Abstract: A print media feed system in a inkjet printer, the system has a media feed roll, a star wheel mounted opposing the roll, an adjustable biaser coupled to the star wheel, and a controller coupled to the biaser. The controller varies a magnitude, a direction or a magnitude and direction of a biasing force applied to the star wheel by the biaser. In one form, the biaser comprises a motor driven cam that varies the angular position of a pivotable lever having a star wheel rotatably attached on one end. In another form, a rack and pinion gear assembly is used to vary the biasing force with a star wheel rotatably attached to the rack. In a further form, a solenoid is used to vary the basing force applied to the lever or applied to a star wheel rotatably attached to the end of the shaft of a solenoid.

Abstract: A method for controlling tension in a print media in a tension zone of a printing system comprises enabling an active tension control mode until the tension in the print media is in a stable state for a given period of time, and then switching to a synchronized control mode. The tension is monitored to determine if it exceeds a tension inner band but does not exceed a tension outer band while in the synchronized control mode. The speed of drive rollers is adjusted in response to this determination. The tension is also monitored to determine if it exceeds the tension outer band while in the synchronized control mode. The synchronized control mode is disabled in response to this determination and the active tension control mode is enabled. The frequency of speed adjustments is lesser in the synchronized control mode than in the active tension control mode.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, the generating unit generates print data indicating whether a dot having one of a plurality of sizes is formed or not, by performing a halftone process on original image data. The correcting unit generates corrected print data by correcting the print data. The dividing unit divides the edge part data of the print data into a plurality of block data. The index value determining unit determines, for each block data, an index value relating to an amount of ink to be used based on the plurality of dot data included in the each block data. The changing unit changes, for each block data, the size information of at least one dot data among the plurality of dot data included in the each block data based on the index value such that the amount of ink to be used becomes reduced.

Abstract: A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes a print engine including two or more print heads to generate an alignment chart and an alignment system. The alignment system receives the alignment chart and computes a magnitude of misalignment between the print heads.

Abstract: A plurality of images is sequentially printed on a sheet, and the sheet is cut at a cut position that is behind the finally-printed image. At that time, if an inappropriate region of the fed sheet that is not suited to printing is detected, and the detected inappropriate region is behind the finally-printed image, the cut position is changed to be behind the detected inappropriate region.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an apparatus-side transport destination switching unit that may switch selectively the transport destination of paper on which an image has been recorded between an apparatus-side output tray and an additional output stacker. The additional output stacker includes an additional output tray that may be configured to receive paper; a stacker-side transport unit that is configured to transport paper, which has been transported from the image recording apparatus, to the additional output tray; and a stacker-side controller that controls the transport destination switching unit of the image recording apparatus. When a paper jam is detected on the stacker-side transport unit, the additional unit controller controls the apparatus-side transport destination switching unit, so that the transport destination of the paper may be switched from the additional output tray to the apparatus-side output tray.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device has: an image drawing drum that holds and conveys plural sheets at plural different holding surfaces respectively; and inkjet heads that are provided so as to face the image drawing drum and form an image on a surface of a sheet that is held on the image drawing drum. A control device has plural conveying modes that are set such that sheets are thinned-conveyed to a predetermined holding surface, without using all of the plural holding surfaces of the image drawing drum. The control device selects any one of the plural conveying modes on the basis of a number of sheets processed per unit time.

Abstract: An image recording device includes: a conveyor unit for conveying a recording medium along a conveyance pathway of the recording medium by rotating a first drive roller and a second drive roller provided to the conveyance pathway; a recording unit for recording an image onto the recording medium in a first region between the first drive roller and the second drive roller on the conveyance pathway; and a control unit for applying a first tension to the recording medium in the first region by controlling the torque of the second drive roller, while also adjusting the rotational speed of the first drive roller; wherein the control unit controls the conveyor unit to thereby apply a second tension that is lower than the first tension to the recording medium in a second region on the opposite side of the first region from the second drive roller in the conveyance pathway.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for inserting low temperature gas into dryers of printing systems. The system comprises a dryer, which includes a heating element and a flow generator. The heating element is within an interior of the dryer and is able to heat a web of printed media as the web travels through the interior. The flow generator is within the interior and is operable to directly project an impinging jet of gas along a width of the web that deflects heated air proximate to the web. The gas is cooler than the heated air.

Abstract: In an apparatus including an irradiation unit capable of irradiating a sheet with at least either visible light or ultraviolet light, and an acquisition unit which acquires a spectral reflectance for each of a plurality of wavelength regions based on light reflected by the sheet, a spectral reflectance acquired by the acquisition unit when the sheet is irradiated with the visible light is stored in a memory unit. A storing unit stores, in the memory unit, a spectral reflectance in a wavelength region shorter than a predetermined wavelength among spectral reflectances acquired by the acquisition unit when the sheet is irradiated with both the visible light and the ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A method and dot printer for dot printing on a card. A method includes receiving a card on a plate-like element of a carriage in a manner that a lateral movement of the card one of on or above the plate-like element is stopped by an abutment element, moving the plate-like element and card in a direction crosswise to the lateral movement until a main side of the card abuts a first abutment surface of an abutment structure and a main edge of the plate-like carrier abuts a second abutment surface of the abutment structure. The first abutment surface and the second abutment surface are not coplanar. The method also includes transporting the plate-like element and the card in a direction away from the abutment structure to a printing station and activating the printing station for dot printing on the card.

Abstract: An aqueous inkjet printer is provided with a surface energy applicator that is positioned to treat the surface of a blanket immediately prior to a printhead ejecting ink onto the blanket. Modifying the surface energy of blanket with the electric field and charged particles produced by the applicator affects the adhesion of the ink to blanket. This adhesion changes from the impact of the ink on the blanket until the ink image is transferred to media. The surface energy applicator is operated during each print cycle to alter the surface energy of the blanket for each ink image formed on the blanket.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a first driving unit that rotates a roll member; a second driving unit that drives a transport unit that transports a medium of the roll member; and a control unit that executes a first process for measuring a load occurring when transporting the medium while rotating the roll member 1/N rotations in a transport direction of the medium by driving the first driving unit while the second driving unit is stopped, and after executing the first process, executes a second process for rotating the roll member 1/N rotations in a opposite direction as the transport direction by driving the first driving unit while the second driving unit is stopped and then rotating the roll member 1/N rotations in the transport direction by driving the first driving unit and the second driving unit.

Abstract: A printing device includes a discharge head, an irradiation unit and a controller. The discharge head is configured and arranged to discharge droplets of a liquid curable by active rays onto a substrate while the discharge head and the substrate move relative to each other. The irradiation unit is configured and arranged to radiate the active rays to the droplets on the substrate. The irradiation unit is provided behind the discharge head with respect to a direction of a relative movement. The controller is configured to turn off the irradiation unit when a predetermined time has elapsed since start of lighting of the irradiation unit.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus configured to execute printing using continuous sheets stored in a plurality of storage portions includes a determination unit configured to determine a continuous sheet usable by each print job in a print queue, and a decision unit configured to decide a use order of the continuous sheets stored in the plurality of storage portions based on a result of determination by the determination unit, wherein the decision unit decides the use order so that a continuous sheet with a smaller remaining amount is used preferentially.

Abstract: Systems and methods control the rate of cooling of a print media downstream of a drying process. One embodiment comprises a printing system. The printing system includes a print engine that applies colorant onto a continuous-form media. The printing system further includes a radiant dryer downstream of the print engine along a media path, and includes a drum downstream of the radiant dryer along the media path. The drum includes a heat source. The printing system estimates a temperature of the media, estimates a temperature of the drum, and adjusts heat applied to the drum utilizing the heat source to maintain the temperature of the drum below the temperature of the media within a threshold amount.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: (a) first and second recording heads; (b) a first conveyance path transiting first and second positions that are opposed to the first and second recording heads; (c) a second conveyance path transiting the first position and a third potion that is other than the second position. The first conveyance path includes a first/second-positions communicating path section communicating the first and second positions while the second conveyance path includes a first/third-positions communicating path section communication the first and third positions. One of the first/second-positions communicating path section and the first/third-positions communicating path section is bent larger than the other.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an enclosure supply device including an enclosure container, a first image forming unit to form an image on the sheet, an envelope supply device including an envelope container, an input device to input an insertion job, an insertion device to insert into the envelope at least one sheet on which the first image forming unit has formed the image and including a temporary storage tray to temporarily store the sheets inserted into the envelope as well as an envelope retainer to hold the envelope at an insertion position where the sheets are inserted into the envelope, and a controller to cause the second image forming unit to complete image formation on the envelope and conveyance of the envelope to the insertion position before a last sheet of the multiple sheets inserted into the single envelope reaches the temporary storage tray.

Abstract: Media that are processed to reliably prevent executing a recording operation when media is not set to the recording position can be segregated from other media, and a drop in media processing throughput can be suppressed. When the length in the conveyance direction of the image to be recorded on a check is greater than the length of the recording area determined from the length of the check 4 in the conveyance direction, the process control unit 70a of a multifunction device 1 changes the discharge unit to which the check is discharged and then conveys the next check stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a series of inkjet print heads spaced from one another in a transport direction. A continuous belt driven around a roller system is used to feed sheet media successively to the print heads so that a partial image printed by one print head is overprinted at a subsequent print head with registration of the partial images. A sheet medium is caused to become electrostatically tacked to the belt by passing the sheet past a charging device. Movement of the belt is tracked by a tracking sub-system and operation of the print heads is coordinated with the tracked belt movement to achieve precise registration of the partial images.

Abstract: A digital printing machine for printing onto a medium, the digital printing machine comprising a chassis, a digital print means, an advancing mechanism for advancing the medium; the machine further comprising a widthwise cutter coupled to the chassis, wherein the digital print means and the widthwise cutter are controlled by a common computer controller, thereby ensuring that the cutting of the cutter is in registration with printing by said digital print means.

Abstract: A printing system including a print mechanism to print on a print medium; and a control unit coupled to the print mechanism. The control unit is to determine a page speed for the print medium based on a power budget value of a power supply and to cause the print mechanism to move the print medium through the printing system at the determined page speed.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printhead to eject ink onto a print medium in a print zone. A first roller pair is adjacent to the print zone to advance a print medium into the print zone. A second roller pair upstream from the first roller pair, and driven by an independent motor, advances the print medium to the first roller pair in a position control mode. A controller causes the second roller pair to switch from the position control mode to a force control mode when a leading edge of the print medium reaches the first roller pair. The second roller pair applies a substantially constant force to the print medium in the force control mode to push the leading edge of the print medium against the first roller pair while the first roller pair is stationary.

Abstract: A system includes a controller to adjust the speed and feed direction in which media is guided through a printer. A park control module commands the controller to guide a leading edge of the media to engage a park zone in the printer. The park zone includes a surface of a platen in the printer that is spaced a predetermined distance from a roller pinch point in the printer where the leading edge of the media is to engage the platen to mitigate roll curl in the media.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a paper feed unit formed of plural paper feed trays wherein a different kind of print medium is contained in each paper feed tray, a communication unit that receives a print job using at least two different kinds of print media, a print job analysis unit, and a paper feed tray selection unit that, when a result of an analysis by the print job analysis unit is that the use of a specific paper feed tray is designated for one portion of data among the data in the print job, selects the designated paper feed tray from among the plural paper feed trays as the specific paper feed tray for the print job only, and automatically selects a paper feed tray to be used for other data from paper feed trays excluding the specific paper feed tray.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head configured to discharge ink onto a recording medium, a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which is configured to make a reciprocating movement, a cutter unit mounted on the carriage and configured to cut the recording medium, a detection unit mounted on the carriage and configured to detect a distance to the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control an operation of the recording apparatus. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a first process for detecting an amount of a change in the distance to the recording medium by the detection unit when the recording medium is cut by the cutter unit, and a second process for detecting the distance to the recording medium by the detection unit while the cutter unit is retracted if the change amount equal to or more than a predetermined value is detected in the first process.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a liquid droplet adhesion unit which makes a first and second type of liquid droplet adhere to a recording medium, an irradiator which irradiates electromagnetic waves individually onto the droplets, an irradiation controller which makes the irradiator irradiate the electromagnetic waves periodically, and a frequency setting unit which sets a frequency of an irradiation period to a first frequency such that surface glossiness of the first-type liquid droplet is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, and sets a frequency of the irradiation period to a second frequency which is different from the first frequency such that surface glossiness of the second-type liquid droplet is lower than the threshold value.

Abstract: There is provided a printing method that is performed by using a first nozzle ejecting color ink that is used for printing an image on a medium, a second nozzle ejecting a process solution that is used for processing the surface of the medium. The printing method includes printing an image constituted by color dots on the medium by ejecting the color ink from the first nozzle so as to form the color dots on the medium and forming process dots in areas other than the image on the medium by ejecting the process solution from the second nozzle, transporting the medium in a direction opposite to a transport direction after the color dots and the process dots are formed on the medium, and coating the color dots and the process dots with the process solution after the medium is transported in the direction opposite to the transport direction.

Abstract: One objective of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, whereby a difference of gloss at irregular, very small portions can be appropriately reproduced. The image processing apparatus determines, based on image data for an image to be printed on a print medium, amounts of a color printing material for printing the image on the print medium and an image quality control material for adjusting glossiness of the image, and obtains information on an unevenness level of a surface of the image based on the image data. In the above determining, the amount of the image quality control material to be applied to the print medium is determined based on the unevenness level indicated by the obtained information.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, in which a time required for printing is shortened. The printing apparatus includes a first printing unit that performs printing on a first surface of a sheet by an ink jet system; and a second printing unit that performs printing on a second surface of the sheet by the ink jet system, the second printing unit being disposed on a downstream side of the first printing unit. Moreover, the printing apparatus includes a sheet discharge sensor that detects the sheet to be discharged from the second printing unit. The sheet discharge sensor includes an arm having a rotating member supported thereon, the rotating member being brought into contact with the sheet being conveyed while being rotated.

Abstract: A printing method is provided that enables a high-quality transfer image to be obtained with simple steps. As a solution, a printing method according to the present invention includes an applying step of applying a latex ink onto a transfer medium 10 to form an ink applied surface, a heating step of heating the transfer medium 10 to increase the viscosity of the latex ink, a transfer step of contacting and transferring the latex ink on the transfer medium 10 to a printing target 15, and a drying step of drying the latex ink on the printing target 15.

Abstract: A printer includes a pair of registration rollers for feeding a print sheet to a print unit, a first sheet supply unit including a first feed roller that operates, by rotating in synchronization with the pair of registration rollers, an assistant operation to assist sheet-feeding by the pair of registration rollers, a second sheet supply unit including a second feed roller, a drive unit that selectively drives the first and second feed rollers, and a controller that controls the drive unit. When changing over a sheet supply source from the first sheet supply unit to the second sheet supply unit in the assistant operation, the controller finishes the assistant operation before a trailing edge of a print sheet currently fed has passed through the first feed roller by stopping the drive unit. According to the printer, reduction of print productivity can be restricted while reducing noises and feed failures.

Abstract: An image recording device includes a suction part that suctions a medium supported on a medium support part via suction holes, the medium being suctioned by at least two air-blowing parts, and a control part that stops one of the air-blowing parts during an action preceding the conveying action, whereby a first mode in which a first suction force is applied by the suction part on the medium is switched to a second mode in which a second suction force that is lower than the first suction force is applied by the suction part on the medium.

Abstract: A method for printing on a print medium, where the method comprises receiving, into a printing apparatus, a print medium containing preprinted information located on a first portion of the print medium. The method further comprises the printing apparatus printing information on a second portion of the print medium, wherein the second portion is different from the first portion. The method also comprises the printing apparatus marking an indication on the print medium at or near the first portion of the print medium, wherein the indication identifies the preprinted information located on the first portion of the print medium as being distinct from the information located on the second portion of the print medium.

Abstract: A recording device which carries out the recording process with respect to a recording medium using a recording unit mounted on a moving member that reciprocates along a scan direction intersecting a feeding direction of the recording medium, including a reception unit that receives a recording instruction; an end portion detection unit that detects a position of an end portion in the width direction of the recording medium, based on a detection signal that is output from a signal output portion provided in the moving member; a memory unit that stores end portion positional information; and a control unit that controls the movement of the moving member so that, when the end portion positional information is stored in the memory unit and an edge recording is instructed by the recording instruction, the position of the end portion in the width direction of the recording medium is not detected.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head having a nozzle to eject ink in a first direction for recording information. A platen that has an ink storage unit for storing the ink ejected from the nozzle. The platen is opposite the inkjet head and configured to guide paper formed with an open part. A paper feed unit is provided in the inkjet printer and is configured to convey the paper in a second direction cross to the first direction, and to move the paper over the platen. A print control unit is further provided in the inkjet printer and is configured to cause the nozzle to eject ink into the ink storage unit when the open part of the paper is conveyed to a position opposite the inkjet head.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing indicators is disclosed herein. An example of the apparatus includes a roller over which a media passes, the roller including a first end that is dark in color and a second end that is light in color. The example of the apparatus also includes a sensor that is moveable between a first position over the first end of the roller and a second position over the second end of the roller. The sensor detects a first indicator on the media in the first position and a second indicator on the media in the second position. An example of a printing device is also disclosed herein. Modifications to and other examples of the apparatus for sensing and printing device are further disclosed herein.

Abstract: An arrival of a joint member at a detection position provided at an upstream side of a recording unit on a transportation path is detected. A second distance, which is a distance from the detection position to the recording head along the transportation path, is longer than a first distance, which is a distance of a transportation of the continuous medium in the case where, because of an existence of a liquid already landed on an area of the continuous medium at the detection time, the area being located at a position being on the transportation path and facing the recording unit, the continuous medium is transported during a period until at least hardening of the liquid is completed by a light radiation portion.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a head that discharges a liquid onto a medium, a medium supporting portion that supports the medium, a heater that heats the medium supported by the medium supporting portion, and a detecting unit that performs sensing and detects energy. The radiation energy of the heater is controlled on the basis of the energy detected by the detecting unit. The medium supporting portion is provided with a sensing target portion that can be sensed by the detecting unit.

Abstract: Calculating a difference between a hue angle of a colorimetric value of a printed object with respect to diffuse reflection and the hue angle of a colorimetric value of the printed object with respect to specular reflection, calculating the difference between a standard chroma with respect to an observational light source and the chroma of the colorimetric value of the printed object with respect to specular reflection under the observational light source, and calculating a bronzing index value on the basis of a value obtained by multiplying the calculated difference of the hue angles by the calculated difference of the chromas.

Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a transport unit, a medium support unit and a liquid ejection head. The medium support unit includes a plurality of first recesses and a plurality of second recesses arranged on a medium support surface along a width direction orthogonal to a transport direction. The first and second recesses are configured and arranged to be imparted with negative pressure. A width dimension of an opening of the first recess in the width direction is larger on the downstream side than on an upstream side. A width dimension of an opening of the second recess in the width direction is smaller than the width dimension of the opening of the first recess in the width direction on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction. The second recesses are configured and arranged to accept the liquid ejected toward the ejection medium from the liquid ejection head.

Abstract: A transport method for transporting a long medium in a recording apparatus is performed using a transport control section. The transport control section performs, in a case where a first motor and a second motor are driven so as to transport a long sheet to the downstream side in a transport direction, prescribed processing that is different from the processing in a case where the deflection amount of the sheet becomes equal to or greater than a reference amount, in a case where the deflection amount of the sheet between a shaft member and a sending roller in the transport direction does not become equal to or greater than the reference amount.

Abstract: A data generation apparatus for generating image data used for printing an image on a print medium by using a printing apparatus having an adjusting function for increasing and/or decreasing a conveyance amount by which the print medium is conveyed in a conveyance direction with respect to a standard conveyance amount used when an image with a specified size is printed includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire an adjustment amount of the conveyance amount, and a changing unit configured to change a size of the image data corresponding to the conveyance direction of the print medium according to the adjustment amount acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: A recording medium transfer apparatus is provided with: an endless belt; a plurality of transfer rollers, which intermittently rotate the endless belt; a slide unit, which can freely move back and forth between the initial position and the end position of the endless belt; a driving device, which returns the slide unit to the initial position from the end position; a linear encoder, which detects a transfer amount of the slide unit; a calculation unit, which calculates a transfer amount of the recording medium on the basis of the detection results obtained from the linear encoder; and a control unit, which controls the transfer amount of the recording medium on the basis of the transfer amount.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head that forms an image on a target printing surface of a printing medium by relatively moving with respect to the printing medium, an elastic wave radiation unit that radiates elastic waves, in air toward the target printing surface, a reception unit that receives the elastic waves that are radiated from the elastic wave radiation unit and reflected by the target printing surface, and a control unit which measures the time of arrival taken for elastic waves, and stops relative movement when the time of arrival is shorter than a defined time, in which the defined time is a time of arrival in which a distance from the print head to the printing medium and the distance from the elastic wave radiation unit to the printing medium to an allowable minimum distance between the print head and the printing medium.

Abstract: A printer has a mechanism to counter change in the tension of the recording medium to convey the recording medium with more precision. Such printer has a media conveyance mechanism that conveys a recording medium; a printhead that prints on the medium; a media supply mechanism that supplies the medium to the media conveyance mechanism; a movable member that can move to compensate and thus counter internal tension changes in the recording medium resulting from operation of the media conveyance and supply mechanisms; a detector that detects the movement or position of the movable member; and a control unit that controls the media supply operation based on output from the detector so that the movable member is urged back to or maintained in a home position.

Abstract: A medium convey apparatus including: a convey mechanism including an endless belt having a medium-placed face; and a first adsorbing mechanism which includes first and second electrodes each facing a face of the convey mechanism opposite to the medium-placed face, and which adsorbs a recording medium to the medium-placed face by applying a specific voltage to between the first and second electrodes; wherein a surface layer member covers the first and second electrodes; and wherein at least one of the endless belt and the surface layer member has at least an area facing the first and second electrodes, wherein the area is formed of a resin material containing an ion conductive resistivity control material, and wherein a volume resistivity of the resin material ranges from 1010 to 1014 ?·cm when the specific voltage is applied in an environment at a temperature of 22.5° C. and a relative humidity of 50%.

Abstract: In a system having an inkjet printer and a toner printer, the ink jet printer forms an ink jet image and the toner printer forms a toner image conforming to the inkjet image and transfers the toner image onto the inkjet image. Colorant in the ink is electrostatically attracted to the toner. The toner is fixed. After fixing the colorant attracted to the toner is bound to the toner so that removal of the toner from the receiver also removes any colorant attached to the toner from the receiver.

Abstract: A reference mark is recorded in an area between one image and the next image sequentially printed on a first surface of a continuous sheet. In a print on a second surface of the sheet, the recorded reference mark is read, and a print position of the image on a second surface of the sheet is set. A plurality of images are sequentially printed on the second surface on the basis of this setting.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for forming images using a recording head includes a feeding roller, a conveying roller, a conveyance control unit, and a recording control unit. The conveyance control unit performs a conveying operation a number of times after the trailing end of a sheet reaches a predetermined position defined between the feeding roller and the conveying roller such that the trailing end of the sheet is disposed in a predetermined range upstream of the conveying roller in a sheet conveying direction after the conveying operations. At least one of the conveying operations performed a number of times is performed based on a distance from the position of the trailing end of the sheet to the position of the conveying roller.