Abstract: An embodiment of this invention solves a problem about a precision drop of registration adjustment of a range detection method due to variations of a registration state depending on a position associated with a carriage scanning direction. In that embodiment, reference and adjustment patterns are formed to be juxtaposed in a nozzle array direction to detect a position shift between patterns in the main scanning direction. In this case, coarse registration adjustment is executed by the range detection method, and its adjustment result is applied to a printing apparatus. After that, fine registration adjustment is executed by a density method, and results of the two adjustment methods are finally reflected.

Abstract: An ejection condition determination method in an image forming apparatus includes: selecting two or more kinds of ejection conditions regarding other recording elements than a specified recording element among plural recording elements; acquiring drawing data representing two or more drawing patterns having different density distributions, the drawing data being acquired by respectively forming same drawing patterns using the selected two or more kinds of ejection conditions in a specified non-ejection state; performing a filter processing corresponding to human visual characteristics on the acquired drawing data so as to obtain visual correction drawing data; and determining the ejection conditions for compensating for a density variation of the image due to the specified non-ejection state based upon evaluation results which are obtained by respectively evaluating two or more drawing patterns represented by the visual correction drawing data and having been subjected to the filter processing according to a

Abstract: An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets in a printhead. The apparatus includes a rotating member having a light transmitting surface layer onto which material is ejected by the printhead. A light source directs light into an edge of the light transmitting surface layer at a position on the circumferential perimeter of the surface layer and an optical sensor generates image data of the surface of the surface layer of the rotating member. Inoperative inkjets are detected with reference to the image data of the surface of the surface layer of the rotating member.

Abstract: An ink printing process employs per-nozzle droplet volume measurement and processing software that plans droplet combinations to reach specific aggregate ink fills per target region, guaranteeing compliance with minimum and maximum ink fills set by specification. In various embodiments, different droplet combinations are produced through different print head/substrate scan offsets, offsets between print heads, the use of different nozzle drive waveforms, and/or other techniques. Optionally, patterns of fill variation can be introduced so as to mitigate observable line effects in a finished display device. The disclosed techniques have many other possible applications.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, that includes a recording head including a plurality of nozzles to discharge droplets; and a droplet discharge sensor unit to detect whether a droplet has been discharged from the plurality of nozzles of the recording head or not. The droplet discharge sensor unit includes a resistor, on which the droplets discharged from the nozzles of the recording head lands, the resistor disposed opposite the recording head; and a sensor to detect a change in electrical resistance of the resistor when the droplets discharged from the plurality of nozzles of the recording head landed on the resistor.

Abstract: A circuit including a flexible substrate and at least one electric element attached to the substrate, the substrate including at least one cavity arranged near the electric element and helping to break or distort the electric element in response to a flexion or stretching of the substrate. Application in particular is to the manufacture of tear-proof electronic micromodules.

Abstract: A method of generating a test pattern for use in identification of a z-axis distance between a printhead and a substrate in a three-dimensional object printer includes forming a first predetermined test pattern on a substrate with the printhead and generating image data of the first test pattern. The method further includes identifying cross-process direction offsets of marks in the image data of the first test pattern and generating second test pattern data for the printhead using only a portion of the ejectors in the printhead and not including a mark from at least one ejector in the printhead with a cross-process direction offset that is less than another cross-process direction offset of at least one ejector in the portion of the ejectors.

Abstract: An output density range is divided such that, after gradation targets have been applied, adjusted density ranges for output are uniform across all objects. Furthermore, through reverse calculation using the gradation targets that are set in one-to-one correspondence with the objects, adjusted density ranges of the respective objects are set independently.

Abstract: A printer includes a control section that is capable of executing a first process for forming an image on a sheet by discharging ink droplets from a liquid ejection head on the basis of image data and a second process for forming, on the sheet, a test pattern for determination of a shift in ink droplet adhesion position by discharging droplets on the basis of test data. The control section executes the second process in a state in which a print gap between the liquid ejection head and a support is longer than the shortest adjustable print gap.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus reads an original conveyed in the image forming apparatus, analyzes a feature value of information about an original image on the read original, generates an image to overwrite the original image with, using image data having the feature value obtained based on an analysis result, sets a predetermined area on the original image, and overwrites the predetermined area on the original image with the generated image.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a calibration method are provided which, by using a small-capacity memory, can perform a high-speed calibration processing on data used to eject ink of the same color from a plurality of nozzle arrays. By ejecting ink of the same color from the plurality of nozzle arrays, patch is printed and, based on the printed result of the patch, a content of a print data correction processing is changed.

Abstract: A printer includes a transportation unit that transports a continuous form paper, an ejecting unit that ejects ink onto the continuous form paper, a continuous form paper supporting unit that includes a supporting surface capable of supporting the continuous form paper so as to be opposite to the ejecting unit, a light-transmitting glass that is mounted at a position in the medium supporting unit which faces the continuous form paper transported by the transportation unit, an imaging unit that captures an image of the continuous form paper which passes over a front surface of the light-transmitting glass, a control unit that controls a transportation amount of the continuous form paper based on the image captured by the imaging unit, and a suction fan that generates an airflow onto the front surface of the light-transmitting glass. An antistatic film is formed on the front surface of the light-transmitting glass.

Abstract: An electronic printing device in the form of a hand stamp includes a housing in which a solid-state electronic printing assembly cartridge is removably inserted. Electric contacts, which are arranged on one face of the cartridge, for supplying power to and controlling the cartridge rest against corresponding electric contacts in the housing under the influence of pressure when the cartridge is inserted in the housing in the operating state. For this purpose, a spring device for holding the cartridge against the housing contacts is arranged in the housing on the cartridge face opposite the face with the electric contacts, and the spring device is a leaf spring which is arranged on a drive part face facing the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted in the operating state and which is angled outward and directly presses against the cartridge, the drive part being movably arranged in the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus can detect a foreign object promptly during homing operation. After starting the homing operation, the image forming apparatus determines whether or not a carriage stops moving by detecting motion or stop of the carriage until timing to change detecting when either the carriage reaches predetermined position or velocity of the carriage reaches predetermined value. If the image forming apparatus determines that the carriage stops moving, the image forming apparatus controls a main scanning motor to stop driving. After the timing to change detecting, the image forming apparatus detects load variation of the main scanning motor. If the load variation is detected, the image forming apparatus controls the main scanning motor to stop driving.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a cavity in which a pressure inside is increased or decreased due to displacement of a piezoelectric element; a nozzle that communicates the cavity and is capable of ejecting an ink filled in the inside; a driving signal generation unit that supplies a driving signal to the piezoelectric element; a detection unit that detects a change of an electromotive force of the piezoelectric element as a residual vibration signal; a comparison signal generation unit that generates a first comparison signal by binarizing the residual vibration signal with a first threshold potential and generates a second comparison signal by binarizing the residual vibration signal with a second threshold potential; and a determination data generation unit that determines an ejection state of a liquid in the nozzle based on at least the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a piezoelectric element which is displaced according to a driving signal; a first ejection unit and a second ejection unit that include nozzles capable of ejecting; a detection unit that detects a first and second residual vibration signal; and a determination unit that determines an ejection state of the liquid in the first ejection unit to be normal in a case where a cycle of a waveform indicated by the first residual vibration signal belongs to a first range and determines an ejection state of the liquid in the second ejection unit to be normal in a case where a cycle of a waveform indicated by the second residual vibration signal belongs to a second range, in which a part or all of the second range includes a range which is not included in the first range.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge body defining an ink chamber, an ink supply portion provided at the cartridge body, an air flow path provided in the cartridge body, a cover, and a memory chip disposed on the cover. The cartridge body has an outer surface oriented in a first direction and an air communication port opened on the outer surface. The air flow path communicates with the ink chamber through a communication hole and with ambient air through the air communication port to permit communication between the ink chamber and ambient air. The cover covers the outer surface of the cartridge body and has an opening at a position aligned with the air communication port in the first direction. The memory chip closes the opening and stores information. External access to the memory chip permits information to be electrically retrieved therefrom.

Abstract: Digital printing method for printing an image, using a printing system capable of printing a plurality of density levels, including: printing at least one left control strip in a left zone of a print medium and at least one right control strip in a right zone of said print medium, said left control strip including at least one left patch and said right control strip including at least one right patch, wherein settings are used which are intended for printing the same color and/or density level for a left patch of said at least one left patch and for a corresponding right patch of said at least one right patch; measuring a density level and/or color of at least said printed left patch and right patch; adjusting said printing system based on a difference between the measured density levels and/or colors of said left patch and said right patch in order to perform a left-right correction in said image to be printed; and printing the image using said adjusted printing system.

Abstract: The liquid consuming apparatus includes a detection portion 90 having a light-emitting portion 92 and a light-receiving portion 94, a holder 20 in which a liquid container provided with a prism 170 is attachably and detachably installed, the holder 20 having an opening portion 22 provided at a position facing the prism 170 when the liquid container is installed, and a reflection portion 24, and a moving portion that relatively moves the holder in a first direction with respect to the detection portion 90. A first portion of the holder 20 that is peripheral to the reflection portion 24 in a plan view of the holder 20 as seen from the side of the detection portion 90 has an inclined face that inclines in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object printer compensates for variations in ejected material drop volumes by adjusting firing signal parameters. The printer includes an optical sensor that generates height measurement data of columns of material in a test pattern. Differences between the height of columns of material in the test pattern formed by the ejectors in the printhead and the expected height of the columns are compared to a predetermined range to detect drop variations that are out of tolerance. The modification of the firing signal parameter adjust the operation of the ejectors to bring the volume of the drops ejected by the ejector within tolerance range to reduce the ink drop velocities of the ejected drops within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head having a piezoelectric element that vibrates a diaphragm, a pressure chamber where an interior pressure is increased or decreased by vibration of the diaphragm, and a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber to discharge a liquid inside the pressure chamber according to increasing and decreasing of the interior pressure; a drive unit that outputs a drive signal which becomes a first potential during a first period, becomes a second potential during a second period following the first period, and becomes a third potential, which is a potential between the first potential and the second potential, during a third period following the second period; a detection unit that detects a residual vibration inside the pressure chamber; and a control unit capable of modifying the potential of the third potential within a range between the first potential and the second potential.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for establishing a wear state of a cutting nozzle of a laser processing machine. An actual state of the cutting nozzle shape is established by a three-dimensional evaluation performed by a nozzle shape sensor and an associated controller. The established actual state of the cutting nozzle shape is compared to a desired state of the cutting nozzle shape, and the wear state of the cutting nozzle is established based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes a roll of substrate that extends to a take up roller. A printhead prints a test pattern on a portion of the substrate pulled from the roll and the portion with the test pattern is moved opposite a digital camera. The digital camera generates data of the test pattern on the substrate and these data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets in the printhead.

Abstract: A liquid droplet detecting device includes nozzles arranged in a paper width direction orthogonal to a paper conveying direction to discharge liquid droplets, a light emitting element provided on one side of the paper width direction to emit a light beam for liquid droplet detection, a light receiving element provided on the other side of the paper width direction to receive the light beam, a storage in which correspondence information on each of the nozzles and a scan position of the light beam when discharge of a liquid droplet from each of the nozzles is detected is stored, a controller to allow the light beam to scan according to the correspondence information, and a detector to determine presence or absence a liquid droplet discharged from each nozzle from an output of the light receiving element.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aligning printheads of a printing system. One embodiment is a system for aligning printheads of a printing system. The system includes a first sensor configured to detect lateral positions of an upstream printhead relative to sections of a web of print media traveling through the printing system, and a second sensor configured to detect lateral positions of a downstream printhead relative to the sections of the web. The downstream printhead is placed after the upstream printhead in the direction of travel of the web. The system also includes a controller configured to align the downstream printhead with the sections of the web based on the lateral positions of the upstream printhead and the lateral positions of the downstream printhead.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an original drive signal generation section that generates an original drive signal, a signal modulation section that modulates the original drive signal and generates a modulation signal, a signal amplification section that amplifies the modulation signal and generates an amplification modulation signal, a signal conversion section that converts the amplification modulation signal into a drive signal, a piezoelectric element that deforms by the drive signal, a cavity that expands or contracts due to deformation of the piezoelectric element, a nozzle that communicates with the cavity and ejects a liquid in response to increase and decrease of a pressure inside the cavity, and a temperature detection section that detects a temperature of the signal conversion section.

Abstract: A print control device acquires image data. Each pixel data has a gradation value represented by a first number of levels of gradation. The print control device acquires a first error matrix and a second error matrix and generates print image data representing an image by performing a halftone process on the image data using the first and second error matrices to convert each gradation value in the image data into a set of dot data. Each dot data represents one of a second number of types of dot formation. The second number is smaller than the first number. The print control device uses the first error matrix for pixel data corresponding to a pixel to be printed in a forward direction. The print control device uses the second error matrix for pixel data corresponding to a pixel to be printed in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A method is described that entails printing a series of test patterns. Each test pattern has its own respective set of outer lines and set of inner lines. The series of test patterns have a different intended spacing between their respective inner lines and outer lines. The intended spacing of each test pattern is printed in a manner that correlates the intended spacing of each test pattern with its test pattern. Each of the outer lines are printed with a first print source and each of the inner lines printed with a second print source. Inner lines of a first set of the test patterns are shorter than inner lines of a second set of the test patterns to enhance resolution at which differences in the spacings between respective inner and outer lines of same test patterns are able to be detected across different test patterns.

Abstract: A flatbed type printer includes a table on or over which a print medium including a flat print surface is placed, a print head, a projecting unit configured to project a Gray code pattern on the table, an image taking unit configured to take an image of the projected Gray code pattern, a generating unit configured to generate a first spatial code image using an image taken with no print medium placed and to generate a second spatial code image using an image taken with the print medium placed, a generating unit configured to generate an image of the print surface using the first and second spatial code images, a normalizing unit configured to normalize the print surface in the image of the print surface, and a converting unit configured to convert print data edited on the normalized print surface into data printable on the pre-normalization print surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus executes control for predicting a toner remaining amount, if the apparatus can acquire a predetermined value as identification information indicating a type or a manufacture of a toner cartridge.

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: A method for controlling an inkjet printing system including calculating a pigment concentration of ink ejected by the inkjet printhead relative to an initial pigment concentration of the ink based on a determined height of ink in an ink reservoir and a determined period of time since a last printhead activation. A firing pattern for the inkjet printhead is determined based on the determined height, the determined period of time and the calculated relative pigment concentration to account for settling of ink stored in the ink reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes a supply of substrate that is pulled to a position opposite a printhead to enable a test pattern of material to be formed on a portion of the substrate. That portion is then pulled past a laser sensor, which generates measurement data of the material on the portion of the substrate bearing the test pattern. These measurement data are analyzed to detect inoperative inkjets.

Abstract: The time required for a nozzle check is minimized without reducing the accuracy of the nozzle check. An inkjet line printer has a nozzle check control unit that performs a nozzle check to detect ejection problems in the nozzles of plural nozzle rows of the inkjet line head. The nozzle check control unit applies the nozzle check to a portion of the nozzles in the group of nozzles in a specific range where two mutually overlapping nozzle rows overlap.

Abstract: An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing. The apparatus operates the printhead or printheads in the printer to form test pattern on a thermal substrate. The heat of the materials used to form the test pattern change the optical density of the areas where the materials land. The area where the test pattern is formed is imaged and the image data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets.

Abstract: Area information is obtained with respect to a specified color and nozzle position having color unevenness. Then, coordinate information indicating a nozzle position corresponding to the above area information is obtained in a printing head or nozzle array corresponding to an ink color relating to the specified color information. Next, the number of candidate correction values or candidate patches is obtained on the basis of nozzle coordinates obtained corresponding to the area, by referring to a table. In this table, for example, the number of candidate correction values is small at a nozzle position where an effect due to the variations of nozzle ejection characteristics such as a nozzle ejection volume is small and a change direction is constant, and the number of candidate correction values is large at a nozzle position where an effect due to variations of nozzle ejection characteristics is large.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a position detection unit which includes an optical element, a light source and a light receiving element, radiates light from the light source toward the printing surface, causes diffused reflection light of reflection light which is reflected by the printing surface to be incident to the light receiving element through the optical element and outputs positional information relating to a position of the printing surface at which the light from the light source reflects, from the light receiving element, and a controller which causes movement of the carriage to stop when lifting up of the printing medium is detected on a basis of the positional information output from the light receiving element, in which a virtual plane which contains the optical element and the light receiving element is in a state of being inclined in relation to a normal line of the printing surface.

Abstract: This is disclosed a printer comprising a visual confirmation window, a first coordination control portion, and a second coordination control portion. The visual confirmation window is for visually confirming a recording medium with print taken up by a take-up body from an exterior of a housing. The first coordination control portion controls a feeding motor, a take-up motor, and heating elements in coordination so as to form a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium prior to the start of production of a printed matter. The second coordination control portion controls the feeding motor and the take-up motor in coordination so that, after formation of the test pattern, the test pattern formed on the recording medium arrives and stops near the visual confirmation window.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus including a recording head in which nozzle arrays are configured by lining up a plurality of nozzles which discharge identical inks and the nozzle arrays are arranged in a plurality of lines, and which discharges a plurality of types of ink, and a cap member which covers the plurality of the nozzle arrays in which out of a plurality of nozzle arrays which are accommodated in one cap member in a capping operation, a nozzle array in an end side region of the cap member discharges ink with the lowest solid content concentration and a nozzle array in a central region of the cap member discharges ink with highest solid content concentration.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head including nozzles arranged in a first direction, a head scanning mechanism moving the inkjet head along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a feeding mechanism feeding the recording medium along the first direction, and a storage device storing upstream correction information and downstream correction information. A controller performs a first determination process for determining a correction value for a specific scanning operation by using the upstream correction information when an image is printed on an upstream area adjacent to a specific area corresponding to the specific scanning operation and when no image is printed on a downstream area adjacent to the specific area, and a second determination process for determining the correction value by using the downstream correction information when no image is printed on the upstream area and when an image be printed on the downstream area.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and an image processing apparatus capable of stably outputting an image with no joint streak even in the case where printing conditions, such as the kind of ink and the kind of printing medium, change in a variety of ways are provided. For this purpose, correction processing is performed on image data corresponding to an eject port group located at one end part of an eject port column in a first printing scan and on image data corresponding to an eject port group located at the other end part in a second printing scan. At this time, the number of eject ports included in a first eject port group and the number of eject ports included in a second eject port group are adjusted in accordance with printing conditions.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided, which is configured to acquire gap information related to a gap between an ink discharging surface and a recording sheet in each individual position of top-formed positions and bottom-formed positions within a predetermined wave-shape generating range, identify, when the predetermined wave-shape generating range includes a partial range in which the recording sheet is not placed, a top-formed position where the gap information has not been acquired and a bottom-formed position where the gap information has not been acquired, within the partial range, complement the unacquired gap information in the identified top-formed position with a value determined based on the respective pieces of gap information acquired in other top-formed positions, and complement the unacquired gap information in the identified bottom-formed position with a value determined based on the respective pieces of gap information acquired in other bottom-formed positions.

Abstract: Control of a printer involves reading a cartridge identification number from a memory in a cartridge and storing such number, generating status information including such number and may further include a calculated ink usage amount, and sending the status information to a data processing apparatus, which may be a server. In some embodiments, the ink usage amount is calculated as a number of discharged ink shots. The server saves the status information. This or another upstream server can reliably determine the number of ink shots used by the printer only for printing from this status information. Such control is embodied in a program stored on a non-transitory controller-readable medium, which program is executed by a controller in the printer.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus and a sensor unit are capable of reducing the amount of mist adhering to an optical element. The liquid ejection apparatus includes a carriage including an ejection head mounted thereon for ejecting a liquid, and a sensor unit accommodating an optical element attached to the carriage, wherein the sensor unit has a first opening and a second opening which is communicated with the first opening and forms a light path between the optical element and the medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the quality analysis of printheads that apply transparent or hard-to-detect fluids to a media. The system includes a printhead operable to apply a clear fluid to a print media. The system also includes a controller operable to enter a diagnostic mode for quality analysis of the printhead. The controller initiates a supply of diagnostic fluid to the printhead that includes a colorant. The controller then directs the printhead to apply the diagnostic fluid to the print media. Because the diagnostic fluid includes a colorant, the output of the printhead will be more visible on the media.

Abstract: A system includes a photodetector, a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a filter. The photodetector is to detect backscattered light from liquid drops to provide a current signal. The first amplifier is to convert the current signal into a first voltage signal. The second amplifier is to amplify the first voltage signal to provide a second voltage signal, and the filter is to filter the second voltage signal to provide an output signal to indicate the presence or absence of liquid drops.

Abstract: A system can comprise a memory to store machine readable instructions and a processing unit to access the memory and execute the machine readable instructions. The machine readable instructions can comprise a feature set extractor to extract a feature set from each of a plurality of digital images of print samples. The feature set can be a filtered feature set that includes a feature set characterizing a printer that printed a given print sample of the print samples. The machine readable instructions can also comprise a cluster component to determine clusters of the print samples based on the feature set of each of the plurality of scanned images of the print samples. The machine readable instructions can further comprise a printer identifier to identify the printer of the print samples based on the clusters of the print samples.

Abstract: A sensor positioning system including a moveable sensor holder having a following surface, the sensor holder configured to hold an optical sensor at a selected distance from the following surface, a biasing system configured to bias the following surface against a surface of a sheet of print medium, and a drive system configured to move the sensor holder across the sheet of print medium with the following surface biased against and sliding on the surface of the sheet of print medium to maintain the optical sensor at substantially the selected distance from the surface of the sheet of print medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of paper feeding units and a method of controlling the same are provided, wherein out-of-paper in at least one of the plurality of paper feeding units is detected, and a failure in at least one of the plurality of paper feeding units is detected. The apparatus controls to permit selecting a paper feeding unit to be used as a paper feeding source of paper in which the out-of-paper is detected, and the apparatus controls not to permit selecting the paper feeding unit in which the failure is detected.

Abstract: A method for assigning unique printer resolutions or signatures, i.e., a unique number of dots per inch, to a class, or models of printers or lines of postage meters. The number of dots per inch or resolution may be specified within a image on a document or within a postal indicia and later checked to determine if the image on document or the postal indicia has the correct resolution. The foregoing would be able to detect an image or postal indicia that was scanned into a computer and printed with a printer that did not have the number of dots per inch specified in the image or postal indicia.