Abstract: A high-speed, cold laminating system includes a lamination unit for inline use connected with a paper feeder supplying at least 30 ppm. The lamination unit further includes a set of unheated motor-driven laminating pressure rollers along a laminating path, and a cutter between the rollers and an exit. A diverter gate passes the paper sheets to the laminating path or to the exit without passing along the laminating path. The system includes a controller to control the motor, the diverter gate, and functions of the lamination unit. The controller is programmed to control the motor to pause the pressure rollers with a leading sheet therein while a subsequent sheet moves toward the pressure rollers so a laminated spacing distance between a trailing edge of the leading sheet and a leading edge of the subsequent sheet to equal a prescribed spacing distance.

Abstract: A composite prepreg and a fiber-reinforced plastic molded body are described that are excellent in secondary weldability with another member and exhibit excellent handleability and reinforcing characteristics, where the composite prepreg in which reinforcing fibers are impregnated with a thermoplastic resin and a thermosetting resin, and a thermoplastic resin layer and a thermosetting resin layer that form an interface and joined to each other are formed, wherein the thermoplastic resin layer is present on at least one surface of the composite prepreg, and the thermoplastic resin layer contains continuous reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: The invention provides hydrophobic silica wet gel, hydrophobic silica aerogel, and methods that can be used to form an enhanced hydrophobic silica aerogel sheet having an advantageous combination of properties. Some embodiments of the invention provide a hydrophobic silica aerogel having advantageous properties, such as desirable performance on visible transmission, haze, or both.

Abstract: A sheet laminator including a thermal pressure roller, a power cutoff device, a mover, a power line, and circuitry. The thermal pressure roller pair includes first and second rollers, and first and second heaters, to form a nip region to press and convey a two-ply sheet. The power cutoff device detects a change in temperature of at least one of the first or second roller, and cuts off a power to at least one of the first or second heater. The mover relatively moves the second roller away from the first roller. The power line couples the power cutoff device to the mover. The circuitry is to cause the power cutoff device to cut off the power line, and cause the mover to relatively move the second roller away from the first roller, in response to the power cutoff to at least one of the first or second heater.

Abstract: Contemplated compositions and methods allow for simple and effective removal of carpet and/or modified thinset. In preferred embodiments, contemplated compositions include benzyl alcohol and optionally monoethanolamine and/or a modified cellulose thickener.

Abstract: A control system for a can decorator structured to apply images to cans includes a can inspection system structured to capture images of a can, a controller structured to receive the captured images and to analyze the captured images to determine a quality of the image applied to the can based on a comparison of the captured images and a reference image, and an adjustment assembly structured to adjust a circumferential or translational position of a plate cylinder attached to a plate cylinder shaft end of a plate cylinder shaft, the adjustment assembly including at least one stepper motor, wherein operation of the at least one stepper motor causes the circumferential or translational adjustment.

Abstract: A can decorator includes a blanket wheel having a plurality of blankets disposed on an outer circumference, a plate cylinder for an inker station, the plate cylinder structured to have rotational contact with the blanket wheel, a mandrel structured to hold a can and have rotational contact with the blanket wheel, and a pressure sensor structured to sense pressure between the plate cylinder and the blanket wheel or between the mandrel and the blanket wheel.

Abstract: A recording head ejects ink using nozzles. A control unit determines nozzles corresponding to an image to be printed and causes the recording head to eject ink from the nozzles. A correction processing unit detects an ejection malfunction nozzle and performs a correction process corresponding to the ejection malfunction nozzles. The correction processing unit causes a secondary adjacent nozzle of the ejection malfunction nozzle to perform ink ejection with a first ink ejection amount if ink ejection of a primary adjacent nozzle of ejection malfunction nozzle is performed earlier than ink ejection of the secondary adjacent nozzle and causes the secondary adjacent nozzle to perform ink ejection with a second ink ejection amount if ink ejection of the primary adjacent nozzle is performed later than ink ejection of the secondary adjacent nozzle. Here, the second ink ejection amount is smaller than the first ink ejection amount.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus according to the present disclosure, a printing system includes a movement detection unit that detects scanning, which is movement in a first direction, and an operation of making a line break, which is movement in a second direction crossing the first direction, of a printing apparatus main body that includes a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium. The printing system further includes a notification unit that selectively makes first notification that prompts scanning along with printing by the printing unit, second notification that prompts scanning along with no printing by the printing unit, and third notification that prompts the operation of making a line break, in accordance with a detection result of the printing unit.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a recording medium conveyance part, an abnormality detection part, a retraction mechanism, and a controller. The retraction mechanism makes the recording head moved between a recording position and a retraction position. The controller being enabled to execute a flashing operation under a non-image recording situation, on condition that an abnormality of the recording medium has been detected by the abnormality detection part, the controller halts the flashing operation set for a forward proximity of the abnormality-detected recording medium, and moreover instructs the retraction mechanism to move the recording head to the retraction position so as to allow the abnormality-detected recording medium to pass through under the recording head.

Abstract: An ejection malfunction nozzle detecting unit prints plural test patterns on a print sheet using a recording head, and detects ejection malfunction nozzles on the basis of scanned images of the plural test patterns. The plural test patterns are line-shaped or band-shaped images for which a correction process has been performed at plural nozzle positions with a predetermined period. The nozzle positions of the plural test patterns are specified with offset positions different from each other. Further, the ejection malfunction nozzle detecting unit (a) determines a test pattern that densities at periodical ejection malfunction positions have been corrected among the plural test patterns on the basis of density distributions of scanned image of the test patterns, and (b) stores as ejection malfunction nozzle data an offset position of the determined test pattern into a storage device.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head has at least a structure including an ejection orifice forming member having an ejection orifice for ejecting a liquid and a flow path communicating with the ejection orifice and a flow path forming substrate having a liquid introduction flow path communicating with the flow path and supplying the liquid, and includes: a first titanium oxide film with a pure water contact angle of 40° or less; and a second titanium oxide film with a pure water contact angle of 70° or more, wherein the first titanium oxide film covers the structure including inner walls of the flow path and the liquid introduction flow path and is exposed in the flow path and the liquid introduction flow path, and the second titanium oxide film has a portion covering the first titanium oxide film in a vicinity of an opening end.

Abstract: A therapeutic pelvic region analyzer and method of use thereof that includes an expandable device sized and shaped for insertion into an opening in a pelvic region of a user and a collapsible reservoir fluidly coupled to the expandable device. The collapsible reservoir is configured to temporarily retain and expel an amount of fluid. A tube defining a fluid-flow path for the amount of fluid is between the expandable device and the collapsible reservoir. The therapeutic pelvic region analyzer also includes fluid-flow control valve disposed between the expandable device and the collapsible reservoir. The fluid-flow control valve is operable to provide a selectively variable level of resistance as the amount fluid passes from the expandable device to the collapsible reservoir.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet ejecting head including: a channel member having a channel which includes a nozzle and a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle; and a piezoelectric element arranged on the channel member and configured to apply a pressure to a liquid inside the pressure chamber to eject a liquid droplet of the liquid from the nozzle. A diameter D [?m] of the nozzle and a natural frequency Fr [kHz] of the channel satisfy Expressions 1 and 2 as follows: Expression 1: D??2.25×10?8×Fr4+2.11×10?5×Fr3?7.60×10?3×Fr2+1.32×Fr?62.9, Expression 2: D?0.050×Fr+8.5.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet ejecting head including: a channel member having a plurality of individual channels and a first common channel communicating with an inlet port of each of the plurality of individual channels; and a piezoelectric element arranged on the channel member. Each of the plurality of individual channels includes a nozzle, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle and a first communicating channel having an end which is the inlet port and the other end which communicates with the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric element is configured to apply a pressure to a liquid inside the pressure chamber to cause a liquid droplet of the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle. A channel resistance R1 [N s/m5] of the first communicating channel satisfies a first relational expression: 3.48×1013?R1?6.98×1013.

Abstract: Provided is an ink-repellent member including an underlying portion containing at least one of a silicon oxide and a tantalum oxide, the underlying portion having a fluorine compound bonded to a surface thereof, wherein, when a static contact angle and a receding contact angle of the surface after the ink-repellent member is subjected to the following immersion treatment are represented by ? and ?r, respectively, the ? is 100° or more and ???r is less than 20°: (Immersion Treatment) (1) a test piece including the surface is cut out of the ink-repellent member, is placed in a sealable container containing an aqueous solution having a pH of 11, and is immersed in the aqueous solution so that the test piece is entirely immersed therein; and (2) the test piece is maintained at 70° C. for 170 hours under a sealed state after the immersion in (1).

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a printhead cap system is described. The printhead cap system includes a cap having an elastomer seal to surround a printhead die on a print cartridge. The printhead cap system also includes a variable force capping station to retain the cap. The variable force capping station is to move the cap to 1) a first position wherein the cap exerts a first force on a substrate on which the printhead die is disposed and 2) a second position wherein the cap exerts a second force on the substrate. In an example, the second force is greater than the first force. The printhead cap system also includes a control system to raise the cap from an uncapped position through the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A maintenance unit is provided to be mounted on a liquid discharge apparatus including a discharge portion that performs printing by discharging a liquid from a nozzle to a medium when the printing is not performed, and includes a cap configured to form a space in which the nozzle is open, and a pump configured to depressurize the space.

Abstract: A method to clean a discharge port surface of a recording apparatus includes applying a cleaning liquid to the discharge port surface by a cleaning liquid application unit. The discharge port surface includes a discharge port line, a hydrophilic part, and a water-repellent part located between the hydrophilic part and the discharge port line. A plurality of discharge ports to discharge a liquid is aligned in a first direction. The hydrophilic part is provided separated from the discharge port line and protrudes from the discharge port surface in a discharge direction of the liquid from the plurality of discharge ports. After the cleaning liquid is applied to the discharge port surface, a cleaning liquid removal unit removes the applied cleaning liquid in a state where the cleaning liquid has been moved onto the hydrophilic part.

Abstract: A cleaning liquid supplying apparatus includes a first reservoir unit, a second reservoir unit of a pressure accumulation type, a supply flow path, a pump, a return flow path, a flow path valve, an atmospheric relief valve, a control unit, a plurality of cleaning liquid ejecting units, a pressure detection unit, and a determination unit. The first reservoir unit is provided at a position lower than a position of the second reservoir unit in the gravity direction, and when the determination unit determines that an amount of air is abnormal, after the cleaning liquid stored in the second reservoir unit is discharged to the first reservoir unit until a liquid level of the cleaning liquid stored in the second reservoir unit reaches a reference liquid level, the control unit causes the cleaning liquid to be delivered from the first reservoir unit to the second reservoir unit again.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an inkjet head, a blade and a cleaning liquid supply member. The inkjet head is provided with a nozzle surface on which ink ejection ports of a plurality of nozzles are opened. The blade is movable in contact with the nozzle surface. The cleaning liquid supply member supplies a cleaning liquid to at least one of the nozzle surface and the blade. The cleaning liquid supply member includes a supply hole through which the cleaning liquid is discharged, and a mesh member provided inside an opening of the supply hole and having a mesh size smaller than the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an inkjet head, a blade and a cleaning liquid supply member. The inkjet head is provided with a nozzle surface on which ink ejection ports of a plurality of nozzles are opened. The blade is movable in contact with the nozzle surface. The cleaning liquid supply member supplies a cleaning liquid to at least one of the nozzle surface and the blade. The cleaning liquid supply member has a lower surface. On the lower surface, an opening through which the cleaning liquid is discharged and a protrusion with which the cleaning liquid discharged through the opening can be in contact are formed.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head, a supply path, a blade, and a cleaning liquid supply member. The inkjet head is provided with a nozzle surface on which ink ejection ports of a plurality of nozzles are opened downward. Through the supply path, a cleaning liquid is supplied. The blade is movable in contact with the nozzle surface. The cleaning liquid supply member supplies the cleaning liquid supplied through the supply path to at least one of the nozzle surface and the blade. The cleaning liquid supply member has at least one supply hole through which the cleaning liquid is supplied, and the supply path has a supply part inserted into the supply hole.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes a plurality of line heads each including a recording head, a plurality of waste ink collection containers, a display portion that indicates states of the line heads and the waste ink collection containers, and a control portion that detects the states of the line heads and the waste ink collection containers and controls display portion. In a case where an unused line head or an unused waste ink collection container exists and where a recording head in one of the line heads in use or one of the waste ink collection containers in use needs to be replaced, the control portion indicates, on the display portion, the recording head in the unused line head or the unused waste ink collection container as a recording head available for replacement or a waste ink collection container available for replacement.

Abstract: To provide a liquid storage body capable of adjusting the density of liquid supplied to a liquid ejection apparatus and improving the ability to use up liquid, the liquid storage body includes a bag, a connection section, a flow path section, and an intake section capable of taking in liquid containing a settleable component stored in the bag and supplying the liquid to the flow path section. The intake section has a first intake port and a second intake port to take in liquid. The intake section is rotatably supported by the flow path section. The first intake port and the second intake port are formed to face each other with a flow path therebetween, the flow path being formed in a direction in which a rotation axis extends in a case where the intake section rotates.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes a holding member and a receiving member. The holding member detachably holds a tray on which a container, that is flexible and is provided with a supply port for supplying liquid to a recording head, is placed with respect to the liquid supply apparatus. The receiving member is provided below the holding member attached to the liquid supply apparatus and receives a liquid leaking from the container. An angle of a bottom surface of the holding member with respect to a horizontal plane is different from an angle of a bottom surface of the receiving member with respect to the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus configured to supply a liquid to a printing unit, comprising a tray holder configured to hold a tray on which a flexible retaining container configured to retain a liquid is placed, the tray holder allowing insertion of the tray in a first direction, wherein the retaining container has a foldable gusset portion, and the tray holder is provided with a folding unit configured to fold the gusset portion in a state in which the tray is held by the tray holder.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus configured to supply a liquid to a printing unit, comprising a tray on which a flexible retaining container that retains a liquid is configured to be placed, and a tray holder configured to hold the tray so as to allow insertion of the tray in a first direction, wherein the retaining container includes a supply port configured to supply a liquid to the printing unit and an inlet coupled to the supply port and configured to take in a liquid into the retaining container, and the tray is provided with a concave shape overlapping the inlet from a viewpoint in an up-down direction in a state in which the tray is inserted in the tray holder.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus includes a holding member configured to detachably hold a tray on which a flexible container provided with a supply port for supplying a liquid to a printhead is placed; a press member configured to press the container attached to the liquid supply apparatus; a movable member configured to move the press member to a first position where the press member presses the container and a second position where a press amount of the press member for the container is smaller than at the first position; a first spring having one end locked on the press member and the other end locked on the holding member; and a second spring having one end locked on the press member and the other end locked on the movable member.

Abstract: A liquid storage apparatus includes storage portions arranged in a first direction, each storage portion configured to store a liquid container for storing a liquid, status display units, each status display unit corresponding to one of the storage portions and configured to display a status of the liquid container, and type display units, each type display unit corresponding to one of the storage portions and configured to display a type of liquid assigned to the storage portion. Each storage portion and the corresponding status display unit are arranged so as to be aligned in a second direction that intersects the first direction. The storage portion and the corresponding type display unit are arranged so as to be aligned in the second direction. The type display unit is arranged on a side of the status display unit with respect to the storage portion.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a channel structure having a first channel group. The first channel group includes: a supply channel extending in a first direction from one end thereof provided with a supply port, a return channel extending in the first direction from one end thereof provided with a discharge port and arranged side by side with the supply channel in a second direction, first individual channels aligned in the first direction, a second individual channel having one end communicating with the supply channel and the other end communicating with the return channel, and a connecting channel connecting the other end in the first direction of the supply channel and the other end in the first direction of the return channel. The second individual channel causes liquid to flow from the supply channel to the return channel, without causing the liquid to be ejected outside.

Abstract: Inkjet printing systems and methods dynamically control meniscus pressure at a nozzle to more reliably deliver ink to a substrate. The systems and methods include inferring an angle of a longitudinal axis of a printhead relative to the vertical reference axis based on an orientation signal from an orientation sensor, determining a target feed fluid pressure upstream of the nozzle and a target recirculation fluid pressure downstream of the nozzle, thereby to maintain a target pressure differentiation across the nozzle based, at least in part, on the inferred angle of the longitudinal axis, and controlling a variable feed pump speed and a variable recirculation pump speed to obtain the target feed fluid pressure and the target recirculation fluid pressure.

Abstract: Provided is a can printing system. The printing system includes: a printing machine that performs printing on a surface of a metal can; a color guide that includes a plurality of color patches obtained by printing ink colors of the printing machine on a metal base material containing a metal identical to that of the metal can; and an inkjet printer that reproduces an ink color selected from the plurality of color patches and performs printing for calibration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a control unit, and a correction processing unit. The recording head is configured to eject ink corresponding to an image to be printed, using arranged nozzles. The control unit is configured to determine nozzles corresponding to the image to be printed, correspondingly to a position of a print sheet, and cause the recording head to eject ink from the nozzles. The correction processing unit is configured to detect an ejection malfunction nozzle and perform a correction process corresponding to the ejection malfunction nozzles. Further, if the number of the detected ejection malfunction nozzles exceeds a predetermined upperlimit value, the correction processing unit preferentially sets as a target of the correction process an ejection malfunction nozzle that ejects an ink droplet earlier than nozzles corresponding to two adjacent dots of a dot corresponding to the ejection malfunction nozzle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a control unit, an ejection malfunction detecting unit, and an ejection malfunction nozzle determining unit. The recording head ejects ink corresponding to an image to be printed, using arranged nozzles. The control unit determines nozzles corresponding to the image and causes the recording head to eject ink from the nozzles. The ejection malfunction detecting unit (a) prints a first test pattern on a print sheet using the recording head, and (b) detects a density defect due to ejection malfunction in a scanned image of the first test pattern. The ejection malfunction nozzle determining unit (a) prints a second test pattern using the recording head if the density defect is detected by the ejection malfunction detecting unit, and (b) does not perform printing of the second test pattern if no density defects are detected by the ejection malfunction detecting unit.

Abstract: A control unit causes a recording head to eject ink from nozzles corresponding to an image to be printed. An ejection malfunction nozzle detecting unit prints a test pattern using the recording head, and detects an ejection malfunction nozzle on the basis of a scanned image of the test pattern. The test pattern includes plural test pattern images such that in each of the plural test pattern images a dot is not formed at a dot position of a target nozzle set as a non ejection nozzle, and the target nozzles of the plural test pattern images are sequentially shifted by one nozzle in a primary scanning direction. Further, the ejection malfunction nozzle detecting unit determines an ejection malfunction nozzle on which ejection deviation occurs, on the basis of density decreasing amounts of respective density decrease parts in the plural test pattern images in the scanned image.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to reduce the rise in inspection cost in a case of inspecting the droplet landing accuracy of each individual element substrate and also the droplet landing accuracy at a joint portion between the adjacent substrates. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for inspecting a liquid ejection head in which element substrates are arrayed, each element substrate having an ejection port array including ejection ports for ejecting a liquid, the method including: printing an inspection pattern on a print medium; and reading the pattern printed on the print medium. The pattern includes a first pattern printed using ejection ports covering a joint portion between adjacent element substrates, and a second pattern printed using ejection ports not used in the printing of the first pattern and at least one of the ejection ports used in the printing of the first pattern.

Abstract: Improved manufacturing using a printer that deposits a liquid to fabricate a layer having specified thickness includes automated adjustment or print parameters based on ink or substrate characteristics which have been specifically measured or estimated. In one embodiment, ink spreading characteristics are used to select droplet size used to produce a particular layer, and/or to select a specific baseline volume/area or droplet density that is then scaled and/or adjusted to provide for layer homogeneity. In a second embodiment, expected per-droplet particulars are used to interleave droplets in order to carefully control melding of deposited droplets, and so assist with layer homogeneity. The liquid layer is then cured or baked to provide for a permanent structure.

Abstract: An identification printing system for a wrapped agricultural bale includes a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to control a bale rotation system to drive the wrapped agricultural bale to rotate within a bale carrier of a baler, control a print head to print identification information onto an outer circumferential surface of a bale wrap of the wrapped agricultural bale in multiple locations as the wrapped agricultural bale is rotating, control the bale rotation system to terminate rotation of the wrapped agricultural bale, and control an ejection system to eject the wrapped agricultural bale from the baler a target duration after terminating rotation of the wrapped agricultural bale.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink image formation unit to form an ink image on a recording medium, and a drying module having a conveyance unit to convey the recording medium, an air blowing unit to blow air, a duct, and first and second heating units to dry the recording medium on which the ink image is formed. The duct is arranged above the conveyance unit in a vertical direction and guides air blown by the air blowing unit to the conveyed recording medium. The first and second heating units heats air in the duct. The second heating unit is arranged downstream of the first heating unit in a direction of a current of air generated by the air blowing unit. When being viewed along the direction of the air current, the second heating unit includes a part not overlapping the first heating unit.

Abstract: A cartridge to be installed in a tape printing device includes: a cartridge case having a cartridge-side tape ejection port; a tape path that feeds a printing tape toward the cartridge-side tape ejection port; a platen roller that applies a feeding force to the printing tape; and an electrode part. When seen from a front side in an installation direction of the cartridge, a feeding angle that is an angle formed by a feeding direction of the printing tape at a portion at which the feeding force is applied to the printing tape by the platen roller when the printing tape is fed with respect to a direction in which the electrode part receives a force from a contact terminal part is less than 45°.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a printer includes a damper that moves towards a continuous sheet by a predetermined distance and applies a tensile force to the continuous sheet on a conveying path on which the continuous sheet is conveyed by the feed roller. The printer further includes a limiter that switches a state of the damper between an unlimited state in which a movement distance for the damper is not limited and a limited state in which the movement distance for the damper is limited so that no tensile force is applied to the continuous sheet.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a printer includes a damper that applies tension to continuous paper by moving a predetermined distance toward the continuous paper in a conveying path of the continuous paper to be conveyed. The printer further includes a limiter that switches a state of the damper between a non-limited state in which a moving distance of the damper is not limited and a limited state in which the moving distance of the damper is limited to reduce tension to be applied to the continuous paper.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a supply unit for supplying a sheet; a first switching unit disposed on a conveyance path of the sheet and configured to switch between a state of nipping the sheet supplied by the supply unit and a state of releasing the nipping of the sheet; a first tension applying unit disposed on one side of the first switching unit in a conveyance direction of the conveyance path and configured to apply tension to the sheet; and a detection unit disposed on the other side of the first switching unit in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path and configured to detect the tension of the sheet, wherein, in a state where the nipping of the sheet is released by the first switching unit, the first tension applying unit adjusts the tension of the sheet while the detection unit detects the tension of the sheet.

Abstract: Provided are a head module support mechanism, a liquid jet head, and a liquid jet system which can ensure a defined position accuracy in movement of a head module. Provided is a head module support mechanism (36) that supports a head module of a liquid jet head including one or more head modules, the head module support mechanism including: a fixing portion (42) that is joined to a frame of the liquid jet head; a movement portion (40) that supports the head module and is supported to be movable in a first direction with respect to the fixing portion; a first direction movement portion that moves the movement portion that supports the head module in the first direction with respect to the fixing portion; and a guide portion that guides the movement portion with respect to the fixing portion and to which a rolling guide (200) extending in the first direction is applied.

Abstract: A media processing device includes: a body defining a media supply chamber and carrying a print head; a cover carrying a platen roller, the cover having an open position enabling access to the chamber, and a closed position enclosing the chamber, and cooperating with the body to define a media path extending from the chamber, between the print head and the platen roller, to a media outlet; a target conductor affixed to one of the body and the cover; and an inductive proximity sensor affixed to the other of the body and the cover, disposed to detect the target conductor when the cover is closed.

Abstract: After printing based on each job is ended, a printing control unit controls an operation of a printing unit so that an inspection pattern is printed on a print sheet in a period during which a conveyance control unit is keeping a conveyance speed of a print sheet at a constant speed. A maintenance content determination unit determines a maintenance content for the printing unit on the basis of an inspection result obtained by inspecting a print image for the inspection pattern. The printing control unit controls operations of the printing unit and a cleaning mechanism depending on the maintenance content determined by the maintenance content determination unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming portion which discharges ink onto a recording medium to form an image; a heat source portion which heats the ink on the recording medium; an exhaust air duct from which gas heated by the heat source portion is exhausted; and a detection portion which detects smoke or gas generated at a time of fire. The exhaust air duct is arranged such that an inlet from which gas is sucked in opposes the heat source portion. The detection portion is arranged inside the exhaust air duct.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant and a process for pre-coating and subsequent digital sol-gel inkjet printing on metallic strips, wherein on the dried ink a protective clear coat will then be applied. The core of the invention lies in the fact that printing is of the sol-gel ink type and pre-coating is no longer carried out by the separate application of two coats, a primer and a base coat, with relative drying and cooling phases of the coats, but by the application of a single coat that combines the functions of primer and base coat. In addition, printing with a special sol-gel type ink that does not require UV treatment, but only a simple drying of the ink after application, simplifies the process even further.

Abstract: A system for performing substrateless and/or local donor Laser Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT), comprising a reservoir comprising at least one opening and an energy source configured to deliver energy to a donor material within said reservoir, characterized by at least one of: said reservoir is embedded into a medical device; said reservoir is in fluid connection with a medical device; said reservoir is incorporated into a medical device; said reservoir contains at least one biologically active substance; and, said reservoir is in fluid connection with at least one source of at least one biologically active substance. This system enables deposition of material by LIFT without any need for a donor substrate. Methods of substrateless and local donor LIFT, in particular for medical and biological applications, are also disclosed.