Abstract: An ink ejection nozzle constituting section for performing printing with a high image quality and an ink ejection nozzle constituting section for performing full-color printing at a high speed are separately disposed in one ink jet head. A recovery system is capable of performing suction recovery only in each of the nozzle constituting sections, and the suction recovery optimized for each constituting section is carried out. Accordingly, an increase in size of a recording apparatus can be restrained, and total ink consumption can be suppressed at the time of maintenance.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus periodically performs the purge process and the wiping process. When the instruction is made to start the recording operation, a control unit judges whether or not the purge process and the wiping process have been performed after the previous recording operation. If it is judged that the purge process and the wiping process have been performed, the recording operation is started after executing the flashing process. Bubbles generated by the purge process are decreased by being dissolved in the ink during the period until the recording operation is started. Therefore, it is possible to avoid any occurrence of the discharge failure which would be otherwise caused by the bubbles contained in the ink. The purge process and the wiping process are separated from the flashing. Therefore, the period of time required for the processes is scarcely inhibits the demand of the user to start the printing.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus records information within a recording width on a recording surface of a recording medium, and is provided with a multi-nozzle ink-jet recording head which includes a nozzle surface and a plurality of nozzles arranged in an array on the nozzle surface to cover the recording width of the recording medium, a transport section which transports the recording medium to pass a position confronting the nozzle surface of the multi-nozzle ink-jet recording head, and a reliability maintaining mechanism which is provided to cover all of the nozzles of the multi-nozzle ink-jet recording head, so as to maintain reliability of the nozzles.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a record medium; a print head having a plurality of nozzles that ejects ink, thereby forming an image on the record medium; a first recovery ejection unit that performs recovery ejection of nozzles used for forming an image on the record medium; and a second recovery ejection unit that performs recovery ejection of at least one of the plurality of nozzles in accordance with a time elapsed from a previous recovery ejection.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a maintenance station mounting a printhead wiper having a waste ink collection surface. A printhead carrier carries a printhead and a printhead wiper cleaning mechanism for cleaning the printhead wiper. The printhead wiper cleaning mechanism includes a hook member for contacting the waste ink collection surface of the printhead wiper for removing residual waste ink from the waste ink accumulation surface as the printhead wiper cleaning mechanism moves relative to the printhead wiper.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which includes a printhead that discharges ink and an ink tank detachably attached to the printhead, and executes printing by using the printhead that discharges the ink supplied from the ink tank, an ink tank detection section detects the presence/absence of the ink tank. On the basis of the detection result, a control circuit inhibits the cleaning operation of the printhead.

Abstract: A cut-processing apparatus generates tool move control data to reciprocate the tool, and sheet feed control data to feed the sheet; stores an amount of tool move loss due to backlash in the carriage gear train occurring at tool move direction shift, and an amount of sheet feed loss due to backlash in the sheet feed gear train occurring at sheet feed direction shift; and corrects the tool move control data based on the stored amount of tool move loss at tool move direction shift, and the sheet feed control data based on the stored amount of sheet feed loss at sheet feed direction shift.

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: An inkjet printer driving a maintenance apparatus using a power to a feed roller. In the inkjet printer, the maintenance of the maintenance apparatus is started by a carriage. The maintenance apparatus includes a maintenance member which cleans and covers the nozzle of a print head, a maintenance cam which controls the maintenance member through a rotating motion, a maintenance gear which is disposed at one end of the maintenance cam and has a cut off portion in which a part of gear teeth is partially cut off in a face width direction, and a connection gear disposed on a shaft of the feed roller to be able to move in a shaft direction by the carriage and transmit the power of the feed roller. During the printing operation of the carriage, the connection gear is placed on the cut off portion, and then engaged with the teeth of the maintenance gear disposed adjacent to the cut off portion by the pushing of the carriage.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a line type recording head which is arranged so that a longitudinal direction thereof is substantially orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium; a suction pipe which is disposed in parallel with the recording head and connected to a suctioning device; a rotating body which is supported rotatably on an outer circumference of the suction pipe and has a first opening section and a second opening section; a platen which is arranged in the first opening section of the rotating body movably in parallel with the conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a cap member which is arranged in the second opening section of the rotating body and adapted to cap nozzles of the recording head, wherein the recording medium is suctioned onto the platen and parallelly moved along a conveyance path in a state where the first opening section of the rotating body is connected to the suction pipe.

Abstract: In discharge recovery processing, a continuous sheet 23 is moved from a facing position facing a head portion 21 to a first position (in the down direction in the drawing) as an evacuating position in the discharge recovery processing, thereafter, a discharge recovery processing unit 22 in the standby mode at a second position (in the up direction in the drawing) different from the facing position is moved to the facing position, and the discharge recovery processing is performed. In the discharge recovery processing, the head unit 21 is not moved and therefore the preferable positional reproducibility is obtained after ending the discharge recovery processing.

Abstract: A first inkjet printer spit cup assembly includes a spit cup having a mounting hole and inner teeth, includes a cylindrical post attached to a base portion and positioned in the mounting hole, and includes a wing. The wing and inner teeth are adapted to permit rotation, and to prevent counter-rotation, of the spit cup about the cylindrical post. A second inkjet printer spit cup assembly includes a spit cup having a mounting hole and bottom teeth, includes a cylindrical post attached to a base portion and positioned in the mounting hole, and includes a top tooth extending from the base portion. The top tooth and bottom teeth are adapted to permit rotation, and to prevent counter-rotation, of the spit cup about the cylindrical post.

Abstract: In a maintenance method of an inkjet printer comprising an air discharge device which discharges air accumulated in ink supply paths with pressurized air and an ink vacuum device which vacuums ink from an inkjet head, the pressurized air is in a high pressure mode when the air discharge device is used. The pressurized air is in a low pressure mode when the ink vacuum device is used. The driving time and the rotational speed of a drive motor which drives an air pump are controlled according to the capability and the ambient temperature of the air pump which generates the pressurized air.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head, a sealing member, a conveyance unit, a first moving unit, and a second moving unit. The first moving unit moves the sealing member along an outer circumference of the conveyance belt between a first position and a second position. The first position is located above the conveyance belt and faces the nozzle surface of the inkjet head. The second position is located under the conveyance belt. The second moving unit moves the conveyance belt between a conveyable position and a separate position. When the conveyance belt is located at the conveyable position and the sealing member is located at the first position, the conveyance belt presses the sealing member toward the nozzle surface so that the sealing member covers the nozzle surface.

Abstract: In cleaning an orifice surface in which the orifices of a printhead are formed, a portion of the orifice surface that readily becomes dirty along with ink discharge from the printhead is preferentially cleaned.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus having a carriage, in which, even when a toothed belt having a fine tooth pitch and low tooth height is used to drive the carriage, a jumping phenomenon of the toothed belt is positively prevented to thereby achieve stable scanning of the carriage without requiring a driving motor having a large capacity and an additional carriage position detecting device. A member for preventing the jumping of the toothed belt is disposed to create a predetermined gap with respect to a back surface of the toothed belt and is inclined with respect to the back surface by a predetermined angle at a position where the member is opposed to the back surface of a portion of the toothed belt to which the carriage is connected, in the vicinity of the driving pulley for the toothed belt connected to the carriage on which a head is mounted.

Abstract: A recording apparatus contains a recording head having a liquid droplet ejecting surface and ejecting a liquid droplet to a recording medium, a maintenance device disposed at a position opposite to the liquid droplet ejecting surface of the recording head, and a conveying unit which conveys the recording medium between the recording head and the maintenance device. The maintenance device has a liquid housing unit which houses the liquid droplet from the recording head, and a cleaning unit which cleans the liquid droplet ejecting surface of the recording head.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a carrier. An ink distribution arrangement is mounted on the carrier. At least one inkjet printhead chip is mounted on the ink distribution arrangement to receive ink from the ink distribution arrangement. A capping device is mounted on the carrier and is displaceable between an operative position in which the capping device serves to cover the, or each, printhead chip and an inoperative position in which ink can be ejected from the, or each, printhead chip. A displacement mechanism is engaged with the capping device to displace the capping device between the operative and inoperative positions.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a mechanism for controlling at least one ink transmission module, which controls a supply of ink using received control rotation. The mechanism includes an input, to receive control rotation. The mechanism also includes an output, to selectively transfer the control rotation to the ink transmission module. A control system is also provided to control the selective transfer of the output. The mechanism is moveable into a disengaged configuration by the control system, in which the output does not transfer rotation of the input to the ink transmission module, by a first predetermined sequence of rotations of the input, and into an engaged configuration, in which the output transfers rotation of the input to the ink transmission module, by a second predetermined sequence of rotations of the input.

Abstract: An inkjet printing mechanism includes an elongate chassis that spans a printing zone. A printhead assembly is mounted on the elongate chassis. The printhead assembly includes an ink distribution assembly and an array of printhead integrated circuits mounted on the ink distribution assembly to span the printing zone. An elongate platen assembly is mounted on the chassis such that the platen assembly spans the print area. The platen assembly includes an elongate body that defines a longitudinal platen surface for supporting a print medium during a printing operation carried out on the print medium. At least one of an elongate ink blotting member and a capping assembly is arranged on the body. A displacement mechanism displaces either the platen surface or said at least one of the ink blotting member and the capping assembly into operative alignment with the array of printhead integrated circuits.

Abstract: A cap moving mechanism for moving a cap for sealing a liquid ejecting head for ejecting liquid to a target, includes a pushing-up part for moving the cap upwards or downwards by rotating, a cam shaft provided integrally with the pushing-up part as a rotating shaft of the pushing-up part, a cam shaft gear including a drive region, which rotates integrally with the cam shaft taken as a rotating shaft, whereby a driving force of a motor for driving the cam shaft is transmitted, and a non-drive region whereby the driving force of the motor is not transmitted and a driving force transmission gear for transmitting the driving force of the motor to the cam shaft gear in order that the cap can be moved downwards from a state in which the cap has been completely moved upwards, after the motor rotates by a predetermined amount from when the cap has been completely moved upwards, and transmitting the driving force of the motor to the cam shaft gear in order that the cap can be moved upwards from a state in which the cap

Abstract: This invention provides a small and simple construction to drive a mechanism for maintaining a printing performance of a print head. In one preferred mode of the invention, a recovery device to maintain the printing performance of the print head has a suction pump unit, a capping unit and a wiping unit. The suction pump unit is driven through a spring clutch mechanism by an LF motor in the print sheet transport unit as a drive source. The capping unit and the wiping unit are driven by an AP motor as a drive source in a rotary dead zone set for a paper feed unit that feeds the print sheet to a transport unit. A piston pump is suited for use in a recovery operation to maintain the function of the print head.

Abstract: System and methods for servicing staggered printheads in an inkjet-imaging device are described. In one aspect, the color inkjet-imaging device collectively moves one or more of the staggered printheads along a single actuation axis from a respective spittoon in a particular service station to a print zone without colliding with any portion of an adjacent cleaning unit.

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 wet-type wiping apparatus of an inkjet printer to clean a print head of the inkjet printer includes a moisture storing portion, a moisture suction portion disposed on an upper side of the moisture storing portion and having a plurality of moisture suction holes, and a wiper portion inserted in the moisture storing portion and having a plurality of capillary tubes vertically penetrating therein. The moisture suction portion includes one of calcium chloride, a silica gel, and a high molecular weight substance, which are highly absorbent. The moisture storing portion includes a foam for containing moisture therein.

Abstract: A fluid-ejection assembly of one embodiment is disclosed comprising first and second arrays of fluid-ejection mechanisms, first and second service stations, and first and second drive mechanisms. The first array ejects fluid onto media; the first service station is to service the first array. The second array ejects fluid onto the media; the second service station is to service the second array. The first drive mechanism moves the first array between a first position to eject fluid onto the media and a second position at the first service station, while the second array ejects fluid onto the media in place of the first array. The second drive mechanism moves the second array between a third position to eject fluid onto the media and a fourth position at the second service station while the first array ejects fluid onto the media in place of the second array.

Abstract: A capping device 19 for a printer movable between an open position, in which the printhead 16 may deposit ink on print media, and a closed position, in which the capping device 19 blocks the printhead 16 from depositing ink on said media, the capping device being operatively connected to at least one media feed roller 18a whereby motion of said feed roller 18a moves the capping device 19 between the open and closed position.

Abstract: A compact printer has a powered roller for moving printable media past a fixed printhead. A nozzle capping mechanism for the printhead includes a capping arm operatively associated with the powered roller, a cap supported by the capping arm and movable with the capping arm between a position protecting the printhead and a position spaced from the printhead. The cap rests adjacent the printhead with the capping arm moving the cap away from the printhead when the powered roller rotates.

Abstract: When a printhead is not in use, it remains filled with ink. In order to prevent evaporation of the ink through the nozzles of the printhead, and the consequential depositing of ink components in and around the ink nozzles, the invention provides capping of the nozzle during the non printing modes of the printer. The capping mechanism uses a page width elastomeric seal, which can move between a first capping position, in which it seals said nozzles of the printhead in an air tight manner, and a second position in which the elastomeric seal moves away from said print head to allow paper to be printed upon by said print head.

Abstract: A wipe-off unit is provided with a cleaning liquid ejection member in a manner to be positioned below a horizontal surface coincident with a nozzle surface and on a sheet feeding side relative to a pressing roller. A wiping sheet is fed from below to the pressing roller through a space between the pressing roller and the cleaning liquid ejection member, and a cleaning liquid is applied to a surface of the wiping sheet.

Abstract: This invention concerns a printhead capping mechanism for preventing evaporation of ink from a printhead when it is not in use. The invention has utility, for instance, in a color printer which uses a drop-on-demand inkjet printhead. The mechanism includes a cap fitted with an elastomeric seal to seal against the face of the printhead, and a sponge to catch drops ejected from the printhead during the nozzle cleaning cycle. The mechanism also includes an actuating structure operable to selectively move the cap between an engaged position to press against the printhead and a disengaged position spaced away from the printhead. The actuating structure frictionally engages a drive member so that it can slip against the drive member when the cap reaches the engaged or disengaged positions.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head maintenance apparatus of this invention is provided with a plurality of wiping members having different wiping forces to remove residual ink or foreign substances from the nozzle face of the nozzle plate of the recording head. When performing wiping operation, the optimum wiping member is selected from among the plurality of wiping members in accordance with a change in the kind of adhering substances and adhering condition. It is therefore possible to select the optimum wiping member and achieve a good wiping effect without increasing the number of counts of wiping operation.

Abstract: An inkjet consumable cartridge having an inkjet cartridge having nozzles. The inkjet consumable cartridge also has an inkjet cartridge holding device for holding the inkjet cartridge, a cap configured to interface with the inkjet cartridge, and a cap actuator that, when actuated, moves the cap from a position where the cap does not interface with the inkjet cartridge to a position where the cap interfaces with the inkjet cartridge sealingly covering the nozzles. Furthermore, the consumable cartridge is removable from a printer as a self-contained unit.

Abstract: A modular service station assembly for use with an inkjet printer having a housing with front and rear ends having a print zone and one or more carriage assemblies adapted to accommodate at least one print cartridge having a print head. The service station assembly has at least one ink spittoon. The service station also includes a wiping station having at least one wiper for cleaning the print head. The at least one ink spittoon and the wiping station are separately disposed to one side of the print zone. The service station further includes a capping station having at least one cap for sealing the print head disposed within the print zone. These discrete modules are arranged to minimize the width of the printer housing.

Abstract: A printhead capping assembly includes a cap holder and a printhead cap. The cap holder defines a cavity and a vent exit. The printhead cap has a base and a lip portion extending from the base. The lip portion defines an open interior region. The base is inserted into the cavity of the cap holder. The base includes a serpentine channel extending from the open interior region to the vent exit of the cap holder.

Abstract: The printheads of an inkjet printer have a service station movable in a direction transversely of a printhead scanning direction and comprising servicing modules for undertaking different functions, one of the modules being detachable from the rest. The detachable connection comprises a rotating hook and a fixed hook which automatically interengage and disengage.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, which records by discharging ink from a recording head includes a cap for covering a discharge port surface of the recording head; a suction unit for effecting suction of ink from the discharge ports; and ink flow paths connecting a suction port of the cap to the suction unit. After effecting suction of ink from the discharge ports by the suction unit, the side of the cap opposite to the side where the suction port is arranged is parted, and when the cap and the recording head are set apart, the cap is positioned horizontally or in a posture having the side of the suction port arranged therefor made lower than horizontal. With the structure thus arranged, ink remaining in the cap can be suctioned and removed efficiently when the cap is parted and idle suction is performed inside the cap after the suction recovery process or the like for the maintenance of stable ink discharge performance at all times.

Abstract: In a method of filling an ink-jet head of an ink-jet type printing apparatus with a liquid stored in an ink cartridge or in a reservoir tank, the head is filled up to the tip of nozzles by bringing a suction cap into close contact with a nozzle opening face of the ink-jet head via a gas-permeable filters and drawing the air inside the suction caps with a pump.

Abstract: A method is described for removing residue from a fluid deposited on the interior surface of an inkjet printhead after the printhead has contained or dispensed the fluid at least once. The method makes use of a reverse flushing technique optionally used in combination with sonication. A cleaning station for flushing an inkjet printhead with a wash fluid, rinse fluid, and/or inert gas is provided as well.

Abstract: A head cap is reciprocally movable between a capping position for covering nozzles of a print head and a retracted position separated from the nozzle surface. A pump is connected to the head cap. A pump gear is rotated by a drive source to drive the pump. A cylindrical cam is reciprocally rotatable between a first position and a second position to reciprocally move the head cap. A frictional clutch rotates the cylindrical cam together with the pump gear, but rotates only the pump gear when the cylindrical cam reaches each one of the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a less costly print head maintenance mechanism featuring a compact, simple construction and negating the need for a widthwise increase of space for permitting vertical movement of the print head maintenance mechanism. The mechanism is designed to utilize the rotation of first cams and second cams for switching cap holders and wiper holders to a printing mode position for permitting a normal printing operation, a capping mode position for sealing a nozzle surface at a print head with the cap, and a wiping mode position for cleaning by wiping the nozzle surface with the wiper.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed which has— (a) a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead, and (b) a capping mechanism associated with the printhead. The capping mechanism comprises— (i) a capping member formed from a flexible sheet-like material having a width corresponding substantially to the length of the printhead and being provided as a replaceable roll from which a portion of the material is in use drawn to locate in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead, and (ii) a take-up reel arranged to take-up spent capping material following a capping operation. Also disclosed is a printer in which, as an optional aspect, a platen is positioned adjacent the printhead and arranged to engage with and position the capping member in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having capping control means which, if a dot number counted by a count means reaches or exceeds a second threshold value smaller than a first threshold value and if a waiting time measured by a measuring means reaches or exceeds a first predetermined waiting time, covers an ink discharge surface of an ink jet recording head with a cap, and wiping control means which, if the dot number counted by the count means exceeds the first threshold value, wipes the ink discharge surface of the ink jet recording head with a wiper, and, if the waiting time measured by the measuring means reaches or exceeds a second predetermined waiting time longer than the first predetermined waiting time during the capping, wipes the ink discharge surface of the ink jet recording head with the wiper.

Abstract: An inkjet carriage for holding an inkjet pen includes an airflow reducing member configured and positioned to at least partially block airflow between an inkjet ejection nozzle of a pen on the carriage and an object to be printed upon during carriage movement.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing module, positioned in an ink-jet printing mechanism, includes a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a guiding bar between the first side and the second side, a print head movable along the guiding bar, a cleaning device, a covering device, and a printing platform. The cleaning device for cleaning the print head is adjacent to an interior of the first side. The covering device for covering the print head is adjacent to an interior of the second side. The printing platform is located at the bottom of the ink-jet printing module and between the cleaning device and the covering device.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for protecting a device against operation with unallowed consumables whose authenticity is checked in a remote data center, at least one code word is generated, an allocation to a specific consumable is stored in the form of a dataset with a reference code word, the consumable is aggregated with the generated code word, which has a predetermined relationship to the reference code word or to a group of reference code words that are stored in the data center. An operation for the replacement of a consumable in a device remote from the data center is detected and a communication connection is set up between the device and the remote data center and the code word aggregated with the consumable is communicated to the data center. The communicated code word is received in the data center and the authenticity of the consumable on the basis of a stored reference code word is checked at the data center, which transmits a message to the device after checking the code.

Abstract: An inkjet printing mechanism includes an elongate chassis which spans a print area. A printhead assembly is mounted on the elongate chassis. The printhead assembly includes an ink distribution assembly and an array of printhead chips mounted on the ink distribution assembly to span the print area. An elongate platen assembly is mounted on the chassis such that the platen assembly spans the print area. The platen assembly includes an elongate body that defines a longitudinal platen surface for supporting a print medium during a printing operation carried out on the print medium. An elongate ink blotting member is arranged on the body. A rotating mechanism rotates the elongate body such that either the platen surface or the ink blotting member is aligned with the array of printhead chips.

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: There is provided an inkjet printing device, which is provided with an inkjet head and an ejection restoring system. The ejection restoring system includes a sucking device, a sucking device moving mechanism, a wiping member, a wiping member moving mechanism, and a driving system that drives the sucking device and the wiping member through the sucking device moving mechanism and the wiping member moving mechanism so that one of the sucking device and the wiping member is not driven if the sucking device and the wiping member interfere with each other. The driving system includes a first position detecting system that outputs a first state signal indicating that the sucking device and the wiping member interfere with each other and outputs a second state signal indicating that the sucking device and the wiping member do not interfere with each other, and a controller that controls at least one of the sucking device and the wiping member based on an output of the first position detecting system.

Abstract: A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system including a treatment fluid applicator placing treatment fluid on at least one of two elements involved in wiping, said two elements being a printhead orifice plate surface and a wiper, the system being so configured that treatment fluid is applied before wiping the printhead by projecting treatment fluid onto at least one element through the atmosphere, thereby avoiding direct contact between the applicator and said one element, the treatment fluid being placed so as to be available to assist in wiping a portion of the printhead orifice plate where the nozzle orifices are located to remove debris that may have accumulated, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render such accumulations more removable by wiping, the source of treatment fluid being uncontaminated by contact with either the printhead or the wiper.