Abstract: A device cleans wiping elements for an ink print head of an ink dispensing apparatus that has a print carriage on whose base plate a stripper element is integrally formed, an immovably situated wiping lip mount that supports wiping lips that are cleaned by the stripper element. At least one ink absorber is situated in a holder, close to the rear side of a cowling carriage of the ink printing apparatus. The stripper element of the print carriage is located opposite the at least one ink absorber during the maintenance interval, in a position that is reached when a segment of the stripper element of the print carriage comes to abut the entraining hook of the cowling carriage. The at least one ink absorber designed for cleaning the stripper element is pushed partially over the stripper element by movement of the cowling carriage.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an ink ejection device which ejects a droplet of radiation-curable ink onto a recording medium; a solvent separating device which separates a coloring material component and a solvent component in the droplet of the radiation-curable ink on the recording medium; a solvent removing device which removes the solvent component separated by the solvent separating device; and a curing device which irradiates radiation onto the droplet of the radiation-curable ink after the solvent component is removed by the solvent removing device, in such a manner that the droplet of the radiation-curable ink is cured.

Abstract: A blotting fillister structure including a first side, a second side and a blotting area is provided. The first side has a first lead-angle surface. The second side opposite to the first side has a second lead-angle surface. The blotting area is located between the first side and the second side. A width of the first lead-angle surface is greater than a width of the second lead-angle surface.

Abstract: There is provided an image recording device, comprising: a platen that supports a recording medium; a carriage that is located to face the platen and is configured to move in a first direction along the recoding medium; a recordation head that is mounted on the carriage and performs image recordation on the recording medium; a long member elongated, to face the platen, in the first direction within a region in which the carriage moves; a support member that fixes the long member such that the long member does not move in the first direction relative to the platen; and a guide member that is located on the carriage to deform the long member such that the carriage and the platen face directly with respect to each other.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing contact with nozzles in an ink ejection face of the printhead. The contact surface has a sloping profile. The maintenance station has a motor and cam arrangement for moving the pad substantially perpendicularly with respect to the ink ejection face. The pad moves from a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly contacted with the nozzles to a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The movement and the sloping profile of the pad causes the contact surface to be peeled away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head that has a conductive nozzle plate and discharges liquid from openings of the nozzle plate to recording material; an absorbing member that is arranged opposite the nozzle plate in a direction in which the liquid is discharged and has electrical conductivity to absorb liquid not attached to the recording material; an electrode member that is adjacent to a rear face of a face facing the nozzle plate in the absorbing member; and a potential difference generating means that generates a potential difference between the nozzle plate and the electrode member to electrically attract the liquid toward the electrode member.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising a printhead for allowing ink to be ejected from a nozzle portion to form an image on a recording medium, a cap member switchable between a sealing position for sealing nozzle surfaces of the nozzle portion and a free position where the cap member is moved away from the nozzle surfaces, and a closing mechanism for closing an opening of the cap member located in the free position.

Abstract: A printing device has a printer head that contains a first device for applying the ink onto a substrate. The first device includes ink nozzles for applying the ink. A second device is provided for moving the printer head from its home position into a working area and back. A waste ink container is placed in the home position of the printer head and opposite of the ink nozzles in the home position of the printer head and the waste ink container contains an open-pore absorber material. The absorber material bears a hygroscopic material on its interior and/or exterior surfaces.

Abstract: Cleaning liquid stored in a first storage tank is absorbed by a sponge via a passage formed in a tube and a holder, and then applied onto a conveyance belt when the sponge comes into contact with the conveyance belt. Here, even when air bubbles enter into the cleaning liquid supplied to the sponge, the air bubbles are discharged to the outside through an air discharging hole formed in the holder.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising nozzles capable of ejecting a liquid onto a medium, a rotational drum including a circumferential surface having a holding area for holding the medium and a non-holding area provided with an opening, wherein the circumferential surface rotates while facing the nozzles, and an absorptive drum which is provided inside the rotational drum which is capable of absorbing the liquid ejected from the nozzles toward the opening of the outer circumference in order to perform a flushing operation.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid through nozzles, a liquid container with a sloped bottom surface which receives the liquid ejected from the nozzles, an absorber disposed in the liquid container which absorbs and stores the liquid ejected from the nozzles, and a suction unit which sucks the liquid held by the absorber and discharges the liquid from the liquid container. The liquid container includes a restriction portion which restricts the flow of the liquid in the absorber due to gravity, forming collection portions in the absorber where the liquid may be collected at a plurality of positions with different elevations when the liquid container is rotated so that the bottom surface is sloped away from the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for cleaning a first set and a second set of a staggered full-width array printhead assembly (SFWA) in an inkjet printer.

Abstract: A waste ink storage structure including: container walls, defining a storage space adapted to store a waste ink; a waste ink inlet portion adapted to pour the waste ink into the storage space; a vent communicating the storage space with atmosphere; and a valve, provided at the vent to be opened when the waste ink is poured from the waste ink inlet portion.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head that has a conductive nozzle plate and discharges liquid from openings of the nozzle plate to recording material; an absorbing member that is arranged opposite the nozzle plate in a direction in which the liquid is discharged and has electrical conductivity to absorb liquid not attached to the recording material; an electrode member that is adjacent to a rear face of a face facing the nozzle plate in the absorbing member; and a potential difference generating means that generates a potential difference between the nozzle plate and the electrode member to electrically attract the liquid toward the electrode member.

Abstract: A droplet discharge device includes: a droplet discharge head attached to a carriage, a stage placing a substrate thereon, and a moisture adsorption device disposed adjacent to the droplet discharge head. In the device, a droplet of a functional liquid containing a functional material is sequentially discharged from the droplet discharge head to the substrate so as to draw a pattern on a surface of the substrate while the droplet discharge head moves relative to the substrate.

Abstract: First, second, and third ink absorbing bodies are accommodated in a container of a recovery reservoir in this order from the side corresponding to a bottom surface of the container, so that an introduction chamber is defined in the middle of a recovery space. A lid having a shutter plate and a communication hole is located over the third ink absorbing body. The upper side of the introduction chamber is covered by the shutter plate to suppress volatilization of solvent element of waste ink introduced into the introduction chamber. In addition, the communication hole is located in a portion of the upper surface of the third ink absorbing body, so that solvent element of ink absorbed by the third ink absorption body volatilizes.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance facility with a core that mounts in an inkjet printer for movement relative to an inkjet printhead. The core has a plurality of maintenance station mounting sites, each with engagement formations. The core also has a plurality of maintenance structures for operation with the printhead, the plurality of maintenance structures each being mountable to at least one other of the plurality of maintenance station mounting sites.

Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a fluid includes a head that ejects the fluid, a first moisturizing cap device that covers the head to moisturize the head, and a first moisturizing liquid supply portion that supplies, to the first moisturizing cap device, a first moisturizing liquid for moisturizing the head when the first moisturizing cap device covers the head. The first moisturizing liquid supply portion has a first tank that stores the first moisturizing liquid. The first moisturizing cap device has a first moisturizing liquid storage portion that stores the first moisturizing liquid to be supplied from the first moisturizing liquid supply portion. The first moisturizing liquid supply portion supplies the first moisturizing liquid stored in the first tank to the first moisturizing cap device in accordance with a water head difference between the first moisturizing liquid stored in the first tank and the first moisturizing liquid storage portion.

Abstract: A capping unit is detachably mountable to an ink jet recording head. The ink jet recording head has an ejection outlet surface provided with ejection outlets for ejecting ink. The capping unit includes: a liquid-absorbing member provided with a projection contactable to a periphery of an area, in which the ejection outlets are formed, on the ejection outlet surface so as to form a gap between the area and the liquid-absorbing chamber; and a capping member including an engaging portion and an elastic portion for contacting a rear surface opposite from a surface on which the projection of said liquid-absorbing member is formed to press said liquid-absorbing member against the ejection outlet surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided. The inkjet printer includes: an inkjet head which ejects ink toward a surface of a recording medium; a platen provided opposed to the inkjet head to support the recording medium from an opposite side of the inkjet head; and an absorber provided opposed to the inkjet head at the same side as the platen with respect to the recording medium supported by the platen. The absorber includes a plurality of regions different in absorption rate from one another in a plan view observed from a normal direction of the recording medium supported by the platen.

Abstract: An ink over-spray containment apparatus includes a first member having a first fluidic transport coefficient and a first ink affinity; and a second member coupled to the first member. The second member has a second fluidic transport coefficient lesser than the first fluidic transport coefficient and a second ink affinity greater than the first ink affinity.

Abstract: A method of operating an inkjet printer having a printhead and a rotatable platen. The platen has an ink absorbing member disposed in its outer surface. The method includes the steps of: (i) positioning the ink absorbing member adjacent the printhead; (ii) ejecting ink droplets from the printhead so that the ink droplets are received by the ink absorbing member; (iii) rotating the platen to an angular position wherein a print media supporting portion of the platen is adjacent the printhead; and (iv) feeding print media past the printhead and printing onto the print media.

Abstract: A rotatable platen for use in an inkjet printing device. The platen is arranged to rotate about a rotational axis and has a functional outer surface around the rotational axis. The surface has first and second portions. The first portion is adapted to support print media during a printing operation.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device is disclosed. The inkjet printing device includes a rotating platen. The platen has disposed on part of the surface of the platen an ink absorbing member.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is disclosed. The printer has an inkjet printhead and a rotating platen. The platen has disposed on part of the surface of the platen an ink absorbing member.

Abstract: A rotating platen for an inkjet printing device is disclosed. The platen includes an ink absorbing member disposed on part of the surface of the platen.

Abstract: A printhead assembly for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The assembly comprises a printhead having an ink ejection face and a printhead maintenance station. The printhead maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing engagement with the face, and an engagement mechanism for moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The printhead assembly is configured such that the contact surface is progressively contacted with the face during sealing engagement and peeled away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that has a conductive nozzle plate and discharges liquid from openings of the nozzle plate to recording material, a conductive absorbing member that is arranged opposite the nozzle plate in a direction in which liquid is discharged and absorbs the liquid not attached to the recording material, an electrode that is electrically connected to the absorbing member, and a voltage generating means that generates a voltage to electrically attract the liquid to the electrode side by applying an electric field not less than 25 kV/m and not more than 250 kV/m between the nozzle plate and the electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly having a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. The assembly also includes a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. An ink collector is arranged on the wicking element for receiving ink that has wicked through the wicking element to ensure that wicked ink is removed away from the printhead.

Abstract: A printer has a printhead and a capping mechanism adapted to cap the printhead. The capping mechanism supports a blotting assembly and is connected to a powered roller of a print media feed mechanism. Initial operation of the print media feed mechanism causes the capping mechanism to move out of a capping position of the printhead.

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, and a retainer element operatively engaging the chassis. Also included are a lower molding and an upper molding operatively fast with each other to sandwich an absorbent insert between them, the moldings in turn sandwiched between the chassis and retainer element, and a motorized drive for moving the maintenance chassis between a capped position and an uncapped position to facilitate wiping the printhead of the printer.

Abstract: An absorbent material is employed as a seal over the printhead nozzles. The absorbent is uni-axial to prevent ink migration laterally, implemented by a lattice of absorbent matter surrounded by ink barriers. Such an absorbent can be sufficiently effective to limit ink migration that a simple tape may be used to bind the absorbent over the orifices of an inkjet cartridge in the manner of a common bandage. The barriers at a minimum a located to surround and keep separate inks of different colors.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. Also included is a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide, as well as a printhead maintenance station configured to facilitate the transferral of ink from the printhead to the wicking element.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a support structure and a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face. The assembly also includes a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing, and a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. Further included is a pad with an angled contact surface to facilitate the transfer of ink from the printhead to the wicking element, as well as a printhead maintenance station. The maintenance station has a body defining an elongate slot along a length thereof, said pad slidably mounted inside said body 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.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead; and (b) moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The movement causes the contact surface to be progressively contacted with the face during sealing engagement and peeled away from the face during disengagement.

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: 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: Provided is a printhead arrangement for an inkjet printer. The arrangement has a maintenance assembly operatively positioned adjacent a printhead. The maintenance assembly includes a maintenance chassis and a lower maintenance molding having air vents to facilitate ventilation of the printhead. The assembly also includes a retainer insert provided to fit within the chassis to provide added rigidity to the maintenance assembly, and an upper maintenance molding to enclose absorbent material within the retainer insert.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including a recording head which includes a nozzle plate having conductive property including an opening and for ejecting ink toward a medium to be recorded from the opening, an absorbing member disposed so as to oppose the nozzle plate in the ejecting direction of the ink from the recording head and for absorbing the ink not adhered to the medium to be recorded, an electrode disposed so as to make contact with the absorbing member, and an electric potential difference generator for generating an electric potential difference between the nozzle plate and the electrode and electrically attracting the ink not adhered to the medium to be recorded toward the electrode side. The electric potential difference generator generates an electric potential difference so that the magnitude of the electric potential difference is varied in accordance with a distance between a portion of the absorbing member to which the ink is absorbed and the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead; and (b) reciprocally moving the pad between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The movement causes a contact angle hysteresis such that ink is wicked from the printhead onto the contact surface during disengagement, but remains substantially in or on the printhead during engagement.

Abstract: An ink cartridge which is detachably mountable to a liquid ejection type recording device including a liquid ejecting head for ejecting liquid onto a recording material while scanning the recording material in a direction crossing with a feeding direction of the recording material, and a recovery unit for sucking the liquid through a nozzle of the liquid ejecting head. The ink cartridge includes a receiving portion for receiving the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head by the recovery unit; a liquid containing portion for accommodating the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head; and a connecting portion for connecting the receiving portion and the suction recovery unit, wherein the connecting portion is disposed at a position upstream of a front end surface portion of the ink cartridge with respect to an inserting direction in which the ink cartridge is inserted into the liquid ejection type recording device.

Abstract: A method of removing ink from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) moving the ink towards an edge portion of the face; and (b) wicking the ink away from the edge portion.

Abstract: A capping device for a fluid ejection device, includes: a cap having a fluid receptacle and a first fluid path; a cap holder supporting the cap and having a second fluid path; and an absorber disposed between and supported by the cap and the cap holder, the absorber having a third fluid path. Negative pressure is applicable to the fluid receptacle at least through the first, second and third fluid paths.

Abstract: In purge processing, ink ejected from a head weeps from a cap unit due to weight of the ink during the movement of a maintenance unit to a retraction position. Then, the ink is absorbed into a primary recovery portion mounted on a movable body. When the maintenance unit reaches the retraction position, the primary recovery portion comes into contact with an ink absorber of the secondary recovery portion so that the ink migrates from the primary recovery portion to the secondary recovery portion due to a capillary phenomenon. Also, when the maintenance unit moves to a maintenance position, the primary recovery portion comes into contact with an ink absorber of the secondary recovery portion so that the ink migrates from the primary recovery portion to the secondary recovery portion due to a capillary phenomenon.

Abstract: First, second, and third ink absorbing bodies are accommodated in a container of a recovery reservoir in this order from the side corresponding to a bottom surface of the container, so that an introduction chamber is defined in the middle of a recovery space. A lid having a shutter plate and a communication hole is located over the third ink absorbing body. The upper side of the introduction chamber is covered by the shutter plate to suppress volatilization of solvent element of waste ink introduced into the introduction chamber. In addition, the communication hole is located in a portion of the upper surface of the third ink absorbing body, so that solvent element of ink absorbed by the third ink absorption body volatilizes.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a head having a jetting port surface in which a jetting port is formed; and a maintenance unit having a cap in which a discharge port is formed, an absorber arranged in the cap, and a suction mechanism which communicates with the discharge port. The absorber includes a first absorbing portion covering the discharge port, and a second absorbing portion arranged to be in contact with the first absorbing portion. A channel resistance of the first absorbing portion with respect to a liquid is higher than that of the second absorbing portion. Accordingly, when an idle suction is performed, it is possible to discharge uniformly a liquid absorbed in the first and absorbing portions.

Abstract: A cap apparatus includes a cap which seals nozzles of a liquid jetting head, an absorber which is accommodated tightly inside the cap, a cap holder which is accommodated tightly inside the cap, and a holder which has a holding body which makes a contact with an upper surface of the absorber, a pin which is protruded downward from the holding main portion, and an engaging portion which is provided on a front end of the pin. Through holes which make the cap, the absorber, and the cap holder communicate, are formed in the cap, the absorber, and the cap holder. Since the through holes function as a passage, it is possible to improve an assembling workability of the cap apparatus.

Abstract: An ink-jet recovery device includes a rotation member, an ink absorbing member, a moving unit and a rotation unit. The rotation member is adapted to rotate on a predetermined rotation shaft. The ink absorbing member is arranged around the rotation shaft of the rotation member. The ink absorbing member can absorb ink from a tip of the nozzle member when abutted to the nozzle member. The nozzle member is provided in a recording head of an ink-jet recording apparatus and ejects ink toward a recording medium. The moving unit brings a part of the ink absorbing member into abutment with the nozzle member. The rotation unit rotates the rotation member on the rotation shaft to switch the part of the ink absorbing member to be brought into abutment with the nozzle member by the moving unit.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head, a platen, an absorption member, an electrode, a potential difference generating device. The liquid ejecting head has a conductive nozzle plate that has openings. The liquid ejecting head ejects liquid from the openings toward a front face of a recording object. The platen is arranged at a position opposed to the nozzle plate with the recording object placed between the platen and the nozzle plate. The platen contacts a rear face of the recording object to support the recording object. The absorption member is arranged at a position opposed to the nozzle plate and located farther from the openings than the recording object in a direction in which the liquid is ejected. The absorption member absorbs liquid that is ejected from the openings but not adhered to the recording object. The electrode is arranged in proximity to the absorption member.

Abstract: A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system for inkjet printer incorporating a wiper for wiping the printhead including a treatment fluid applicator configured for placing treatment fluid onto at least one element of the printhead and wiper elements involved in wiping the printhead orifice plate surface, the treatment fluid being placed on said at least one element by direct contact of the applicator, subsequently the wiper wipes the printhead, the treatment being available to enhance cleaning effectiveness, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render unwanted accumulations on the printhead more removable by wiping.