Abstract: In order to make maintenance of an ink jet printer less time-consuming, when ink is to be purged from ink jet heads 1, a unit conveying mechanism 30 moves a feeding plane 11a of a feeding sheet 11 to a retreated position that is inclined with respect to ink jet faces 4a of the ink jet heads 1. An ink receiving sheet 21 is then moved to an ink receiving position that is between the ink jet faces 4a and the feeding plane 11a and that extends along this feeding plane 11a. Ink that is jetted onto the ink receiving sheet 21 from the ink jet faces 4a of the ink jet heads 1 runs down the ink receiving sheet 21, and is collected in an ink tank 72.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording device includes: an ink-jet head that ejects an ink toward a recording medium, the ink curable by irradiating with an actinic energy ray to form an image on the recording medium, and a mist adsorbing portion that is disposed in the vicinity of the ink-jet head and that electrostatically adsorbs an ink mist produced by ejecting the ink from the ink-jet head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a compact and inexpensive image forming apparatus which includes a head for discharging inks, an ink supply path fixed in parallel to the head to supply the inks to the head, a recording medium conveying section arranged to face the head, thereby conveying a recording medium, and a maintenance mechanism arranged above the recording medium conveying section and below the ink supply path to perform maintenance of the head during image nonformation.

Abstract: A maintenance method is provided for a discharging head in which multiple discharging portions are arranged in line. The maintenance method includes the steps of performing an operation of continuously discharging droplets from one discharging portion or a plurality of unadjacent discharging portions, and repeating the operation for one discharging portion or a plurality of discharging portions adjacent to the previous discharging portion or the previous discharging portions in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A method of operating an inkjet printer having an inkjet printhead and a rotating platen is disclosed. The platen has disposed on part of the surface of the platen an ink absorbing member and a print media supporting area for supporting print media being printed on. The method includes rotating the platen to place the ink absorbing member in an ink ejection path of the printhead, and receiving ink from the printhead by the ink absorbing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a conveying mechanism that is provided in this apparatus body and conveys a sheet, a recording head that moves along a moving path orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet, ejects an ink to the sheet to print an image on the sheet, and, after the printing is finished, stands by in a first standby position on one end side of the moving path, and a CPU that moves the recording head that is on standby in the first standby position to an arbitrary position of the moving path.

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, comprising 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: An ink jet printer is provided with an ink jet head, a wiper and a transferring device. The ink jet head has an ink discharging plane. A plurality of ink openings for discharging ink toward a print medium and a liquid opening for discharging liquid are formed on the ink discharging plane. The ink openings are closer to one end of the ink discharging plane than the liquid opening is. The liquid opening is closer to the other end of the ink discharging plane than the ink openings are. The wiper wipes the ink discharging plane of the ink jet head. The transferring device transfers the ink jet head and/or the wiper such that the wiper wipes the ink discharging plane from a beginning position located at the other end side of the ink discharging plane to a finishing position located at the one end side of the ink discharging plane. The liquid discharged from the liquid opening adheres to the wiper when the wiper wipes an area where the liquid opening is formed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a jetting assembly including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting droplets on a substrate; an enclosure defining a print zone within which the jetting assembly prints on the substrate, the enclosure including an inlet for introducing a material associated with controlling an environment of the enclosure.

Abstract: An ink-jet image forming apparatus includes a main body, an ink-jet head mounted in the main body and provided with a nozzle part, and a cleaning device mounted movably along the nozzle part to clean the nozzle part. The cleaning device includes a roller to supply a cleaning liquid to the nozzle part, and a wiper to wipe the nozzle part. The ink-jet head includes a cleaning liquid nozzle to supply the cleaning liquid to the roller, and a cleaning liquid storage part to store the cleaning liquid.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprising: a liquid ejection head, operable to eject liquid to a target; a printing region, at which the liquid ejection head ejects liquid to the target; a flushing region, at which the liquid ejection head ejects liquid to perform a flushing operation; a flushing receiver, provided at the flushing region and adapted to receive liquid ejected from the liquid ejection head at the flushing region; a liquid ejection head carrier, operable to carry the liquid ejection head at least between the printing region and the flushing region; a waiting time information generator, operable to generate a waiting time based on estimation information to estimate a time in which liquid ejected from the liquid ejection head arrives at the flushing receiver; and a controller, operable to control the liquid ejection head carrier to carry the liquid ejection head from the flushing region toward the printing region after the waiting time elapses.

Abstract: A maintenance scheduling system for creating a maintenance schedule for an image forming apparatus includes an actual use acquiring unit configured to acquire actual use information of the image forming apparatus and actual use information of a consumable part, a failure probability distribution estimating unit configured to estimate failure probability distribution of the consumable part on the basis of history of actual use information of the consumable part, a counter proceeding degree acquiring unit configured to acquire a counter proceeding degree, which is a counter value per day, on the basis of history of actual use information of the image forming apparatus, and a maintenance scheduling unit configured to present next replacement timing and a consumable part to be replaced, on the basis of the failure probability distribution of each of the consumable parts and the counter proceeding degree.

Abstract: A printhead with a series of overlapping printhead segments, all controlled by a print engine controller that adjusts for the temperature variable overlap between the segments to reduce visually perceptible artefacts. The controller sums a current dither value from a dither matrix with an overlap signal to provide an output value which is then compared in a comparator with an input continuous tone data value providing an output compensated dither value to control nozzles in the overlap region of the segments. Alternatively it uses a software program to provide the compensated dither matrix. A temperature sensor measures the degree of overlap of the segments to generate the overlap signal. The degree of overlap may be determined for various temperatures and stored in a ROM.

Abstract: A print head cleaning device, an ink jet image forming apparatus having the same, and methods thereof include a cleaning liquid circulation and/or a structure to clean an image forming apparatus print head.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance assembly for an inkjet printer includes a housing. A movable chassis is arranged in the housing. A belt is mounted on the chassis with a contact surface for sealing engagement with a printhead of the printer. The chassis and thus the belt are reciprocally movable between a first position in which the contact surface is engaged with the printhead and a second position in which the printhead is disengaged from the printhead. A pair of spools are mounted on the chassis. The belt is mounted about the spools, with one of the spools being a toothed drive spool and the other being an idler spool. A drive motor is mounted on the chassis. A drive gear driven by the motor is engaged with the drive spool so that the motor can drive the belt. The drive spool, drive gear and drive motor form part of a conveyor mechanism for conveying the belt in a direction substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the printhead.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a table that transfers a workpiece in a first scan direction; a carriage that has a liquid discharging head for discharging liquid droplets on the workpiece, and moves along a guide member in a second scan direction; one or more maintainers that are used to perform maintenance such as cleaning of the liquid discharging head; and transfer units that the transfers the maintainers to a standby position in which the maintainers does not interfere with the table to be scanned, and a maintenance position in which the maintenance of the liquid discharging head is performed. When the maintainers are positioned at the standby position, at least a part of the maintainers is positioned in a workpiece maximum scanning range, which is a maximum moving range of the workpiece in the first scan direction during the scanning of the workpiece on the table.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises: an endless maintenance belt having a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead; a cleaning station for cleaning the belt; and a conveyor mechanism for conveying the belt past the face and past the cleaning station. The belt is reciprocally movable between a first position in which part of the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face, and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face.

Abstract: An ink jet applicator includes an ink jet head having nozzle via which liquid droplets are jetted, a seal mechanism sealing the nozzle using a pressure vessel; a solution supply mechanism supplying a solution to the nozzle at a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus conducts image recording by ejecting ink and a reactive liquid that reacts with the ink onto a recording medium conveyed by an endless conveyor component. The inkjet recording apparatus includes: a dummy ejection controller that dummy-ejects one of the ink and the reactive liquid onto a first position on the endless conveyor component and dummy-ejects the other of the reactive liquid and the ink onto a second position on the endless conveyor component where the one of the ink and the reactive liquid is not adherent; and a cleaning device that cleans the ink and the reactive liquid on the endless conveyor component.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises an inkjet head which includes a nozzle plate where a plurality of nozzles that shoot ink are arranged in a column and an ink chamber which retains ink and is connected to the plurality of nozzles, at least one maintenance suction section which has a suction area larger than the nozzles, a suction section driving mechanism which causes the suction area to face the nozzles and moves the suction section relatively in the nozzle arrangement direction; and a positive pressure applying section which applies a positive pressure to the ink chamber. The maintenance suction section sucks in ink near the nozzles as moving in the nozzle arrangement direction, while the positive pressure is being applied to the ink chamber.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a printhead having an ink ejection face, and a wicking element positioned for receiving ink from an edge portion of the face and/or an edge portion of a pad being disengaged from the face.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a support assembly. An elongate ink delivery assembly is mounted on the support assembly and is configured to deliver ink from an ink supply. A series of inkjet printhead integrated circuits is mounted on the ink delivery assembly and defines a plurality of ink inlets in fluid communication with respective conduits defined by the ink delivery assembly. At least one printhead cap is movably mounted on the support assembly between an operative position in which the printhead integrated circuits are capped by the printhead cap and an inoperative position in which the printhead integrated circuits are uncapped permitting a printing operation. An actuating mechanism is arranged on the support assembly to actuate movement of the at least one cap so as to cap and uncap the printhead integrated circuits.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element substrate includes a substrate; an ejection outlet array for ejecting ink; a heat generating element array comprising a plurality of heat generating elements for generating ejection energy for ejecting the ink from the ejection outlet array; a protecting film, comprising protecting portions, for protecting the heat generating element array; a common line, disposed along a side of the heat generating element array, for supplying electric power for driving the heat generating elements, and being divided into at least two portions by a line perpendicular to the heat generating element array; a testing electrode for testing a function of the protecting film; and an externally connecting electrode, disposed at an end of the substrate, for externally supplying electric power to the common line; wherein the ink jet recording element substrate further includes, in an area between the portions of the common line, a connecting line for electrically connecting the protecting portions of the

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet image forming apparatus and method. The inkjet image forming apparatus comprises an inkjet head comprising a nozzle unit with a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected, at least one wiper cleaning the nozzle unit, a mount part on which the wiper is installed, and elastic members elastically biasing the wiper in a direction where the wiper can contact the nozzle unit, wherein the wiper installed on the mount part can be tilted in a longitudinal direction thereof.

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, comprising 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: Various embodiments and methods relating to condensation of print head cleaning fluid upon a print head are disclosed.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus is provided which includes an ink-jet head having a plurality of ink chambers and a common ink chamber which communicates with each of the plurality of ink chambers to supply ink to the plurality of ink chambers, the ink-jet head maintaining the plurality of ink chambers at a negative pressure in image recording, selecting one of the plurality of ink chambers on the basis of printing data and causing change in volume of the selected ink chamber, and thereby performing image recording by discharging the ink from a nozzle, and a pressure section which applies a positive pressure to the plurality of ink chambers when the ink-jet head is in a left state, the positive pressure being a pressure at which the ink is not discharged from the nozzle.

Abstract: A printer arrangement having a printhead mounted on a carrier, the printhead connected to a printhead controller by means of encapsulated wire bonds. The arrangement also includes an ink supply manifold having a plurality of ink reservoirs for supplying the printhead with ink, and an ink transport assembly configured to facilitate purging of ink from the printhead when the assembly is in a cleaning position.

Abstract: A printer system includes a print head assembly that ejects a printing solution from a fixed position during a print period and a conveying mechanism operable to convey an operations assembly. The operations assembly executes servicing functions on the print head assembly during a non-print period. Furthermore, the print head assembly remains in the fixed position during the non-print period and the operations assembly provides support for a print medium during the print period.

Abstract: A cartridge for an inkjet printer is provided which comprises at least one ink storage compartment, an ink feed system for supplying ink from the ink compartment(s) to a printhead, and a maintenance station for engaging the printhead to perform one or more maintenance functions.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a recording head including a nozzle face, in which the recording head is configured to dispense ink onto a recording medium to form an image thereon. The device also includes a supporting member which faces the nozzle face and is configured to support the recording medium, and an ink receiving portion which is positioned on the supporting member and faces the nozzle face. The ink receiving portion includes a first plurality guides, and a second plurality of guides. Each of the first plurality of guides and each of the second plurality of guides includes a guide face and is configured to guide the ink dispensed from the recording head. Moreover, the guide face includes a first portion and a second portion, and a first distance between the first portion and the nozzle face is less than a second distance between the second portion and the nozzle face.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a plurality of transport belts, upstream and downstream liquid ejecting units that include a plurality of liquid ejecting heads which are arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the direction that the printing medium is transported through the apparatus, a maintenance unit that is provided between the transport belts, and a positioning unit that establishes the relative position between the upstream liquid ejecting unit, the upstream transport unit, the downstream liquid ejecting unit, and the downstream transport unit by moving components of the upstream liquid ejecting unit, the upstream transport unit, the downstream liquid ejecting unit, and the downstream transport unit in a direction that is orthogonal to the transport direction such that the liquid ejecting heads of the upstream and downstream liquid ejecting units face the maintenance unit during a maintenance operation.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead maintenance station which includes a body defining an elongate slot along a length thereof, and a pad mounted on a pad support inside said body. The pad support is slidably engaged to said housing to be slidable to a first position, where the pad protrudes from the slot, and a second position, where the pad is inside the body. The station also includes an engagement mechanism to displace the pad between the first and second positions.

Abstract: The ejection head comprises: an ejection aperture which ejects onto a receiving medium a liquid in which charged dispersion particles are dispersed in a solvent; a pressure chamber which contains the liquid; an ejection channel which connects the ejection aperture with the pressure chamber; a pressurizing device which applies an ejection pressure to the liquid; and an electrode pair provided facing a vicinity of a meniscus of the liquid inside the ejection channel for generating an electric field inside the ejection channel, wherein at least a portion of the charged dispersion particles are caused to move to a vicinity of at least one of the electrodes in the electrode pair by means of the electric field generated inside the ejection channel, and the liquid from which the at least the portion of the charged dispersion particles have been removed is ejected from the ejection aperture by the pressurizing device.

Abstract: It is provided with a pair of carriage guide shafts, and the carriage guide shaft is made to be in sliding contact with a carriage, to realize such a concentric shaft configuration that a guide shaft part, which directly guides a reciprocating motion of the carriage, and rotation shaft parts, which are disposed on both ends thereof, were disposed so as to coincide therewith. In addition, by disposing parallel lifting device which utilized a cam mechanism and a lifting guide portion to side frames, the carriage guide shaft is configured so as to be able to obtain a predetermined lifting stroke which corresponds to a rotation angle. In addition, as synchronous drive transmission mechanism of the pair of carriage guide shafts, a gear wheel train was used.

Abstract: The present invention solves problems attributable to color mixing occurring at a region where an ink container containing three or more different inks and an inkjet printing head are connected as a result of repetition of connection and disconnection of the components. An ink cartridge has a joint section which is connected to a printing head unit when the inks are supplied to the printing head unit. The printing head unit performs printing by ejecting the cyan, magenta, and yellow inks. At the joint section, a supplying part for the cyan ink, a supplying part for the magenta ink, and a supplying part for the yellow ink are arranged in the order listed. The interval between the yellow ink supplying part and the magenta ink supplying part is greater than the interval between the cyan ink supplying part and the magenta ink supplying part.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head which includes a nozzle ejecting liquid, a pressure chamber connected to the nozzle and arranged in a liquid ejection surface of the liquid ejection head, and a pressure application device applying pressure to the liquid inside the pressure chamber; an internal pressure adjustment device which adjusts an internal pressure of the liquid ejection head; and a pressure control device which controls the internal pressure adjustment device and the pressure application device so as to spread the liquid over the liquid ejection surface of the liquid ejection head. The internal pressure adjustment device adjusts the internal pressure of the liquid ejection head to a positive pressure so as to still hold the liquid on the nozzle while protruding the liquid from the liquid ejection surface.

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: A service station for use with a fluid ejection device having a fluid-ejection mechanism with at least one nozzle includes a housing configured to attach to the fluid-ejection mechanism and to remain attached to the fluid-ejection mechanism during the fluid-ejection operation. A shutter arranged within the housing includes at least one opening, and is selectively moveable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the nozzle. In the open position the opening exposes the nozzle and in the closed position the nozzle is covered. An actuation mechanism separate from the housing is positioned to selectively couple with the shutter, such that activation of the actuation mechanism causes the shutter to move between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method of storing a printhead includes opening a valve to a vent of an ink reservoir, operating a pump in a first direction to pull ink from the ink reservoir through said valve, and pumping the ink pulled from the ink reservoir to an ink supply container.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus including: a recording head which has a nozzle surface in which nozzles are open and which ejects ink toward a recording medium; and a wiper blade which wipes the nozzle surface to remove substances adhering thereto, by a relative movement of the wiper blade and the recording head, wherein the ink-jet recording apparatus is arranged such that the wiper blade wipes the nozzle surface while being in contact with the nozzle surface by a magnetic attraction force acting between the wiper blade and the nozzle surface.

Abstract: A method of operating a drop generating printhead including heating the printhead, providing melted phase change ink to the printhead, allowing the printhead to cool, and while the printhead is cooling, pressurizing the phase change ink in the printhead with a pressure that is sufficient to substantially maintain meniscuses at the outlets of the nozzles of the printhead as the phase change ink in the printhead solidifies. Also disclosed is a method of operating a drop generating printhead including heating the printhead, and pressurizing solidified phase change ink in the printhead with a pressure that is sufficient to substantially maintain meniscuses at the outlets of the nozzles of the printhead as the phase change ink in the printhead melts.

Abstract: A mobile device including: (a) an inkjet printhead; (b) a print media feed path for directing a print medium past the printhead in a feed direction during printing; (c) a capping mechanism including a capper moveable between: a capping position in which the capper is urged into a capping relationship with the printhead; and an uncapped position in which the printhead is able to print onto the print medium, wherein in the uncapped position the capper is displaced away from the printhead; (d) a force transfer mechanism connected to the capper and configured such that a force provided by an edge of the print medium as it moves relative to the feed path is transferred to the capper by the force transfer mechanism, thereby to at least commence movement of the capper from the capped position to the uncapped position prior to the print medium reaching the capper.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided including a printing head which includes a nozzle unit with a length that corresponds to a width of paper to eject ink on the paper at a fixed position for printing an image. A capping unit ascends and descends between capping and uncapping positions. A guiding element is located below the printing head to support the paper and has an aperture through which the capping unit may access the nozzle unit. A moving guide moves between a first position to open the aperture such that the capping unit may be moved to the capping position and a second position to block the aperture.

Abstract: A method of removing ink from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises transferring the ink onto a film moving past the face. Damage to the face is avoided, since the film does not contact the face.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a support. At least one printhead is mounted on the support and has an array of inkjets. A capping system is mounted on the support for capping the inkjets. The capping system includes a cap for capping the inkjets and a moving arrangement for moving the cap so as to cap and uncap the inkjets.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a printhead mounted on a support, the printhead having an ink ejection face. A film cooperates with the support, to define a wicking channel. The wicking channel is positioned for receiving ink from an edge portion of the face and/or an edge portion of a pad being disengaged from said face.

Abstract: The inkjet recording head comprises: a first vibrating plate which forms part of a pressure chamber connecting an ink supply port and an ink ejection port; a first actuator which induces ink ejection from the ink ejection port for printing by deforming the first vibrating plate; a second vibrating plate which forms part of the pressure chamber; and a second actuator which induces ink ejection from the ink ejection port for performing maintenance by deforming the second vibrating plate, wherein a relationship K1>K2 is established between a ratio K1 of a volume of ink expelled by deformation of the first vibrating plate in relation to a pressure applied to the first vibrating plate by the first actuator during the ink ejection for printing, and a ratio K2 of a volume of ink expelled by deformation of the second vibrating plate in relation to a pressure applied to the second vibrating plate by the second actuator during the ink ejection for maintenance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a maintenance station for an inkjet printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes a carrier frame operatively supporting an ink supply manifold and a pagewidth printhead supplied with ink from said manifold. The station is moveable between a cleaning position and a printing position, and includes a drive motor, and a number of rollers of which at least one is operatively actuated by the drive motor. The station also includes a film wound in a loop around said rollers, so that actuation of the rollers by the motor produces a laminar ink flow in a cavity defined by the maintenance station and printhead assembly when in the cleaning position. This enables an ejection surface of the printhead to be cleaned without the film physically contacting said ejection surface.