Abstract: An inkjet printer comprises a stationary pagewidth inkjet printhead and a printhead maintenance station. The maintenance station comprises a chassis having a maintenance roller and a transfer roller mounted thereon. An engagement mechanism reciprocally moves the chassis towards and away from the printhead such that a contact surface of the maintenance roller is sealingly engaged with or disengaged from the face. A rotation mechanism rotates the maintenance roller only when the maintenance roller is disengaged from the face, and the transfer roller receives ink from the maintenance roller during rotation of the maintenance roller.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprises a printhead having an ink ejection face and an ink supply system including a face flooding system. A sheet feed arrangement feeds a disposable sheet past the printhead and through a maintenance zone spaced apart from the face, and a print media feed arrangement feeds print media past the printhead and through a print zone. The maintenance zone is nearer the face than the print zone, and no part of the disposable sheet makes contact with the printhead.

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head which comprises nozzles including at least one suctioned nozzle and at least one non-suctioned nozzle and ejecting liquid, pressure chambers supplying the nozzles with the liquid, and a common liquid chamber supplying the pressure chambers with the liquid; and an individual suctioning unit which suctions the liquid in the at least one suctioned nozzle, wherein when the individual suctioning unit suctions the liquid in the at least one suctioned nozzle, a following inequality is satisfied: P0??Pin<Pn, where Pn is an internal pressure of the at least one non-suctioned nozzle of which the liquid is not suctioned by the individual suctioning unit, and P0??Pin is a first limit value of the internal pressure of the at least one non-suctioned nozzle above which air does not flow into the at least one non-suctioned nozzle.

Abstract: A printhead assembly suitable for printhead maintenance operations is provided. The printhead assembly comprises: (a) a printhead having an ink ejection face; (b) an ink supply system for supplying ink to the printhead; and (c) a foaming system for providing a liquid foam on the face.

Abstract: One embodiment of a printhead servicing mechanism includes a driveshaft, and a sled including a rack adapted to selectively engage the driveshaft and a retaining wall positioned to retain the driveshaft on the rack in a zone.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head having a nozzle, a cleaning mechanism, and a controller. The controller includes a timer device, first memory section, second memory section, power supply, determining section, and tracked time correction section. If determination of the determining section is positive when the power supply is resumed, the tracked time correcting section reads out tracked time information from the second memory section and causes the timer device to start time tracking from the time indicated by the tracked time information that was stored when power supply to the liquid ejection apparatus was stopped. If the controller determines that the difference between the tracked time and the end time indicated by end time information stored in the first memory section is longer than or equal to a predetermined period, the controller operates the cleaning mechanism to carry out the cleaning.

Abstract: A maintenance assembly for a pagewidth printer, said assembly operatively mounted between posts of a main body of the printer so that the maintenance assembly is positioned adjacent a printhead assembly of the printer. The maintenance assembly includes a maintenance chassis defining tongue portions and having ends which are shaped to fit over the posts of the main body to secure the maintenance assembly in position. The maintenance assembly also includes a retainer element operatively engaging the chassis, and a lower molding and an upper molding operatively fast with each other to sandwich an absorbent insert between them. The moldings are in turn sandwiched between the chassis and retainer element, so that the maintenance assembly is useable to wipe the printhead of the printer.

Abstract: Producing a three-dimensional multi-material component whereby successive layers of at least one material are printed by a drop ink-jet-type printer including cutting a representation of the multi-material component into remarkable objects; cutting the representation of the component into print layers, as a function of the remarkable objects; for each print layer, establishing a plurality of discrete spatial print path trajectories; for each print layer and for each discrete spatial trajectory, establishing an assembly of printing parameters which are dependent on the nature of the deposited materials and the deposition conditions thereof; and establishing a rule for the spatial and temporal sequencing of the print path of the print layers and of the discrete spatial trajectories as a function of the objects, the relative three-dimensional arrangement thereof and the characteristics of the printing device.

Abstract: A resealed inkjet printer cartridge and method of manufacture in which an ink cartridge is reconditioned, recharged and resealed by a process which substantially eliminates “air lock” or interruption of ink flow to the printer head due to entrained air; which provides for welding together recharged cartridge subassemblies without the use of consumable adhesive or glue; and having a keyless cap adapted for use in various keyed cartridge receptacle inkjet printers.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes an elongate channel member of a metal alloy; a flexible elongate fluid carrier positioned on a floor of the channel member, the fluid carrier defining a plurality of passages longitudinally extending along a length of the fluid carrier, the fluid carrier further defining a repeated pattern of holes on an external surface thereof, the holes providing fluid communication from outside the fluid carrier to respective passages of the fluid carrier; and a series of printhead modules mounted to the external surface of the fluid carrier, each printhead module including an upper micro-molding and a lower micro-molding, the lower micro-molding having an air inlet slot in fluid communication with one of the plurality of passages via a hole of the repeated pattern of holes at one end and a series of alternating air inlets and outlets on the upper micro-molding at an opposite end.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus a plurality of head chip modules including a plurality of head chips, and a plurality of sub covers to cover the plurality of head chip modules individually. Covering the plurality of head chip modules respectively with a plurality of sub covers a significant reduction in evaporation of ink from nozzle parts of the head chips.

Abstract: A maintenance system and method for maintaining an imaging member of an imaging device includes a pre-cleaning device to clean the imaging member; an applicator to apply release agent to the imaging member; a metering device to meter release agent on the imaging member; a reservoir to remotely store release agent; and a pump to supply the applicator with release agent from the reservoir. The saturation level of the applicator is monitored and maintained within a predetermined range. The applicator, pre-cleaning device and metering device may be independently actuated to engage the imaging member. Release agent collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be recycled. Debris collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be stored and/or removed.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a conveyance belt for conveying a recording medium; a cleaning roller kept in contact with the conveyance belt to clean the conveyance belt; and a controller for controlling the cleaning roller so as to be able to select between two modes for its driving, wherein the two modes are the mode in which the cleaning roller is driven by the movement of the conveyance belt and the mode in which the cleaning roller is driven independently of the movement of the conveyance belt.

Abstract: A recovery mechanism comprises a recovery unit for performing a recovery process for recovering from clogging or contamination by ink in the nozzle array constituted by a plurality of nozzles. A conveyance mechanism supports and conveys, downstream, a recording medium that is conveyed from the upstream area of a conveyance path and handed over. A power control unit makes a control unit control the shutoff of a power supply to the nozzle array drive unit that drives the nozzle array when an abnormality occurs in the supporting and conveying of the recording medium that is performed by the conveyance mechanism in the recording process using the ink jetted from a plurality of nozzles or when the recovery unit makes contact with the nozzle array during recovery of the nozzle array in the recovery process.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle orifice, a blowing mechanism disposed on the liquid ejecting head side, and a gap control unit which relatively controls a gap between the nozzle orifices and an ejection target medium, in which driving of the blowing mechanism is controlled depending on the gap between the nozzle orifices and the ejection target medium.

Abstract: An ink supply system for purging an inkjet printhead is provided. The ink supply system comprises: (a) a first ink reservoir for supplying printing ink to the printhead; (b) a second ink reservoir for supplying purging ink to the printhead; and (c) a valve having a plurality of configurations, wherein: in a first configuration the valve provides fluid communication between the printhead and the first ink reservoir via a first ink conduit, and in a second configuration the valve provides fluid communication between the printhead and the second ink reservoir via a second ink conduit.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus, which cleans a print head of a printing apparatus in response to a start trigger for regular cleaning, includes a sound sensor that detects a sound of the operational environment of the printing apparatus, a determination unit that determines whether the operational environment is quiet or not based on a comparison result between detected sound of the sound sensor and a threshold value, and a controller that delays the start of the regular cleaning by holding the start trigger until the operational environment becomes quiet based on a determination result of the determination unit when the start trigger for the regular cleaning has occurred.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a body housing a print engine. The print engine is configured to transport and print upon print media. A retractable cover is pivotally mounted relative to the body and is able to be pivoted to form a guide which can guide print media to the print engine for printing. A capping mechanism configured to cap the printhead assembly. In one embodiment, the capping mechanism comprises a sponge surrounded by an elastomeric seal.

Abstract: A micro-extrusion printhead assembly utilized in a micro-extrusion system to form parallel extruded lines on a substrate includes a material feed system for pushing/drawing materials through flow channels and out of extrusion nozzles defined in the printhead assembly. The micro-extrusion printhead includes a layered nozzle structure sandwiched between plate structures, and the flow channels are defined by slots and holes formed in the layered/plate structures. Prior to use, solid forming fluid is passed through the printhead assembly such that the forming fluid occupies dead volumes (e.g., corners and pockets) of the flow channels. The solid forming fluid is then flushed from the flow channels such that portions of the solid forming fluid are retained in the dead volumes. The retained portions are then solidified to form solid structures that fill the dead volumes. In subsequent use, the solid structures prevent stagnation of extrusion material in the dead volumes.

Abstract: A device cleans an inkjet printhead in a franking and/or addressing machine. The inkjet printhead is disposed in a stationary manner such that it can be pivoted in a printing window of a guide plate for the print carrier. A cleaning and sealing device is disposed behind the guide plate such that it can be displaced toward and away from the inkjet printhead. This improves the print quality, prolongs service life, and provides a high throughput rate. Spraying clear is possible both during the print carrier transport and in a rest position without the letter run being soiled. The cleaning and sealing device is disposed underneath the inkjet printhead to be displaced by an associated displacement device. A matched baffle piece is disposed underneath the inkjet printhead such that it can pivot and is coupled to the latter.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus that discharges liquid droplets onto a work includes a head that is supplied with discharging liquid to discharge the liquid droplets; a liquid cleaning unit that contains cleaning liquid to be mixed with the discharging liquid adhered to a nozzle surface of the head; and a transport unit that moves the nozzle surface of the head relative to the liquid cleaning unit to remove, from the nozzle surface, the discharging liquid adhered to the nozzle surface.

Abstract: An appropriate maintenance such as appropriate registration adjustment can be executed even if a status for the maintenance cannot be acquired from a printing apparatus. Specifically, if a status cannot be acquired from the printer, a printer driver refers to a history of number of past instructions for registration adjustment stored in a host computer to determine whether simplified registration adjustment or detailed registration adjustment is to be executed. If the printer driver does not detect any record of executed registration adjustment, that is, if the printer driver detects that no registration adjustment has been executed, then it determines that the simplified registration adjustment is to be executed. If the printer driver detects any record of executed registration adjustment, it determines that the detailed registration adjustment is to be executed. Thus, the invention enables the correct guidance and the corresponding appropriate registration adjustment even if the status cannot be acquired.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet printer comprising an ink gun for forming an ink jet; an arrangement of electrodes for trapping electric charges on ink drops of the ink jet and for creating an electrostatic field for deflecting drops carrying trapped electric charges; and a gutter having an ink-receiving orifice for receiving ink drops of the ink jet which are not used for printing; a gutter flow path for flow of ink from the ink-receiving orifice of the gutter, through and away from the gutter; an air recirculation line for conveying at least some of any air that has passed with the ink along at least a part of the gutter flow path so as to re-enter the gutter flow path either through the ink-receiving orifice or through a connection into the gutter flow path downstream of the ink-receiving orifice; and a vent for venting at least some of the air that has passed with the ink along at least a part of the gutter flow path so as not to re-enter the gutter flow path.

Abstract: A maintenance system and method for maintaining an imaging member of an imaging device includes a pre-cleaning device to clean the imaging member; an applicator to apply release agent to the imaging member; a metering device to meter release agent on the imaging member; a reservoir to remotely store release agent; and a pump to supply the applicator with release agent from the reservoir. The saturation level of the applicator is monitored and maintained within a predetermined range. The applicator, pre-cleaning device and metering device may be independently actuated to engage the imaging member. Release agent collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be recycled. Debris collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be stored and/or removed.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a chassis having mounted thereon: a maintenance roller having an elastically deformable contact surface and an ink removal system for removing ink from the maintenance roller; (ii) moving the chassis towards the printhead such that the contact surface is sealingly engaged with an ink ejection face thereof; (iii) moving the chassis away from said printhead such that the contact surface is disengaged from the face; and (iv) rotating the maintenance roller such that ink is removed from the contact surface by the ink removal system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus service a print head by translating a first web support relative to a second web support to adjust a length of a web extending between the first support and the second support.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet printer and an inkjet printing method, which enable an ink that overflowed to the outside from the edge of a printing medium to be fully absorbed by a platen. More specifically, the present invention provides an inkjet printer, including a platen, which absorbs a pigment ink that overflows to the outside of a printing medium when edgeless printing is carried out on the printing medium by using an ink that employs a pigment as a colorant, moving a printing head along a guide shaft, and ejecting the pigment ink from the printing head, and also an inkjet printing method, wherein the platen is impregnated with a humecant, a base, and the like.

Abstract: A method of removing flooded ink from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises transferring the ink onto a disposable sheet moving past the face, wherein the sheet does not contact the face.

Abstract: A shield assembly is provided for use in combination an ink jet printer and is operative to provide a smooth planar surface for printing on a print media. The described embodiment includes a shield having first and second contact surfaces to define an opening therebetween. The opening of the shield assembly is aligned with the print head of the ink jet printer for permitting the deposition of ink through the opening. The assembly further includes a pivot mount operative to pivot the shield about a rotational axis which is substantially parallel to the feed path of the print media and orthogonal to the motion of the print head. Moreover, the assembly includes a means for pivoting the shield about the rotational axis in a first and second direction thereby causing one of the contact surfaces to engage the print media upstream of the print head when depositing ink on the print media.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer including at least a printhead of inkjet type configured to eject ink according to print data and a cleaning unit configured to perform a cleaning of the printhead by ejecting ink to produce suitable conditions for an inkjet recording, the inkjet printer further includes a user information input unit configured to input user information, a cleaning direction unit configured to issue for a user a cleaning direction, and a control unit configured to instruct the cleaning unit to clean the printhead in response to the cleaning direction issued by the cleaning direction unit on condition that the user information inputted by the user information input unit is permissible to perform the cleaning.

Abstract: Provided is a cradle unit for receiving a print cartridge to form a print engine. The cradle unit includes a main body defining an opening for receiving said cartridge, the main body having a frame structure including end plates with drive and exit rollers mounted therebetween. The cradle unit also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) pivotally mounted between the end plates for housing control electronics for controlling the operation of the print engine, and a cover assembly for securing said cartridge in the opening. The cover assembly is pivotally mounted between the end plates, with the cover assembly configured to pivot the PCB into electrical contact with a printhead controller on the cartridge when in a closed position, and to pivot the PCB out of electrical connection with said printhead controller when in an open position.

Abstract: A driving module utilized for driving a print head maintenance station. The print head maintenance station includes a capper and a wiper. The driving module includes: a first rotation unit having a first surface corresponding to a first profile; a second rotation unit having a second surface corresponding to a second profile; a first connection module for moving the capper according to the first profile of the first rotation unit; a second connection module for moving the wiper according to the second profile of the second rotation unit; a transfer module coupled to the first connection module and the second connection module; and a motor coupled to the transfer module for driving the first and second rotation units to rotate simultaneously according to the transfer module.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus in which image is formed on a recording medium by ejecting droplets onto the recording medium comprises: a plurality of ejection ports through which the droplets are ejected; a line head in which the ejection ports are aligned along a length corresponding to an entire width of the recording medium; a head recovery device which performs a head recovery processing to recover from a defect of the ejection ports in the line head; a head retracting device which moves the line head to a retracted position for performing the head recovery processing; and an auxiliary head which is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium, wherein the auxiliary head records the image onto the recording medium while the head recovery processing is performed to the line head in the retracted position.

Abstract: A method for forming an image with at least one linear array of imaging elements. Defective ones of the imaging elements associated with a particular color are detected. A first defective imaging element compensation operation is performed for portions of the image data that are associated with a first predetermined number or fewer adjacent defective imaging elements. A different second defective imaging element compensation operation is performed for portions of the image data that are associated a second predetermined number or more adjacent defective imaging elements.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving an overlay having a flushing pattern to flush nozzles of an inkjet print head, printing a page of print data and flushing the nozzles of the inkjet print head during the printing of the page of print data as indicated by the flushing pattern. The flushing of a nozzle does not occur at a data point of the flushing pattern corresponding to a data point of the page of print data.

Abstract: A print mechanism positioned in a housing having a pivotably mounted cover and including a ink flow regulator operatively connected to a print cartridge and provided with a plurality of seals to prevent contamination and damage from unwanted ink flow.

Abstract: A method of removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) flooding the face with ink from the printhead, thereby dispersing the particulates into the flooded ink; and (b) transferring the flooded ink, including the particulates, onto a transfer surface moving past the face. Damage to the face is avoided since the transfer surface does not contact the face.

Abstract: A droplet ejection device includes a droplet ejection head, a conveyance member, a cleaning unit and a coating unit. The droplet ejection head ejects droplets. The conveyance member retains a recording medium and conveys the recording medium to oppose the droplet ejection head. The cleaning unit cleans the conveyance member. The coating unit applies a coating liquid, with a characteristic of repelling the liquid that is ejected from the droplet ejection head, onto the conveyance member. A surface tension ?o of the coating liquid, a critical surface tension ?b of the conveyance member, and a surface tension ?i of the liquid that is ejected from the droplet ejection head satisfy the following equations (1) and (2).

Abstract: A technique for servicing an inkjet printhead on an inkjet printer including a first service module. The technique includes identifying a printhead-related service condition not adequately addressed by servicing the printer with the first service module, providing a second service module different from the first service module and adapted to address the printhead-related service condition. A set of instructions can be provided for using the second service module with the inkjet printer. The technique can further include removing the first service module from the printer, installing the second service module in the printer, and using the set of instructions, conducting a special printer servicing operation. After completion of the special printer servicing operation, the second service module can be removed from the printer, and the first service module reinstalled in the printer in place of the second service module.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge for an inkjet printer is provided. The cartridge is removably receivable in the printer. The cartridge comprises: (a) a printhead; (b) an ink delivery system for supplying ink to the printhead; and (c) a maintenance station for maintaining the printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station comprises a maintenance roller having an elastically deformable contact surface and an ink removal system for removing ink from the contact surface when the maintenance roller is rotated.

Abstract: A printer functioning as a liquid ejection apparatus includes a recording head having nozzles, a flushing sheet feeding mechanism, and a cleaning mechanism. The flushing sheet feeding mechanism feeds a flushing sheet for absorbing ink, which is ejected from the nozzles, from a non-flushing position separated from the recording head to a flushing position facing the recording head and from the flushing position to the non-flushing position during flushing. The cleaning mechanism removes the ink absorbed in the flushing sheet after flushing.

Abstract: The invention is an ink supply system (2) for an inkjet printer (1) with a print head assembly (6) comprising at least one print head (7) with one or more nozzles (8) for at least one colour, in which the print head (7) is linked via a first connection line (19) with a supply tank (17), which is connected with an intermediate tank (12) via a filler line with interconnected conveyance means (16) and filter assembly (18), and also via a second connection line (21) with a return tank (22) and with the means (32) to generate a vacuum, through which the pressure differential in the supply tank (17) and/or return tank (22) can be controlled if necessary, which controls a flow of the ink from the supply tank (17) via at least one flow channel (20) in the print head (7) to the return tank (22) and the return tank (22) is linked with the intermediate tank (12) via a return line (24), where applicable also with interconnected conveyance means (25), whereby a closed ink circuit (for standard printing operations) is main

Abstract: The present invention is an image recording apparatus comprising an image recording unit which records an image by ejecting ink drops with respect to an recording medium, a conveyance unit conveys the recording medium at the time of image recording by the conveying driving means, a recording medium feeding unit which feeds the recording medium to the conveyance unit, and a particulate dust preventing unit which has a partitioning member partitioning space in the image recording apparatus into an image recording region GR at which image recording is carried out by the image recording unit, and a paper feeding region FR at which the recording medium is fed by the recording medium feeding unit, and which can carry out image recording in high image quality and with high reliability, without deteriorating the conveying ability for a recording medium.

Abstract: An inkjet head clean device for inkjet printer includes a main body, a pump, a first guide-tube and a second guide-tube. The main body has a tank for receiving cleansing liquid. The pump that sets in the main body has a first pipe-hole and a second pipe-hole. One end of the first guide-tube connects with the first pipe-hole of the pump and another end extends into the tank. One end of the second guide-tube connects with the second pipe-hole of the pump and another end connects with an inkjet head. By the way, the clean device of present invention can wash the inkjet head by reusing the cleansing liquid and make the inkjet head clean.

Abstract: A platen for supporting a reverse surface of a recording medium under a recording head capable of performing image recording with ink droplets on the recording medium, which is conveyed along a specified direction in a main body of an inkjet recording apparatus. The platen comprises an ink receiving portion which receives ink and an ink guiding portion. The ink guiding portion guides the ink received by the ink receiving portion to an ink absorbing member. Specifically, the ink guiding portion guides the ink to an ink guide groove provided in an upper surface of a placement portion, on which the ink absorbing member is placed.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus includes an ejection head for ejecting ink droplets toward a recording medium by exerting electrostatic force onto ink containing charged colorant particles, an ink tank for reserving the ink to be supplied to the ejection head, a circulation path for circulating the ink between the ejection head and the ink tank, and a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the ejection head and the circulation path using cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid circulated through the circulation path at a time of cleaning by the cleaning mechanism is obtained by adding a charge control agent to an ink dispersion medium.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead comprises the steps of: (i) providing a maintenance roller having a contact surface for sealing engagement with the printhead; (ii) moving the roller into a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the printhead; (iii) moving the roller into a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from said printhead; and (iv) rotating the roller such that the contact surface is conveyed away from the printhead. The maintenance roller does not rotate when the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the printhead.

Abstract: A device spray cleans an inkjet print head. The purpose of the device is to avoid the formation of stalagmites during spray cleaning and therefore also to improve the print quality as a result of the fact that the transport device for the print carriers or items of mail is soiled as little as possible. This is achieved by a relative movement of a baffle element in a flat space or in a plane parallel to the nozzle surface of the at least one inkjet print head in conjunction with the spray cleaning.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an object liquid deposition device which deposits an object liquid containing coloring material onto a recording medium; a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits a treatment liquid that insolubilizes the coloring material onto the recording medium; and a control device which controls the treatment liquid deposition device in such a manner that volume of the treatment liquid deposited in a high-density region on the recording medium where volume per prescribed surface area of the object liquid deposited on the recording medium is high, is less than volume of the treatment liquid deposited in a low-density region on the recording medium where the volume per prescribed surface area of the object liquid deposited on the recording medium is low.