Abstract: In a printing device, printing is performed by relatively moving a nozzle array for ejecting a liquid droplet with respect to a print medium, a resolution by a nozzle pitch of the nozzle array is lower than a target print resolution, and between liquid droplets ejected by a single nozzle array, liquid droplets are ejected from the same or another nozzle array to attain the target print resolution. Each of a plurality of nozzles in the single nozzle array is printable by changing an ejection density by applying a preset rate thinning when ejecting liquid droplets by relatively moving with respect to the print medium. The printing device is provided with a print control part configured to perform printing by dividing the single nozzle array into a plurality of nozzle blocks and determining the ejection density in every nozzle blocks.

Abstract: In a printing device, a print medium is transferred in a sub-scanning direction, a print head is reciprocately driven in a main scanning direction, a plurality of nozzles for ejecting same color ink in the sub-scanning direction are provided on the print head to form a nozzle array, pairs of nozzle arrays of a plurality of colors are arranged in the main scanning direction so as to be in a symmetrical sequence relative to the main scanning direction, and nozzle data for ejecting the ink at each nozzle in each nozzle array is created to perform printing. The printing device includes an inclination information acquisition part configured to obtain inclination information on an inclination of the nozzle array with respect to the sub-scanning direction, and a nozzle data allocation changing part configured to change the nozzle data to be allocated for each nozzle based on the inclination information.

Abstract: Among other things, an inkjet print head module includes inkjets from which ink drops are to be jetted during a series of jetting cycles. There is circuitry on the inkjet print head module to (a) form, from trimming information or other information that characterizes jetting waveforms to be applied to respective inkjets in respective jetting cycles, corresponding jetting waveforms and (b) apply the formed jetting waveforms to the respective inkjets in the respective jetting cycles.

Abstract: A pulse generator forms, from setting data respectively stored in an ejection relevant waveform setting register and a first high impedance setting register, an ejection relevant driving pulse for setting an electrode of an ink chamber communicating with an ejection relevant nozzle to a high impedance state for a predetermined period. The pulse generator forms, from setting data respectively stored in an ejection both-side waveform setting register and a second high impedance setting register, an ejection both-side driving pulse for setting electrodes of ink chambers communicating with ejection both-side nozzles to the high impedance state for the predetermined period. The pulse generator outputs signals of the formed driving pulses to an inkjet head.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method in which if an image is printed using ink and a process liquid serving to improve the printability of the ink, degradation of print image quality can be suppressed which results from a rise in the temperature of a print head. To achieve this, the present invention reduces the amount of process liquid ejected from a process liquid ejection section capable of ejecting a process liquid, with increasing temperature of an ink ejection section capable of ejecting ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head which jets ink droplets, a head transporting mechanism which transports the recording head, and a control unit which controls the head transporting mechanism to reciprocate the recording head along a transporting path and controls the recording head to form an image on a sheet by jetting the ink droplets when the recording head passes over an image formation area within the transporting path. When the control unit controls the transporting mechanism to transport the recording head toward a turn-around point in the transporting path, the control unit decelerates the recording head in accordance with a first acceleration profile and a second acceleration profile which has a peak of deceleration higher than that of the first acceleration profile.

Abstract: A recording device has a medium-supporting part that supports a long recording medium, a recording processing part that performs recording process on the recording medium supported by the medium-supporting part, a recording processing part conveyance system that moves the recording processing part, a medium conveyance system that includes a first drive roller, a first drive motor, a second drive roller and a second drive motor, and a control unit that controls the recording device. The control unit retracts the recording processing part to an area outside of the medium-supporting part while maintaining the movement direction of the recording processing part at a time at which an abnormality has occurred in an interval in which the recording processing is carried out on the recording medium while the recording processing part scans above the recording medium by the recording processing part conveyance system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one inkjet head which is disposed above a feed path of a print medium and on which plural nozzles are aligned along a primary sweeping direction perpendicular to a feed direction of the print medium fed along the feed path. The image forming apparatus forms images by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles. The image forming apparatus includes a controller that is operable to compensate ejection timings of ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzles onto the print medium based on ejection density of the ink droplets. The image forming apparatus can form good images that are not affected by ink dot displacements caused by feed airflow even when the ink dot displacements are affected by self-induced airflow.

Abstract: An ink jet printer for printing on an at least partially cylindrical objects comprises one or more printheads positioned above a line of travel and a carriage assembly configured to hold an at least partially cylindrical object axially aligned along the line of travel and to position said object relative to the printheads, and then rotate the object relative to said one or more printheads. The printer also includes a curing device located along the line of travel and configured to emit energy suitable to cure the deposited fluid.

Abstract: When a splice of a continuous sheet is detected, a printing apparatus defines an unprintable area including the splice on the continuous sheet and continues printing by changing the order in which unit images and maintenance patterns are printed so that the unprintable area is not used for the print operation and a maintenance pattern is printed in an area subsequent to the unprintable area.

Abstract: In a method to execute a pause in an ink printing system printing operation in which a printing substrate web is printed with print bars having print heads, with aid of a take-up roller moving the printing substrate web at printing speed past the print bars in a transfer printing zone in order to generate print images. Upon triggering the pause, a strain state of the printing substrate web is measured at a beginning of the pause and stored as a desired strain state. During the pause, the strain state of the printing substrate web is measured as a real strain state at selectable points in time, and the real strain state is compared with desired strain state. Given a deviation of the real strain state from the desired strain state, at the selectable points in time the take-up roller is controlled so that the strain state of the printing substrate web assumes the desired strain state at the beginning of the pause.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carriage in which recording heads including nozzles for jetting liquid droplets are mounted; and a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium facing the recording heads. The recording heads include a first recording head and a second recording head having a wider printing width than that of the first recording head. The conveying unit includes a guide member configured to guide the recording medium facing the recording heads. Recessed shape parts arranged in at least a medium conveying direction are formed in the guide member. The recording medium can be suctioned by generating negative pressure at the recessed shape parts. A partition wall part between the recessed shape parts is provided at a position corresponding to a downstream side edge in the medium conveying direction of the first recording head.

Abstract: A heater controller to maintain a uniform temperature of a printhead is provided herein. The heater controller monitors the temperature of the printhead and controls the heating of the printhead. The heater controller enables at least two of a plurality of warming groups based on warming power requirements of the printhead. The heater controller alternates activation of the at least two of the plurality of warming groups by rotating each of the at least two of the plurality of warming groups between an on mode and an off mode to uniformly distribute heating power to the printhead.

Abstract: There are provided a method of detecting an ink residual quantity and a printing device which do not make an erroneous determination as to detection on presence/absence of ink without influence of ink mist generated in the middle of using a printing device on calibration of an optical sensor. Therefore, by performing allotment processing based upon ink tank memory element information, calibration of an optical sensor using a reflection portion equipped in the ink tank, in a state where it is determined that the ink is left in the ink tank.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit; an adjustment-chart output unit that outputs an adjustment chart for adjusting deviation of a print position between a first dot and a second dot that are formed for images on a recording medium at different timings with a print head; and an ejection-position adjusting unit that records a plurality of combinations, each containing a reference pattern for reference of an image position and adjustment patterns that are deviated from the reference pattern in a stepwise manner such that the deviation amounts are shifted by M-times of a deviation amount corresponding to the recording resolution, receives selection of an adjustment pattern closest to the reference pattern from the outside, obtains an adjustment value based on the adjustment pattern of the selected combination, sets the adjustment value as a new adjustment value, and adjusts an ejection position of the print head.

Abstract: Based on a conveyance amount in a second conveyance state where a sheet is conveyed by both a first conveyance unit and a second conveyance unit being a conveyance amount obtained by subjecting a conveyance amount in a first conveyance state where the sheet is conveyed only by the first conveyance unit and a conveyance amount in a third conveyance state where the sheet is conveyed only by the second conveyance unit to weighted average with difficulty of slipping of the first or second conveyance unit to the sheet as a weighting coefficient, a remaining conveyance amount is calculated from any two conveyance amounts from among conveyance amounts of the first, the second and the third conveyance states, and a correction value for conveyance is set from the calculated conveyance amount.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided that is configured to store a plurality of pieces of gap information respectively corresponding to a plurality of examined sections discretely arranged along a head moving direction on a recording sheet, each of the plurality of examined sections including a corresponding one portion of top portions and bottom portions on the recording sheet, and calculate interpolation gap information to be interpolated over a whole width in the head moving direction of at least one of a plurality of segments, each of which has a width in the head moving direction defined by two adjacent sections of the plurality of examined sections, based on the stored gap information.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a transporting mechanism configured to transport a recording medium along a first transporting path; a recording head configured to record an image on the recording medium transported by the transporting mechanism; a reading unit configured to read the recording medium and arranged upstream of the recording head along the first transporting path; a re-transporting mechanism configured to perform re-transportation of the recording medium to the transporting mechanism in a state that front and back surfaces of the recording medium are inverted, by re-transporting the recording medium to return to an upstream portion of the first transporting path, via a second transporting path; a sensor arranged upstream of the recording head along the first transporting path and configured to detect the recording medium transported by the transporting mechanism; and a controller configured to control the recording head, the reading unit, the transporting mechanism and the re-transporting mechan

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a capping unit, a supply unit, a wiping unit, and a control unit controlling these components. Upon receiving a maintenance signal, the control unit controls the capping unit and the supply unit so as to perform a second supplying operation of supplying air to an ejection space in an open state via a second opening, after a first supplying operation of supplying air to the ejection space in a sealed state via a first opening. Thereafter, the control unit controls the wiping unit and the capping unit so as to perform a wiping operation of wiping the surface of the opposing member and then switch the ejection space to the sealed state.

Abstract: A droplet jetting apparatus includes: a droplet jetting head that is supplied with a jetting liquid and jets out droplets of the jetting liquid from nozzles formed in a nozzle surface; a spray device that sprays maintenance liquid on the nozzle surface; and a maintenance liquid temperature control unit that controls a temperature of the maintenance liquid so that the temperature of the maintenance liquid comes closer to or becomes higher than or equal to a temperature of the droplet jetting head.

Abstract: A print head capping device includes a flexible cap configured to engage with a print head, and a cap mount including a first portion and a second portion. The cap is mounted to the first portion and to the second portion. The first portion of the cap mount and the second portion of the cap mount are moveable with respect to each other.

Abstract: A printing system includes a print unit and a cleaning unit. The print unit comprises a carrier for a plurality of inkjet cartridges. The cleaning unit includes a wiping unit, a cleaning bay, and a wiper washer unit. The wiping unit includes wiper blades and the wiper washer unit includes a plurality of spray nozzles that spray a fluid. A controller is adapted to transport the carrier into the cleaning bay, transport the wiping units such that the wiper blades clean the inkjet cartridges, and actuate the spray nozzles to wash the wiper blades. The carrier may be positioned in the cleaning bay when the inkjet cartridges are not used for printing and the controller controls at least one of humidity and temperature in the cleaning bay when the carrier plate is positioned therein.

Abstract: An inkjet printer 1 includes an inkjet head 31 with nozzles for discharging ink, a pressurizer for pressurizing a route for ink supply to the inkjet head 31, a head driver 6 for driving the inkjet head 31, and a controller 8 operable for control the pressurizer to pressurize the route for a prescribed time to have fluxes of ink once spilt out of the nozzles and to render nozzles covered with spilt ink before use of the head driver 6 to drive the inkjet head 31 for discharge operation in a maintenance service to the inkjet head 31.

Abstract: Printers and duplexers are described herein. An example duplexer for a printer includes a waste ink roller movable between a concealed region and a receiving region.

Abstract: The invention aims to form an ink coating having a predetermined film thickness on a surface of a printing medium having a three-dimensional structure in shorter time. As solving means, a plurality of times of scanning process is included, ink 80 is discharged to head-facing areas (10a, 10c) in a state of facing straight toward a printhead 110 in one scanning process, and the ink 80 is discharged to a non-head-facing area (10b) so that the total film thickness of the ink coatings (11, 12) to be formed without facing straight toward the printhead 110 in two or more times of the scanning process becomes a predetermined film thickness T0.

Abstract: An image recording device, wherein the image recording device is provided with a support member for supporting a recording medium, a print head for recording an image at a first position facing the support member, and a maintenance unit arranged at a position different from that of the support member in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the direction in which the print head and the support member face each other in the first position. The image recording device is further provided with a guide mechanism for guiding movement of the print head between a first position, a second position in which the print head faces the maintenance unit, and a third position which is a different position from those of the support member and the maintenance unit in an orthogonal direction, and a space allowing for a manual task on the print head is present at the facing position of the print head at the third position.

Abstract: A microfluidic device having a substrate with an electrically conductive element made using a conductive ink layer underlying a hydrophobic layer.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a substrate including a first supply port row in which a plurality of supply ports are arranged, a first energy generating element row in which a plurality of energy generating elements are arranged, a second supply port row in which a plurality of supply ports are arranged, a second energy generating element row in which a plurality of energy generating elements are arranged, a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer for driving the energy generating elements, and a through hole configured to electrically connect the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer. The first energy generating element row, the first supply port row, the second supply port row, and the second energy generating element row are arranged in parallel in this order and the through hole is arranged between the first supply port row and the second supply port row.

Abstract: A liquid discharging recording head includes an element substrate including a plurality of discharge ports configured to discharge liquid and a plurality of energy generating elements configured to generate energy for discharging the liquid, a support member configured to support the element substrate, a first member configured to support an end of the element substrate in an array direction in which the discharge ports are arrayed, the first member having a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the support member, and a second member configured to support an end of the element substrate in an intersecting direction intersecting the array direction, the second member having a thermal conductivity lower than the thermal conductivity of the support member and a thermal resistance lower than a thermal resistance of the first member.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric member on which plural piezoelectric poles are formed, and the plural piezoelectric poles are formed to be inclined in a direction in which the plural piezoelectric poles are arranged.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film element includes a vibration plate, a lower electrode provided on the vibration plate and made of a conductive oxide, a piezoelectric thin film provided on the lower electrode and made of a polycrystalline substance, and an upper electrode provided on the piezoelectric thin film, wherein the lower electrode includes a titanium oxide film formed on the vibration plate, a platinum film formed on the titanium oxide film, and a conductive oxide film formed on the platinum film and, the platinum film and the conductive oxide film being a solid film with no holes.

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric device comprising a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer that is formed above the first electrode, a second electrode that is formed above the piezoelectric layer and a coating layer that is formed above the second electrode consisting of tungsten or titanium.

Abstract: A liquid-jet recording apparatus includes a liquid-jet recording head unit to jet ink droplets toward a recording medium for printing and including an opening area through which the ink droplets fly out from the liquid-jet recording head unit, and a conveyance unit to convey the recording medium to a fore side of the opening area. The liquid-jet recording head unit includes a multi-nozzle inkjet head, a separation unit, a gas-flow application unit, and a gutter unit. The multi-nozzle inkjet head includes multiple inkjet nozzles, pressurizes ink, and emits a plurality of continuous streams of an ink. The opening area has a slit shape extending along a direction in which the multiple inkjet nozzles are arrayed. An air flow generated in the opening area has a velocity vector directed inward from the opening area.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead; an ink delivery system configured for supplying ink to the printhead at a negative hydrostatic pressure; and an air chamber in fluid communication with the ink delivery system. The air chamber has an air-permeable wall which is impervious to the ink. The air chamber provides dampening of pressure fluctuations in the ink delivery system and, further, is self-recovering from ingress of ink into the air chamber.

Abstract: A liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a liquid chamber provided to store the liquid; an air chamber connected with the liquid chamber to introduce the outside air into the liquid chamber with consumption of the liquid in the liquid chamber; an open-air hole provided to introduce the outside air into the air chamber; and a liquid inlet provided to fill the liquid into the liquid chamber, wherein the liquid inlet is located at a lower position than the open-air hole, in a filling attitude of the liquid container in which the liquid is filled into the liquid chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid cartridge containing a liquid supplied to a recording head to eject liquid drops. The liquid cartridge includes a case member, and a liquid container member disposed inside the case member. The case member includes a base member, and a cover member having a snap-fit part and configured to be fit in the base member, the cover member and the base member being snap-fit connected via the snap-fit part. The base member includes a hole part via which a snap-fit connected state of the snap-fit part of the cover member is viewable from outside in a condition where the cover member and the base member are snap-fit connected by sliding the cover member and the base member.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a liquid drain port, a detection chamber, a detection element, a suction portion and a projecting part. The liquid drain port is configured and arranged to supply a liquid to a liquid ejection apparatus. The detection chamber has a bottom surface and a first side wall surface erected from the bottom surface. The detection element is disposed in the detection chamber, and configured and arranged to detect whether or not liquid exists inside the detection chamber. The suction port is provided to the first side wall surface of the detection chamber so that the liquid inside the detection chamber is fed to the liquid drain port via the suction port. The projecting part is provided on the first side wall surface and surrounds at least a part of the suction port.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first detection part and a second detection part, each for detecting a position of a displacement member that changes its position according to a remaining amount of liquid in a sub-tank, are provided to a carriage carrying the sub-tank and a recording head, and a body of the image forming apparatus, respectively. A first position is a position of the displacement member detected by the first detection part such that the remaining amount of liquid in the sub-tank is smaller than that at a second position detected by the second detection part. The liquid is supplied to the sub-tank of a differential supply amount, corresponding to a displacement amount of the displacement member between a position detected by the first detection part and a position detected by the second detection part, after the first detection part detects the displacement member.

Abstract: An ink supply system for ink jet printers includes a recirculation tank coupled to a recirculation pump configured to provide a substantially pulseless flow of ink. A heating assembly having an ink conduit formed into a spiral in thermal contact with at least one heating element receives ink from the pump and outlets to a sensor assembly with temperature and pressure sensors that measure ink parameters both as the ink enters a printhead and is returned from the printhead. The returned ink is then ported to a recirculation tank from which the pump draws the recirculating ink. An air pump is coupled to the recirculation tank in order to maintain a substantial vacuum within the tank.

Abstract: An ink containing a plurality of coloring materials having different hues, wherein the bronze value B, which is calculated from tristimulus values of reflected light, of illumination in the direction of an angle of 45 degrees to a normal to the image, in the direction of specular reflection and tristimulus values of illumination light under the same condition of the illumination by using Formula 1, with respect to a predetermined recorded image recorded by the above-described ink is 2.0 or less.

Abstract: An ink set includes a first ink and a second ink, where each of the inks has a conductivity that is less than 200 pS/cm. The first ink includes a first pigment of a first color; a carrier fluid; and a concentration of a dispersant. The second ink includes a second pigment of a second color that is different from the first color; the same carrier fluid as the first ink; and substantially the same concentration of the dispersant as the first ink.

Abstract: Disclosed are a process for inkjet printing color images on various substrates using a formaldehyde-free crosslinking agent in the ink composition, which is therefore devoid of formaldehyde emission and suitable for health-aware manufacturing practices, as well as objects having images and designs printed thereon which are devoid of formaldehyde and therefore suitable for use by infants.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to a nanoparticle containing overcoat composition for use in ink jet printing. The composition can include a liquid vehicle and a composite latex particulate. The composite latex particulate can include inorganic nanoparticles at least partially encapsulated by a polymer. The inorganic nanoparticles can be silica, titania, alumina, zinc oxide, silicates, oxides of indium and tin, and combinations thereof. The inorganic nanoparticles can comprise from about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % of the composite latex particulate. The overcoat composition can be used to improve the properties of ink-jetted images.

Abstract: An optically polymerizable inkjet ink including an optically polymerizable monomer having a Stimulation Index (SI) of less than 3 in a skin sensitization test as measured by Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA), a molecule cleavage type optical polymerization initiator, a hydrogen-extracting type optical polymerization initiator, and an amine compound serving as a polymerization accelerator.

Abstract: An improved polymerizable ink composition contains polymerizable monomers containing one or both of an acrylic acid ester compound and a methacrylic acid ester compound and a vinyl ether compound; an alkali component; and an aromatic secondary amine compound.

Abstract: A polymerizable ink composition contains polymerizable monomers containing at least one of an acrylic acid ester compound, a methacrylic acid ester compound, an acryl amide, and a methacryl amide; and a vinyl ether compound; and one of potassium oxide and sodium oxide.

Abstract: A nail print apparatus includes a print apparatus body and a leg. The print apparatus body includes a first insertion section having an insertion opening from which a printing finger/toe is inserted, and a print head which performs printing on a nail of the printing finger/toe inserted in the first insertion section. The leg is extendable below the first insertion section and creates a second insertion section in an extended state.

Abstract: A printer includes a vacuum belt assembly for moving print media in a media feed direction along a media path. The vacuum belt assembly includes: a plurality of spaced apart endless belts tensioned between first and second pulleys; a vacuum chamber for drawing print media onto an upper surface of the belts; and a plurality of vacuum antechambers communicating with the vacuum chamber, each vacuum antechamber having a perimeter opening for suction engagement with print media, a length dimension of each perimeter opening extending longitudinally in the media feed direction. A first perimeter opening of a first vacuum antechamber positioned towards an upstream side of the vacuum belt assembly is shorter than a second perimeter opening of a second vacuum antechamber positioned towards a downstream side of the vacuum belt assembly. The upstream and downstream sides are defined with respect to the media feed direction.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a platen, a contact portion disposed between a pair of first ribs of the plurality of first ribs with respect to a scanning direction. A lower end of the contact portion is located lower than each upper end of the pair of first ribs. The platen includes a second rib disposed between one first rib of the pair of first ribs and the contact portion with respect to the scanning direction, and an upper end of the second rib is located lower than the upper end of the one first rib of the pair of first ribs and higher than the lower end of the contact portion.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a transport module with a moving transport belt that transports strip-like print media past a printhead for printing thereon. The transport module has an entrance region upstream of the printhead, a magazine for the strip-like media located upstream of the entrance region of the transport module, the transport belt also serves as a take-off device to remove the strip-like media from the magazine, the magazine is mounted laterally offset with respect to the transport belt, thereby causing the strip-like media to be captured by the transport belt only in an edge region of the transport belt. The transport belt is wider by the edge region than is precisely needed to transport the strip-like media, in order to print on a remaining region of the strip-like media, which is smaller by the edge region than a total width of said strip-like media.