Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a sheet, a measurement unit configured to measure the measurement image formed on the sheet to output a measurement value, a white reference plate provided at a position facing to the measurement unit, and a correction unit configured to correct the measurement value output from the measurement unit according to a distance from the measurement unit to the white reference plate in a case where the measurement image formed on the sheet is measured.

Abstract: An inkjet printer for producing graphic or functional products, the inkjet printer having integrated optical monitoring of the correct function of each of the nozzles that shoot the ink onto the substrate. For this purpose, the drops ejected from the nozzles are illuminated from the direction of the ejecting nozzles, and the light reflected backwards from the drop flying away is conducted onto light-sensitive sensors during the flight of the drop.

Abstract: There is provided a technique with which an abnormal discharge state in a discharge component can be determined on the basis of residual vibration. A printer includes a discharge component that discharges ink, a detector that detects residual vibration in the discharge component, and a tester that tests the discharge component on the basis of the change in the period of the residual vibration.

Abstract: A method for controlling an image recording apparatus includes: detecting a defective recording element out of a plurality of recording elements on a recording head for recording an image on a recording medium; performing a correction processing including suspension of an output of the defective recording element and increase of an output of a recording element at least adjacent to the defective recording element according to a detection result; determining whether or not an image defect is caused in the image by the suspension of output of the defective recording element, before performing the correction processing, according to the detection result; selecting a forced recording element that is forced to output ink out of defective recording elements when it is determined that the image defect is caused; and suspending the output of the defective recording element other than the forced recording element when the forced recording element is selected.

Abstract: Hard imaging devices, print devices, and hard imaging methods are described. According to one arrangement, a hard imaging device includes a media transport system configured to move media along a media path and a print device adjacent to the media path. The print device may include an image forming device configured to eject a plurality of droplets of a liquid marking agent in a direction towards the media moving along the media path to form hard images using the media, wherein the ejection of the droplets of the liquid marking agent from the image forming device creates puddles of the liquid marking agent on the image forming device and a puddle removal system configured to remove the puddles of the liquid marking agent from the image forming device.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided that includes a control device configured to determine an ink discharge moment when an inkjet head discharges an ink droplet from nozzles while moving within at least one of a acceleration range to accelerate the inkjet head and a deceleration range to decelerate the inkjet head, based on a distance between an ink discharge surface of the inkjet head and a recording sheet held in a predetermined wave shape and an amount of change in a moving velocity of the inkjet head.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device for a printer includes a movable tray for supporting a print media. The tray is movable between an open position in which media may be moved on to the tray and a closed position in which media is blocked from moving on to the tray. The device also includes a rotatable media drive component for moving print media on to the tray and a movable restraint operatively connected to the tray. The restraint is movable between: a first position, corresponding to the open position of the tray, in which the restraint does not restrain the media drive component; and a second position, corresponding to the closed position of the tray, in which the restraint restrains rotation of the media drive component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which reads a test pattern formed onto a recording medium to adjust an ejection timing of liquid droplets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a reading unit; a pattern data storage unit; an image forming unit; a relative movement unit; an intensity data obtaining unit which obtains intensity data on a reflected light which is received by a light receiving unit from a scanning position of a light while the light moves over the test pattern; and a position detecting unit which applies a line position determining operation on the intensity data and detects a line position.

Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus of the present invention, a moisture content of a print sheet is estimated without decreasing productivity of the printing apparatus and appropriate conditions of printing operation in the subsequent printing process are specified. More specifically, by measuring a change in thickness of the print sheet after printing, a state of moisture content is estimated. Estimating a state of moisture content allows determination of appropriate conditions of printing operation such as a minimum drying time required for printing a high-quality image on various types of print sheets such as print coated paper or coated paper.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a plurality of recording heads arranged in a staggered configuration in a width direction. Adjacent ones of the recording heads have respective adjacent nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto positions adjacent to each other in the width direction on a recording medium. For recording an image, a correction area rate less than a dot area rate of an input mage in a recording position of each of the adjacent nozzles is calculated from the dot area rate. Then, ink droplets are ejected from each of the adjacent nozzles in accordance with the correction area rate. As a result, the amounts of ink droplets ejected from the adjacent nozzles are limited. For a recording process using a head unit including the recording heads arranged in a staggered configuration, this suppresses the occurrence of unevenness in density due to an undesirable flow or bleeding of ink at the boundary between recording regions of the recording heads.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid toward a recording medium; a rib which projects in a direction toward the liquid ejecting head, and includes a support portion for supporting the recording medium; a detection target portion which is provided at a position lower than the support portion; a lower side portion located at a position lower than the detection target portion; a light emitting unit which irradiates the detection target portion with light rays; a light receiving unit which receives reflected light rays resulting from reflection of the light rays with which the detection target portion is irradiated, convers the received reflected light rays into photocurrent, and outputs the photocurrent as an output voltage; and a sensitivity setting unit which causes the light emitting unit to irradiate the detection target portion with light rays and sets the sensitivity of the light receiving unit.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a piezoelectric element, a nozzle that ejects a liquid in association with the driving of the piezoelectric element, a driving signal generation unit that generates a driving signal for driving a plurality of the piezoelectric elements, and a residual vibration detection unit that detects residual vibration generated by the driving of the piezoelectric element. The driving signal includes an ejection pulse for ejecting a liquid, a first vibration damping pulse that suppresses residual vibration generated by the ejection pulse, a second vibration damping pulse which is a pulse different from the first vibration damping pulse and suppresses residual vibration generated by the ejection pulse, and an inspection pulse for detecting the residual vibration signal.

Abstract: A driver apparatus includes a drive unit to move a moveable unit along a given path using a drive force; a movement detector to detect movement of the moveable unit; a drive control unit to control the drive unit using a given output for a given time to drive the moveable unit; a determination unit to determine whether the movement detector detects a movement of the moveable unit for a given distance or more in a driving direction when the moveable unit is driven under a control of the drive control unit; and an abnormality detector to determine occurrence of abnormal when the determination unit determines that the moveable unit does not move the given distance or more.

Abstract: A printing device includes a required ink amount acquisition part, an ejectable amount acquisition part, and a division printing control part. The required ink amount acquisition part is configured to determine a required ink amount based on print data of a bandwidth over which ink is ejected by driving an ink head in a main scanning direction. The ejectable amount acquisition part is configured to determine an ejectable amount based on a residual amount in an ink cartridge. The division printing control part is configured to determine whether a printing for the bandwidth is performed by one time of a main scanning operation, or the printing is performed by dividing into multiple main scanning operations based on the required ink amount and the ejectable amount, and to perform the printing in accordance with the determination.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head substrate includes: a plurality of energy generating element arrays each including a plurality of energy generating elements configured to generate energy for ejecting liquid; a supply port array in which a plurality of supply ports configured to supply liquid to the plurality of energy generating elements are arranged between the plurality of energy generating element arrays in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of energy generating elements are arranged; a temperature detection element that is configured to detect a temperature of the liquid ejection head substrate and that is provided on one side of the supply port array; and a heating element that is configured to heat the liquid ejection head substrate and that is provided on the other side of the supply port array.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed which reads a test pattern formed by ejecting liquid droplets onto a recording medium to adjust an ejection timing of the liquid droplets. The image forming apparatus includes a reading unit; a relative movement unit; a second detected data obtaining unit; a first detected data obtaining unit; a subtraction processing unit which subtracts a value comparable to a local minimum value of first detected data sets from each of the first detected data sets and second detected data sets; and a signal correction unit which calculates a proportion of the subtracted first detected data sets relative to the subtracted second detected data sets to align a local maximum value of the first detected data sets such that it is generally constant.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejection unit that ejects a liquid, a medium support unit that has a support face supporting a medium to which the liquid is ejected, an irradiation unit that irradiates the medium with a first electromagnetic wave from an oblique direction with respect to the support face, and a sensor that detects a second electromagnetic wave which is emitted from an irradiation region of the first electromagnetic wave on the support face, in which the sensor is in a position with respect to the irradiation unit which is the same side as an irradiation direction of the first electromagnetic wave, and is arranged in a position where a regular reflection component of the first electromagnetic wave reflected at a peak spot where irradiation energy of the first electromagnetic wave peaks in the irradiation region is not detected.

Abstract: An inkjet printing method and system includes an arrangement that is adapted to repair a printed image using a combination of in-line imaging and feedback control of an inkjet printhead or printing with a redundant inkjet printhead. The inkjet printing method and system is further adapted to print at higher optical density than is normally possible by use of multi-pass capabilities.

Abstract: An optical-writing control device calculates correction values for use in correcting a transfer position at which developing-agent images are to be transferred onto a sheet, and overlaying positions at which the developing-agent images are to be overlaid, based on a detection signal output from a sensor upon detection of a correction pattern for use in correcting the transfer position and a correction pattern for use in correcting the overlaying positions. A timing of detecting the pattern for use in correcting the overlaying positions is determined based on a correction value calculated based on the detection signal output upon detection of the pattern for use in correcting the transfer position. The pattern for use in correcting the transfer position is caused to have a width, in the main-scanning direction, that is wider than the width in the main-scanning direction of the pattern for use in correcting the overlaying positions.

Abstract: Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described which may be used for the reception of a wireless broadband signal at a user terminal from a gateway via a satellite. A wireless signal may include a series of physical layer frames, each frame including a physical layer header and payload. The received signal is digitized and processed using various novel physical layer headers and related techniques to synchronize the physical layer frames and recover data from physical layer headers for purposes of demodulation and decoding.

Abstract: A manufacturer server 110 that calculates an invoice amount for an inkjet printer has a billing status acquisition unit 342 that acquires billing status information including actual print volume PV, which is the amount of ink used for actual printing not including maintenance during a specific period L1; an actual print volume calculation unit 343 that determines if actual print volume PV is greater than, less than or equal to a specific volume V1; and an invoice amount calculation unit 344 that determines an invoice amount. When actual print volume PV is greater than the specific volume V1, the invoice amount is determined based on the actual print volume PV.

Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a head, an optical sensor and an air blowing unit. The head is configured and arranged to record on a medium. The optical sensor is configured and arranged to detect presence or absence of foreign matter. The air blowing unit is configured and arranged to blow air toward the optical sensor for removing the foreign matter.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an ejection detection device with an inexpensive and simple structure that can appropriately detect conditions of nozzles, without the control of the quantity of liquid ejected from the nozzles being required. Therefore, for the ejection detection device of the present invention, a light-emitting unit emits light to a light-receiving unit in a direction in which a plurality of nozzles is arranged in a print head. The ejection detection device detects the condition of a nozzle to be detected, which ejects the liquid droplet. At this time, the emission intensity of the light-emitting unit or the responsivity of the light-receiving unit is controlled by the print head in accordance with the location of the nozzle to be detected.

Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a jetting section having a plurality of jetting ports for jetting a liquid; a transport section configured to transport the recording medium along a transport pass having a facing area which faces the plurality of jetting ports; a charging section arranged on an upstream side of the facing area in a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported by the transport section, and configured to charge the recording medium; a charged-area determining section configured to determine a non-landing area, of the recording medium, in which the liquid jetted from the plurality of jetting ports is not landed in a case that the recording medium is disposed at the facing area, as a charged area; and a controller configured to control the charging section to charge the charged area determined by the charged-area determining section.

Abstract: Provided is a printed matter for measuring printing precision of a printing apparatus configured to perform printing to both sides of a printing medium. The printed matter includes a plurality of positioning reference marks printed orthogonal to a transportation direction of the printing medium; and an inspecting window bored in a positioning reference mark of the plurality of positioning reference marks, the positioning reference mark corresponding to an object to be inspected. The printing medium is folded so as to make another positioning reference mark on the printing medium visible through the inspecting window, and the positioning reference mark on a side of the inspecting window is compared with the positioning reference mark visible through the inspecting window, whereby printing precision is measured.

Abstract: A printer having an internal electrical power supply is disclosed herein. A method for controlling power consumption in the printer includes receiving an image to be printed, calculating an estimated temperature of the printer, and controlling a speed of the printer to control the power consumption to keep a temperature of the printer below a predetermined maximum temperature in response to the estimated temperature.

Abstract: A recording apparatus, including: a recording portion configured to record an image on each of recording media; a stack portion on which image-recorded recording media are stacked; a conveyor portion configured to convey each recording medium from a recording position at which the image is recorded toward the stack portion; and a controller configured to control the recording apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to control the conveyor portion such that, where two mutually opposable surfaces of two successive recording media that are to be successively stacked on the stack portion are both image-recorded surfaces on each of which an image has been recorded, a movement speed, when stacked, of one of the two successive recording media that is to be later stacked on the stack portion is made smaller, as compared with an instance where at least one of the two mutually opposable surfaces is not the image-recorded surface.

Abstract: A module is configured to selectively apply release agent to a web having a sequence of printed imaged formed thereon by a printer. The module includes a plurality of dispensers arranged in a cross-process direction across the imaged web. The module detects positions of areas in the printed images and determines whether the amount of ink in the areas meet or exceed a predetermined density threshold. If an area meets or exceeds the threshold, a controller operates a dispenser to apply release agent to the area on the web as the area passes the dispenser. The controller operates the dispensers with reference to image data of the surface of the web.

Abstract: A sheet attribution detection sensor device includes a light emission element configured to emit incident light to a paper sheet, a light receiving element configured to receive a specular reflection component of reflection light from the paper sheet of the incident light in order to specify a thickness of the paper sheet, and light receiving elements configured to receive a diffuse reflection component of the reflection light in order to specify one of surface roughness and color of the paper sheet.

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: A sheet basis weight sensing device for an image forming apparatus includes a sensor to detect heat conductivity of an ambient gas on a surface of a sheet on which the droplet is deposited or the surface opposite the sheet before and after the droplet is deposited; and a controller configured to: measure a time it takes the heat conductivity after the droplet is deposited to change by a predetermined ratio compared to the heat conductivity before deposition of the droplet; and obtain the sheet basis weight based on a relation between the time and the basis weight. The sheet basis weight sensing device further includes a memory to store a first table and a second table, and an image forming condition controller to set an appropriate image forming condition with reference to the second table.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aligning printheads of a printing system. The system comprises a sensor and a controller. The sensor is able to detect changes in a lateral position of a web of print media traveling through a continuous-forms printing system, and the controller is able to adjust a lateral position of a printhead while the printing system is operating to compensate for the detected changes in web position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aligning an edge of a web of continuous-forms print media in a printer using a crowned roller. The system comprises an edge-justified printer, a crowned roller, and an adjustment mechanism. The edge-justified printer is configured to print to a continuous-forms web of print media that uses a margin as a target alignment point for an edge of the web. The crowned roller includes an apex that is a point where the diameter of the crowned roller is largest. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust a lateral position of the apex to align the edge of the web with the margin.

Abstract: Proper recording is performed whether a device is tilted or not while a cost increase is suppressed. A recording device includes a recording head which performs recording on a medium, a carriage which is moved in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, a guide which guides the carriage in the first direction and the second direction, a drive motor which drives the carriage, and a controller which executes a reciprocation load detection mode where a driving load on the drive motor due to a tilt of the recording device in a movement of the carriage in the first direction is detected and a driving load on the drive motor due to the tilt of the recording device in a movement of the carriage in the second direction is detected.

Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a pair of guide rails that movably supports a carriage and an abnormal portion detecting sensor that has a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for receiving a light beam emitted from the light emitting portion, in which the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are mounted on the carriage via a sensor mounting member.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting the registration of an image applied to recording media in a printer. The timing of the ejection of ink from an inkjet printhead of the printer is adjusted to maintain proper registration of a first side image to a second side image for duplex printing and y registration within a second side image printing from a first color print unit, such as magenta, to a last print unit, such as black. The location of a leading edge of the first side image deposited on a continuous web of recording media is identified and the timing of ink ejection from printhead nozzles is adjusted to align the second side image to the first side image. Adjustment of the timing of ink ejection reduces or eliminates observable registration errors.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including a support stage which supports a recording medium, a recording processing section which includes a recording unit for performing recording on the supported recording medium and is bridged so as to cross over the support stage in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis moving section which moves the recording processing section in a Y-axis direction with respect to the support stage, and a collision detection section which detects collision between a foreign matter and the recording processing section, in which the recording processing section includes projecting sections projecting in the X-axis direction with respect to the support stage, and side collision detection sections are respectively arranged on front and rear sides of the respective projecting sections.

Abstract: A measurement device for measuring a response to actuation of an electro-mechanical transducer in a print head assembly for an inkjet printing system includes a sensing circuit and a measurement circuit. The sensing circuit provides a path to system ground for the transducer. The transducer is associated with an ink chamber in the print head assembly. The transducer is configured to transfer energy to contents of the chamber in response to an actuation of the transducer in conjunction with electronics controller and waveform amplifier modules of the printing system. The measurement circuit monitors a ground signal at a transducer-side of the sensing circuit and a reference signal at a system ground-side of the sensing circuit. The measurement circuit generates a difference signal indicative of a difference between the ground and reference signals. Various embodiments of methods for measuring the response and additional embodiments of devices are provided.

Abstract: A printing device includes a camera position control mechanism configured and arranged to control a position of the camera to switch between a first state in which the alignment mark is photographed from a side of the first face, and a second state in which the alignment mark is photographed from a side of the second face.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a head and a control section. The head ejects an imaging liquid for forming an image and an auxiliary liquid for assisting the formation of the image by the imaging liquid with respect to a printing medium. The control section controls the head so that the imaging liquid and the auxiliary liquid are ejected with respect to the printing medium. Further, if there is a first region in which the imaging liquid and the auxiliary liquid are ejected, and a second region which is peeled after the image is formed in the first region in a region of the printing medium, the control section controls the head so that ejection of the auxiliary liquid is not executed with respect to the second region.

Abstract: A method for printing on a continuous sheet with an inkjet head includes printing a plurality of images in sequence and performing plural kinds of maintenance operations by using intermediate areas located between one of the images and next one of the images in accordance with a schedule, and setting the schedule such that a first maintenance operation included in the plural kinds of maintenance operations and a second maintenance operation which is performed with frequency different from that of the first maintenance operation are not performed at the same intermediate area.

Abstract: An embodiment of this invention is directed to ink droplet landing correction by a carriage scanning velocity. According to the embodiment, upon updating a correction value only in a case where a velocity difference is equal to or more than a predetermined value, possibility that ideal correction is not executed in an acceleration/deceleration region, and unnecessary correction occurs in a constant velocity moving region is reduced. More specifically, two velocity thresholds are set so as to sandwich a predetermined velocity of a servo profile. When the carriage scanning velocity falls in the range between the velocity thresholds, updating the correction value of the landing correction function is suppressed.

Abstract: An imaging module including a plurality of imaging systems for capturing images of a receiver medium. An illumination system illuminates the receiver medium with an illumination pattern. First and second imaging systems are positioned to capture images of the receiver medium, each including at least a portion of the illumination pattern. The first and second images are analyzed to determine a relative position of the illumination pattern in the first and second images. Imaging system alignment parameters for use in aligning images captured with the first and second imaging systems are determined responsive to the determined relative position.

Abstract: A method for aligning plurality of imaging systems for capturing images of a receiver medium. An illumination system is used to illuminate the receiver medium with an illumination pattern. First and second imaging systems are used to capture images of the receiver medium, each including at least a portion of the illumination pattern. The first and second images are analyzed to determine a relative position of the illumination pattern in the first and second images. Imaging system alignment parameters for use in aligning images captured with the first and second imaging systems are determined responsive to the determined relative position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printhead having a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array for discharging ink, a reading unit, a first obtaining unit configured to obtain first information about a shift amount between printing positions for the first and second nozzle arrays, a print control unit configured to print first and second distance detection patterns with the first and second nozzle arrays, a second obtaining unit configured to obtain second information about a distance between printing positions of the first and second distance detection patterns in accordance with a result of the first and second distance detection patterns, and a determination unit configured to determine an ink discharge timing in accordance with the first and second information.

Abstract: When an image is printed with inks each containing a polymer emulsion and a film forming agent, the ejection of the inks is controlled so that the ink having a relatively low dynamic surface tension forms dots having a higher dot connectivity than the dots formed with the ink having a relatively high dynamic surface tension.

Abstract: To provide a liquid ejecting apparatus and a method for detecting a medium edge position in a liquid ejecting apparatus whereby a decline in the accuracy of detecting an edge position of a medium caused by fouling of an optical sensor can be minimized, a reference reflecting surface, used in order to acquire a sensitivity determination value for determining the timing of switching the sensitivity of a sheet width sensor provided to a carriage, is irradiated with light and the output voltage of a light-receiving unit receiving the reflected light thereof is acquired; the output voltage is subtract from a power source voltage to measure a reference surface voltage.

Abstract: A printer includes a light source module including an ejecting head that ejects a UV ink onto a medium. The UV ink hardens when irradiated with a UV light ray. The light source module includes an irradiator that irradiates the UV ink with the UV light ray. The printer may include a guide shaft to/from which the light module is attachable/detachable and a driving controller that performs control of the irradiator. The light source module includes, in addition to the irradiator, a memory module that stores therein information indicating a light irradiation feature of the irradiator. The driving controller performs control of the irradiator by using the information indicating a light irradiation feature of the irradiator.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a transport path length of a continuous web of recording media in a printing system printing duplex images. The method includes detecting alignment marks, for instance top of form (TOF) marks, on the continuous web of print media and adjusting the path length to provide substantially accurate registration of first and second images on opposite sides of the web for duplex imaging. The system to adjust path length includes idler rollers movable with respect to turnbar rollers.

Abstract: A method for operating an inkjet printer includes forming a printed mark with a plurality of inkjets in a printhead, generating scanned image data of the printed mark, and modifying an image data correction parameter and firing signal waveform parameter for one of the inkjets to correct a process direction registration error between the locations of ink drops from the one inkjet and the location of the printed mark. The image data correction parameter modifies the location of ink drops from the one inkjet by an integer number of pixels and the firing signal waveform parameter modifies the location of ink drops from the one inkjet by a fractional pixel to enable registration of the inkjet.