a laser scan unit (5) with respect top a frame (13) is adjusted easily without cost rise and upsizing of the apparatus. Semicircular recesses (53) and an elongate hole (54) are formed at each of three fixing portions (52a, 52b and 52c) in the vicinities of side faces (51b) and a rear face (51c) of a housing (51) of the laser scan unit (5), and an adjuster 30 serving as a spacer is attached to each of the fixing portions (52a, 52b and 52c). Each adjuster (30) is elected among a plurality of kinds of adjustors respectively having different thicknesses manufactured by press working of metal plates commercially produced and having different thicknesses with using the same dies. The adjustor has a pair of semicircular engaging portions 30b and a coupling portion 30a perpendicular to and coupling the engaging portions (30b).

Abstract: An optical writing unit includes a housing, at least one light source, and/or at least one aperture member. In at least one embodiment, the at least one light source emits a light beam, and the at least one aperture member passes the light beam emitted from the at least one light source. In at least one embodiment, the at least one aperture member is integrally formed with the housing and/or the at least one light source is directly fixed to the housing by applying pressure.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring devices to facilitate video telephony includes providing at least two devices that support video or audio communication. One of the devices is identified as a master device, and at least one of the devices is identified as a slave device. Media capabilities of the master device are determined, and the media capabilities of the slave device are received. The media capabilities of the master device and the slave device are aggregated, and the aggregated media capabilities are communicated to a remote site to facilitate video telephony.

Abstract: A video display apparatus connected to a network and a telephone set announces incoming telephone calls received from the network by displaying an on-screen text message superimposed on the video picture, and preferably by suppressing ringing of the telephone, so that a person watching the video display will not be unnecessarily distracted by incoming calls. The text message may include the caller's telephone number or name. The video display apparatus may also function as an answering machine for the telephone set.

Abstract: A teleconferencing device includes: a connecting unit fitted into an information processing device; and a storage unit storing: a teleconference application program which is automatically started by fitting the connecting unit into the information processing device; self-location information which is location information of the teleconferencing device; and destination location information which is location information of a connection destination holding a teleconference, wherein the teleconference application program reads the self-location information and the destination location information and connects the information processing device to an information processing device of the connection destination via a network.

Abstract: Systems and Methods to transmit and simultaneously display all video streams in a video conference by dynamically adapting video streams based on audio volume of the participants include allocating an amount of bandwidth to a participant in a videoconference; determining a level of activity exhibited by the participant during the videoconference, and changing the amount of bandwidth allocated to the participant responsive to the determined level of activity. In another aspect, a method for displaying video streams includes creating a graphical representation of a participant in a videoconference; displaying the created graphical representation; determining a level of activity exhibited by the participant during the videoconference; and altering the displayed graphical representation of the participant responsive to the determined level of activity.

Abstract: A communications system may include a transmitting device for transmitting a modulated signal therefrom based upon input data, and a receiving device for receiving the modulated signal from the transmitting device. The transmitting device may include a modulator, a baseband injected pilot carrier (BPIC) generator for generating BPIC data, and a framer for interleaving BPIC data with the input data to define data frames input to the modulator. The receiving device may include a demodulator, a frame recoverer, and a BPIC detector cooperating with the demodulator for demodulating the modulated signal from the transmitting device based upon the BPIC data and cooperating with the frame recoverer for recovering the data frames also based upon the BPIC data.

Abstract: A picture location tagging system and method. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a processor, an image sensor, coupled to the processor, for recording the image, a location generator, coupled to the processor, for receiving location-determining signals from a location-determining system, and a memory, coupled to the processor, for storing the image and for storing the location-determining signals, wherein the location-determining signals are associated with the image.

Abstract: A road view analyzing apparatus and a road view analyzing method that can obtain an accurate analysis result on a road view in front of a vehicle are provided. The road view analyzing apparatus includes a camera that is mounted on the vehicle to photograph a view in front of the vehicle, image dividing means for dividing the image of the view in front of the vehicle photographed by the camera into a plurality of areas with diagonal lines, and analyzing means for separately analyzing content of the image in each of the plurality of areas.

Abstract: Reference markers are attached to rails and/or other dynamically moving components of railroad tracks, and/or located at fixed and stationary positions adjacent to the track. When images of railway rolling stock are obtained, the reference marker(s) appear in the image. Accordingly, measurements of various aspects and parameters of various components of the railway rolling stock can be obtained at high precision and/or accuracy relative to the railroad track component to which the reference marker is attached and/or relative to the stationary position. The reference markers allow one or more images, obtained at some intervening time interval, to be accurately and precisely aligned relative to the reference marker(s) regardless of the dynamic motion of the railroad track component(s) and/or of the rolling stock that occurred as the images were captured. The reference markers can include optical, thermal or other indicia. The indicia have known dimensions and/or known distances from an image capture device.