Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge device including: a wiping member that performs wiping on a nozzle forming surface by being caused to perform relative movement on the nozzle forming surface while coming into contact with the nozzle forming surface; a cleaning liquid supply section that supplies cleaning liquid to at least one of a head and the wiping member; and a circulation speed adjustment section that is capable of adjusting a circulation speed of the liquid, which is circulated between a liquid storage section and the head, to a second speed which is faster than the first speed. In addition, the circulation speed during the wiping is the second speed.

Abstract: Provided is a method for maintaining an ink jet recording apparatus according to the invention in an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording using a solvent-based ink composition which includes at least one type of organic solvent selected from a group consisting of an ester-based solvent, a hydrocarbon-based solvent, and an alcohol-based solvent, the method including wiping a nozzle forming member, in which nozzles of a head which discharges the solvent-based ink composition are formed, using an impregnation solution and a wiping member with liquid absorbency, in which the impregnation solution contains at least one type of organic solvent selected from a group consisting of a compound which is represented by General Formula (1) below, esters, and dibasic acid esters, R1—O—(R2—O)n—R3??(1) (in General Formula (1) described above, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an aryl group, or an alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R2 represents an alkylene group with 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R3 represents an a

Abstract: Provided is a technique for restraining leakage of a liquid from a tank. An ink tank 25 is provided with an ink injecting part 113, an ink container 120, an atmospheric air introduction part 121, and electrode pins 140a and 140b. A recess 125 that is open downward in the gravity direction when the ink tank 25 is in a posture when ink is supplied to a printing head part 32 is formed in the ink container 120. The electrode pins 140a and 140b are provided in a first upper wall part 131 constituting an upper end wall part of the recess 125. In addition, an ink injection port 135 of the ink injecting part 113 and an atmospheric air introduction port 136 of the atmospheric air introduction part 121 are provided outside the recess 125, in the ink container 120.

Abstract: An advantage of the present invention lies in reducing the likelihood that a cover will open needlessly. A liquid container unit for supplying a liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus includes: a liquid container, a case body, a cover that includes a rotation mechanism, and a locking mechanism configured to hold a closed state. The rotation mechanism includes: a first rotation portion configured to engage with the case body; and a second rotation portion configured to engage with the case body at a position located farther from the locking mechanism than the first rotation portion is in a rotation axis direction of the rotation mechanism, and a second length of an engaging portion at which the case body and the second rotation portion are engaged is longer than a first length of an engaging portion at which the case body and the first rotation portion are engaged.

Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of reducing the possibility that liquid reaches a visual check face. A liquid container includes a liquid retaining portion that can retain liquid and has an injection port forming face in which a liquid injection port is arranged, a visual check face that intersects the injection port forming face and through which a liquid surface in the liquid containing portion can be visually checked from the outside, and a container guiding path that guides the liquid existing in the injection port forming face in a direction different from a direction toward the visual check face.

Abstract: A liquid storage (52) of the present invention includes a liquid storing part (55) storing liquid and a spout (56) having a flow path (56a) opened/closed according to relative attaching and detaching of a connected subject (33) being a flow destination of the liquid stored in the liquid storing part (55), and the spout (56) includes a contact face (75) having an opening part (72a) opened so as to lead to the flow path (56a), with which the connected subject (33) comes into contact when attaching the connected subject (33), and a liquid groove (76) recessed in the contact face (75) to guide and hold the liquid adhered onto the opening part (72a) when detaching the connected subject (33).

Abstract: An ink container includes an ink pack filled with an ink and a container case housing the ink pack. The container case includes an upper plate and a lower plate respectively covering the ink pack, one side plate provided between side parts of the upper plate and the lower plate, and two hinges coupling the upper plate and the lower plate with the side plate. The upper plate, the lower plate, the side plate and the hinges are integrally molded. The upper plate, the lower plate and the side plate are bent by the hinges so as to be thereby assembled as the container case including a housing configured to house the ink pack at a center. One ends of the upper plate and the lower plate constitute a grip and other ends of the upper plate and the lower plate constitutes an aperture.

Abstract: An ink tank 25A includes an ink containing portion 120, an ink injection portion 113, an ink supply portion 117, and a pair of electrode pins 140a and 140b. The ink containing portion 120 has a visual check portion 114 that enables the position of the liquid surface of ink contained in the ink containing portion 120 to be visually checked from the outside in a reference posture, which is a posture at the time when the ink is supplied from the ink tank 25 to the print head portion 32. The ink supply portion 117 is connected to a lower portion 122A located below a lower end of the visual check portion 114 in the reference posture. Leading end portions 143a and 143b of the electrode pins 140a and 140b are arranged in the lower portion 122A.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for allowing a test for a tank to be performed in a simple manner. A tank unit 20A has a plurality of ink tanks 25A, a substrate part 80, and a casing part 21A. Each ink tank 25A includes electrode pins 70a and 70b used for detection of ink IN. The substrate part 80 is connected to back ends 72a and 72b of the electrode pins 70a and 70b protruding outside of the ink tanks 25A. The casing part 21A stores the ink tanks 25A and the substrate part 80. Through windows 92 that expose the electrode pins 70a and 70b to the outside are provided in the back face of the casing part 21A.

Abstract: Many devices, such as printers, work with one or more removable unit. Often, the removable units have an electronic circuit that used to communicate with the device. It may be desirable to provide a replacement unit in these devices. The replacement unit must include an electronic circuit that is able to communicate with the original device. Disclosed is a method and apparatus where a replacement unit is provided with a new electronic circuit and a used electronic circuit. The new electronic circuit is electrically connected to the used electronic circuit and uses the used electronic circuit to facilitate communication with the host device.

Abstract: A first mask region is a dot recording region including a pixel position on which a dot is recorded, a second mask region is a dot non-recording region including only a pixel position on which a dot is not recorded, recording of dots is performed so as to overlap the first mask regions with each other in a state where the first mask regions of two masks or more among the P masks are shifted from each other on the recording medium, and D1<D3<D2 is satisfied, when a dot charge rate which is a ratio of dots that are recorded in one pass of the entirety of the dots in a first region A1 on an inner side of boundary lines that form an outer edge of the first mask region in the first mask regions is D1.

Abstract: A dot recording apparatus performs multi-pass recording through which recording of dots is terminated in main scanning passes of N times (N is an integer equal to or greater than two) on a main scanning line, the multi-pass recording is performed for respective supercell regions defined as a region including pixel positions on which recording of dots is performed in each main pass, a first supercell region recorded in a first pass in the supercell regions is configured with a first concave polygon having a concave portion and a convex portion, a second supercell region recorded in a second pass in the supercell regions is configured with a second concave polygon having a concave portion and a convex portion, and shapes of the first concave polygon and the second concave polygon are inversely symmetrical shapes in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A printer incorporating a spectrometry device includes a spectroscope that includes a light receiving optical system including a light receiver which receives reflected light from a range of measurement in a medium, a distance sensor that detects the distance between the medium and the spectroscope, and a reflecting mirror driver and an optical path adjuster that adjust the optical path of the reflected light which is incident on the light receiving optical system from the range of measurement according to the distance detected by the distance sensor.

Abstract: A facility for processing ink input is described. In one example facility, the facility receives ink input from an input device. The facility generates and renders ink stroke data structures in response to received ink input in accordance with an ink input processing pipeline. The facility provides to an executing application access to information traversing the ink input processing pipeline at a selected point in the ink input processing pipeline.

Abstract: A paper for a label which has an uncoated basic paper substrate on a verso side of which there is applied at least one coat of a liquid polymer, into which is incorporated one of an opacifier and an opacifying filler, intended to give product opacity in a dry state and in a wet state, adding to the opacity of the uncoated basic paper substrate so as to create a coat that is opaque and limits the ingress of water, between a product that is to be labeled and the uncoated basic paper substrate for use of the product in a wet environment or that is to be immersed in water, while at the same time preserving the qualities of the label.

Abstract: There is provided a process liquid coating apparatus comprising: a recording medium conveyance unit configured to convey a recording medium; a coating roller configured to rotate in accordance with the conveyed recording medium to apply process liquid on a surface of the recording medium; a pressure roller configured to cause the coating roller to apply the process liquid on the surface of the recording medium by forming an abutment part for nipping and pressing the recording medium with the coating roller; and a winding member configured to form a bent conveyance path along which the recording medium is bent with respect to a conveyance direction so that the recording medium is wound around the surface of the pressure roller, wherein the winding member is disposed adjacent to the pressure roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a drier, and a heater temperature control. The image forming unit includes nozzles to discharge droplets onto a web medium to form an image on the web medium. The drier includes a plurality of heaters over which the web medium is stretched to form an arc-shaped feed path. The heater temperature control is configured to control a temperature of an upstream heater of the plurality of heaters on the feed path to be higher than a temperature of a downstream heater of the plurality of heaters on the feed path.

Abstract: A detector device is disclosed for detecting an edge of a medium in a media processing system, the detector device comprising a spectrophotometer and a processing unit, the spectrophotometer scanning a medium in a media processing area and generating an output tuple, the processing unit comparing the output tuple to at least one reference tuple for detecting an edge of a medium. A printing system and method of detecting an edge of a medium in a media processing system are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cam apparatus of a portable sublimation printer, which can simultaneously implement platen roller up/down and paper pickup roller up/down operations with one cam in a portable sublimation printer, and can constitute a thin and light portable sublimation printer.

Abstract: A printer paper tray comprising a paper tray bezel, and a paper tray cassette coupled to the paper tray bezel, in which the paper tray bezel moves in the x and y direction independent of the paper tray cassette. A printer comprising a paper tray comprising a bezel coupled to a cassette in which the bezel moves independent of the cassette and is biased towards the cassette in the x direction. A bezel mounting system comprising a number of biasing members to bias a printer tray bezel towards a printer tray cassette in the x-direction, and a number of biasing pads to bias the bezel in a substantially centered position with respect to the cassette.

Abstract: A recording medium post-processing apparatus includes: a stacker which is stacked with a plurality of sheet-like recording media with images being recorded thereon; an receiving device which receives at least one of information regarding the images to be recorded on the recording media and information regarding the recording media; an alignment device which applies an external force to the recording media stacked on the stacker so as to align the recording media; a controller which sets, on the basis of the at least one information received by the receiving device, at least one of (i) a stacked-sheet number that is the number of the recording media, and (ii) a magnitude of the external force that is applied to the recording media and which controls the alignment device on the basis of the setted at least one of the stacked-sheet number and the magnitude of the external force.

Abstract: The printing apparatus includes a ribbon laid between spools, and DC motors for rotating these spools. A CPU drives the motor without tension, calculates the rotation velocity of the motor based on the rotation amount of the motor, applies the calculated rotation velocity and supplies current in driving the motor, by calculating a drive current for providing the DC motor with a same rotation velocity as a rotation velocity of a reference DC motor based on a difference between a rotation speed of the DC motor in driving the DC motor at a predetermined supply current in a state in which the ribbon is broken, or the ribbon is separated from the supply spool, and a rotational speed of the reference DC motor in driving the reference DC motor at the predetermined supply current, and controls the motor driver to supply the calculated drive current.

Abstract: A device for printing on a surface of an object contains a stationary printing unit for printing on the object. The printing unit contains an inkjet print head for creating a print on the surface of the object in an operating area of the print head. A movable holding unit is provided for receiving the object in a receiving region and for a rotary movement of the object from the receiving region into the operating area of the print head and for a linear movement of the object in the operating area of the print head during the creation of the print. At least one control unit is provided for controlling the movements of the holding unit and the creation of the print.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes an inkjet print head arranged to be moveable in a direction of movement along a guiding assembly. The guiding assembly includes a support structure; a strip mounted on the support structure, the strip being rigidly straight in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement and mounted in such way that a straightness in the direction of movement is provided; and an air bearing system operatively coupled to the strip. The strip extends in a vertical plane, the vertical plane being substantially parallel to the direction of movement and being substantially parallel to the first direction. The air bearing system is configured to control a position of the inkjet print head in a horizontal plane relative to the strip during movement of the print head in the direction of movement, the horizontal plane being substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes an inkjet print head arranged to be moveable in a direction of movement along a guiding assembly. The guiding assembly includes a support structure; a strip mounted on the support structure, the strip being substantially rigid and straight in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement and mounted in such way that a straightness in the direction of movement is provided; and an air bearing system operatively coupled to the strip. The strip extends in a vertical plane, the vertical plane being substantially parallel to the direction of movement and being substantially parallel to the first direction. The air bearing system is configured to control a position of the inkjet print head in a horizontal plane relative to the strip during movement of the print head in the direction of movement, the horizontal plane being substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a housing portion that forms an internal space, a transportation mechanism that transports a medium so as to cause the medium to pass through the internal space, a liquid discharging head that is installed in the internal space and discharges ink onto the medium, and a first gas feeding mechanism that ejects gas onto the medium through an ejection port at a downstream side in a transportation direction of the medium when seen from the internal space.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a decoloring apparatus comprises a processor, a decoloring section, a shift roller, a paper discharge section and a paper discharge roller. The processor determines whether or not to execute either a decoloring job or a non-decoloring job. The decoloring section decolors an image on paper formed with decolorable coloring agent. The shift roller moves paper for decoloring job or paper for non-decoloring job in a direction orthogonal to a paper discharge direction of the paper on a same plane for a given distance to sort it. The paper discharge section stacks discharged papers. The paper discharge roller discharges the paper sorted by the shift roller to the paper discharge section.

Abstract: A laminate that possesses dye sublimation properties, particularly for use as tagless labels and embellishments for garments, apparel, fabric items and so forth such as sportswear fabrics, clothing and accessories is provided. The laminate includes a dye sublimation ink layer that overlies a substrate in which the dye sublimation ink interacts with the substrate's chemical make-up.

Abstract: [Problems] Provided is a thermal recording sheet in which both a thermal recording layer having developed color and a printed layer can be clearly recognized from the front surface side of the sheet. [Solution] A thermal recording sheet having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface includes: a substrate layer; a recording layer formed on the front surface side of the substrate layer and containing a color developing material that develops color by heating; a protective layer formed on the further front surface side of the recording layer; and a printed layer formed on the back surface side of the recording layer. In a state before the recording layer develops color, a portion containing the recording layer and the protective layer and formed on the front surface side to the printed layer is transparent.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a fusing device, a cooling device, and a processor. The fusing device includes a fusing member and a pressure member, the fusing member being heated by a heat source. The fusing device conveys a sheet, the sheet being heated and pressed between the fusing member and the pressure member. The processor causes the cooling device to perform the cooling process to cool the fusing member every predetermined timing when the image erasing process is performed.

Abstract: A method is provided of generating a pattern image used to form a pattern on a surface of a fabric using laser irradiation. A plurality of parameters associated with laser irradiation units are input into a user interface. The parameters include an area parameter, a laser irradiation unit density parameter, optionally a discontinuity parameter, and a dye removal parameter. A plurality of laser irradiation units arranged in a pattern area of a user interface based on computer processing of the inputted plurality of parameters is received for viewing at the user interface. The laser irradiation units collectively establish the pattern image for viewing by the user.

Abstract: A method of plasma treating a flexographic printing plate and a method of using a plasma-treated flexographic printing plate to transfer a liquid to a printable substrate are disclosed. A method of flexographic printing comprises: transferring the liquid from an anilox roll to a printing surface of the plasma-treated flexographic printing plate and transferring the liquid from the printing surface of the plasma-treated flexographic printing plate to a surface of the substrate. A method of plasma treating the flexographic printing plate comprises exposing at least the printing surface of the flexographic printing plate to a plasma.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a grained and anodized aluminium support, and a coating provided thereon, the coating containing an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a binder, and an infrared absorbing dye characterized in that the grained and anodized surface of the support has a CIE 1976 L*-value between 55 and 75.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the filed of optically variable security elements comprising a region based on a single cured ink comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer, said region having at least two, preferably at least three, patterns exhibiting, at at least one viewing angle, a different CIE (1976) color index parameter and/or a different position of the selective reflection band for protecting security documents against counterfeiting and/or illegal reproduction.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for marking collectible items to increase their collectible uniqueness includes creating a multiplicity of unique date codes, each of the multiplicity of unique date codes including a representation of a calendar month and a representation of a day in the calendar month, randomly selecting one of the multiplicity of unique date codes, and affixing the randomly selected one of the multiplicity of unique date codes to a collectible item. According to other embodiments, a system with a computer and a marking device may apply a date code to a collectible item. According to yet other embodiments, a method for marking collectibles includes creating at least three hundred sixty-five collectibles in a time period shorter than a year, and marking each with a unique date code combination such that no two visually identical collectibles share the same date code.

Abstract: A vertical file folder system is disclosed in several embodiments. The folder (10) has a plurality of pocket segments 20, 30, 32 which are joined together at their bottom by living hinges 38 which maintain the bottoms edges 16, 116, 216 spaced apart. Port 28 also allow for expansion as do slots 60. An alternative embodiment (FIG. 9-10) show a folder which has a bottom flap 320, side flap 322 and top flap 318 which overlie each other to create a three sided boundary for papers or other contents.

Abstract: An automatic pencil sharpener includes a pencil sharpening mechanism and a sharpening switch within a central receiver configured to receive a pencil through an access opening. The pencil sharpening mechanism and sharpening switch are operatively connected to a sharpener control unit. When a pencil actuates the sharpening switch, the sharpening control unit powers the pencil sharpening mechanism and the notification light illuminates in a first color. At a subsequent event or time when the pencil is substantially fully sharpened, the notification light illuminates in a second color. The illumination is preferably produced by at least one green LED and one red LED.

Abstract: A rim for a mountain bike is provided, including a rim body having a rim well, a rim base and two lateral rim flanks and a hollow space device with a hollow space. A width of the rim body is larger than 30 mm. The hollow space device of the rim body is radially outwardly limited by the rim well and laterally and radially inwardly, by an inner enclosing wall including the rim base and the rim flanks. The radially inwardly enclosing wall forms an internal wall that is substantially closed, apart from the nipple accommodations. The rim well includes a plurality of recesses having a surface proportion of at least 10% of a surface of the rim well.

Abstract: A skateboard with a removable hub that can be attached and detached from a wheel of a skateboard, comprising a skateboard deck rollably supported by one or more wheels and attached to the wheels via one or more trucks, with each hub removably attached to the wheel with a key.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement flexible members that include integrated tools made from metallic glass-based materials. In one embodiment, a structure includes: a flexible member characterized by an elongated geometry and an integrated tool disposed at one end of the elongated geometry; where the flexible member includes a metallic glass-based material.

Abstract: A bicycle rim includes a rim body having an inner annular portion and an outer annular portion spaced radially outward from the inner annular portion. The inner annular portion has a circumference defined by a radially inward-most surface of the inner annular portion. A plurality of notches is spaced circumferentially along the circumference, the notches recessed within the inner annular portion to form a serrated edge along the circumference.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise a composite rim used in spoked wheels, such as bicycle wheels, having molded-in spoke holes along with a method of fabricating the composite rim. Advantageously, the present invention dramatically improves the bearing and loading strength of prior art composite rims, which drill the spoke holes therein after fabrication of the rim hoop.

Abstract: There is provided a method capable of producing a wheel-supporting rolling bearing unit at low cost. In an event of producing a wheel-supporting rolling bearing unit (1), a cylindrical portion (11) formed in an axial end portion of a hub ring (2) is inserted through an inner ring (3), swing caulking is performed by pressing a die (23) against a tip end portion of the cylindrical portion (11) protruding to an axial end portion side more than the inner ring (3), and an axial end surface (3a) of the inner ring (3) is held by a caulked portion (12) formed by caulking and expanding the tip end portion of the cylindrical portion (11) radially outward. In such a way, the inner ring (3) and the hub ring (2) are fixed integrally witch each other. At this time, a swing angle of the swing caulking is set at 15 degrees or more to 30 degrees or less.

Abstract: An axle housing for a powered machine is disclosed. The axle housing may include a support casing extending between a first and a second end. The support casing may further include a support member for at least partially bearing the weight of the powered machine and at least two apertures therethrough.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire including a tread formed from a predetermined rubber composition to achieve greatly improved abrasion resistance while maintaining good wet-grip performance and good durability. The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire including a tread formed from a rubber composition, the rubber composition containing predetermined amounts of a specific oil-extended polybutadiene rubber, of an isoprene-based diene rubber and/or a styrene-butadiene rubber, of a specific carbon black, and of stearic acid, the oil-extended polybutadiene rubber being synthesized using a rare earth catalyst, the rubber composition having an amount of process oil of a predetermined value or less.

Abstract: A rubber composition is based on at least one diene elastomer, a reinforcing filler and a 1,3-dipolar compound bearing an imidazole functional group. Such a composition exhibits an improved compromise in certain properties such as stiffness in the cured state and hysteresis.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a carcass and a belt reinforcing structure wherein the belt reinforcing structure is a composite belt structure having at least one radially inner spiral layer and at least one zigzag belt reinforcing structure located radially outward of said spiral layer. The zigzag belt width is preferably wider than the spiral layer.

Abstract: A tire tread comprises transverse incisions (9) and circumferential incisions (3a, 3b, 3c) opening onto the tread surface, each incision having a mean radial depth E. The circumferential incisions have at the tread shoulder a mean circumferential radius of curvature Rc, a linear void ratio Tc, and an axial width Lc, and are spaced by length P from radial axis ZZ? passing through the tire centre. The transverse incisions have at the tire shoulder a mean transverse radius of curvature Rt, a linear void ratio Tt, and an axial width Lt. The linear void ratio Tc is greater than or equal to 0.8E/Rt and less than or equal to 1.2E/Rt, the linear void ratio Tt is greater than or equal to 0.8E/Rc and less than or equal to 1.2E/Rc, Tc>Tt, and Lc is greater than or equal to 0.2 mm and less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tread for a tire. The tread includes at least one elongate block of rubbery material of width W and length L with L>>W. This elongate block extends in a circumferential direction (X) when the tread is mounted on the tire. The elongate block includes a contact surface intended to come into contact with the ground and a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall delimiting this contact surface. The elongate block includes a plurality of sipes opening onto the contact surface of the elongate block, with each sine extending in an oblique direction opening onto the first lateral wall and onto the second lateral wall. The sipes are distributed over the contact surface of the block in such a way that when one sipe reaches the second lateral wall another sipe starts out from the first lateral wall, at a same circumferential level (N) on the elongate block. With the sipes delimiting sub-blocks in the elongate block, at least two of these sub-blocks are configured differently in the tread.

Abstract: A tyre (1) and method for building a tyre (1), wherein the tyre has: two annular beads (3); a toroidal body ply (2) which is wound about the two beads (3) to form two turn-ups (4); and two bead fillers (8), each one thereof contacts a bead (3), it is at least partly enclosed in a turn-up (4) of the body ply (2) and comprises an elastomer filler strip (9) which is wound about the bead (3), it is interposed between the bead (3) and the body ply (2) and has two opposite ends (10, 11) located on opposite sides of the bead (3) and contacting each other; an outer end (11) of the filler strip (9) of each bead filler (8) is folded into a “U” about the corresponding end of the body ply (2) so as to enclose the end of the body ply (2).