Abstract: A capping device includes a moisturizing cap which is brought into contact with a liquid ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid from a nozzle so as to allow forming of a space including the nozzle, a connection flow channel which is connected to the moisturizing cap, and a moisturizing liquid supply unit which is connected to the connection flow channel, includes a moisturizing liquid storage unit configured to allow storing of a moisturizing liquid, and allows a supply of the moisturizing liquid to the moisturizing liquid storage unit so as to cause a liquid surface of the moisturizing liquid in the moisturizing liquid storage unit to be a first position. The moisturizing cap includes an atmospheric communication portion configured to open the space to an atmosphere.

Abstract: In one example, a wedge shaped carriage to carry a printhead back and forth over a print substrate during printing.

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: Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of suppressing ink from remaining on a nozzle surface. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head unit 16 capable of ejecting a liquid from a nozzle 27 provided in a nozzle surface 22a of a nozzle plate 22, an anchoring plate 17 in which the head unit 16 is anchored and that is provided with an opening region 17a that exposes the nozzle surface 22, and a wiper member 12 that wipes an anchoring plate exposed-surface 17b located on the opposite side of the head unit 16 of the anchoring plate 17 and the nozzle surface 22a. When an angle of contact between the nozzle surface 22a and the liquid is taken as ?n, an angle of contact between the anchoring plate exposed-surface 17b and the liquid is taken as ?s, and an angle of contact between the wiper member 12 and the liquid is taken as ?w, the relationship ?n>?s>?w>90° is fulfilled.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus, a recording head has an ink ejection port through which ink is ejected, a cleaning liquid supplying portion has a cleaning liquid supply port through which cleaning liquid for cleaning an ink ejection surface having the ink ejection port, is supplied, and a cleaning member cleans the ink ejection surface by the cleaning liquid by moving while in contact with the ink ejection surface. The cleaning liquid supplying portion includes a main body portion and a protruding portion. The main body portion is disposed on an upstream side of the recording head in a moving direction of the cleaning member. The protruding portion protrudes from the main body portion toward a downstream in the moving direction, and covers, from below, lower ends of side surfaces of the recording head and the main body portion that face each other in the moving direction.

Abstract: There is provided a technique that enhances the detection accuracy of a liquid contained in a tank unit. A printer 10 is provided with a tank unit 40A. The tank unit 40A includes a plurality of ink tanks 43A and a plurality of ink cylinder portions 46A. Each of the plurality of ink cylinder portions 46A is connected with corresponding one of the ink tanks 43A by a tube 47, such as to cause ink contained in the corresponding ink tank 43A to flow into the ink cylinder portion 46A. Each of the ink cylinder portions 46A is provided with a pair of terminal pins 96a and 96b that are used for detection of ink. A horizontal sectional area of the ink cylinder portion 46A at a height position where the pair of terminal pins 96a and 96b are provided is smaller than a horizontal sectional area of the ink tank 43A at a corresponding height position.

Abstract: A printhead device includes firing chambers, nozzles, and shipping fluid. The shipping fluid includes a shipping fluid density and a shipping fluid viscosity greater than a corresponding ink density and ink viscosity of an ink that will be ejected from the firing chambers and through the nozzles.

Abstract: An off-axis printhead assembly includes a printhead body that has an engagement element removably attachable to an attachment mechanism of a carriage of a printing system, the attachment mechanism of the carriage removably attachable to an on-axis printhead assembly. A fluid conduit interconnect is removably attached to the printhead body, the fluid conduit interconnect to connect to a fluid conduit to communicate printing fluid from at least one off-axis printing fluid supply through the fluid conduit interconnect to the printhead body.

Abstract: An inkjet printer for the labeling of goods has a housing having outlet openings for ink droplets on a front face, a printing mechanism, and two hydraulic couplings that are accessible on the outside of the housing. Each hydraulic coupling has a mechanical connection part and an automatically closing first valve. Each automatically closing first valve has a first valve body and a first pusher connected to the first valve body. A filter has a filter housing in which the filter medium is accommodated and on which two hydraulic mating couplings are disposed that are accessible from the outside of the filter housing. In a joined state of the two hydraulic couplings and the hydraulic mating couplings, the pushers are each in contact with each other and respectively keep the valve bodies connected to them in an opened state.

Abstract: A pumping circuit for fluid of an ink circuit in a continuous inkjet printer, including a diaphragm pump, an inlet circuit having an inlet conduit into the pump for the fluid to be pumped, an outlet conduit for the fluid pumped by the pump, the pumping circuit including a back-flow line which removes, from the outlet of the pump, part of the pumped fluid and returns it to the inlet circuit of fluid to be pumped, at least one singular restriction being arranged on the path of the fluid in the back-flow line, and the back-flow line regulating the pressure and the flow rate of the fluid at the outlet of the pump.

Abstract: There is provided a frame which holds a recording section, a support unit which is provided on the outer side of the frame and which supports liquid containers which contain the liquid which is to be ejected from the recording section, liquid supply tubes which supply the liquid which is contained in the liquid containers to the recording section, and a pump which is arranged in the support unit and which sends the liquid which is contained in the liquid containers to the recording section via the liquid supply tubes.

Abstract: An example device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first reservoir for a printable composition, a pump fluidically coupled to the first reservoir and a second reservoir, and a valve to prevent backflow from the second reservoir to the pump. The valve is to selectively isolate the second reservoir from the pump based on a threshold pump pressure under which the valve is to close.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus has a liquid ejecting unit and a negative pressure regulating unit provided between passages connecting the tank to the liquid ejecting unit, regulates fluid pressure of liquid flowing into the liquid ejecting unit. The negative pressure regulating unit includes a negative pressure chamber whose internal pressure is regulated within a predetermined range, and a discharging passage for discharging liquid stored in the negative pressure chamber from the negative pressure regulating unit. The discharging passage has an outlet disposed in an upper portion of the negative pressure chamber in a direction of gravity, a bubble accumulation portion connected to the outlet and having a space above the outlet in the direction of gravity, and a passage guiding liquid flowing from the outlet to a discharging port opened in a bottom of the negative pressure regulating unit.

Abstract: A breaking switch for ink feeding channel and a printing device using the breaking switch prevents leakage of ink when a printing device is not level or not well placed. The printing device includes a case, an ink box, an ink feeding channel from the ink box, and a breaking switch for ink feeding channel. The breaking switch clamps or releases the ink feeding channel and includes a supporting base and a pressing plate. The pressing plate is rotatable between open and closed positions. When on a level working surface, the supporting leg lifts the pressing plate away from the supporting portion. When the supporting leg is free and suspended the pressing plate presses on the supporting portion and closes off the ink supply.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a printed image on a substrate comprising the steps of selecting eight or fewer process colors from a known process ink color set; providing two or more spot colors, forming a color set comprising the process colors and the spot colors; and optionally printing the image using the formed color set. The ratio of the number of spot colors to the number of process colors is at least 0.5:1.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (TPH) is positioned to selectively preheat a blanket surface such as an arbitrarily reimageable surface of a variable lithography system. The blanket then immediately passes through a chamber containing dampening solution vapor. The vapor condenses only where the blanket has not been heated, thus developing an image ready for inking.

Abstract: A label printer is configured to sequentially issue a reserved number of printed labels on which information on a reserved commodity is printed, and the label printer includes: a designation means configured to designate a commodity; an input means configured to input the number of printed labels to be issued on which information on the commodity designated by the designation means is printed; and a registration means configured to receive, while the printed labels are issued, designation of the commodity by the designation means and input of the number of printed labels to be issued by the input means, and register a reservation.

Abstract: In one example, a printer includes a paper path having a drying area, a printhead near the paper path upstream from the drying area, and a convection dryer to force air simultaneously into an upstream part of the drying area at a first density and into a downstream part of the drying area at a second density less than the first density and to force air into the upstream part of the drying area at a first air speed for a duration and then at a second air speed faster than the first air speed.

Abstract: Enhanced printing solutions are enabled by providing ultraviolet curing conditions without requiring complete evacuation of atmospheric oxygen. Increased ink coverage and adjusted surface appearance are also provided.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transport unit which transports a recording medium in a transport direction; a printing unit which prints an image and a mark on the recording medium; and a mark detecting unit which is located on an upstream side of the printing unit in the transport direction, and detects a mark, includes a function of automatically adjusting a detecting sensitivity of the mark detecting unit, and obtains a printing start position using the mark, in which the mark detecting unit has a timer function including an ON delay in which a time between detecting of a mark and outputting of a detecting signal of ON is delayed, uses the timer function when obtaining the printing start position, and does not use the timer function when performing the automatic adjusting.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departing direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departing direction to move the platen.

Abstract: A tape cartridge is mounted on a mounting section of a tape printer, which has an identification portion configured to identify a type of cartridge containing a tape-shaped printing medium. The tape cartridge includes a tape roll around which the tape-shaped printing medium is wound, a core shaft portion that is formed into a fitting cylindrical shape and has a rotation shaft of the tape roll, an identification concave portion that is provided in an inner peripheral portion of the core shaft and engages with the identification portion, a depressed portion that engages with a pedestal which is disposed on the mounting section, and a core concave portion that includes the identification concave portion and the depressed portion. The identification concave portion is configured to accommodate the identification portion in a state where the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section.

Abstract: Examples of an apparatus for flexible flat cable, installable within a print device, are described. The flexible flat cable may be connected to a print carriage assembly of the print device.

Abstract: There is provided a bracket of a printing apparatus including a thermal head and a platen and performing printing on a print medium. The bracket includes a frame; a moving mechanism supported to be movable with respect to the frame in a specified direction; a motor provided on the frame; a transmitting mechanism connected to the motor and to the moving mechanism; and an encoder which outputs a signal in accordance with movement of the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism includes: a first roller positioned, with respect to the platen facing the thermal head, on an upstream side of a conveyance path of the print medium; a second roller positioned, with respect to the platen, on a downstream side of the conveyance path; and a supporting member which rotatably supports the first roller and the second roller.

Abstract: A width detecting system includes a sensor-LED array positioned across a path of a media and/or ribbon within a printing apparatus. The LEDs are adapted to produce light directed toward the media and/or ribbon path. The optical sensors are configured to detect the LED light, produce analog signals proportionate to the received amount of light, and transmit the signals to a signal receiving assembly for processing. Additionally or alternatively, a width detecting system can have an array of LEDs facing an array of sensors in such a way that the media and/or ribbon path is located between the arrays. A method for width detection includes analyzing sensor data to determine one or more transition point between media and no-media sections, and calculating media width. The method can include using sensor data collected for a reflective and/or transmissive sensor arrays, and can be used for media and/or ribbon width detection.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a switching mechanism which switches a motive force transmission state from a motive force source, includes a sun gear which is driven by the motive force source, a planet gear which performs planetary motion around the sun gear, a rotational movement member which causes the planet gear to perform planetary motion by rotationally moving, and a regulating member which engages with a regulated portion which is provided in the rotational movement member to restrict the rotational movement of the rotational movement member.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes: a print section; a container that houses a print associated member; an insertion port into which the container is inserted; an openable cover that openably covers a front surface of the insertion port; and a lock mechanism that locks the openable cover. The lock mechanism includes a through hole provided in the openable cover, and a displacement member provided in a cover-adjacent portion and configured to move between a locked position in which it engages the through hole to regulate opening movement of the openable cover and an unlocked position in which it disengages from the through hole to permit opening movement of the openable cover.

Abstract: A ribbon supply includes a supply spool and a ribbon material wound onto the supply spool. A tack down bond prevents unwinding of the ribbon material from the supply spool. A leader film extends from the tack down bond, with the leader film having a length that is sufficient to allow installation of the ribbon supply and connection of the leader film to a take-up spool without detaching the tack down bond.

Abstract: A method includes unwinding a web material from a support and providing an elastomeric stamp, wherein the stamp includes a base surface and an arrangement of pattern elements extending away from the base surface, and wherein each pattern element has a stamping surface with a lateral dimension of less than about 5 microns and a height with respect to the base surface, and wherein an aspect ratio of the height to the lateral dimension is at least 1.5. The stamping surfaces of the pattern elements are inked with an ink composition including a functionalizing molecule, wherein the functionalizing molecule includes a functional group selected to bind to said substrate material.

Abstract: An image forming method includes applying an ink for the first time to a recording medium to form an image and rolling up the recording medium in a roll form, wherein the recording medium is continuous paper, the ink includes water, an organic solvent, and a coloring material, and the image has a tackiness power of from 80 to 110 nN.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording sheet set includes an image-receiving sheet that includes an image-receiving layer containing a compound represented by general formula (1) or (2) and an ink sheet that includes a yellow coloring material layer containing a particular dye and a cyan coloring material layer containing a particular dye.

Abstract: A transparent film is provided, enabling a printed matter that is less likely to exhibit apparently white-tinged images and has less degraded image quality. The transparent film of an embodiment of the present application includes a support; an anti-reflection layer disposed on one side of the support; and an ink-absorbing layer disposed on the other side of the support. The anti-reflection layer preferably has, on the surface thereof on the side opposite to the support, an anti-reflection structure with multiple protrusions disposed at a pitch not greater than the visible light wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) blended with a polymeric material selected from a polyvinyl alcohol) (PVOH), an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer (EAA), other carboxylated polymer latexes, or other polymer blends, and applied as a thin coating layer on plastic films for printing with digital processes such as inkjet and laser printing, as well as with more conventional printing processes such as flexography and offset lithography, to the control of ink adhesion to the plastic film, and to the reduction in the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the plastic film.

Abstract: An optically variable element has first and second diffraction gratings which are high-frequency and therefore act reflectively into the zero diffraction order. Either a first color is generated by the first diffraction grating at a particular angle of rotation and a particular angle of illumination and simultaneously a second color, different from the first color, is generated by the second diffraction grating or a visible color is generated essentially only by the first diffraction grating at a first angle of rotation and a visible color is generated essentially only by the second diffraction grating at a second angle of rotation.

Abstract: A secure lens sheet or layer suitable for use in a micro-optic system, which is made up of a plurality of joined fine lens arrays (e.g., joined fine lenticular and/or joined fine non-cylindrical lens arrays), is provided. Each array has a lens pitch different from adjacent or contiguous arrays and/or is orientated in a direction different from adjacent or contiguous arrays. A micro-optic security device, which utilizes the inventive secure lens sheet and one or more overlying or underlying arrangements of micro-sized image icons (e.g., line data), is also provided. The image icon arrangement(s) and the secure lens layer are configured such that one or more synthetic images are projected by the security device. These projected images may show a number of different optical effects.

Abstract: A composite security device is provided that is made up of a first polymer film that constitutes or embodies a security feature in the form of at least one high value material, and a second polymer film that constitutes, embodies, or is coated with one or more additional security features. The first polymer film is positioned on and adhered to a surface of the second polymer film, which has a width or diameter greater than the width or diameter of the first polymer film By way of the present invention, the high value material is applied to only a part of the security device, leaving remaining parts of the device available for one or more additional materials that do not impact upon the effect of the high value material.

Abstract: Articulated pens are provided. A pen includes: a shank; an ink tube comprising a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section; a writing tip connected to the fourth section; a first guide rail connected to the shank and that bends the ink tube at a first angle between the first section and the second section; and a second guide rail pivotally connected to the first guide rail and that bends the ink tube at a second angle between the third section and the fourth section. Pivoting the second guide rail relative to the first guide rail adjusts a third angle between the second section and the third section.

Abstract: A pencil sharpener may include a body having a first end and a second end aligned along a main axis of the body, the body having a pencil receptacle disposed at the first end and configured to releasably attach to a pencil such that a longitudinal axis of the pencil is parallel to the main axis of the body of the pencil sharpener, the body further having a bore formed therein between the first end and the second end, the bore having a bore axis oblique to the main axis; and a sharpener blade disposed adjacent the bore such that a portion of a pencil is insertable into the bore of the body to be sharpened by the sharpener blade.

Abstract: An art medium applicator includes a rotating shaft and an art medium coupled thereto for causing the medium to travel through an application path for transfer to a substrate. The applicator includes a coupling assembly, and may include an applicator tip including a cavity into which the art medium is inserted and supported. An art medium modifier includes a rotating shaft and an art medium modifier coupled thereto for causing the modifier to travel through an application path for modification of an art medium previously applied to a substrate.

Abstract: An optimized system and method for application of liquid for moistening adhesive on envelope flaps as part of an automated mail production process. Envelopes with open envelope flaps are transported beneath a moistening brush so that an interior side of the flaps, having adhesive thereon, come into contact with a lower end of the moistening brush. A flow of liquid is provided from a liquid supply coupled to the moistening brush to keep the moistening brush wet as moisture is transferred to the envelope flaps. The rate at which liquid is regulated such that moisture is maintained on the brush and a selected quantity of liquid (a dose) is provided for each envelope flap that it moistened. The dose is automatically determined as a function of physical dimensions of the envelope flap, and to optimize sealing of the envelope without excess dripping.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a decorative molding with a capability to decorate a large component to be decorated. The method includes pressing a heated pressing member against an area to be decorated having a plurality of spaced-apart surface sections to be decorated, with a transfer sheet interposed between the pressing member and the area to be decorated, to transfer decorative layers to the surface section to be decorated. The area to be decorated has a maximum width of not less than 400 mm. The pressing member has a pressing surface configured to come in contact with the transfer sheet and constituted by a rubber piece shaped into a flat plate. The rubber piece has a hardness of not more than 80 degrees and a thickness of not less than 3 mm, and is curved to fit a general surface shape of the area to be decorated.

Abstract: Bearing for at least one supporting roller of a carriage, which supporting roller is supported on at least one bearing surface, comprising at least one axle device which can be rotated about at least one rotational axis, at least one rocker which is connected to the axle device such that it is reliably driven, wherein, at an end which lies opposite the axle device, the rocker has at least one first connecting device for connecting the rocker to the supporting roller, at least one spring device which is arranged mechanically between the axle device and/or the rocker on one side and at least one holding device on the other side, wherein a force which forces the supporting roller onto the bearing surface can be built up on the axle device and the rocker by means of the spring device, and at least one damping device, by means of which a rotational movement of the axle device about the rotational axis can be damped, characterized in that the spring device and the damping device are configured in one piece at least

Abstract: A system for preventing aquaplaning in a vehicle, said system comprising: a tank suitable for containing a fluid; sensor means configured to reveal the conditions of the vehicle and/or the environment in which the vehicle is found, and in particular, the conditions of a street surface; injector means configured to generate a jet of fluid on said street surface, said injector means being associated with at least one wheel of the vehicle; a control unit associated with sensor means and configured for controlling said injector means according to the conditions revealed by said sensor means. A unique feature of the system of the present invention consists in the fact that said injector means comprise at least one “fan-type” nozzle and equipped with a slit-shaped outlet opening suitable for creating a flat jet of fluid.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic radial tire for a passenger vehicle, having a carcass constituted of plies as radially-disposed cords and toroidally provided across a pair of bead portions, and including: a belt constituted of one or more belt layers; and a tread, which are disposed in this order on the outside in the radial direction of the carcass, in which: a section width SW and an outer diameter OD of the tire have a ratio of SW/OD?0.26 when SW<165 (mm), and SW and OD satisfy a relationship formula OD?2.035×SW+282.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a carcass extending between bead cores of bead portions through a tread portion. A tire section width Wt (unit: mm) in relation to a bead diameter Db (unit: inch) satisfies the following equations, Wt??0.7257×(Db)2+42.763×Db?339.67, and Wt??0.7257×(Db)2+48.568×Db?552.33. In a tread thickness distribution curve f(y) represented by equation f(y)=1?t(y)/t(0), when y=0.4, the value of f(y) is of from 0.03 to 0.06, and a rate of change of the value of f(y) increases to y=0.4 and decreases thereafter, where t(y) denotes a tread thickness at each tire axial position Py, and y represents a ratio of an axial distance from the tire equatorial plane, to the maximum-width L of the carcass.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for alerting drivers of hazardous driving conditions using the sensing capabilities of wearable mobile technology. In one aspect, a method for alerting drivers of hazardous driving conditions includes the steps of: collecting real-time data from a driver of a vehicle, wherein the data is collected via a mobile device worn by the driver; determining whether the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition exists; providing feedback to the driver if the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition exists, and continuing to collect data from the driver in real-time if the real-time data indicates that a hazardous driving condition does not exist. The real-time data may also be collected and used to learn characteristics of the driver. These characteristics can be compared with the data being collected to help determine, in real-time, whether the driving behavior is normal and whether a hazardous driving condition exists.

Abstract: A real-time engine sound reproduction method includes determining, with a signal processing controller, a drive condition of a vehicle based on a vibration value measured through a sensor for measuring vibration of an engine, and reproducing, with an output device, a controlled engine sound based on an order component indicated by the engine vibration characteristic outputted in real time.

Abstract: A pneumatic motorcycle tire 1 is provided with a tread pattern having an intended tire rotational direction N. The tread portion 2 is provided on each side of the tire equator C with a unit pattern 9 repeatedly arranged in the tire circumferential direction to form the tread pattern. The unit pattern 9 comprises: a first oblique groove 11 extending axially outwardly from a vicinity of the tire equator C and obliquely, while inclining to the rotational direction N; a second oblique groove 12 disposed on the toe-side in the rotational direction N of the first oblique groove 11 and extending therealong; and a narrow oblique groove 15 extending axially outwardly from the axially inner end of the first oblique groove 11 to the axially inner end of the second oblique groove 12, while inclining to the opposite direction to the rotational direction N.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes on a tread surface at least two circumferential main grooves extending in a tread circumferential direction, and a rib-like land portion partitioned by the two circumferential main grooves extending in the tread circumferential direction, wherein: the rib-like land portion has one or more circumferential sipes extending in the tread circumferential direction; and the rib-like land portion has one or more one-end opening lateral grooves and one or more first one-end opening sipes, the one-end opening lateral grooves extending from one of the two circumferential main grooves in a tread widthwise direction until a position connecting to the circumferential sipes, and ending within the rib-like land portion; the first one-end opening sipes extending from the other of the two circumferential main grooves in a tread widthwise direction, and ending within the rib-like land portion without connecting to the circumferential sipes.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes, in an inner land (4) portion, a first resonator (9) made up of a first sub-groove (9a), a first branch groove (9b) opening to one of two inner circumferential main grooves (2), and a first branch groove (9c) opening to the other one of the two inner circumferential main grooves (2), and also includes, in an external land portion (5), a second resonator (11) made up of a second sub-groove (11a) and a second branch groove (11b) that is opening to one of two external circumferential main grooves (3) and a third resonator (12) made up of a third sub-groove (12a) and a third branch groove (12b) that is opening to the other one of the two external circumferential main grooves (3). The second resonator (11) and the third resonator (12) have groove widths smaller than the groove width of the first resonator (9).