Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a conveyor mechanism conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction; a plurality of liquid ejection heads each having an ejection face from which a liquid is ejected and arranged in the conveying direction; a support member opposed to the ejection face and supporting the recording medium; a first suction mechanism which has a first suction opening located between two of the plurality of liquid ejection heads adjacent to each other in the conveying direction, and which sucks air via the first suction opening; and at least one first contact member located between the two liquid ejection heads in the conveying direction and contactable with a recording face of the recording medium at a position closer to the support member than the first suction opening in a direction perpendicular to the ejection face.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a printhead die including: a first nozzle array that is configured to be fed with ink by a first ink feed; and a second nozzle array that is configured to be fed with ink by a second ink feed; and a mounting substrate including: a surface to which the printhead die is attached; a first layer including a first ink channel having an opening disposed at the surface; a second layer including a second ink channel having an opening disposed at the surface; and a third layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the printhead die is attached to the first layer, the second layer and the third layer, and wherein the first ink channel opening is fluidically connected to the first ink feed, and the second ink channel opening is fluidically connected to the second ink feed.

Abstract: A printhead comprises a first member and a second member, formed separately from the first member. The second member is nested within a first space defined by the first member. A plurality of fluidic transmission channels is formed between the first and second members to convey ink to an outer surface of the first and second members.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including a liquid ejecting port for ejecting a liquid and nozzle layer having a liquid channel communicating with the liquid ejecting port, wherein the nozzle layer has two layers, and a first layer which is a layer at the side of the liquid channel among the two layers has a resin film-formed with an acid and has a smaller static contact angle of water as compared with a second layer which is the other layer.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a first substrate having an energy generating element for discharging a liquid, and a second substrate which is bonded to the first substrate and which has a discharge port for discharging the liquid and a groove that forms a passage for supplying the liquid to the energy generating element, wherein one surface of the second substrate on the front surface side of the liquid discharge head and the other surface thereof, which is the back surface of the one surface, are individually provided with recesses.

Abstract: The liquid ejecting head includes a nozzle plate in which nozzle holes which are through holes are formed, and ejects liquid from the nozzle holes. The nozzle hole has a first nozzle portion which is opened to an ejection surface to which liquid is ejected from nozzles of the nozzle plate, and a second nozzle portion which communicates with the first nozzle portion, and is opened to a surface opposite to the ejection surface of the nozzle plate, and of which the opening diameter is larger than the opening diameter in the ejection surface of the first nozzle portion. The first nozzle portion is covered with a liquid repellent film which has higher liquid repellency than a base material of the nozzle plate and an inner wall of the second nozzle portion is provided with a region which has lower liquid repellency than the liquid repellent film.

Abstract: Manufacturing method for an inkjet print head, comprising forming a nozzle layer onto a substrate, depositing an LSE (low surface energy) coating onto the nozzle layer, depositing a sacrificial film onto the LSE coating, post processing the substrate, and removing the sacrificial film from the LSE coating, the LSE coating having a water contact angle of at least 50° after removal of the sacrificial film.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ejecting apparatus including: an upper bezel which includes an inlet through which ejectable fluid flows in from an external source, a channel which fluidly communicates with the inlet and through which the ejectable fluid flows, and an upper mounting portion which fluidly communicates with the channel and is opened downwardly; a lower bezel which includes a lower mounting portion which is opened upwardly to correspond to the upper mounting portion, and a nozzle slit which fluidly communicates with the lower mounting portion to eject the ejectable fluid to an outside, the lower bezel being fastened to the upper bezel, and a nozzle chip which is interposed between the upper mounting portion and the lower mounting portion to receive the ejectable fluid from the channel and discharge the ejectable fluid into the nozzle slit by being driven by an actuator.

Abstract: A system is disclosed, comprising a printhead to eject ink onto print media, an electrical component, a first electrode adjacent said component, a second electrode to transfer electric charge from said print media when the print media passes through the system, and an electrical conductor connecting the second electrode to the first electrode.

Abstract: A drive circuit for an inkjet recording head includes a plurality of electrically capacitive actuator elements, a drive signal source, a plurality of switching elements, and a plurality of resistances. The actuator elements are provided for a plurality of nozzles, and drive the nozzles to eject ink therefrom. The drive signal source outputs a drive signal for driving the actuator elements. The switching elements are connected to the respective actuator elements to separately drive the actuator elements, and selectively apply the output drive signal to the actuator elements. The resistances are provided for the respective actuator elements, and are connected to low potential sides of the actuator elements. Each of the resistances has a resistance value adjusted in accordance with the length of a wire between the corresponding one of the actuator elements and the drive signal source.

Abstract: An ink-jet device for jetting ink on an outer surface of a workpiece, includes an ink jet head including a nozzle, a fixing platform to fix the workpiece, a pair of light sources for emitting light to heat ink from the nozzle, and one or more reflection assemblies positioned on opposite sides of the fixing platform and below the ink jet head. The light sources are positioned in the corresponding reflection assembly. Each of the reflection assembly reflects light to be transmitted parallel to the nozzle, for heating and drying the ink on the outer surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink that inhibits lowering of ejection stability caused by a precipitate derived from a self-dispersible type monoazo pigment and also inhibits deterioration of a liquid contact surface of a heater portion of a recording head. The ink is an ink for ink jet recording system employing an thermal energy, containing a monoazo pigment, a resin and a surfactant represented by the following formula (1). A proportion of a molecular weight of an ethylene oxide group moiety occupying the surfactant is 10% or more and 85% or less, the monoazo pigment is a self-dispersible pigment to the particle surface of which at least one hydrophilic group selected from the group consisting of —COOM, —SO3M, —PO3HM and —PO3M2 is bonded directly or through another atomic group, and the acid value of the resin is 240 mg KOH/g or less.

Abstract: A piezoelectric inkjet printhead is monolithically fabricated on a substrate. The printhead includes a plurality of cavities formed into the substrate, piezoelectric actuators disposed over the top of the cavities, a fluidic structure and an ink supply channel. The piezoelectric actuators are formed over the cavities using a sacrificial material which fills the cavities and is removed after the actuators are formed. The fluidic structure defines pressurizing chambers and channels connected to the ink supply channel. The fluidic structure has a plurality of nozzle holes formed on the top surface. The cavities are connected to either a venting channel formed from the backside of the substrate or a venting chamber formed inside the fluidic structures.

Abstract: An ink jet ink composition includes an organic solvent, a binder, and a colorant. The colorant is selected from at least a first pigment and a second pigment. If the ink composition comprises carbon black, the carbon black is present in an amount less than 30% by weight of the total pigment content.

Abstract: An ink supply containing an alkaline ink passivates a silicon diaphragm of a pressure sensor against etching from the alkaline ink using a silicon dioxide layer.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid reservoir, a liquid flow path that selectively places the reservoir in fluid communication with an exterior of the cartridge, a sensor that outputs a signal relative to a position of an object in the liquid flow path, a storage that stores data therein, and a plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals includes a sensor terminal connected to the sensor, a power terminal connected to at least one of the sensor and the storage, and that receives power, and a data terminal connected to the storage. A distance between a first portion of the power terminal and at least a portion of the data terminal is greater than a distance between a second portion of the power terminal and at least a portion of the sensor terminal.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink bag including two flexible sheets disposed to face each other, a plug, a case including a first wall portion and a second wall portion arranged in parallel, a third wall portion arranged perpendicularly with respect to the pair of wall portions, and a penetration portion, the case housing the ink bag such that sheet surfaces of the two sheets respectively face the first wall portion and the second wall portion, and a pressing member including a curved portion toward the outside and a sheet having lower flexibility than that of the two sheets, wherein between the ink bag and the first wall portion, the pressing member is elastically deformed and a restoring force occurs by one section of the curved portion contacting with the first wall portion and another section of the curved portion contacting with one of the two sheets.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of a fluid storage container or cartridge that can be reused, the ink cartridge can have an ink storage unit that stores waste ink, an ink inlet/outlet disposed in a frame part that can be the outside wall of the ink storage unit, an ink path of which one end communicates with the ink inlet/outlet and the other end is disposed opening into the ink storage unit, wall parts that divide the ink storage unit into an upper air chamber and a lower fluid chamber that communicate with each other through a communication path, and an outside air channel, of which one end communicates with the air chamber and the other end enables communication with the outside at a position further from the air chamber than the fluid chamber. Other embodiments of fluid storage containers and methods of removing fluid therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing material container detachably attachable to a printing apparatus having apparatus-side terminals. The container can comprise an electrical device, a memory device and a plurality of terminals. First and second terminals can be coupled to the electrical device and a plurality of memory terminals can be coupled to the memory device. Terminal contact portions are present where the terminals contact a respective apparatus side contact forming member. A short detection contact portion can be positioned to contact a contact forming member that itself is coupled to a short detection circuit of the printing apparatus. The terminals can be arranged with the memory terminal contact portions located to the left of the second terminal contact portion and to the right of the first terminal contact portion. The contact portion that is second farthest to the right can be the third contact portion.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus, including: an image recording section which records an image on a front surface of a cut sheet recording medium by an inkjet method using an aqueous ink; a chain gripper which receives the recording medium, on the front surface of which an image has been recorded, from the image recording section, and conveys the recording medium by gripping a leading end of the received recording medium; and a drying processing section which carries out a drying process on the recording medium conveyed by the chain gripper.

Abstract: Water and a pigment, as well as a high penetrating agent, a penetrating agent and a moisturizing agent each having specific kind and amount are incorporated in an ink for an inkjet recording apparatus. The high penetrating agent is an alkyl-substituted 1,3-hexanediol or an alkyl-substituted 1,3-pentanediol each having 8 carbon atoms. The penetrating agent is a C1-C4 monoalkyl ether of a polyhydric alcohol, a C6-C8 monoalkyl ether of a polyhydric alcohol, or a polyhydric alcohol dibutyl ether. The moisturizing agent is glycerin and 1,3-propanediol.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a heater, an irradiation unit, and a contact unit. The irradiation unit irradiates a sheet with heat rays from the heater to heat the sheet by radiant heat. The contact unit includes a member that heats a region of the sheet by coming into contact with the radiant heated sheet on a downstream side of the irradiation unit. A part of the heat rays output from the heater is radiated onto a part of a structure constituting the contact unit to raise a temperature of the member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a carriage having a recording head movable in a first direction relative to a medium, a color ink nozzle row and a clear ink nozzle row that are provided in the recording head and that respectively eject photo-curable color ink and photo-curable clear ink, and a light irradiation section. A first period of time from when the color ink is deposited on the medium to when light is emitted by the light irradiation section is equal to or longer than a second period of time from when the clear ink is deposited on the medium to when the light is emitted by the light irradiation section.

Abstract: With the printing method according to the above described aspect of the present invention, when first ink and second ink made of resin are placed on a printing medium, a first dot for which a first ink droplet land on the printing medium and a plurality of second dots for which a plurality of second ink droplets land on the printing medium are in contact, but adjacent ones of the second dots are separated from each other. With this printing method, the first ink is high in stretchability, and the glass transition point when the second ink is cured is higher than the glass transition point when the first ink is cured.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit configured to apply ink to a recording medium while reciprocating a print head with respect to the recording medium and a drying unit configured to apply energy for accelerating dryness to the recording medium to which the ink is applied by the print head. The drying unit applies a larger energy at edges of a range within which the printing unit moves on the recording medium than at a middle of the range.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a recording portion; a medium-supply portion; a support member for supporting a recording medium while facing the recording portion; a conveyor mechanism including a conveyance guide and a conveyor roller; a first housing accommodating the recording portion; and a second housing accommodating the medium-supply portion, the support member, and the conveyor mechanism. The first housing is pivotable about a pivot shaft with respect to the second housing. The conveyance guide includes a guide portion disposed downstream of the conveyor roller and upstream of the recording portion and having an inclined guide face. The guide portion is opposed to the recording portion in the second direction with a clearance therebetween. The recording portion is configured to pass through a space corresponding to the clearance when the first housing is pivoted between the ejection position and the distant position.

Abstract: A platen unit includes a platen that has a hole for sucking a medium, a platen supporting member that has an internal space which communicates with the hole of the platen, and an elastic member that is provided between the platen and the platen supporting member, and keeps airtightness between the platen and the platen supporting member. In the platen unit, the platen is movable in an up-down direction on the elastic member.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, in a medium conveyance apparatus which securely supports and conveys a medium, by providing a function for applying a back tension to the medium, in a guide section which forms a guide for supporting the medium in a medium conveyance unit, it is possible to apply a back tension to the medium of which at least a portion is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit, thereby restricting the occurrence of creasing and floating when the medium is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit and maintaining the flatness of the medium which is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus may include a conveyor belt, suction unit, linear recording heads, and head frame shaped like a plate. The conveyor belt has a placement face on which a recording medium is placed and may be configured to cause the placement face to move in a conveyance direction. The suction unit disposed below the placement face applies a suction force exerted by a downward airflow to the recording medium placed on the placement face. The linear recording heads may be disposed upward opposite to the suction unit across the conveyor belt, have a nozzle face where an ink ejection nozzle is formed, and extend in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. Linear recording heads may be arranged in the conveyance direction. The linear recording heads may be attached to the head frame. The head frame may have a ventilation opening penetrating in a thickness direction.

Abstract: Providing rewritable or erasable printing or copying utilizing nanoparticle ink or toner is disclosed. A paper-like material is described using nanoparticles that are selectively controlled to show a substantially dark, gray, or white dot depending on an emitted signal or field in a printer or copier device. Also disclosed is a printer or copier device that erases and writes nanoparticles to a paper-like material depending on an emitted magnetic signal in a printer or copier device.

Abstract: Self-expiring labels and badges are made by a method of: (A) contacting a first component of a dye system with a second component of the dye system, the first component carried on a facial surface of a transfer ribbon and the second component carried on a facial surface of a media, the second component beneath and in contact with a timing layer, and (B) heating the contacted first component of the dye system and timing layer with a thermal print head such that (i) the first component of the dye system transfers to the timing layer, and (ii) the first component of the dye system begins to migrate through the timing layer to the second component of the dye system which, upon contact of the first and second components of the dye system, an image is formed.

Abstract: One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus.

Abstract: A printer comprises a body, a display pivotally coupled to the body, and a cover pivotally coupled to the body. The display and the cover can be positioned relative to each other such that the cover overlaps the display when the display is not in use.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; a latent image forming unit configured to emit a light beam based on image data and to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member by the light beam; a placement unit provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus, on which the latent image forming unit is placed; an elastic member disposed between the latent image forming unit and the placement unit; and a pressing unit provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus and configured to press the latent image forming unit toward the placement unit so that the elastic member is pressed by the latent image forming unit and the placement unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a correction control unit and a correction amount adjusting unit. The correction control unit performs a phase correction process of changing a drive frequency of a driver for driving and rotating a rotating polygon mirror having a rotational phase difference judged not to coincide by a predetermined correction amount and driving the driver for a period corresponding to a specified clock number by a drive clock signal of the changed drive frequency if a rotational phase difference of another rotating polygon mirror does not coincide with a reference rotational phase difference. The correction amount adjusting unit reduces the predetermined correction amount by a predetermined specified amount and causes the correction control unit to perform the phase correction process again if the rotational phase difference does not coincide with a reference rotational phase difference after the phase correction process is performed.

Abstract: A method of imaging printing plates uses a single imaging device having at least one laser delivering, in an imagewise manner, pulsed electromagnetic energy of pulse duration not greater than 1×10?6 seconds. Such an imaging method permits the imaging of a plurality of types of printing plates irrespective of any sensitised imaging chemistry contained in their coatings.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of properly correcting a scanning length while suppressing occurrence of moiré fringes to reduce degradation of image quality. A laser drive device generates laser beam by driving a laser beam source on an auxiliary pixel basis according to a lighting pattern that defines a pattern for turning on or off the laser beam on an auxiliary pixel basis. A CPU sets the scanning magnification of a photosensitive member in a main scanning direction. Further, the CPU sets the lighting pattern, based on the image data, according to the set scanning magnification, pixel by pixel basis such that the lighting pattern becomes aperiodic in a sequence of pixels. The CPU outputs the lighting pattern to the laser drive device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes providing, on a display, an object configured to be moved by a user along an axis, associating a plurality of predefined layouts with respective intervals along the axis, detecting a user action on the object indicating a position on the axis, and composing, in response to the detecting of the user action, a composite video signal using a layout, of the plurality of predefined layouts, associated with an interval among the intervals within which the position is lying.

Abstract: An enhanced interface for voice and video communications, in which a gesture of a user is recognized from a sequence of camera images, and a user interface is provided include a control and a representation of the user. The process also includes causing the representation to interact with the control based on the recognized gesture, and controlling a telecommunication session based on the interaction.

Abstract: In one example implementation, a request from a first endpoint is identified for a second endpoint to join a video communication session. Particular video data captured at the first endpoint is displayed at the second endpoint prior to the second endpoint joining the video communication session. In certain embodiments, the particular video data captured at the first endpoint can be displayed at the second endpoint without the user of the first endpoint being made aware that the particular video data was displayed at the second endpoint.

Abstract: Customizing a conferencing system based on proximity of a participant. A first participant may be detected as being proximate to a first conferencing system. For example, the first participant may provide user input to check in to the first conferencing system. Alternatively, the conferencing system may automatically detect the first participant (e.g., by automatically detecting a personal device of the first participant). In response to detecting the proximate participant, the first conferencing system may be automatically customized for the participant.

Abstract: Techniques to detect a display device are described. An apparatus may include a video camera operative to receive video information for an image, and a microphone operative to receive audio information for an image. The apparatus may further include a monitor detection module communicatively coupled to the video camera and the microphone, where the monitor detection module is operative to detect a temporal watermark signal displayed by the monitor within the image, and determine a location for the monitor within the image based on the detection. The apparatus may also include an active speaker detector module communicatively coupled to the monitor detection module, where the active speaker detector module is operative to exclude false positives caused by the monitor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one aspect, audio streams are added to a mix until the mix is either complete (i.e., all audio streams have been added) or the mix is closed early (i.e., before the mix is complete). In another aspect, audio and video streams are synchronized by playing back the audio stream and then synchronizing display of the video frames to the playback of the audio stream.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an audio/video conference includes receiving audio from a moderator via a circuit-switched telephone network, transmitting a representation of the audio to a first listener group via the circuit-switched telephone network, and transmitting a representation of the audio to a second listener group via a packet-switched network. The audio/video conference may be transmitted to the first listener group and the second listener group in real-time or near real-time (e.g., within a few seconds). The method and system may be used with a circuit-switched telephone network such as, for example, a public switched telephone network. Further, the method and system may be used with a packet-switched network such as, for example, the Internet. The method and system further provide synchronization of video data, including slide data, and audio data related to the audio/video conference.

Abstract: Providing high availability in videoconferences system. A first plurality of videoconferencing devices of a first type may be monitored. Additionally, a second plurality of videoconferencing devices of a second type may be monitored. During this monitoring, at least one device of the first plurality of videoconferencing devices performs activities corresponding to a respective videoconference and at least one device of the second plurality of videoconferencing devices performs activities corresponding to the respective videoconference. In response to failure of a one of the devices associated with the respective videoconference, failover to a second device of the same type may be performed. After performing failover, the second device performs the activities corresponding to the respective videoconference that the original device was performing.

Abstract: When a first instruction operation is performed by a user, a controller changes a zoom position in a wide-angle direction. When a second instruction operation is performed by the user, the controller changes the zoom position, which has been changed in the wide-angle direction, in a telephoto direction. In association with the change in the zoom position in the telephoto direction, the controller causes the image capture unit to perform automatic image capture.

Abstract: To provide an onboard environment recognition system capable of preventing, with a reduced processing load, erroneous recognition caused by light from a headlight of a vehicle in the surroundings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method generate a three-dimensional image by determining, using a light-field camera, a depth map corresponding to an environment. The depth map represents how light falls in the environment. The method also includes determining a parallax occlusion map of the environment and creating, using the depth map and the parallax occlusion map, a three-dimensional image representing the environment. In some embodiments, the method includes taking a first picture of the environment with a first flash intensity and a second picture of the environment with a greater second flash, determining differences between the first picture of the environment and the second picture of the environment, determining one or more properties of the environment based at least in part on the determined differences and dynamically re-lighting the three-dimensional image using the depth map, the parallax occlusion map, and one or more of the determined properties of the environment.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the perceived depth of 3D content in response to a viewer input control signal. The system comprises: 1) a content source providing an input left stereoscopic image and an input right stereoscopic image; 2) a disparity estimator to receive the input left and right stereoscopic images, detect disparities between the input left and right stereoscopic images, and generate a disparities array; and 3) processing circuitry to fill in occlusion areas associated with the disparities array and apply a scale factor to the detected disparities to thereby generate a scaled disparities array. The system further comprises a warping engine to receive the scaled disparities array and generate an output left stereoscopic image and an output right stereoscopic image. The output left and right stereoscopic images have a different perceived depth than the input left and right stereoscopic images.

Abstract: A method of generating a broadcasting bitstream for a digital caption broadcast, the method including: receiving video data in which a video including at least one of a two-dimensional (2D) video and a three-dimensional (3D) video is encoded; determining caption data for reproduction in conjunction with the video, and 3D caption converting information including information relating to a converting speed of an offset for reproducing the caption data as a 3D caption; and outputting a bitstream for a digital broadcast by multiplexing the received video data, the determined caption data, and the determined 3D caption converting information.