Abstract: A recording apparatus using full-line type ink jet recording heads needs a large amount of electrical power for ink ejection due to a large number of nozzles of the recording heads. Therefore, a power supply capacity of the recording apparatus needs to be increased, resulting in increase in an overall apparatus cost. When simultaneously recording on plural recording media using a recording apparatus having recording heads with different electrical power consumptions arranged in a transfer direction of the recording media, recording is performed so that the recording heads to be simultaneously driven are combined so as to be a combination of the recording heads with different electrical power consumptions.

Abstract: A printhead assembly for an A4 pagewidth drop on demand printer includes a number of printhead modules situated along a metal channel. The metal channel is typically of a special alloy called “Invar 36”. Preferably the channel is nickel plated to help match it to the coefficient of thermal expansion of silicon, being the major component of each individual printhead module. The channel captures the printhead modules in a precise alignment relative to each other and the similar coefficient of thermal expansion of the “Invar” channel to the silicon chips allows similar relative movement during temperature changes.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a hollow elongate member defining ink supply channels. The ink supply channels are in fluid communication with an elongate slot in and extending at least partly along the elongate member. A plurality of printhead segment carriers is received and secured in neighboring arrangement within the slot, and at least one printhead segment is mounted to each printhead segment carrier.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has an array of individual inkjet printheads to allow high-speed printing in standard process colors while also having additional nozzles that can be used to print spot colors. There are fewer inkjet nozzles allocated to each spot color than each of the process colors so that the printing speed for printed sheets containing spot colors may be less than for printed sheets only containing the process colors.

Abstract: An arrangement for printing a raster image organized into a plurality of scan lines on a recording medium, the arrangement including a memory and a printbar. The memory contains scan line data representative of said scan lines. The printbar includes a plurality of nozzles and a printbar circuit. The printbar circuit includes an output buffer and a serial data buffer. The serial data buffer is operably connected to receive serially the scan line data such that the serial data buffer includes scan line data corresponding to a first scan line. The output buffer is operably connected to receive the scan line data from the serial data buffer. The printbar circuit is further operable to cause the plurality of nozzles to print on the recording medium in accordance with the scan line data stored in the output buffer.

Abstract: Drying equipment for a printer for aiding drying of a printed image on a web of print media includes a feed path through which the print media containing the printed image is fed after printing of the image on the print media. A drive arrangement drives the web through the feed path at a predetermined rate. A fluid supply duct is in communication with the feed path for supplying drying fluid over at least one surface of the web.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes at least one printhead module including a printhead chip. A carrier supports the, or each, printhead module in an operative position for printing on print media. Mating formations are carried by the, or each, printhead module and the carrier such that, when the, or each, printhead module is mounted on the carrier, electrical contact is made between electrical contacts of the, or each, printhead module and electrical contacts of the carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink-jet printer having high resolution and image quality, low power consumption, low cost and containing line heads.

Abstract: This invention pertains to ink jet printing and more particularly to ink jet printing of wide format substrates such as textiles, and to inks and inks sets suitable for use in such printing.

Abstract: A wide-array inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and N printheads and a module manager disposed on the carrier. The module manager receives a serial input data stream and corresponding input clock signal from a printer controller located external from the inkjet printhead assembly. The module manager demultiplexes the serial data stream into N serial output data streams. The module manager provides the N serial output data streams and N corresponding output clock signals based on the input clock signal to the N printheads.

Abstract: A correction value, which is used to correct misalignment of recording positions in a main scanning direction, is determined using a representative nozzle sub-array as a reference. The representative nozzle sub-array is within a predetermined range around the center of a nozzle array provided on a print head. The correction value is set, based on a positional misalignment test pattern printed with the representative nozzle sub-array. The misalignment of recording positions in the main scanning direction in the course of bidirectional printing is corrected with the correction value.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer includes pagewidth printheads mounted in a frame, wherein the printheads are coupled to mechanical devices for aligning the printheads with respect to each other, with respect to an edge of the image receiving substrate, or with respect to both. The printer may include devices for sensing the possible misalignment, coupled to a computer for automatically aligning the printheads.

Abstract: A method of forming an inkjet printhead assembly includes providing a substrate, disposing a planarization layer on a face of the substrate such that a first surface of the planarization layer contacts the face of the substrate, mechanically planarizing a second surface of the planarization layer opposite the first surface, including reducing a thickness of at least a portion of the first planarization layer, and mounting a plurality of printhead dies on the second surface of the planarization layer.

Abstract: In the present invention, a single recording head is constituted by a set of plural head units each having a substrate and plural recording elements arranged on the substrate, whereby a line type recording head which is long in a main scanning direction can be manufactured easily and in high yield. In the present invention, moreover, the head units are arranged to be inclined so that the rows of recording elements are inclined in the main scanning direction, whereby the arrangement pitch of recording elements in a sub scanning direction is narrowed to permit a high definition recording. Further, in the present invention, the inclined arrangement of head units is made so that the recording elements located at the same position on the substrates of separate head units lie on the same main scanning line, whereby an increase of size in the sub scanning direction is prevented and the reduction of the entire size is attained.

Abstract: A color ink-jet head is provided which includes: a plurality of head units each having 1/n of a total number of nozzles predetermined as a maximum number to jet ink of one color in one scanning, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and wherein the nozzles of each of the head units are arranged at a same pitch; and a plurality of head blocks each having at least as many head units as a number of different ink colors to be used for the ink-jet head. The head units are provided for holding respective inks of the different ink colors and are arranged in a direction perpendicular to a printing direction of the ink-jet head. A predetermined number of head blocks are arranged in the printing direction in such a manner that no head units of a same color are aligned in the printing direction, and the head blocks execute printing for the predetermined number of head blocks multiplied by 1/n of a printing width in one scanning.

Abstract: A fluid ejection assembly includes a substrate including a plurality of layers and having a plurality of fluid passages extending through the plurality of layers, with each of the fluid passages having a support extending between opposite sides thereof, and a plurality of fluid ejection devices each mounted on the substrate and communicating with a respective one of the fluid passages.

Abstract: In an ink jet head manufacturing method wherein a plurality of substrates provided with ejection energy generating elements for generating energy for ejecting ink, are arranged on a supporting member, and a top plate is mounted on the substrate to cover all of the substrates to form ink flow paths, the improvement residing in that the supporting member is provided with recesses at a supporting portion for supporting the substrates, and an adhesive material is supplied into the recesses, and thereafter, the substrate is placed on the supporting member.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes at least one printhead having a group of nozzles, a group of firing resisters corresponding to the group of nozzles, a programmable nozzle firing order controller configured to provide address generator control signals, and a nozzle address generator configured to respond to the address generator control signals to provide a nozzle address. The nozzle address controls a sequence of which firing resister has electrical current pass through it at a given time to thereby control a firing order of the nozzles.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for a printer includes a print engine controller that is configured to receive image data in an image storage format. The print engine controller includes data processing circuitry that is configured to process the image data at a rate of at least one billion pixels per second to transform the data into print data. The print engine controller includes data communication circuitry that is operatively connected to the data processing circuitry and is configured to communicate the print data to a printhead.

Abstract: A method is presented for aligning the nozzles of a number of individual inkjet cartridges that are combined to create a multiple inkjet head array for an inkjet printer. The method includes fabricating spatially referenced inkjet cartridge sub-assemblies by permanently attaching an intermediate fixture member to pre-made inkjet cartridges whilst referencing the intermediate fixture members to the inkjet nozzle arrays of the inkjet cartridges. The method further includes removably combining a number of such spatially referenced inkjet cartridge sub-assemblies in mutual spatial registration on a common fixture such that the inkjet nozzles of the different inkjet cartridges are all in spatial registration with one another. By this method an array of inkjet heads, of which all the nozzles are in the desired relative positions with respect to one another, is created.

Abstract: A print assembly for pagewidth inkjet printing that includes an elongate carrier that is mountable on a support structure of a printer in an operative position with respect to a platen of the printer. A number of printhead chips are positioned on the carrier. The printhead chips together define a printhead that is configured to eject at least one billion drops per second into a printing zone defined between the printhead and the platen of the printer. Control circuitry is also positioned on the carrier and is configured to control operation of the printhead chips.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of printhead dies. The carrier includes a substrate and an electrical circuit. The substrate has a first side and a second side such that the electrical circuit is disposed on the second side of the substrate. The printhead dies are each mounted on the first side of the substrate and electrically coupled to the electrical circuit Thus, the substrate provides support for the printhead dies while the substrate and the electrical circuit together accommodate fluidic and electrical routing to the printhead dies.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier. Each of the printhead dies has a nozzle region including a nominal nozzle region and an alignment nozzle region disposed laterally of the nominal nozzle region such that the nozzle region and, more specifically, the nominal and alignment nozzle regions facilitate alignment between the printhead dies.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printer including: a printhead assembly having an elongate pagewidth array of inkjet nozzles, chambers and thermal bend actuators formed using MEMS techniques; wherein the array extends at least 36 inches (914 mm) in length; and, the printhead assembly being constructed and arranged such that adequate heat dissipation occurs at equilibrium operating conditions without a forced heat exchange system.

Abstract: A multi-pass printbar for providing full width printing on a recording medium is provided. The full width printing may be achieved by stepping the printbar in increments corresponding to the combination of the array width of a printhead die and the gap spacing between the printhead dies until full width print coverage on the recording medium occurs. Ink is ejected from an array of orifices on the printbar as the recording medium passes under the printbar. Alternatively, the full width printing may be achieved by fixing the printbar, and its array of orifices, but stepping the document handler, for example a recirculating drum document handler, the recording medium is mounted upon as it passes under the fixed printbar.

Abstract: A wide-array inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of printhead dies mounted on the carrier. The carrier includes a plurality of conductive layers, a plurality of conductive vias, and a plurality of insulative layers. The conductive layers include a first interface layer disposed on a first face of the carrier, a second interface layer disposed on a second face of the carrier, and at least one power layer, data layer, and ground layer each interposed between the first and second interface layers. Each conductive via provides a conductive path through at least one of the insulative layers to provide electrical coupling between selected ones of the conductive layers, and each of the printhead dies are electrically coupled to the first interface layer.

Abstract: A carrier adapted to support at least one printhead die includes a substrate having at least one surface and at least one datum attached to the at least one surface of the substrate. The substrate includes a first material and the at least one datum is formed from a blank including a second material. As such, the at least one datum is adapted to position the carrier in at least one dimension.

Abstract: A printhead system includes a plurality of printhead assemblies aligned in end-to-end relationship. Each printhead assembly includes a plurality of printhead modules, the printhead modules being arranged in end-to-end relationship and being angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the assembly such that printhead chips of adjacent modules overlap in a direction transversely to a direction of movement of print media past the assemblies.

Abstract: A recording apparatus using full-line type ink jet recording heads needs a large amount of electrical power for ink ejection due to a large number of nozzles of the recording heads. Therefore, a power supply capacity of the recording apparatus needs to be increased, resulting in increase in an overall apparatus cost. When simultaneously recording on plural recording media using a recording apparatus having recording heads with different electrical power consumptions arranged in a transfer direction of the recording media, recording is performed so that the recording heads to be simultaneously driven are combined so as to be a combination of the recording heads with different electrical power consumptions.

Abstract: A compact thermal ink jet printhead including a printhead substrate, a plurality of side by side columnar arrays of drop generators formed in the printhead substrate, and drive circuits formed in the printhead substrate for energizing each ink drop generator. The printhead substrate has an ink drop generator packing density of at least 10.43 ink drop generators per square millimeter.

Abstract: A method of correcting a print error caused due to a misalignment between chips mounted on an array head of an inkjet printer.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a substrate having a non-planar surface and a plurality of adhesive quantities each disposed on the non-planar surface of the substrate. As such, a plurality of printhead dies are each adhered to the non-planar surface of the substrate by one of the adhesive quantities. A thickness of at least one of the adhesive quantities varies from the thickness of another of the adhesive quantities such that the thickness of the adhesive quantities compensates for the non-planar surface of the substrate. Thus, the adhesive quantities support the printhead dies and establish a substantially coplanar relationship among the printhead dies.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus having two head units, each having a large number of ink nozzles arranged in a line, assembled so that they overlap with each other, an 8-shade image signal is entered into a correction circuit and a line direction position signal is input into a position signal decision circuit. When the position signal decision circuit decides that the position signal represents the overlapping zone of the head units, the shade level of the image signal is divided between the head units. For example, when the shade level of the image signal is 7, one of the head units is allotted the shade level and the other is allotted the shade level. The overlapping nozzles in a pair eject droplets of ink to form one dot.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, comprising a plurality of full-line-type printheads having an array of printing elements corresponding to a width of a print medium, calculates the number of pixels to be printed in a predetermined region, obtains a value related to power to be supplied to the printheads based on the number of pixels, determines whether or not the value related to power is larger than a predetermined value, and if the value related to power is larger than the predetermined value, performs thinning on pixels to be printed in a predetermined region so as to keep the value related to power under the predetermined value, thereby reducing power consumption without decreasing printing speed.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system for printing on a print medium having a top-of-form (TOF) indicator includes a printhead assembly, a top-of-form (TOF) detector adapted to detect the TOF indicator, a positional sensor adapted to sense a relative position of the print medium to the printhead assembly, and a controller associated with the printhead assembly, the TOF detector, and the positional sensor. The printhead assembly includes a first printhead subarray and a second printhead subarray offset from the first printhead subarray such that the controller is configured to initiate operation of the first printhead subarray after the TOF detector detects the TOF indicator and initiate operation of the second printhead subarray at a predetermined interval after the TOF detector detects the TOF indicator. As such, the predetermined interval is related to the relative position of the print medium.

Abstract: A print engine for a printer includes a first printhead and a second printhead. Both printheads include a plurality of inkjet nozzles. The printheads are matched so that defective nozzles in one printhead are substituted by corresponding, non-defective nozzles in the other printhead. The print engine includes a transfer roller displaceable into and out of abutment with the printheads for inhibiting evaporation of ink from the printheads when no printing is occurring.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, in which thermal energy is applied to ink in accordance with a driving signal applied to a heater to produce a bubble, by which ink is ejected onto a recording material, includes a driver for applying a plurality of driving signals to the heater for one ejection of one ink droplet. The driving signals comprise a first driving signal not ejecting the ink and a second driving signal for ejecting the ink, the second driving signal being applied after a rest period after the first driving signal. The apparatus further includes a controller for changing an amount of ink ejected by changing a length of the rest period and changing the first driving signal. The controller effects its changing operation in a first changing region in which the rest period is changed without changing the first driving signal and in a second changing region in which a length of the first drive signal is changed.

Abstract: Provided are an image printing method and apparatus in which printing is made possible in a multiscanning mode for printing the same line using a plurality of printing elements of a printing head in order that uneven density caused by a variance in the printing elements may be rendered inconspicuous. When the multiscanning mode is designated, a plurality of nozzles of the printing head are divided into a plurality of blocks, the nozzle blocks used are changed over every scan of the printing head, and the image of the printing width (band) printed using all of the nozzles is printed by causing the printing head to perform scanning a plurality of times.

Abstract: A line ink jet head having a plurality of ink jet head units in a staggered pattern enables the staggered ink jet head units to be easily precisely positioned to each other. The line ink jet head has ink jet head units that are staggered to each other in line with the ink nozzles disposed to the first and second head mounting surfaces on both sides of a head unit mounting layer. If the head unit mounting surface is precisely formed, the ink jet heads can be precisely positioned in staggered rows by simply bonding the ink jet head units to respective mounting surfaces.

Abstract: A binary pagewidth printhead without substantial grayscale capability includes an array of adjacent printhead segments that are distributed across the pagewidth printhead so that adjacent segments overlap at their ends by a predetermined distance. A plurality of printing pixels extending along each segment have physical differences that effect substantially non-uniform transfer functions that decrease toward the ends of segments over the overlap distance. The physical characteristics of the printing pixels are such the their transfer functions vary linearly over the overlap distance. The physical characteristics of the printing pixels may be such the their transfer functions increase monotonically from a small value at the ends of the printhead segments to a larger value away from the ends of the printhead segments. The physical characteristics of the printing pixels in a central portion of each segment are preferably uniform such the their transfer functions are constant over the central portions.

Abstract: A substrate having plural recording elements and electrical leads for supplying electric signals to the recording elements includes electrical contacts for external electrical connection for reception of image signals used for driving the recording elements; and a processing circuit for converting signals which are serially supplied to the connecting contact to parallel signals to be applied to the recording elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink-jet printer having high resolution and image quality, low power consumption, low cost and containing line heads.

Abstract: A liquid droplet forming method is used with an apparatus that includes a liquid jet recording head having a plurality of blocks of thermal elements, each of which blocks includes a plurality of the thermal elements arranged on a substrate at a pitch of at least ten thermal elements per millimeter, with each thermal element ejecting a liquid droplet from the head upon application thereto of a drive signal pulse. Each drive signal pulse comprises a multi-part signal that includes a first part that pre-heats the liquid to an extent that a droplet is not ejected followed by a second part which heats the pre-heated liquid to an extent that a bubble is formed and a liquid droplet is ejected from the head. The plural blocks of thermal elements are driven in accordance with the generated drive signal pulses in a time-division manner such that no two blocks are driven simultaneously.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a scalable printhead with an ink manifold. The scalable printhead is formed by mounting an ink manifold and multiple thermal inkjet printhead dies to a carrier substrate. The carrier substrate is machined to include through-slots. There is a through-slot for each refill slot among the multiple printhead dies. A first end of a given through-slot connects to a refill slot of a corresponding printhead die. An opposite, second end of the through-slot connects to the ink manifold. The ink manifold includes an inlet for coupling to an ink supply reservoir. The ink manifold also includes one or more channels and a plurality of feed openings. Each feed opening connects to a printhead die refill slot by way of a substrate through-slot.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to resolve the noise problem with the ink in an ink jet head without changing the substrate manufacturing process for the ink jet head, that is, increasing the cost on the manufacture, and without needs of disposing a noise countermeasure component on the side of the printer main device, or making the design change for the countermeasure. The present invention is characterized in that to prevent malfunction from arising by the noise, a hysteresis circuit to provide different input data threshold values upon rising and falling is provided on an input portion of the signal for a drive control logic system such as a drive input signal for a shift register and a latch circuit on the same substrate as that of the heating elements, the driver and the drive control logic circuit, utilizing a diffusion layer constituting a driver.

Abstract: For an inkjet printing apparatus having a large number of ink ejectors, it is desirable to have as few as possible interconnections to the ink ejectors. Sharing electrical ground returns between related ink ejector primitive groups with spaced apart terminals provides a reduction in interconnections while offering redundancy in the interconnection.

Abstract: A liquid ink printer, depositing ink drops to form an image, in multiple printing resolutions, on a recording medium moving along a recording medium path. The liquid ink printer includes a pagewidth printbar, including an array of ink ejecting nozzles spaced at a predetermined resolution, aligned substantially perpendicular to the recording medium path, to eject the ink drops on the recording medium during movement of the recording medium along the recording medium path, a positioning device, coupled to the pagewidth printbar, to position the printbar at a plurality of discrete locations, and a controller, coupled to the printbar and to the positioning device, to cause the positioning device to position the printbar at the plurality of discrete locations as a function of the predetermined resolution.

Abstract: Ink jet printing apparatus for forming an ink image on a receiver in response to a digital image includes at least one moveable ink jet print bar which is adapted to deliver ink to the receiver at an image transfer position to print at least a portion of a line at a time across the width of the receiver. The receiver is moved along a path past the ink jet print bar at the image transfer position. A detector unit disposed adjacent to the path detects receiver skew relative to the ink jet print bar and producing a signal representative of the receiver skew. Alignment structure coupled to the print bar is responsive to the signal for adjusting the position of the print bar to compensate for receiver skew, and a control unit is responsive to the digital image after the ink jet print bar has been positioned for actuating the ink jet print bar to form an ink image on the receiver. The alignment structure may also position the print bar to change the image resolution.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a recording head having ink ejection orifices, and a common ink chamber communicating with the ink ejection orifices to supply the ink to the ink ejection orifices, a driver for non-simultaneously causing at least one of adjacent ones of the ejection orifices of the recording head to eject the ink, and a driving controller for changing an order of ejection performed by the driver.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having an ink jet head is disclosed. The ink jet head includes a plurality of electrothermal transducers for producing thermal energy used to eject ink from the ink jet head. The ink jet printer has a storing device which stores image data used to drive the electrothermal transducers and a switching device which switches energization periods for the electrothermal transducers in accordance with the image data stored in the storing device. The printer operates so that during a recording operation, when an image datum stored in the storing device instructs recording, the switching device supplies a first drive signal for preliminary ink heating and a second drive signal for ejecting the ink. When the image datum stored in the storing device is datum not instructing recording, the switching device supplies the first drive signal and does not supply the second drive signal.