Abstract: The present invention provides a flushing process for an ink jet recording apparatus that employs inks using pigments as coloring agents and moves a recording head along a guide shaft to flush the inks to flushing portions of a platen, in which a first flushing for flushing one of dark pigment ink(s) and light pigment ink(s) and a second flushing for flushing the other of the dark pigment ink(s) and the light pigment ink(s) are performed onto the same positions of the platen. Also provided is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs the flushing process.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and preliminary discharge control method capable of minimizing the influence of a preliminary discharge operation on printing and keeping a short printing time are disclosed. In an inkjet printing apparatus for printing image data on a printing medium by discharging ink from a printhead mounted on a carriage which scans back and forth parallel to the printing medium, an ink receptor having at least the same length as the scanning range of the printhead is formed below a printing position at which the printhead prints image data on a printing medium. When this inkjet printing apparatus is to perform preliminary discharge, an edge of a printing medium is sensed during the forward and backward scans of the carriage, and the carriage mounting the printhead is moved to be separated a predetermined distance from the sensed edge of the printing medium. At this position separated by the predetermined distance, the printhead is controlled to perform a preliminary discharge operation.

Abstract: A catcher design is provided wherein vacuum channels are added to both sides of the catcher to remove ink from the face of the catcher and from the eyelid seal. An additional fluid port on the catcher allows the additional vacuum channels to maintain an increased level of vacuum. A restriction on the catcher line balances the fluid flow between the catcher and the additional vacuum channels. A scoop can be machined into the catch pan to remove fluid from below the catcher face. A manifold can be used to maintain a vacuum source for the catcher throat and the additional channels, while pulling the unprinted ink back to the fluid system. Finally, a wider eyelid seal can allow purge fluid used during shutdown to clear the channels.

Abstract: A fluid ejection system includes a plurality of cartridges each including a fluid ejection device, and a carriage adapted to hold the cartridges. The carriage includes a carriage darn including a plurality of openings and a plurality of panels. Each of the openings accommodate one of the cartridges, and each of the panels have a surface oriented substantially parallel with a front face of the fluid ejection device 0° F. the one of the cartridges and at least one substantially straight edge extending substantially completely along a side of the one of the cartridges.

Abstract: A novel ink-jet recording apparatus is provided for conducting margin-free recording on the peripheral area of the recording medium including the edge thereof with excellent image quality even in the peripheral area in comparison with quality of the usual printing having a margin. A process therefor is also provided.

Abstract: A phase change waste ink control apparatus and method are provided and are suitable for use in a phase change ink image producing machine including a printhead system. The apparatus for the method includes (a) devices for producing phase change waste ink such as from a printhead system; (b) a waste ink gutter assembly, including a heating device, for collecting, accumulating and coalescing the phase change waste ink. The apparatus also includes (c) a controller for periodically turning the heating device on to heat and melt coalesced phase change waste ink within the waste ink gutter assembly; and (d) a waste ink collection container for collecting melted phase change waste ink from the waste ink gutter assembly.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make it possible in an ink jet recording apparatus to appropriately display the state of use or the time for replacement of an ink cartridge in which a waste ink storing member for storing waste ink and an ink storing member for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head are combined. In the present invention, based on the percentage of the ink remaining in the ink storing member for storing ink and the percentage of the amount of waste ink that can be received in the waste ink storing member, the smaller one of them is displayed.

Abstract: An inkjet head selectively ejects recording ink droplets and refresh ink droplets. The recording ink droplets are deflected so as to impinge on target locations on a recording medium, thereby forming recording dots thereon. On the other hand, the refresh ink droplets are deflected so as to impinge on an ink absorbing member. The ink clinging on the ink absorbing member is collected into an ink tank and reused. The ink absorbing member functions as a filter for preventing impurities being collected into the ink tank along with the ink.

Abstract: In one implementation, an aerosol collector for an inkjet printer includes a partial enclosure defining a central cavity. An air passage is defined within a wall forming the partial enclosure to allow air movement into an opening defined on an inside surface of the partial enclosure and out of an exhaust outlet. A fan is configured to remove a mixture of air and aerosol from the central cavity, through the air passage and through the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: A waste ink removal system for cleaning ink residue from an ink drop sensing belt in a printing mechanism is provided. The waste ink removal system has a base, an actuator coupled to the sensing belt, and an ink removal member, supported by the base, which removes ink residue from the sensing belt when the sensing belt is moved by the actuator. A method for drop detection, and a printing mechanism having such a waste ink removal system are also provided.

Abstract: A spittoon system is provided for avoiding formation of an ink stalagmite during spitting of a pigment-based ink from a first printhead of an inkjet printing mechanism. First, ink is spit from a second inkjet printhead containing a dye-based ink formulation and accumulated in a pool defined by spittoon reservoir having a catch basin. The catch basin is configured to splatter and dissipate the pigment-based ink upon impacting the accumulated pool of ink. The spittoon preferably has funnel-shaped tapering walls that resist collection of the pigment-based ink, to avoid formation of an initial base portion of the ink stalagmite. A method of avoiding formation of such an ink stalagmite, along with an inkjet printing mechanism having such a spittoon system, are also provided.

Abstract: A device for borderless printing on imaging material by means of an ink jet printer has a support surface against which the imaging material lies while printing ink is applied to it during the printing process. The support surface has cutouts and is hydrophobic and/or oil-repellant, so as to repel printing ink that is sprayed outside the borders of the imaging material.

Abstract: A spittoon for servicing an inkjet printhead is provided, where the spittoon includes a bottom and one or more walls. At least one wall of the spittoon has an inwardly extending lip. The walls of the spittoon, taken in combination with the bottom of the spittoon, define a waste ink reservoir. The presence of at least one lip on the spittoon walls helps retain the waste ink when the spittoon is moved or tilted, minimizing ink spills.

Abstract: An inkjet device comprising a service station and a printhead, said service station comprising an ink spreader and a spittoon, said spittoon having an ink receiving surface arranged to receive ink spitted from said printhead, said ink spreader being arranged to spread spitted ink in a substantially unbroken layer over at least a portion said ink receiving surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for ink-jet recording includes: (a) ink tanks installed removably in the apparatus, and configured to store ink; (b) a reservoir tank configured to temporarily store waste ink generated by a printing head for jetting ink supplied from the ink tanks onto the printing paper; (c) waste ink tanks formed in one piece with the ink tanks, and configured to store waste ink; (d) a discharging unit configured to discharge waste ink from the reservoir tank into the waste ink tanks; and (e) a control unit configured to discriminate whether or not the waste ink tanks are empty, and to control the discharging unit to discharge waste ink of a predetermined quantity stored in the reservoir tank into the empty waste ink tank.

Abstract: A shutdown procedure is provided for removing all solvent ink from the printhead of an ink jet printer system that uses volatile ink for printing a shutdown method is provided for an inkjet printer that uses volatile inks for printing. Initially, a colorless flush fluid is provided which readily dissolves the ink. The flush fluid is crossflushed through the drop generator and caused to weep out of the orifices in the drop generator to dissolve and rinse away ink residues from the charge plate and the exterior of the orifice plate. The flush fluid is used to rinse off charging electrodes of the charge plate, the catcher face, and the catcher return line. Fluid crossflushed through the drop generator cleans the interior of the drop generator and cleans the crossflush valve.

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 platen on which a recording medium advances, of an inkjet recording apparatus, having:

Abstract: An ink collection assembly includes an ink collection chimney defined, at least in part, by a tubular. The tubular structure has a proximal end and a distal end. The tubular structure extends from the proximal end a first distance to the distal end. The distal end defines an opening for receiving waste ink. A hydrophobic foam is positioned in the tubular structure. With the hydrophobic foam positioned in the tubular structure, the tubular structure includes a hollow portion located between the hydrophobic foam and the proximal end.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has a platen defining the position of printing medium P during image printing and an ink receiver formed in the platen to be opposite to nozzle arrays of a print head. In the inkjet printer, the print head ejects ink from the nozzle arrays for pigment ink and dye ink in accordance with print data. When borderless printing is executed on the edges of printing medium, ink is ejected to lie off printing medium and then received in the ink receiver. Then, the print head ejects dye ink to pigment ink received in the ink receiver of the platen during borderless printing using pigment ink.

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: A discharge port is formed in a bottom surface of ink tank. The ink tank is made to communicate with a waste ink tank by connecting the discharge port to the waste ink tank in a position lower than the discharge port, and a part of connection member is openable/closable by a valve. If the connection member is opened, ink is discharged from the discharge port of the ink tank to the waste ink tank. If impurities are deposited on the bottom surface of the ink tank, the impurities can be discharged with ink from the discharge port to the waste ink tank, thereby clogging in the nozzle head due to impurities can be reliably prevented.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus, a head unit composed of a recording head and a ink tank is mounted on a carriage with an ejection port surface facing upward. The recording head records an image on a lower surface of a medium to be recorded by ejecting ink upward from ejecting ports. A preliminary ejection receiver is disposed outside of a region where an image can be recorded on the medium to be recorded to receive ink preliminarily ejected from the recording head in order to maintain and recover an ink ejection performance of the recording head. The preliminary ejection receiver has an opening acting an inlet for the preliminarily ejected ink. Further, a ceiling surface, which inclines with respect to a horizontal direction and on which the ink preliminarily ejected into the preliminary ejection receiver deposits, is disposed above the opening. With this arrangement, ink ejected into the preliminary ejection receiver is prevented from leaking from the opening.

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.

Abstract: A waste fluid collection container, which includes a tray having a floor defined by a periphery, where the floor has a plurality of raised flow enhancing areas and a fluid absorbing member that sits inside the tray. In embodiments, the raised areas are elongated ridges extending outwardly from a central area. In other embodiments, the raised areas are a plurality of studs.

Abstract: In an apparatus for forming a film member on a surface of a workpice, relative scanning is performed between the workpiece and a function liquid droplet ejection head having introduced therein a function liquid such that the function liquid droplet is ejected beyond an edge of the workpiece. The apparatus is made up of a trough-shaped receiving member for receiving the function liquid which is ejected from the function liquid droplet ejection head beyond the edge of the workpiece, and a waste function liquid storing member which is connected by a pipe to a downstream side of the trough-shaped receiving member and which stores therein the function liquid discharged from the trough-shaped receiving member.

Abstract: A waste ink accumulation system in an ink jet printer includes a rotatable body having an ink-collecting surface and a plurality of projections extending from the ink-collecting surface. An actuating mechanism rotates the 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: A waste ink removal system for cleaning ink residue from an ink drop sensing belt in a printing mechanism is provided. The waste ink removal system has a base, an actuator coupled to the sensing belt, and an ink removal member, supported by the base, which removes ink residue from the sensing belt when the sensing belt is moved by the actuator. A method for drop detection, and a printing mechanism having such a waste ink removal system are also provided.

Abstract: A receptacle for the color ink spitting of a printhead to maintain the print nozzles and better collect the ink and transfer the waste ink to a containment area utilizes a porous open cell foam spit surface to allow the waste ink and air to pass through while maintaining some surfaces for the transport and collection of waste ink. This open cell design of the foam allows the ink and air to pass through it without deflecting the vast majority of the ink volume. The foam is hydrophobic foam to prevent the foam from absorbing the ink. The foam is also made from an ether-based material to be compatible with the inks. Walls forming a chimney are added to the sides of the foam to help contain and direct the waste ink flow from the printhead to the waste ink accumulation area in the printer. The spit foam and chimney direct the waste ink directly onto a felt absorption pad located below the spit surface where the waste ink is absorbed and stored.

Abstract: A spittoon system is provided for receiving ink residue spit from an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. The spittoon system includes a storage container having a chamber, and an aerogel foam within the chamber for absorbing the received ink residue.

Abstract: A method for increasing the waste ink storage capacity in an ink jet printer includes the steps of providing a printer frame including a first frame portion and a second frame portion; providing a platen extending between the first frame portion and the second frame portion; providing a maintenance station coupled to the first frame portion; providing a printhead carrier for carrying a first printhead and a second printhead, and adapted for reciprocating movement along a carrier path, the carrier path extending over the first frame portion and the platen; defining a first ink spit area located at the maintenance station; defining a second ink spit area located at the platen; and selectively controlling an operation of the first printhead during spitting operations to eject a first ink in the first ink spit area and selectively controlling an operation of the second printhead during spitting operations to eject a second ink in the second ink spit area.

Abstract: This apparatus has a liquid jet head for ejecting liquid drops from nozzle openings of a nozzle plate, a scanning mechanism for scanning the head in the head scanning direction, a feed mechanism for feeding an object to be processed in the direction perpendicular to the head scanning direction, an absorption member arranged in the area, which is on the rear side of the object during processing and opposite to the head, for absorbing liquid drops ejected in the area outside the object, and a potential difference generation unit for generating a potential difference between at least one of the absorption member and the member neighboring the absorption member and the nozzle plate. According to this apparatus, liquid drops ejected from the head into the area outside the object can be prevented from misting.

Abstract: A receptacle for the color ink spitting of a printhead to maintain the print nozzles and better collect the ink and transfer the waste ink to a containment area utilizes a porous open cell foam spit surface to allow the waste ink and air to pass through while maintaining some surfaces for the transport and collection of waste ink. This open cell design of the foam allows the ink and air to pass through it without deflecting the vast majority of the ink volume. The foam is hydrophobic foam to prevent the foam from absorbing the ink. The foam is also made from an ether-based material to be compatible with the inks. Walls forming a chimney are added to the sides of the foam to help contain and direct the waste ink flow from the printhead to the waste ink accumulation area in the printer. The spit foam and chimney direct the waste ink directly onto a felt absorption pad located below the spit surface where the waste ink is absorbed and stored.

Abstract: A spittoon system is provided for receiving ink residue spit from an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. The spittoon system includes a storage container having a chamber, and an aerogel foam within the chamber for absorbing the received ink residue.

Abstract: A plate-making method comprising: forming an image directly on a plate material by an electrostatic ink jet method comprising ejecting an oil ink using electrostatic field based on signals of image data; and fixing said image to manufacture a printing plate, wherein said method uses: (1) an ink circulation line having the following members a, b and c: a. an ink jet ejection head, b. an ink transportation line comprising an ink feed line for feeding said oil ink to said ink jet ejection head and an ink recovery line for recovering said oil ink from said ink jet ejection head, and c.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a printhead and a maintenance station. The maintenance station includes a fixed support housing, a sled and a chimney. The sled is supported on the support housing and is movable relative to the support housing in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The chimney receives ink spit from the printhead. The chimney has a fixed vertical position relative to the printhead and is horizontally movable in response to movement of the sled.

Abstract: A waste fluid collection container, which includes a tray having a floor defined by a periphery, where the floor has a plurality of raised flow enhancing areas and a fluid absorbing member that sits inside the tray. In embodiments, the raised areas are elongated ridges extending outwardly from a central area. In other embodiments, the raised areas are a plurality of studs.

Abstract: In a pre-ejected ink receiving device including a waste ink absorber for receiving ink dropped from a pre-ejection as waste ink, since ink mist flows are not controlled properly, the conventional ink-jet recording apparatus has a big problem of contamination, caused by flown up ink mist from a pre-eject port and flown out ink mist from a gap between the pre-eject port and the waste ink absorber, which is accumulated in the recording apparatus by repeated recording operation. A waste ink absorber with rough density to which an ink droplet ejected by the pre-ejection directly collides, solves the above-mentioned problem.

Abstract: A collection spittoon with a vacuum connection draws air and ink ejected during service spitting through an opening in the top of the spittoon. The collected ink includes main ejected drops and aerosol generated during the service process. A method for servicing an inkjet printhead comprises positioning the printhead over an opening in a spittoon chamber, establishing an air flow into the chamber through the opening, actuating the printhead to spit ink droplets in a service mode, and collecting the ink droplets and associated aerosol by drawing the ink droplets and aerosol into the chamber with the air flow.

Abstract: A tapered screw spittoon system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to handle waste inkjet ink residue that has been spit from an inkjet printhead during a nozzle clearing or “spitting” routine. The spittoon system has a cylindrical reservoir with a tapered screw rotatably mounted therein. The reservoir defines an entranceway opening to receive the ink residue, which then lands on a spit region of the screw. The screw has a tapered shaft which increases in diameter from the entranceway opening toward an exit opening defined by the reservoir wall at a remote location. When rotated, the tapered screw transports the ink residue from the spit region toward the exit opening. During transport, the ink residue is compacted between the screw shaft and the reservoir, and is squeezed out of the reservoir through the exit opening for permanent storage in a container surrounding the reservoir.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet recording apparatus which performs printing on a recording medium to be subjected to processing such as pasting and folding after the printing, including an ink jet head in which a plurality of ink discharge nozzles are arranged to cross with respect to a conveyance direction of the recording medium, a spit position determining unit which determines a spit position based on size information and unexposed region information of the recording medium, and a spit control unit which controls spit of the ink jet head based on a spit position determining result of the spit position determining unit. Here, the unexposed region information defines regions on the recording medium surface which are unexposed or cut away after printing and processing.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink collection unit is disposed on a moving path of a recording head for receiving ink drops ejected from the recording head to which a flushing drive signal is supplied. The ink collecting unit is formed with an aperture through which the ink drops ejected from the recording head pass, and an air flow passage. A ventilation fan is disposed on the way of the air flow passage or a termination end portion of the air flow passage so that ink mist generated when the flushing operation is performed is efficiently collected in the ink collecting unit.

Abstract: The invention is intended to reduce a possibility of the waste ink produced by the marginless printing overflowing from the ink absorber. To realize this, each time the marginless printing is executed, the volume of waste ink produced by the marginless printing is cumulatively added up in order to control a total volume of the waste ink. The waste ink volume to be added up is determined by at least the kind of print medium or the print mode.

Abstract: A material feed system for solid freeform fabrication. The build material is delivered in discrete or quantized amounts by the feed system in a non-flowable state to the dispensing device and the material is then changed to a flowable state prior to being dispensed. The feed system can be used to build three-dimensional objects in color, if desired. In one embodiment individual cartridges with build material are loaded into a magazine on the feed system which is integrated with a waste removal system. As the build material is expelled from the cartridges, waste material is deposited into the cartridge. Once all the build material has been expelled, the waste material is hermetically sealed in the spent cartridge which is then ejected from the system. The hermetically sealed cartridges protect operators from contact with the reactive waste material making the system safe for the office environment.

Abstract: A maintenance unit for use in an ink jet printer includes a maintenance frame coupled to a printer frame, a maintenance sled moveably coupled to the maintenance frame and a spreader mechanism coupled to the maintenance sled, wherein the spreader mechanism disperses waste ink over a waste ink accumulation region as the maintenance sled moves relative to the maintenance frame.

Abstract: During ink-jet printhead servicing, nozzles fire ink droplets into a reservoir of a service station. An electrostatic drop detection circuit uses the difference between the voltage potential of the ink droplets and the voltage potential of the reservoir to create an output signal. The shape and amplitude of the signal are evaluated to determine the functionality of the printhead nozzles. The signal delay, associated with the flight time of the ink droplets, and the amplitude of the output signal are evaluated to determine the volume remaining within the reservoir of the service station. Using the remaining volume as a parameter, the rate at which printhead servicing may be calculated to optimize print quality and resources.

Abstract: A waste ink accumulation system in an ink jet printer includes a rotatable body having an ink-collecting surface and a plurality of projections extending from the ink-collecting surface. An actuating mechanism rotates the body.

Abstract: A laminated structure utilizes differential adhesive to achieve high adhesion to a wicking material and low adhesion where removal is desired. The low profile wicking pad is useful in any technology where it is desirable to control excess moisture with a passive device. The wicking device is particularly useful in the field of continuous ink jet printing systems, where the low profile of the device is desirable and the cost reduction makes disposability of the device a reality. In ink jet printing systems, the wicking device improves ink jet printhead performance via ink mist and ink drip elimination.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet image recording apparatus adapted for use in mobile printing, and a media cartridge for containing a sheet to be recorded by such apparatus. The media cartridge is detachably mountable on an image recording apparatus for forming an image on a sheet and includes a frame body which includes sheets for recording an image by the image recording apparatus, an ink containing member for containing ink to be supplied to an image recording unit of the image recording apparatus and to be discharged on the sheets, a pick-up unit for feeding the sheets one by one from the frame body, and an ink absorbent member for absorbing the ink not used for recording in the image recording apparatus in a state that the frame body is mounted thereon.