Abstract: In an inkjet printer, a low surface energy material is applied to a printhead face and a drip bib during a printhead maintenance operation. The low surface energy material forms a thin layer on the printhead face and drip bib to resist adhesion of ink to the printhead. The low surface energy material can be a layer of silicone oil.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a substrate that carries thereon a plurality of ejection energy generating elements arranged in rows to generate energy necessary for ejecting liquid and an ejection port plate that is laid on the substrate and has a plurality of ejection ports formed therein and arranged vis-a-vis the respective ejection energy generating elements. The ejection port plate has a groove, or an oblong recess, formed on the surface thereof where the plurality of ejection ports are formed such that the groove surrounds the region where the ejection ports are formed and has a corrugated inner lateral surface and a flat outer lateral surface arranged oppositely relative to the inner lateral surface.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer, a low surface energy material is applied to a printhead face and a drip bib during a printhead maintenance operation. The low surface energy material forms a thin layer on the printhead face and drip bib to resist adhesion of ink to the printhead. The low surface energy material can be a layer of silicone oil.

Abstract: A head driving mechanism includes a first cam follower an end portion of which is attached to a first holding unit and the other end portion of which includes a first sliding-contact surface disposed in sliding contact with a cam, and a second cam follower an end portion of which is attached to the second holding unit and the other end portion of which includes a second sliding-contact surface disposed in sliding contact with the cam. The first cam follower and the second cam follower are each displaced by rotation of the cam so as to move the first printing head and the second printing head, while the first sliding-contact surface and the second sliding-contact surface are in sliding contact with an outer circumferential surface of the cam.

Abstract: There is provided a wide-format printing apparatus which can suppress a posture variation of a carriage to improve landing-on accuracy of ink, and can reduce an HP distance to the minimum narrowness, thus achieving higher image quality and mass-production performance. Therefore the HP distance, the main rail and the sub rail are adjustable, and the curve amount of both the rails is made to be in agreement with the curve amount of the platen 21. After that, the adjustment for minimizing the local deformation of both the rails is performed.

Abstract: A print device is provided with a conveyance unit for conveying a medium in a conveyance direction; a magenta head; a cyan head; a black head; a yellow head; a first light source; a clear head; and a second light source. The first light source is provided downstream in the conveyance direction than the color ink heads; the clear head is provided downstream than the first light source; the second light source is provided downstream than the clear head; and, where the irradiation energy needed for the main curing of the color inks is Pc, the irradiation energy needed for the main curing of the clear ink is Pcl, the irradiation energy of the first light source is P1, and the irradiation energy of the second light source is P2, then relationships P1<Pc?P1+P2 and Pcl<P2<Pc are fulfilled.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a substrate including an element that generates energy to discharge liquid and a liquid supply port; a flow path forming member on the substrate which forms a space therebetween with the substrate and has a discharge port therein, the space constituting a pressure chamber, and a flow path causing the pressure chamber and the liquid supply port to communicate; an interlayer provided between the substrate and the flow path forming member; and a protection layer including metal for protection, wherein the interlayer is disposed so as to avoid a first region corresponding to the element, a second region corresponding to a region of the flow path on a pressure chamber side, and a portion corresponding to a boundary between the first region and the second region, and wherein at least apart of the portion is covered with the protection layer.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for making a funnel-shaped nozzle in a semiconductor substrate. The funnel-shaped recess includes a straight-walled bottom portion and a curved top portion having a curved sidewall gradually converging toward and smoothly joined to the straight-walled bottom portion, and the curved top portion encloses a volume that is substantially greater than a volume enclosed by the straight-walled bottom portion.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid discharge head including: a discharge port that serves to discharge a liquid; a discharge energy generating element that generates energy used to discharge the liquid; a foam chamber that houses the discharge energy generating element and is communicated with the discharge port; and a flow channel that is communicated with the foam chamber and serves to supply the liquid to the foam chamber. An inclined surface is formed between: a side wall of the foam chamber on a side opposite to the flow channel; and a surface of the foam chamber on which the discharge port is formed, and the inclined surface is inclined to a plane on which the discharge energy generating element is formed.

Abstract: The liquid ejecting head includes a printing element board having a plurality of printing elements for producing energy used to eject liquid, a contact board having a contact terminal for electrically connecting to a liquid ejection printing apparatus, and a functional element, a plurality of lands which are provided on the face of the contact board where the functional element is mounted, and to which terminals of the functional element are connected, a wiring member that connects the printing element board to the contact board, a first terminal and a second terminal disposed on one edge of the contact board, a first wiring connecting the contact terminal to the first terminal, a second wiring connecting at least one of the plurality of lands to the second terminal, and insulating resin that covers the edge face of the second terminal positioned on the one edge of the contact board.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus has a head component that ejects a liquid through nozzle openings to attach the liquid to an object. The liquid contains a tabular grain material, and the head component discharges the liquid in droplets weighing 1 ng to 7 ng, both inclusive, in a way that the droplets reach the object at a velocity of 5 m/s to 8 m/s, both inclusive.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus has a head component that ejects a liquid through nozzle openings to attach the liquid to an object. The liquid contains a particulate material having a particle size of 200 nm to 1 ?m, both inclusive, and the head component discharges the liquid in droplets weighing 1 ng to 7 ng, both inclusive, in a way that the droplets reach the object at a velocity of 5 m/s to 9 m/s, both inclusive.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a firing chamber having a chamber floor with an orifice opposite the chamber floor and a heating element partially covering the chamber floor, a region of the chamber floor being contoured to define a cavity extending into the chamber floor.

Abstract: Electronic circuitry compensates for variations or sags in electrical voltage within a thermal ink-jetting (TIJ) printing apparatus. Ground potential and other supply-related voltages are monitored and corresponding signals are provided. The signals are used, directly or by other circuitry, to affect the biasing of one or more transistors coupling TIJ resistors to supply voltage or ground nodes. Printing errors and related problems associated with voltage variations are reduced or eliminated accordingly.

Abstract: A thermal fluid-ejection mechanism includes a substrate having a top surface. A cavity formed within the substrate has one or more sidewalls and a floor. The angle of the sidewalls from the floor is greater than or equal to nominally ninety degrees. The thermal fluid-ejection mechanism includes a patterned conductive layer on one or more of the substrate's top surface and the cavity's sidewalls. The thermal fluid-ejection mechanism includes a patterned resistive layer on the sidewalls of the cavity. The patterned resistive layer is located over the patterned conductive layer where the patterned conductive layer is formed on the sidewalls of the cavity. The patterned resistive layer is formed as a heating resistor of the thermal-fluid ejection mechanism. The conductive layer is formed as a conductor of the thermal-fluid ejection mechanism, to permit electrical activation of the heating resistor to cause fluid to be ejected from the thermal fluid-ejection mechanism.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a substrate with a fluid slot and a membrane adhered to the substrate that spans the fluid slot. A resistor is disposed on top of the membrane over the fluid slot, and a fluid feed hole next to the resistor extends through the membrane to the slot. A shelf extends from the edge of the resistor to the edge of the feed hole, and a passivation layer covers the resistor and part the shelf. An etch-resistant layer is formed partly on the shelf and in between the fluid feed hole and the resistor.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a flow passage structural body having a nozzle and a pressure chamber communicated with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric actuator provided on the flow passage structural body to apply jetting energy to a liquid inside the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric actuator has a piezoelectric layer arranged to face the pressure chamber, a low-potential electrode provided on the piezoelectric layer, and a high-potential electrode provided on the piezoelectric layer and to which a higher potential is applied than to the low-potential electrode. The high-potential electrode has a first electrode layer arranged to contact with the piezoelectric layer and formed of gold, and a second electrode layer stacked on the first electrode layer to extend in a predetermined direction, having a width shorter than that of the first electrode layer, and formed of a conductive material more likely to cause migration than gold.

Abstract: There is provided an inkjet print head including: a nozzle substrate having a nozzle and a pressure chamber formed therein; and a vibrating substrate coupled to the nozzle substrate and transferring pressure from a piezoelectric actuator to the pressure chamber, wherein the vibrating substrate has a plurality of pores absorbing a pressure wave generated in a process of discharging ink.

Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate and monolithic liquid jetting structure including a nozzle, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The nozzle, through which a liquid jet is ejected in a direction substantially parallel to a first surface of the substrate, includes material layers formed on the first surface of the substrate. At least one of the material layers of the nozzle includes a drop forming mechanism actuated to form liquid drops from the liquid jet. The deflection mechanism is associated with the liquid jet and deflects portions of the liquid jet between first and second paths. Liquid drops formed from portions of the liquid jet following the first path and the second path continue to follow the first path and the second path, respectively. The catcher, including a material layer formed on the first surface of the substrate, collects liquid drops following one of the paths.

Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate, catcher, and monolithic liquid jetting structure including a nozzle and deflection mechanism. A liquid jet is ejected through the nozzle in a direction substantially parallel to a first surface of the substrate. The nozzle includes material layers formed on the first surface of the substrate. At least one of the material layers of the nozzle includes a drop forming mechanism actuated to form liquid drops from the liquid jet. The deflection mechanism is associated with the liquid jet and deflects portions of the liquid jet between first and second paths. The liquid drops formed from portions of the liquid jet following the first path and second path continue to follow the first path and second path, respectively. The catcher includes a liquid drop contact surface including a portion of the first surface of the substrate and collects liquid drops following the second path.

Abstract: A seal for an outlet port of an ink tank, the seal includes a seal member; and a seal retainer having a housing for the seal member; a first hook on a first side of the seal retainer; a second hook on a second side of the seal retainer, the second side being opposite the first side; a handle including a free end and a hinged end opposite the free end; and a hinge member disposed between the housing and the free end of the handle, wherein a distance between the free end of the handle and the hinged end of the handle is greater than a distance between the hinged end of the handle and an end of the seal retainer that is opposite the free end of the handle.

Abstract: A printer device includes a housing (32) that defines an interior space. A platform (36) includes a first position extending along a plane within the interior space for receiving media to be printed with fluid. A mechanism (200) selectively applies a force to the platform (36) to move the platform (36) to a second position at an angle relative to the plane.

Abstract: An ink tank for an inkjet printhead, the ink tank includes an outlet wall having an outlet port for providing ink; a lead end wall disposed proximate the printhead when installation of the ink tank begins; a trail end wall that is opposite the lead end wall and that is configured to be distal to the printhead when installation of the ink tank begins; a first side wall extending from the lead end wall to the trail end wall and intersecting the outlet wall; and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, wherein first side wall and the second side wall each include a first indentation disposed at a first distance from the outlet wall; a second indentation disposed at a second distance from the outlet wall, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and a ledge disposed between the first indentation and the second indentation.

Abstract: A seal includes a seal member; and a seal retainer having a housing for the seal member, the housing including a first thickness near a first end and a second thickness near a second end, wherein the first thickness does not equal the second thickness; a wall extending from the first end of the housing, the wall including a latch opening; a first hook on a first side of the seal retainer; and a second hook on a second side of the seal retainer, the second side being opposite the first side, wherein the first hook and second hook are disposed proximate the second end of the housing, and wherein a force applied to the seal member by the housing near the first end is equal to a force applied to the seal member by the housing near the second end when the seal is assembled onto the ink tank.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head, an ink supply tube that supplies ink to the liquid ejecting head, a pressure control valve that opens as a result of depressurization on the liquid ejecting head side, a check valve provided upstream from the pressure control valve, an ink circulation tube that is connected at both ends to the ink supply tube between the pressure control valve and the check valve, and a tube pump provided in the ink circulation tube; in this configuration, by providing at least one of an ink return tube and a liquid reservoir portion that is capable of holding liquid in a liquid flow channel in a pressurized state, a rise in pressure within a circulating flow channel caused by pump operations can be suppressed.

Abstract: Method and Apparatus for Reducing Ink Foaming in a Continuous Inkjet Printer The invention provides a method of and apparatus for reducing foam formation in the returned ink in a continuous inkjet printer. The returned ink is subjected to deceleration and is reduced in pressure, preferably by being directed into a sub-chamber which reverses the direction of flow and provides an elevated edge over which the ink overflows. The de-aeration facility is preferably incorporated in an ink service module.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head that ejects ink for printing, an ink tank from which ink is fed to the print head, a first channel provided between the print head and the ink tank to feed ink in the ink tank to the print head, a second channel through which the ink in the first channel is transferred, and a pump connected to the second channel to transfer the ink in the first channel. The pump allows air or the ink in the first channel to be discharged via the second channel.

Abstract: An ink set for ink jet recording is provided, the ink set containing a first ink which contains a first pigment and a second ink which contains a second pigment, wherein each of the first and second inks contains polyester-modified polydialkylsiloxane.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method includes ejecting at least two color ink compositions onto a recording medium so as to be deposited one on another. When one ink composition is deposited to form a first image and then another ink composition is deposited to form a second image on the first image, the ink composition forming the second image has a higher yield value than the ink composition forming the first image.

Abstract: A process for printing a substrate comprising applying thereto an ink by means of an ink jet printer, wherein the ink comprises a latex binder, a liquid medium comprising water and organic solvent, and polymer-encapsulated pigment particles comprising a carboxy-functional dispersant crosslinked around a pigment core by a crosslinking agent, wherein the ink has a minimum film-forming temperature below 70° C. Inks are also claimed. The process and inks are useful for printing temperature-sensitive substrates, e.g. foil balloons and wrapping materials for special occasions.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method includes ejecting an ultraviolet-ray curable ink of which a viscosity at 28° C. is 8 mPa·s or more from a head to a recording medium, and curing the ultraviolet-ray curable ink attached to the recording medium, wherein, in the ejecting of the ultraviolet-ray curable ink, the ultraviolet-ray curable ink is heated such that a temperature of the ejected ultraviolet-ray curable ink becomes 28° C. to 40° C., and a viscosity of the ultraviolet-ray curable ink at the temperature is 15 mPa·s or less.

Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording method including: discharging an ultraviolet ray-curable ink, which has a viscosity at 20° C. of 25 mPa·s or less and an average equivalent of polymerizable unsaturated double bond of 100 to 150, from a head onto a recording medium at a discharge temperature of 30° C. to 40° C.; and irradiating the ultraviolet ray-curable ink, attached onto the recording medium, with ultraviolet rays emitted from a light source to cure the ultraviolet ray-curable ink.

Abstract: A media substrate for imaging includes a front and back surface defining a thickness. The front receives imaging fluid and absorbs it. The back has scoring lines extending into the thickness that limit curling of the media substrate as the absorbed fluid dries on the front. Patterns and locations of scoring lines as well as their depth into the thickness are noted. Imaging and scoring stations in an imaging device are still other embodiments as are cutting features for scoring.

Abstract: A printing system includes carriage assemblies, a preparation station, a printing station, and a selection station. The carriage assemblies receive flexible bodies and are coupled to a conveyance assembly that moves the carriage assemblies along a direction of travel. The preparation station receives the flexible bodies from the loading station and manipulates the flexible bodies to at least partially flatten printing surfaces of the flexible bodies. The printing station prints images on the flexible bodies. The selection station examines the images on the flexible bodies and selects one or more of the flexible bodies based on the images. The selection station also individually grips and removes selected flexible bodies from the carriage assemblies and conveys the selected flexible bodies to a first collection location while the other flexible bodies remain on the carriage assemblies and are conveyed to a different, second collection location.

Abstract: A medium receiving device includes: a medium holding member having a medium receiving surface that receives a part on the leading edge side in a discharge direction of a cut sheet; a medium edge restricting member including a restricting portion that restricts movement of the leading edge of the cut sheet to the discharge direction and a guidance portion that makes contact with the medium receiving surface so as to guide the leading edge from the medium receiving surface to the restricting portion; and a connecting bar that moves a plurality of medium edge restricting members together between a restricting position where the guidance portion makes contact with the medium receiving surface so as to guide the leading edge to the restricting portion and a non-restricting position where the guidance portion is separate from the medium receiving surface and does not guide the leading edge to the restricting portion.

Abstract: A medium receiving device includes a support shaft that extends in a width direction of the sheet and supports a medium holding member that is capable of receiving and holding the sheet which falls on the medium holding member, a rotative arm mechanism that is disposed at each end of the support shaft in the longitudinal direction and allows the support shaft to be displaced between a receiving position that allows the medium holding member to be capable of receiving the sheets and a picking-up position that is spaced from the receiving position in a direction that intersects with the longitudinal direction of the support shaft, and a universal joint that connect the support shaft and the rotative arm mechanism.

Abstract: A device for serial printing of print media, particularly mailpieces, with a print head having a planar printing face and a printing area extending longitudinally, and with a transport device for feeding print media to be printed to the print head. The transport device includes first and second transport units, which move the print media parallel to the printing face and can be moved in an orthogonal direction relative to the printing face in order to guide a print medium on the transport units to the printing face of the print head and at a distance away from the printing face that is suitable for printing. To allow fast feeding and discharging transport of the print media and increase the throughput, the first and second transport units can be moved independently of one another and a transfer area of the printing face is provided to transfer a print medium from the first to the second transport unit.

Abstract: An image recording device may include corrugate mechanisms to prevent undesired bending and jamming of a recording sheet. In some examples, the image recording device may include a first corrugate mechanism, a second corrugate mechanism and a third corrugate mechanism. The first, second and third corrugate mechanisms may be configured to create a corrugated shape in a recording sheet. The second and third corrugate mechanisms, in one or more arrangements, may be located downstream of the first corrugate mechanism and an ink nozzle. The third corrugate mechanism may further be configured such that no upper contact portion thereof may be disposed at a same position, with respect to the width direction, as endmost upper contact portions of the first corrugate mechanism with respect to the width direction. In yet other examples, the third corrugate mechanism may be located downstream of a reverse sheet conveying path.

Abstract: A printer has a fluid ejection head, an opening/closing mechanism that is disposed opposite the inkjet head, and suction holes arrayed in the conveyance direction of the recording paper, and opens and closes the suction holes. A printer control method has steps of detecting the position of the leading end of the recording paper before starting conveyance of the recording paper; reading the next recording paper conveyance speed Vpf; calculating a delay time Td1 for starting the opening/closing mechanism after recording paper conveyance starts based on the position of the leading end of the recording paper and the recording paper conveyance speed Vpf; determining the time when the opening/closing mechanism starts operating based on the delay time Td1; and starting the opening/closing mechanism at the start time and opening the suction holes.

Abstract: In a recording device which performs recording on a recording medium, a transport driving roller which carries out transporting of the recording medium as a medium transport roller is formed by processing a plate member into a cylindrical shape. A bonding portion where the pair of edge portions of the plate material are bonded has a transport region, which is a region where at least the recording medium comes into contact with, extends in a straight line shape in a direction which intersects a circumference line.

Abstract: In a recording device which performs recording on a recording medium, a transport driving roller which carries out transporting of the recording medium as a medium transport roller is formed by processing a plate member into a cylindrical shape. A bonding portion where the pair of edge portions of the plate material are bonded has a transport region, which is a region where at least the recording medium comes into contact with, extends in a straight line shape in a direction which intersects a circumference line.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a nozzle head including a nozzle head main body and a plurality of linear nozzle units for spraying a printing material, the linear nozzle units on one side of the nozzle head main body and elongated in parallel in a first direction; and a nozzle head driver connected to the nozzle head main body and configured to move the nozzle head in a second direction crossing the first direction. In such a printing apparatus, a dry spot due to a printing time difference may be reduced or prevented, a uniform printing pattern may be formed, printing quality may be improved, and defective products may be reduced. In addition, the effective spacing between separate spray nozzles may be reduced or minimized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that can adjust an inclination deviation even after a laser scanner unit and a photosensitive drum are embedded. A CPU 601 selects at least two screen angles from among screen angles, and generates image signals corresponding to the respective selected at least two screen angles, based on these angles. The CPU 601 causes light emitting elements to emit light beams at different emission timings with reference to a timing on which a BD 803 detects the light beam, based on a generated image signal, thereby forming latent images of test images on a photosensitive drum. The latent images formed on the photosensitive drum are developed, and test images are formed on a recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of correcting relative position in exposure position between laser beams that scan a photosensitive drum in a scanning direction of the laser beams. A semiconductor laser includes first and second light emitting elements for emitting first and second laser beams. These elements are arranged such that the laser beams expose positions on the photosensitive drum different in the sub scanning direction. A polygon mirror deflects the laser beams to scan the photosensitive drum. Relative position in the scanning direction between images to be formed on the photosensitive drum by exposure by the first and second laser beams is corrected based on correction data. An image data generation section generates drive signals associated with the respective light emitting elements. A semiconductor laser drive circuit causes the semiconductor laser to emit the first and second laser beams, based on the drive signals.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of correcting light amounts of light beams which expose a photosensitive member with simple construction. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, and a beam scanning device including a plurality of semiconductor lasers which emit light beams for exposing the photosensitive drum, and a memory which stores first correction data for correcting the light amount of each light beam in a manner associated with each of the plurality of semiconductor lasers. A CPU outputs second correction data for being commonly used in correcting the light amounts of the light beams emitted from the plurality of semiconductor lasers to the beam scanning device. A laser driver IC provided in the beam scanning device controls the light amount of the light beam emitted from each semiconductor laser based on the first correction data and the second correction data.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a multicolor thermal imaging system wherein different heating elements on a thermal print head can print on different color-forming layers of a multicolor thermal imaging member in a single pass. The line-printing time is divided into portions, each of which is divided into a plurality of subintervals. All of the pulses within the portions have the same energy. In one embodiment, every pulse has the same amplitude and duration. Different colors are selected for printing during the different portions by varying the fraction of subintervals that contain pulses. This technique allows multiple colors to be printed using a thermal print head with a single strobe signal line. Pulsing patterns may be chosen to reduce the coincidence of pulses provided to multiple print head elements, thereby reducing the peak power requirements of the print head.

Abstract: A print head assembly and a printer using the same are disclosed. The print head assembly includes: a bracket, a print head and an elastic element. The bracket includes a first bracket body having a cavity and a lid covered on the opening of the cavity. A window is opened on the first bracket body. The print head is accommodated in the cavity of the first bracket body and hinged to the first bracket body via a first rotary shaft. The surface of a heating element of the print head is matched with the window and faces an outside paper pressing roller. The elastic element biases towards the print head so as to make the surface of the heating element of the print head have a tendency to extend outside the window. The print head assembly is capable of being detached as a whole, thus the requirements of performing single-sided printing and duplex printing in the same printer is achieved.

Abstract: A thermal head in which power durability of the heat-generating element is improved and a thermal printer including the same. A thermal head according to an embodiment includes a substrate, electrodes disposed in a pair on the substrate, a heat-generating element disposed between the electrodes and connecting the electrodes to one another, an electric resistor layer disposed below the electrodes, and a protection film disposed on the electrodes and the heat-generating element. The electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the heat-generating element. The heat-generating element and the electric resistor layer each contain at least one metal selected from Al, Cu, Ag, Mo, Y, Nd, Cr, Ni and W, in a region on a protection film side thereof. A content of the metal contained in the heat-generating element is higher than a content of the metal contained in the electric resistor layer disposed below the first electrode.

Abstract: A ribbon includes a substrate film, wherein the film comprises a tensionable material; and an ink disposed on the ribbon. A length of the ribbon includes portions that have been tensioned to provide a code readable from the ribbon by measuring the tension over the length of the ribbon.

Abstract: An ink sheet damage calculating unit compares image element density data of each of areas into which an image is divided by an image area dividing unit with a first threshold to calculate the total number of pixels each having density data equal to or larger than the first threshold for each area, and then compares the total number of pixels calculated for each area with a second threshold. A printing operation selecting unit uses a remaining area of an already-used ink area for formation of a next print image when the total number of pixels is smaller than the second threshold in every one of all the areas, and uses an ink area in a new unit area for formation of a next print image when the total number of pixels is equal to or larger than the second threshold.