Abstract: A printing machine for printing on a web of printing material includes a plurality of in-line flexographic printing units disposed in a plane that is accessible to a machine operator. Every two flexographic printing units of the plurality of flexographic printing units together form a double printing station and the two flexographic printing units of a respective double printing station have a common impression cylinder. A method of operating a printing machine is also provided.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a printing apparatus capable of collecting a liquid applied to a transfer member efficiently and maintaining the state of the transfer member satisfactorily is provided. More specifically, an inkjet printing apparatus of an intermediate transfer type using a transfer member includes two supplying rollers each applying a liquid to a region on the transfer member after an image is transferred to a print medium, and a collection roller that rotates in contact with the transfer member and collects the applied liquid.

Abstract: The transfer member for transfer-type inkjet recording of the present invention is formed so that a surface layer includes an organosiloxane compound having a polyalkylene oxide unit and the contact angle of water and the contact angle of hexadecane on the surface are 85° or more and 110° or less and 25° or more and 50° or less, respectively.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of this invention, a printing apparatus capable of cleaning a transfer member continuously while downsizing the apparatus and a cleaning method of the same are provided. The printing apparatus includes a cleaning roller configured to apply a cleaning liquid to the transfer member while rotating in contact with the transfer member, a liquid tank configured to reserve the cleaning liquid so that a part of the cleaning roller is immersed in the cleaning liquid, and a removal unit configured to remove a blot by contacting the surface of the cleaning roller which rotates in the liquid tank.

Abstract: In an embodiment of this invention, a technique that implements satisfactory image formation by locating a place where the condition of a transfer member is poor and restricting image formation for the place. More specifically, the following control is performed by a printing apparatus that includes a transfer member which rotates, a printhead configured to form an image on the transfer member, and a transfer unit which transfers, to a print medium, the image formed on the transfer member. That is, a surface condition of the transfer member is detected, and image formation by the printhead for a region determined that the surface condition is poor is restricted.

Abstract: The method includes in order: forming an intermediate image by applying the aqueous ink to a transfer body; transferring the intermediate image by bringing the intermediate image into contact with the recording medium; and cleaning the transfer body by applying an aqueous cleaning liquid to the transfer body, and if necessary, further includes applying an aqueous reaction liquid containing a reactant which reacts with the aqueous ink to the transfer body, wherein at least one of the aqueous ink and the reaction liquid contains a resin particle (however, when not including the applying of the reaction liquid, the aqueous ink contains the resin particle), and the cleaning liquid contains a first water-soluble organic solvent having an SP value [unit: (J/cm3)1/2] of 17.0 or more to 29.0 or less.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium using aqueous ink. The ink jet recording method includes an intermediate image forming step of forming an intermediate image by applying aqueous ink to a transfer body and then applying an aqueous transfer promotion liquid to a region of the transfer body in which the aqueous ink is applied; and a transferring step of transferring the intermediate image by bring the intermediate image into contact with the recording medium in this order. The transfer promotion liquid contains a rosin particle formed by containing a rosin ester resin, an anionic emulsifier and a nonionic emulsifier, and the content of an alkali metal ion in the transfer promotion liquid is more than that of an alkali metal ion in the ink.

Abstract: A transfer member for transfer-type image formation according to the present invention includes, in this order, a heat insulating layer, a heat storage layer and a top layer having an image formation surface, and satisfies Expressions 1 to 6: Expression 1: 0.5?t1?1.5 (t1 represents the thickness [mm] of the heat insulating layer), Expression 2: 0.05?t2?0.50 (t2 represents the thickness [mm] of the heat storage layer), Expression 3: t3?0.020 (t3 represents the thickness [mm] of the top layer), Expression 4: ?1?0.20 (?1 represents the thermal conductivity [W/(m·K)] of the heat insulating layer), Expression 5: ?2?0.23 (?2 represents the thermal conductivity [W/(m·K)] of the heat storage layer), and Expression 6: C2?1.52 (C2 represents the volume specific heat [MJ/(m3·K)] of the heat storage layer).

Abstract: A liquid ejection head in accordance with the present invention includes: a recording element substrate which ejects a liquid downward; an electric substrate which is disposed above the recording element substrate, which has a plurality of electric components, including a capacitor, and which is electrically connected to the recording element substrate; a wall which covers the electric substrate such that a liquid can be retained between the wall and the electric substrate; and a sensor which is disposed in an area covered by the wall and which detects for the presence of a liquid, wherein, at the attitude of the liquid ejection head attached to the main unit of a liquid ejection apparatus, the sensor is disposed below the capacitor in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit capable of ejecting a liquid, a support unit configured to support a medium onto which the liquid is ejected and is movable in a movement direction between a set position where the medium is set and an ejecting start position where the ejecting unit starts ejecting the liquid, and a detector configured to detect whether an interference substance which is a substance that causes an interference with the ejecting unit is present on the support unit. The detector is movable between a first position and a second position, a distance between the second position and the ejecting unit being longer than a distance between the first position and the ejecting unit, in the movement direction.

Abstract: A method of developing an automatic control plan for printing on a contoured surface is disclosed. The method includes scanning a contoured surface with a surface scanning device to produce a contoured data set, and creating a multi-dimensional model, with a computing device, of the contoured surface based on the contoured surface data set. Additionally, the method includes inputting a multi-dimensional model of a printing array and an image to be printed onto the contoured surface, into the computing device. The method further includes simulating, on the computing device, a plurality of movements performed by the printing array and a printing by the printing array to apply the image on the contoured surface. Additionally, the method includes, compiling, on the computing device, the automatic control plan which is programmed to execute the plurality of movements of the printing array to apply the image on the contoured surface.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes a liquid droplet ejecting head that includes a pressure chamber to which a liquid is supplied from a liquid supply source, a nozzle that communicates with the pressure chamber, and an actuator that vibrates the pressure chamber, and discharges a liquid droplet from the nozzle by driving of the actuator, a cap designed to make a capping state where the cap is in contact with the liquid droplet ejecting head to form a space where the nozzle opens and a non-capping state where the cap is separated from the liquid droplet ejecting head, and a detection unit designed to detect a state in the pressure chamber, in which in the capping state, the detection unit detects the state in the pressure chamber.

Abstract: In a print head, a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting metallic ink, including a solvent and particles for imparting a metallic gloss, are arranged in a predetermined direction. A plurality of printing scans are performed to the same area of the print medium to print an image on the print medium. In the printing scan, the metallic ink being ejected from the print head to a print medium while moving the print head in a scanning direction intersecting the predetermined direction. At least one of the plurality of printing scans is set as a first scan having a higher print ratio than the other printing scans.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a printing method that make it easy to visually confirm whether a printing defect has occurred are provided. A printing method according to an application example includes printing of image in which an image is printed onto a medium by a printing apparatus, detecting of state in which a state change is detected during operations of the printing apparatus in the printing of image, and printing of information in which state change information is printed onto the medium, based on the state change detected in the detecting of state. The state change information is associated with a position in the image where the state change is detected.

Abstract: The invention has an object of providing a printing device and a method of controlling the printing device each capable of reducing the number of signal lines necessary for the connection to the circuit board for controlling the head drive circuit.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a drive element, a drive circuit that outputs a signal for driving the drive element, and a wiring board. The wiring board is provided with a power supply wire through which power is supplied to the drive circuit, a first drive signal wire through which a first drive signal is supplied to the drive circuit, and a second drive signal wire through which a second drive signal is supplied to the drive circuit and that is not electrically connected to the power supply wire and the first drive signal wire on the wiring board, each of the first drive signal wire and the second drive signal wire is provided with a buried wire that is buried in a groove, and the first drive signal wire and the second drive signal wire are different from each other in number of the buried wires.

Abstract: A fluidic die may include a number of actuators. The number of actuators form a number of primitives. The fluidic die may include a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to drive a number of the delay circuits. The delay circuits delay a number of activation pulses that activate the actuators associated with the primitives to reduce peak power demands of the fluidic die. A number of delay circuits may be coupled to each primitive.

Abstract: A method of operating a drop-on demand (DOD) jetting device having a nozzle, a pressure chamber filled with a liquid and connected to the nozzle and an actuator energized by a drive signal, wherein a periodic DOD signal determines whether or not a droplet is jetted out from the nozzle in a given DOD period, and the drive signal has a waveform configured to cause the actuator to excite a pressure wave in the liquid, the method further comprising the steps of a) energizing the actuator with a waveform that has a fixed pattern and extends over a time interval that is longer than the given DOD period; and b) ignoring the DOD signal in at least the first DOD period that follows after said period for which the step a) has been performed.

Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording method capable of suppressing deterioration in an ejection property which occurs after a protection layer is eluted by an electrochemical reaction. The ink jet recording method includes using an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head equipped with a heater, a first protection layer and a second protection layer made of a material such as iridium and a unit of causing an electrochemical reaction with the second protection layer as one of electrodes and an ink-mediated conduction site as the other electrode and ejecting the ink from the recording head to record an image on a recording medium, wherein the ink is an aqueous ink containing a pigment, a resin dispersant for dispersing the pigment and a specified chelating agent.

Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording method by which the decrease of degassing efficiency is suppressed even after images are recorded for a long period of time in a case where the degassing is performed while circulating an ink in an ink circulation system. An ink jet recording method recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting an ink from a recording head by using an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with an ink storage portion for storing the ink, the recording head for ejecting the ink, a unit for circulating the ink in an ink circulation system arranged between the ink storage portion and the recording head and a unit for degassing the ink circulating in the ink circulation system, the ink being an aqueous ink containing a pigment dispersed by an action of an anionic group, a resin particle and a specific water-soluble organic solvent.

Abstract: A compliance plate includes a flexible film that forms a portion of a wall surface of a liquid storage chamber that is supplied with a liquid that is to be discharged from a nozzle, a support plate that supports the flexible film at an opposite side of the flexible film to the liquid storage chamber and that has an opening portion that exposes the flexible film, and a plurality of regions that include a first region and a second region that have a compliance function, the first region and the second region having mutually different characteristic vibration periods.

Abstract: An electric field generating unit that forms an electric field between a nozzle forming surface of a recording head and a medium support section that faces the nozzle forming surface by applying a voltage to a conductive member includes the conductive member, forms an electric field, and, during borderless recording in which ink is ejected on inside and outside of an edge of a paper sheet, applies an increased voltage in an ink discarded region outside the edge compared to a voltage applied in a recording region other than the ink discarded region.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method of printing with an emulsion, includes generating an emulsion of non-water based fluid and water based fluid on a printhead, and ejecting the emulsion through a printhead nozzle.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printer which is capable of preventing ink flow and color blurring as well as color mixing during multicolor printing when image formation is performed with aqueous ink on a web-shaped printing base material, and an inkjet printing method using the inkjet printer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a substrate with a fluid slot formed therein, a chamber layer formed on the substrate defining fluid chambers on both sides of the fluid slot, a thin-film layer between the substrate and chamber layer that defines an ink feedhole (IFH) between the fluid slot and the chamber layer, and a chamber layer extension that forms a bridge across the IFH between two chambers.

Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording method capable of suppressing deterioration in an ejection property when voltage control of a recording head is performed. The ink jet recording method includes using an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head equipped with a heater, a first protection layer and a second protection layer made of a metal material, and a unit of applying a voltage with the second protection layer as a cathode and an ink-mediated conduction site as an anode and ejecting the ink from the recording head to record an image on a recording medium, wherein the ink is an aqueous ink containing a component having an anionic group and a soluble metal ion having a standard electrode potential of more than 0 V.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head and a liquid ejection apparatus capable of maintaining a high reliability is provided. For this purpose, a first cover member including an aperture and covering a surface of a flow path member facing a print medium of a liquid ejection head, and a second cover member covering a side surface of the liquid ejection head are provided, and a displacement absorption part that absorbs the displacement between the first cover member and the second cover member is provided. Furthermore, the space between the aperture and the flow path member is sealed with a sealing material.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an electric field forming section including a conductive member and configured to form an electric field, and the conductive member includes at least one first portion and a second portion, each of the at least one first portion being disposed at a position being nearer the recording head than a position of the second portion and included in a corresponding one of at least one liquid discarding region each of which, in an execution of borderless recording, is used for the ejection of the liquid onto an outside of a corresponding one of at least one edge whose position corresponds to each of at least one predetermined size of a medium, the second portion being disposed in a recording region other than the at least one liquid discarding region.

Abstract: A jet recovery print process is performed each time before printing a print job, when an inactivity period of non-printing has been exceeded, or during a long print job, where the jets might clog with debris. The jet recovery print process ejects the ink from the inkjets by printing (using the inkjets) a sacrificial page in a jet recovery pattern, while operating the actuators in the inkjets at their maximum voltage rating. The jet recovery pattern is designed to purge all the ink from all the inkjets. Thus, in the jet recovery print process, the controller operates the actuators at their maximum voltage rating so as to provide a higher driving force for the ink to be ejected from the inkjets and thereby make the purge process more effective.

Abstract: A recording head of the present disclosure includes an ink ejection surface where a plurality of ink ejection ports for ejecting ink onto a recording medium are disposed. A plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports for supplying a cleaning liquid are disposed on an upstream side with respect to the ink ejection ports in a wiping direction which is a direction in which a wiper wipes the ink ejection surface. The plurality of cleaning liquid supply ports each have a chamfer portion formed at a portion thereof that intersects a surface to be wiped by the wiper, the chamfer portion being R-shaped in section.

Abstract: An inkjet head maintenance device includes a base, a liquid supplier and a liquid collector. The base has an upper face disposed closely opposite a nozzle face of an inkjet head to form a liquid reservoir space during maintenance of the inkjet head. The base includes a liquid supply hole and a liquid collection hole that open to the upper face. The liquid supplier is configured to supply liquid from the liquid supply hole to the liquid reservoir space. The liquid collector is configured to collect the liquid in the liquid reservoir space from the liquid collection hole.

Abstract: A fluidic dispensing device includes a housing having an exterior wall and a chamber. The exterior wall has a first opening. The chamber has an interior space and has a port coupled in fluid communication with the first opening. A stir bar is located in the chamber. The stir bar has a rotational axis. A guide portion is located in the chamber. The guide portion includes a confining member having a guide opening that defines an interior radial confining surface that engages the stir bar, wherein the guide opening facilitates a radial movement of the stir bar in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects a liquid, a discharge portion which discharges a waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head, and a mounting unit which is provided with the discharge portion and in which is mounted a waste liquid container capable of storing the waste liquid which is discharged from the discharge portion, in which the mounting unit includes a liquid holding portion capable of holding the waste liquid in a periphery of the discharge portion.

Abstract: A liquid supply unit includes an outer shell, a liquid supply portion that is arranged in the outer shell and can supply a liquid to the liquid ejection apparatus, and an engaged structure including an engaged portion that can engage with the engagement portion of the liquid ejection apparatus, and a first opening that is formed in the outer shell and through which the engagement structure can be inserted. The engaged portion is arranged further inward than an outer surface of the outer shell.

Abstract: A fluid containing member includes a first containing chamber that contains a first fluid, and a second containing chamber that contains a second fluid. The first containing chamber and the second containing chamber are separated from each other by a first separation film on a side of the first containing chamber and a second separation film on a side of the second containing chamber. The first separation film and the second separation film are partly connected to each other or partly contact each other so as to move together in accordance with a change in an internal pressure of the first containing chamber or an internal pressure of the second containing chamber.

Abstract: A liquid supply unit that includes a liquid ejection apparatus and configured to be mounted onto a holder unit that has a liquid introducing needle that extends in a first direction includes an outer shell, a liquid supply port, and an engagement structure including a first engagement portion, in which the first engagement portion is disposed on a mounting direction side of the outer shell at a position that overlaps with the outer shell when the liquid supply unit is viewed from the demounting direction side.

Abstract: The liquid container includes: a container main body including a containment chamber containing a liquid and has some walls including a front-end wall, a rear-end wall, and an upper-surface wall; a liquid outlet connected to a liquid-consuming device to flow out the liquid from the containment chamber to the liquid-consuming device; a liquid inlet on the upper-surface wall at a position closer to the rear-end wall and accepts injection of the liquid from outside of the container main body into the containment chamber; and a visual recognition portion that is provided on the rear-end wall and is see-through so that a position of a liquid surface of the liquid in the containment chamber is recognizable. The rear-end wall has scale marks as indexes of an amount of the liquid in the containment chamber on an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface.

Abstract: A filter unit provided in a path for supplying liquid to a liquid ejector includes: an upstream compartment into which the liquid flows from an upstream channel; a downstream compartment from which the liquid flows into a downstream channel; and a filter that serves as a partition between the upstream compartment and the downstream compartment. The upstream compartment overlaps the downstream compartment in a first direction intersecting the vertical direction. The downstream compartment has at least one first downstream opening and at least one second downstream opening in communication with the downstream channel. The second downstream opening is disposed below the first downstream opening in the vertical direction.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus (an ink jet printer 100), in a sub scanning direction, when an area in arrange of a nozzle at an end portion of a head (41) to a nozzle at a predetermined distance is set as a predetermined area, and a medium is transported in a certain amount by using the head (41), a scan portion, and a transport portion so as to form an image on medium sheet (10), the number of times of scanning for forming a dot array which is formed by using the nozzles included in the predetermined area is more than the number of times of the scanning for forming a dot array which does not use the nozzle in the predetermined area, and the number of times of the scanning for forming the dot array by using the nozzles included in the predetermined area is at least three times.

Abstract: A quick release print head includes a heating block, a nozzle tube and a connecting tube. The nozzle tube is inserted in the heating block. One end of the nozzle tube has a nozzle and the other end is extended with an extension tube exposed to the heating block. The connecting tube is connected with the extension tube. Whereby, the extension tube extended from the nozzle tune is exposed to the heating block so that the nozzle tube disposed near the heating block cannot be disassembled. Thus, a process of replacing components by heating a nozzle can be bypassed, and advantages of quick disassembly and easy maintenance of the print head can be achieved.

Abstract: Thermal transfer image data is used to transfer part of a transfer material layer in a transfer ribbon to an image-receiving layer in an intermediate transfer ribbon to form a plurality of image cells on the intermediate transfer ribbon. A method for providing thermal transfer image data includes converting a multitone input image into a multitone image having fewer different tone values than the input image, based on a predetermined threshold; and dithering respective tone values of the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing print objects, comprising a machine base body which has a width side and a longitudinal side and is designed to accommodate at least one print object, a guide device which is arranged above the machine base body and extends over the print object over the width of the machine base body, and a printing device which is designed to print the print object and is moveably arranged on the guide device over the width of the machine base body. The printing device comprises at least one first print head unit and a second print head unit, which can be independently moved relative to each other over the width of the machine base body on the guide device, wherein each print head unit has at least one print head which is designed to print the print object with at least one printing ink.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing panels having a decorative surface, wherein the panels at least include a substrate and a top layer, and wherein the top layer includes a paper layer having a printed pattern. The method may involve providing the paper layer with an inkjet receiver coating by transporting the paper layer relative to a coater in a coating direction. The coated paper layer may be provided with at least a portion of the printed pattern using a digital inkjet printer that includes a housing containing print heads. The printed pattern may be a wood motif having wood nerves extending generally in a nerve direction that substantially corresponds to the coating direction. Providing the printed pattern may involve a relative motion between the digital inkjet printer and the paper layer during a printing operation in a printing direction.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method includes attaching an ink composition to a cloth by using a printer head which has a nozzle discharging the ink composition, a pressure chamber for imparting pressure to the ink composition to cause the nozzle to discharge the ink composition, and a connection portion connecting the pressure chamber and the nozzle, and in which a distance of the connection portion is 500 ?m or more, the distance of the connection portion being from a portion of the pressure chamber where the ink flows out from a pressure chamber to the nozzle side to the nozzle, in which the ink composition includes the resin as a solid content in the amount of 10% by mass to 26% by mass with respect to the ink composition, the ratio of the total content of the organic solvent to the total content of the solid content of the resin is 0.3 or more, and a sum of the total content of the solid content of the resin and the total content of the organic solvent is 37% by mass or less with respect to the ink composition.

Abstract: In an example, a transmission may include a driven gear attached to a module housing of the imaging module. Further, the transmission may include a retention nose fixed or attached to the module housing. The retention nose may engage with a retention shelf of a drive housing and may retain the module housing to the drive housing such that the driven gear is operably engaged with a drive gear attached to the drive housing.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head, a head base, a conveyance unit, and a rotation mechanism. The inkjet head ejects ink on to a sheet. The inkjet head is fixed to the head base. The conveyance unit faces the inkjet head and conveys the sheet. The rotation mechanism rotates the head base and the conveyance unit around an axis perpendicular to a sheet conveyance surface of the conveyance unit while maintaining a constant relative position of the head base to the conveyance unit.

Abstract: A method pretreats a printing material used for ink printing to influence the spreading of ink print dots on the printing material. The spreading behavior is influenced in such a way that the ink print dots spread in an anisotropic way. The anisotropic spreading advantageously allows undesired quality losses in the print that are caused by a failed ink nozzle to be reduced or avoided. The influencing of the spreading behavior may be achieved by an anisotropic application of a liquid, in particular a primer or varnish, to the printing material, or by an anisotropic embossment or print on the printing material or by an anisotropic treatment of the printing material with charged particles, in particular by a plasma or a corona, or with electromagnetic radiation, in particular laser radiation.

Abstract: A tray includes a holding portion configured to hold a print medium in a predetermined holding area and an ink absorption portion positioned adjacent to the holding area.

Abstract: While a printing apparatus stores received image data in a memory, it detects presence/absence of a print medium fed from a feeding unit by a sensor. In accordance with the detection, the apparatus reads out image data from the memory and prints an image on a print medium. In the case of double-sided printing, the apparatus internally holds a print medium with an image being printed on the first surface. If runout of a print medium is detected while holding the print medium during double-sided printing, the apparatus reads and discards image data corresponding to an image to be printed on the runout print medium from the memory. Along with this, the apparatus performs control data reading so as to convey the print medium to print an image on the second surface of the print medium.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device allows a recording medium to be set easily, and prevents the recording medium from being warped so that printing quality is not lowered. An inkjet printer includes a bed including a surface that supports a recording medium, and a pivoting device that pivots the bed around a horizontal axis to locate the bed horizontally or vertically or pivots the bed around the horizontal axis to incline the bed with respect to a horizontal plane. The inkjet printer also includes a pair of guide rails provided on the bed and extending in an X direction and a movable member extending in a Y direction, engaged with the pair of guide rails and slidable on the pair of guide rails to move in the X direction.