Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a recording head, a spacer, a wiping member, and an inflow preventing member. The recording head includes an ejection surface in which a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink are defined. The ejection surface faces a medium transport path. The spacer is disposed in a periphery of the recording head and includes a facing surface, which faces the medium transport path. The wiping member wipes the ejection surface. The inflow preventing member prevents the ink from flowing into a gap between the recording head and the spacer.

Abstract: A print engine assembly includes an elongate chassis that defines a channel and a slot. A printhead assembly is fast with respect to the chassis and is configured to print upon print media fed through the chassis. A pair of bearing moldings is located within the channel and mounted on respective, opposite ends of the chassis. A print media feed mechanism is mounted between the bearing moldings and is arranged to feed the print media through the chassis in register with the printhead assembly and out through the slot.

Abstract: A waste ink container of an ink jet recording apparatus includes a plurality of ink-retrieving absorbers and a connecting absorber connecting the ink-retrieving absorbers. The ink-retrieving absorbers have a multilayer structure including a plurality of layers of absorbing members. The connecting absorber has bent portions. The ink-retrieving absorbers have holes formed therein. The bent portions are inserted into the holes so as to be in contact with the layers of absorbing members of the ink-retrieving absorbers.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer including: (a) a medium feeder operable to feed a recording medium in a medium-feed direction along a medium-feed path; (b) a recording head having (b-1) a nozzle opening surface which extends in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the medium-feed direction and (b-2) a plurality of nozzles which open in the nozzle opening surface and which are arranged in the widthwise direction, the recording head being operable to eject ink toward the recording medium through the nozzles and being pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to the widthwise direction; and (c) at least one waste ink receiver configured to receive the ink ejected through the nozzles, the waste ink receiver being positioned relative to the recording head and the medium-feed path such that the at least one waste ink receiver and the recording head are both located on one of opposite sides of the medium-feed path and such that the waste ink receiver is positioned outside a locus that is described by the nozzle opening surface dur

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes elongate, printhead integrated circuits having a plurality of micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanisms configured to eject ink. An ink distribution assembly, to which the, or each, printhead integrated circuit can be mounted, defines a plurality of converging ink passages in fluid communication with respective ink ejection mechanisms. An ink reservoir is mounted to the ink distribution assembly and defines a plurality of parallel ink channels in fluid communication with respective groups of the passages, such that inks can be fed from the channels to respective groups of the ink ejection mechanisms.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is operable to eject liquid toward a target medium. A medium supporting member is opposing to the liquid ejecting head and supporting the target medium from below. A liquid absorber is adapted to receive and absorb liquid ejected to the outside of the target medium. A holder is holding the liquid absorber and being detachably provided with the medium supporting member.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an absorber configured to abut a nozzle surface of a line head to absorb ink adhered on the nozzle surface. A portion of the absorber which corresponds to an opening of a nozzle is removed. The absorber is configured to abut the nozzle surface except for a portion near the nozzle. Ink remaining on the nozzle surface is absorbed by the absorber. Thus, when the nozzle surface is wiped with a blade, accumulation of a large amount of remaining ink is prevented.

Abstract: A first ink absorption member recovering the waste ink produced by the recovery operation of a record head is disposed on the top surface of the bottom surface portion of an inkjet recording apparatus. The top surface of the first ink absorption member is covered by a cover member, which is a member other than the member constituting the outer-casing portion of the apparatus and is installed in the bottom surface portion in the state of being detachably attached. At least a part of the first ink absorption member is made to be exchangeable by the attaching/the detaching of the cover member.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus capable of high-quality recording without smudging recording media and the interior of the recording apparatus even when a frameless recording operation using reactive ink that coheres with each other when mixed together is performed. The ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, and an ink absorbent facing the nozzle arrays. The first nozzle array discharges a first ink, and the second nozzle array discharges a second ink. The first and second ink is a reactive ink that coheres with each other when mixed together. During the frameless recording operation on a front edge of the recording medium, some of the first and second ink discharged from the respective nozzle arrays of the recording head adheres to the front edge, and some of the ink adheres to separate positions on the ink absorbent.

Abstract: A printer cartridge for an inkjet printer including a body containing at least one printing fluid reservoir, a printhead attached to the body and in fluid communication with the at least one printing fluid reservoir, a printing fluid blotter rotatably coupled to the body; and an engagement assembly located on the printing fluid blotter to engage an assembly for selectively causing cooperation of the printing fluid blotter with the printhead.

Abstract: The invention describes a waste ink absorber for an ink jet recording device, wherein the ink is a non-aqueous ink, including a porous plastic prepared by sinter-molding plastic particles; and an oily solvent impregnated into the porous plastic. The invention also describes an ink jet recording device, wherein the ink is a non-aqueous ink, including a waste ink tank including a waste ink diffusing-chamber and an absorber-retaining chamber, and the waste ink absorber, wherein the waste ink absorber is retained in the absorber-retaining chamber and not the waste ink diffusing-chamber.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus for applying a liquid on a medium to form an image, includes: a liquid absorbing member which absorbs at least a portion of the liquid applied on the medium; and a liquid recovery device which suctions and recovers the liquid absorbed in the liquid absorbing member while being in contact with the liquid absorbing member.

Abstract: To prevent ink adhesion to a conduit connecting portion after removing an ink tank, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus including a recording head for jetting ink onto a recording medium; an ink tank for storing ink; an ink tank housing section for attachably and detachably housing the ink tank; a conduit section for supplying ink from the ink tank to a recording head, the conduit section including a conduit connecting portion for connecting with a joint section to the ink tank; and an ink removing device having a removing member for removing ink adhering to a tip end of the conduit connecting portion when the ink tank has been parted from the conduit connecting portion.

Abstract: An apparatus is capable of securely cleaning foreign matter, such as ink, attached to a discharge port surface with good efficiency, even in the case of a broad discharge port surface such as in a full-line type apparatus, and capable of preventing a discharge defect of the ink or deviation in a discharge direction, so as to perform satisfactory recording. The apparatus includes: an absorbing roller, formed of a rotatable roller-shaped porous absorbing material, for wiping/removing foreign matter, such as ink, attached to a discharge port surface, and wipers, formed of plate-shaped rubber-like elastic materials, for sweeping/removing the foreign matter attached to the discharge port surface. The absorbing roller is moved ahead when both the absorbing roller and the wiper are brought into contact with the discharge port surface and moved in an arrangement direction of discharge ports along the discharge port surface.

Abstract: A capping device provided in a liquid ejection apparatus having a liquid ejection head is provided. The liquid ejection head has a nozzle-forming surface in which a nozzle for ejection liquid is formed. The capping device includes a cap, a liquid absorber, and a fixing member. The cap is capable of contacting the liquid ejection head in such a manner as to encompass the nozzle. The liquid absorber is accommodated in the cap. The fixing member fixes the liquid absorber accommodated in the cap to the cap. The fixing member is arranged in the cap such that an upper end of the fixing member is at the same height as or lower than an upper surface of the liquid absorber.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is operable to move in a first direction. A platen is opposed to the liquid ejecting head to support an object to which a liquid droplet is ejected from the liquid ejecting head and to define a gap between the liquid ejecting head and the object. The platen is formed with a groove hole to which a liquid droplet deviated from an edge of the object is disposed, and through holes formed in a bottom portion of the groove hole and arranged in the first direction. A tray member is arranged below the platen to receive liquid dropped through the through holes. A first liquid absorber is provided in the groove hole. A second liquid absorber is provided in the tray member. At least one liquid leading member extends through at least one of the through holes to lead liquid absorbed by the first liquid absorber to the second liquid absorber.

Abstract: A printer apparatus in which its apparatus main body's width dimension can be minimized, by achieving compact housing of a maintenance station for performing maintenance operations with effective use of the space existing at both ends of a printing region. There are maintenance stations separately arranged as left- and right-hand portions at both ends outside the printing region. The maintenance station provides: a capping mode for capping a nozzle of the printing head; a wiping mode for wiping the nozzle of the printing head; and an ink spitting mode for preventing clogging of the nozzle of the printing head, and also the maintenance station includes a waste ink collecting bath for collecting ink discharged during the ink spitting mode.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming unit which forms an image by discharging droplets from a recording head onto a recording medium; a conveyance belt which conveys the recording medium, a surface of the conveyance belt facing the recording head being treated with a liquid repelling treatment in order to repel the droplets adhering to the surface of the conveyance belt; and a droplet discharge control device which causes the droplets to be deposited in substantially same droplet deposition positions on the surface of the conveyance belt from the recording head when performing a recovery operation for the recording head.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is disclosed having a recording head including a plurality of nozzles for jetting an ink and a maintenance unit for performing a maintenance operation to the nozzles. The maintenance unit includes an absorbing member to wipe an ink adhered to the nozzles and receive an ink residue purged from the nozzles during the maintenance operation.

Abstract: A postage meter includes a print head, a purge unit for removing waste ink from the print head, and an ink tray assembly for receiving the waste ink. The ink tray assembly includes a tray and a vapor-permeable, liquid-impermeable cover membrane across the opening of the tray.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprises a cap for covering nozzles for jetting ink, wherein the cap has a suction opening and a atmosphere-communicating opening in the neighborhood of its one end portion in the lengthwise direction, and an ink absorption body formed in the cap, wherein the height of the ink absorption body in the area other than the neighborhood of the suction opening is higher than its height in the neighborhood of the suction openings, and carries out a restoration processing through suctioning ink from the nozzles.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead blotting assembly having an arm that is attached at one end to one of the printer's drive rollers by a clutch. At the opposite end of the arm a blotting assembly is located that includes an elongate blotter. The arm is bent with a first portion that depends from the clutch and a second portion that projects from the first portion and terminates with the blotter. The clutch is selectively engaged to rotate the arm in order that the blotter be brought into operative engagement with the printhead.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes drive device for moving up a cap (9a) of capping device (9) to a nozzle formation face seal position of a record head (12) and moving down the cap to a retreat position vertically downward from the nozzle formation face seal position. The drive device has a rack-pinion mechanism including racks (102a and 103a) disposed on both side parts of a fixed frame and pinions (102b and 103b) fixedly secured to both end parts of a support shaft (9c) for guiding the support shaft in an up and down direction.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting device includes a liquid ejecting head for moving in a first direction and ejecting droplets, a fixation medium supply device for transporting a fixation medium in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a platen for supporting the fixation medium horizontally in the move range of the liquid ejecting head, and a liquid absorbing member for absorbing the droplets and being positioned so as to be opposed to a move path of the liquid ejecting head. A plurality of first through holes are formed in the liquid absorbing member so as to gather the droplets absorbed in the liquid absorbing member, and are placed in at least either of both end areas of the liquid absorbing member in the first direction.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a carrier. An ink supply assembly is mounted on the carrier and defines a plurality of printhead chip receiving formations that are each dimensioned to engage a printhead chip and a plurality of ink supply conduits that terminate at the formations to supply ink to printhead chips engaged with the formations. A plurality of inkjet printhead chips is engaged with respective said formations to receive the ink via passages defined by the printhead chips in fluid communication with respective ink supply conduits. A rotary platen assembly is mounted on the carrier. The rotary platen assembly includes a platen body that is mounted on a shaft and defines a platen surface for supporting sheets of a print medium as the printhead chips carry out a printing operation on the sheets. The shaft is rotatable to bring the platen surface into and out of alignment with the printhead chips.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is operable to move in a first direction. A platen is opposed to the liquid ejecting head to support an object to which a liquid droplet is ejected from the liquid ejecting head and to define a gap between the liquid ejecting head and the object. The platen is formed with a groove hole to which a liquid droplet deviated from an edge of the object is disposed, and through holes formed in a bottom portion of the groove hole and arranged in the first direction. A tray member is arranged below the platen to receive liquid dropped through the through holes. A first liquid absorber is provided in the groove hole. A second liquid absorber is provided in the tray member. At least one liquid leading member extends through at least one of the through holes to lead liquid absorbed by the first liquid absorber to the second liquid absorber.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead squeegee is split on one side so that its wiping force on a printhead is highest on the front stroke and much lighter on the backstroke when the surface is dry. Alternatively, the split can be arranged so that the front stroke is light enough to leave the printhead wet, and then the backstroke is much firmer to completely squeegee the printhead dry. The result is high pressure strokes on a dry printhead are avoided.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, capable of preventing defective idle suction, comprises a cap movable toward/away from an ejection port surface of a recording head for capping/uncapping the ejection port surface, an absorbing member chamber opened to the ejection port surface, a suction port formed through the bottom of the absorbing member chamber, an ink suction device connected to the suction port, and an ink absorbing member disposed in the absorbing member chamber. In the apparatus, the absorbing member comprises a first absorbing portion covering approximately the entire region in the absorbing member chamber and a second absorbing portion in intimate contact with the suction port.

Abstract: Ink absorption pads are associated with waste ink storage apparatus in ink jet printers. Waste ink is emitted from the tubes. The waste ink is absorbed by the pads.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus is provided with an inkjet head having nozzles. The ink is ejected from the nozzles to recording medium. A platen is arranged close to the inkjet head so as to face the inkjet head. The platen has a rotatable cylindrical body. A porous layer is provided at least a surface of the cylindrical body to absorb ink ejected from the nozzles to the cylindrical body. Alternatively, the surface of the cylindrical body is configured to repel the ink, and a cleaning structure is provided to remove the ink applied on the surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A waste ink collecting device has an ink tank accommodating an ink absorber that absorbs unnecessary ink discharged from a printhead of an ink-jet printer. The discharged ink is dropped onto the ink tank. An inlet of the dropped ink is formed on a top plate of the ink tank, and the dropped ink enters the ink tank through the inlet. The ink tank has a partition wall that defines, inside the partition wall, a passage of the ink entered through the inlet to an inner bottom surface of the ink tank. The partition wall prevents the dropped ink from directly striking the ink absorber. The ink dropped on the inner bottom surface of the ink tank is absorbed by the ink absorber through a bottom surface thereof.

Abstract: There is provided an ink cartridge having at least one ink bag in which ink is housed, and a joint portion connected to the ink bag and coupled to a printer as required to supply ink. The ink cartridge has a first absorber that absorbs ink ejected to the outside of a sheet during printing, and a second absorber that directly receives, absorbs, and removes waste ink that may be transferred from a wiper during its operation of wiping off ink or the like remaining on an ejection opening formed surface of the printing head. The first and second absorbers are arranged at positions that sandwich the joint portion between themselves. Thus, the first and second absorbers can be effectively to collect adhering or leaking ink that may result from the installation and removal of the joint.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a platen adapted to support a print media, a printhead adapted to eject ink into a print zone between the printhead and the platen toward the print media and beyond a first edge of the print media to generate waste ink, a first absorber formed in the platen within the print zone such that the first absorber is adapted to extend beyond the first edge of the print media and absorb the waste ink ejected beyond the first edge of the print media, and a second absorber adapted to contact and absorb the waste ink from the first absorber, wherein the first absorber has a first capillary head and the second absorber has a second capillary head greater than the first capillary head.

Abstract: An inkjet waste ink handling system embodiment of the present invention includes a spittoon reservoir for collecting waste ink dropped from an inkjet printhead, and a ramp within the spittoon reservoir having an upper end that receives any ink dropped in and a lower end to which gravity conveys such ink. In this way, pillars of dried ink are prevented from accumulating.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprises a cap for covering nozzles for jetting ink, wherein the cap has a suction opening and a atmosphere-communicating opening in the neighborhood of its one end portion in the lengthwise direction, and an ink absorption body formed in the cap, wherein the height of the ink absorption body in the area other than the neighborhood of the suction opening is higher than its height in the neighborhood of the suction openings, and carries out a restoration processing through suctioning ink from the nozzles.

Abstract: An ink jet printer of the present invention includes at least one ink head which jets ink to a recording medium surface of a recording medium. This ink head has a nozzle plate in which a nozzle for jetting ink is formed and at least one rib which is formed so as to project toward the side of the recording medium rather than the nozzle. The ribs are gradually tapered toward the side of the recording medium.

Abstract: A composite non-woven needlefelt ink absorber that is particularly suited for use with an ink jet printer to absorb and disperse waste ink utilizes at least two distinct layers. The layer initially contacted by the ink is low density/course denier. The final ink receiving and retaining layer is high density/fine denier. Any intermediate layers are also intermediate in density and denier.

Abstract: A start-up and shutdown system for removing unwanted ink from a continuous inkjet printer comprises a porous element in flow communication with a cleaning chamber, both positioned adjacent to an ink supply chamber and nozzle plate. The porous element absorbs the unwanted ink from the surface of the nozzle plate. A negative pressure source is further provided to draw the absorbed ink from the porous element via the cleaning chamber. In one embodiment, fluid valve porous elements are provided to form a transient barrier to errant ink fluid in the form of a fluid bridge during start-up and shutdown of the printer.

Abstract: While a head scanning mechanism and a sheet feed mechanism are being operated, ink droplets are ejected from nozzle openings of a recording head, whereby a liquid ejecting apparatus performs recording on recording medium. Further, just below the scanning region of the recording head, a liquid absorption part is laid on a surface of a platen supporting the recording medium; and a height of the absorption member located in the portion corresponding to a medium width edge portion of each of print recording media to be printed having different width dimensions is made larger than height of the absorber located in another portion.

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: A pagewidth drop on demand printer includes a printhead having an array of fixed printing nozzles thereon. A platen having a platen surface upon which a sheet rides to receive ink from the printing nozzles is situated alongside the nozzles. A sensor is provided to measure an offset of the print surface of the sheet with respect to the printing nozzles and means is provided effecting movement of the platen to alter the offset. This is typically done by making a compensatory rotation of the platen.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head has a first wiping member for wiping a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head and a second wiping member for wiping the first wiping member, and a lever driving mechanism for moving the first wiping member between a retracted position located away from the nozzle surface and a wiping position for wiping the nozzle surface. The second wiping member is formed of an elastic body and is arranged within a moving path of the first wiping member, so that it contacts with the first wiping member for only a limited period, whereby reducing in wear of these wiping members.

Abstract: A start-up and shutdown system for removing unwanted ink from a continuous inkjet printer comprises a porous element in flow communication with a cleaning chamber, both positioned adjacent to an ink supply chamber and nozzle plate. The porous element absorbs the unwanted ink from the surface of the nozzle plate. A negative pressure source is further provided to draw the absorbed ink from the porous element via the cleaning chamber. In one embodiment, fluid valve porous elements are provided to form a transient barrier to errant ink fluid in the form of a fluid bridge during start-up and shutdown of the printer.

Abstract: The recording medium guide member is placed along the main scanning direction scanned by the carriage mounted with a recording head, and ink-receiver holes for receiving ink discharged from the recording head are formed on the guide member in positions beyond the edges of the recording medium being conveyed. Ink absorbing materials are placed in said ink-receiver holes, and a discharged ink accumulating means that cumulatively counts the amount of ink discharged into the ink absorbing materials is provided. The amount of ink discharged into the ink-receiver holes can be controlled by the discharged ink accumulation means so that contamination of the left and right edges or the top and bottom as well as left and right edges of the recording medium, caused by excessive ink collecting in the ink-receiver holes, can be avoided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of cleaning the nozzle area and the ink nozzle of a print head of an inkjet imaging apparatus include devices of moving the nozzle area into contact with an imaging media, wherein the nozzle area is moved relative to the imaging media to thereby scrub contaminants and the like from the nozzle area and the ink nozzle. The is accomplished by way of an actuating mechanism that can be configured either to move the print head or to move a backup object which, in turn, moves the imaging media. The print head can be configured to spray ink onto the imaging media just prior to bringing the nozzle area and imaging media into contact with one another, wherein the wet ink can have a solvent effect during the scrubbing of the nozzle area against the imaging media.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing defective idle suction, comprises a cap movable toward/backward an ejection port surface of a recording head for capping the ejection port surface, an absorbing member chamber opened to the ejection port surface, a suction port formed through the bottom of the absorbing member chamber, an ink suction means connected to the suction port, and an ink absorbing member disposed in the absorbing member chamber. In the apparatus, the absorbing member comprises a first absorbing portion covering approximately the entire region in the absorbing member chamber and a second absorbing portion in intimate contact with the suction port.

Abstract: The liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid jet head including a nozzle opening through which a liquid drop is ejected by changing pressure of a liquid in a pressure chamber interconnecting to the nozzle opening; a scanning mechanism including a carriage on which the liquid jet head is loaded, the scanning mechanism moves the liquid jet head in a head scanning direction together with the carriage; a case configured to contain the liquid jet head and the scanning mechanism; and a leading unit for leading a liquid drop, which is ejected from the liquid jet head and not applied to an article to be processed, in a given direction using an air stream generated in the case due to moving of the carriage.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has a catcher and eyelid seal for sealing against the catcher during startup and shutdown. A wicking means is provided for removing excess ink from a fluid channel of the catcher having an associated catcher plate, in an area of the eyelid seal. The wicking means is positioned in an area at a bottom surface of the fluid channel, without bridging a height of the fluid channel, above the catcher plate, and in close proximity to the eyelid seal, while maintaining a consistent pressure at an entrance to the fluid channel.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink jet recording head with a plurality of recording elements for generating energy for discharging ink, a plurality of ink flow paths, a plurality of ink discharge ports for discharging ink, and a plurality of recording element substrates, and a cap member for capping the discharge ports. The plurality of recording element substrates, the thickness of one being different from that of the others, are arranged adjacent to each other on a substantially even flat plane, and the cap member is made capable of capping the discharge ports of the plurality of recording element bases plates altogether on the substantially even flat plane.

Abstract: Absorbent pads are provided at various positions on a substrate of a service station. The substrate may be in the form of a device intended to be implemented during a capping operation of ink ejection elements, e.g., printheads, pens, etc. Ink accumulated in the absorbent pads may be substantially removed and stored in a receptacle to thereby enable to absorbent pads to be capable of absorbing additional amounts of ink. The transfer of ink from the absorbent pads to the receptacle may be facilitated by a transfer member connecting the two components. The absorbent pads may selectively contact and disengage from the transfer member at various moments during, for example, a servicing routine. The receptacle may be a spittoon that may also be implemented to receive spit ink from the ink ejection element.