Abstract: To provide a waste ink absorbing tank, capable, even in the case of utilizing an ink of a high coagulating property, of causing a waste ink absorbent member to efficiently absorb such ink. A waste ink absorbent member has a hole portion corresponding to an introducing position of the waste ink, and the hole portion is opened on a lateral face of the absorbent member. The waste ink, introduced into the hole portion moves in one direction toward the waste ink absorbent member and absorbed therein.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table facing a drawing area by an X-axis table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes a periodic flushing unit which is disposed on a main scan moving axis at a position offset from the drawing area towards the main scanning direction and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head during non-drawing time and a pre-drawing flushing unit which is disposed adjacent to the set table and faces the drawing area and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head performed immediately before starting the drawing operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink jet printing device (1) for printing multicolored images, with an essentially horizontally extending conveyor mechanism (2) for moving items to be printed (3) lying on it in a forward feed direction (4), and with a print head arrangement (5) disposed above the conveyor mechanism (2) which is disposed stationary relative to the conveyor mechanism (2) during the printing process. The print head arrangement (5) is made up of several print heads (6) each with several nozzles disposed in a nozzle row (26), and the nozzle rows (22) have a printing range width (24) as measured perpendicular to the forward feed direction (4) which forms a total printing range width (27) of the print head arrangement (5) corresponding to the number of print heads (6). The print head arrangement (5) is disposed so that it can be displaced vertically on a guide (10) and a nozzle rinsing device (14) is provided which can be positioned underneath the print head arrangement (5) as and when necessary.

Abstract: In an ink jet print head formed with ejection nozzles, which may use a wiping member to wipe ink adhered to the surface of the ink jet print head, it is desired to be able to perform a wiping operation in any environment without requiring a large amount of space to accommodate the liquid used during the wiping operation. To this end, a cooling unit is used which can produce water by cooling the atmosphere. This cooling unit is operated to produce water, which is brought into contact with and transferred onto the wiping member before the wiping member performs wiping.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head, a tank in which liquid to be supplied to the inkjet head is retained, and a flow path for connecting the inkjet head and the tank to each other. The inkjet head includes a head main body, liquid chambers which are built in the head main body, and in which liquid is kept under negative pressure, a nozzle plate bonded to the head main body in such a manner that the plate constitutes one wall part of each of the liquid chambers, nozzles formed in the nozzle plate in such a manner that the nozzles communicate with the liquid chambers, drive elements for causing the nozzles to eject liquid droplets, and first suction holes formed in the nozzle plate in such a manner that the holes communicate with the liquid chambers.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes an ejection defect test unit for inspecting an ejection defect of the functional liquid droplet ejection head. The ejection defect test unit includes a drawn unit on which a predetermined test pattern is drawn by test ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head and ejection-defect determination means for determining the ejection defect by capturing an image of the test pattern drawn on the ejection-defect test unit and recognizing the image. The drawn unit is disposed on a scan moving axis offset from the set table towards the main scanning direction.

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

Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising a printhead mounted on a substrate, an elastically deformable pad and an ink removal system mounted on the substrate. The pad has a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. The pad being linearly moveable between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. In order to provide a cleaning action, the contact surface is configured to progressively contact the face during sealing engagement and peel away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes: a drum which conveys a recording medium, an inkjet head having an ejection surface which faces the outer circumferential surface of the drum, and a cap facing the outer circumferential surface. The inkjet heads are moved by a head-moving mechanism to be in a recording position, wiping position, or a capping position. The cap-moving mechanism moves the cap, in the circumferential direction of the drum along the outer circumferential surface, to: an open position where the cap does not face the ejection surface, or an opposing position in which the cap faces the ejection surface and covers the inkjet head in the capping position.

Abstract: A printer including a medium supporting member that supports a print medium in a state placed thereon, a print head that has nozzles for ejecting ink droplets downward and freely reciprocates above the medium supporting member, and a maintenance device. The maintenance device is disposed to face the lower surface of the print head when the print head is in a standby position and receives residual ink in the nozzles which is ejected from the nozzles when the print head is in the standby position. The maintenance device has an ink receiving chamber that opens upward for receiving the residual ink ejected from the nozzles and a liquid injection member that injects liquid into the ink receiving chamber when the print head is away from a position where the print head faces the ink receiving chamber in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance assembly for removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead. The assembly comprises: pressure means for flooding the face and thereby dispersing the particulates into flooded ink; a first transfer roller having a transfer surface for receiving the flooded ink; a transfer mechanism for rotating the first transfer roller; and an ink removal system for removing ink from the transfer surface. The ink removal system comprises a second transfer roller engaged with the first transfer roller.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a jetting head unit which has a nozzle which jets droplets of a liquid, and a heat generating section, a suction port which is formed in the jetting head unit, and which opens near the nozzle, and a suction device which sucks air around the nozzle from the suction port, and cools down the heat generating section of the jetting head unit by the air which is sucked. Since the heat generating portion is cooled down by the air sucked from the suction port by the suction device, it is possible to reduce a possibility of the heat of the heat generating section being transferred to the jetting head unit, and destabilizing an operation of the jetting head unit. Moreover, since the suction port opens near the nozzle, it is possible to suck fine liquid droplets together with air around the nozzle.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head disposed on a transport path of a target to eject liquid from nozzles at a nozzle forming surface, a target transport unit transporting the target on the basis of a driving force of a first driving source such that the target passes through a position opposite the nozzle forming surface on the transport path, a liquid receptor transport unit transporting a liquid receptor for receiving the liquid ejected from the nozzles as a waste liquid on the basis of a driving force of a second driving source such that the liquid receptor passes through the position opposite the nozzle forming surface on the transport path, and a control unit controlling a driving state of the second driving source in order to change a transport velocity of the liquid receptor by the liquid receptor transport unit while the liquid receptor is transported.

Abstract: A disclosed waste liquid storage container includes: a container body divided into plural segments; and a waste liquid absorption member disposed on each segment of the container body, the waste liquid absorption member being made of a high water-absorbing polymer or a high oil-absorbing polymer.

Abstract: An apparatus for free-spraying an inkjet printhead includes a feed table with a slot carrier which can be deflected counter to a spring force and has at least one free-spraying slot disposed opposite at least one inkjet printhead. The slot carrier is shaped in such a way that the at least one free-spraying slot is deflected out of a transport path corresponding to an entry of an item of mail being fed in.

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: A maintenance system for a printhead, the system having an ingestion member for ingesting waste fluid from the printhead; and a container for containing said ingested waste fluid, the container being flexible so as to expand as an amount of contained waste fluid increases.

Abstract: A printer having a printhead having a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles; an ingestion member for ingesting waste fluid from the printhead; and a container for containing the ingested waste fluid, the container being flexible so as to expand as an amount of contained waste fluid increases.

Abstract: A drip bib has been configured for use with a printhead of an imaging device that facilitates removal of purged ink from a printhead. The drip bib includes a plate having a front face, a rear face, an upper edge, and a lower edge, and at least one elongated recess on the rear face of the plate and positioned along the upper edge of the plate, the at least one elongated recess enabling the front face of the plate to be recessed with respect to the faceplate of the printhead to which the drip bib is mounted.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes an ejection inspecting section for recognizing an inspection pattern printed on a printing unit as an image, and inspecting ejection performance of the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, a workpiece alignment section for aligning a workpiece relative to a set table, a table moving section for moving the set table between the printing area and an alignment position, a unit moving section for moving the printing unit between a retracted position and an inspection position, and a controller for controlling the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, the ejection inspecting section, the table moving section, the unit moving section, and the workpiece alignment section. The controller allows alignment processing of moving the set table to the alignment position and aligning the workpiece and inspection processing of moving the printing unit to the inspection position and performing inspection of the ejection performance to be performed simultaneously.

Abstract: A fluid discharging apparatus includes: nozzles configured to discharge fluid to a medium; a rotating member having a holding area configured to hold the medium and a non-holding area formed with an opening on a peripheral surface thereof and configured to rotate with the peripheral surface opposed to the nozzles; and a collecting mechanism configured to collect the fluid which does not adhere to the medium, the collecting mechanism including a suction unit configured to suck the fluid through the opening into the rotating member and a storage unit configured to store the fluid sucked into the rotating member.

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

Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting liquid droplets for drawing a pattern on a workpiece having drawing areas in a longitudinal direction includes: a suction table disposed in a drawing space for holding the workpiece by suction; a delivering unit that intermittently delivers the workpiece onto the suction table in a sagged state; a drawing unit that draws a pattern on the workpiece held by suction by driving the functional liquid droplet ejection head to eject liquid droplets; a workpiece receiving unit that receives the drawn-on workpiece in a sagged state from the suction table; and a flushing unit on a feeding path of the work and including a flushing box provided between a lower surface of the functional liquid droplet ejection head and a sagged portion at least at one of the sagged portions of the workpiece for receiving ejected liquid droplets from the functional liquid droplet ejection head.

Abstract: A method of using a container for a phase change ink cartridge includes inserting the cartridge in the container, transporting the container with the inserted cartridge to an ink jet printer, taking the cartridge out of the container and operatively connecting the cartridge to the printer, and operatively connecting the container to the printer to enable collecting of waste ink produced by the printer in the container. A container for a phase change ink cartridge is also provided for use in a phase change ink jet printer. The container has an inner shape and an outer shape. The inner shape constitutes a fitting enclosure for the cartridge and the outer shape provides a profile for operatively engaging a matching profile of the ink jet printer hardware.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reference surface that is partitioned into an array of chambers; an image forming head for forming an image on a media; and a source of negative pressure. The array of chambers is in fluid communication with the source of negative pressure. An overprint trough is positioned neighboring the array of chambers. The overprint trough includes a side wall with a plurality of vent holes to direct airborne ink mist produced by the image forming head away from a back side of the media.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head that discharges liquid, a liquid receiving portion that receives the liquid from the liquid ejection head, a detachable liquid storage portion that stores the liquid within the liquid receiving portion, and a liquid passage that conducts the liquid within the liquid receiving portion into the liquid storage portion. The liquid storage portion includes an absorbing portion that absorbs the liquid, and a scattering prevention portion that prevents scattering of the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods and apparatus for handling powder in a 3D printer. The invention includes a means of transporting powder from multiple sources to a powder dispensing apparatus with minimal user intervention, thus reducing contamination of the 3D printer and surrounding area with loose powder, while also providing a means of improving the recycling of powder for re-use.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes two liquid discharge heads, a wiper unit, and an actuating mechanism. Each of the two liquid discharge heads has a nozzle face on which at least one nozzle opening for discharging liquid is formed. The two liquid discharge heads are located so that the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads face each other. The wiper unit is pressed against each of the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads at a position at which the wiper unit is placed between the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads. The actuating mechanism reciprocally moves the wiper unit relatively along the nozzle faces of the two liquid discharge heads.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: plural heads arrayed in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of a recording medium and configured to eject ejection liquids onto the conveyed recording medium from plural nozzle holes formed on nozzle surfaces; a cap unit configured to simultaneously cap the nozzle surfaces of all the plural heads; a suction unit configured to simultaneously suck all the nozzle holes on the nozzle surfaces of one head among the plural heads; and a contact and separation mechanism configured to relatively move the cap unit and suction unit and the nozzle surfaces of the heads to be capable of coming into contact with and separating from each other.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes an ink cartridge having a first housing portion for containing a liquid and a waste liquid storage cartridge having a second housing portion for containing a waste liquid, and a rewritable nonvolatile storage portion which stores a first threshold, a second threshold, liquid amount information and waste liquid amount information. The first threshold indicates a near liquid end state in which the liquid in the first housing portion is near to end. The second threshold indicates a near full state in which the waste liquid in the second housing portion is near to full. The liquid amount information indicates a liquid amount of the liquid contained in the first housing portion. The waste liquid amount information indicates a waste liquid amount of the waste liquid contained in the second housing portion. The ink cartridge and the waste liquid cartridge are integrally formed.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance facility is provided having a storage reservoir for storing fluid ejected by a printhead and a core movable relative to the printhead. The has an internal structure defining the storage reservoir and having a port in fluid communication with the storage reservoir, and an external structure movable relative to the internal structure and having a drain movable into registration with the port to establish fluid communication between the drain and storage reservoir.

Abstract: An ink collection device for a servicing station of a franking machine, said ink collection device comprising: an ink collection reservoir for receiving the ink ejected, during a servicing stage, by ink ejection nozzles of at least one print module; at least one drainage duct placed above the reservoir and opening out in register with said at least one print module while defining a gap between a top of the drainage duct and the print module; and, mounted across said at least one drainage duct and at a small predetermined distance from the top of the drainage duct, means for causing the fine ink droplets ejected by said ink ejection nozzles to coalesce to form a plurality of thicker ink drops, and for causing said ink drops to drip under gravity into said ink collection reservoir.

Abstract: A waste liquid collector is detachably mounted on a device including a discharge unit discharging a waste liquid and stores the waste liquid discharged from the discharge unit when the waste liquid collector is mounted on the device. The waste liquid collector includes: a waste liquid absorbing member which absorbs the waste liquid; and an opening through which the discharge unit is inserted or extracted mounting or detaching the waste liquid collector on or from the device in a state where the waste liquid absorbing member is received inside an inner space. The waste liquid absorbing member is provided with a contact portion which, when the discharge unit is inserted into the opening, comes in contact with the discharge unit so that the discharge unit is interposed therebetween in a direction perpendicular to insertion and extraction directions of the discharge unit.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to a printhead maintenance station for an industrial printing apparatus which is used to prevent clogging of the printhead, particularly during periods in which the printheads are idle. The maintenance station includes a capping station which has sockets for keeping the printheads moist and a blotting station for cleaning any residual printing fluids prior to carrying out a print function.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes a jetting head unit which has a nozzle which jets droplets of a liquid, and a heat generating section, a suction port which is formed in the jetting head unit, and which opens near the nozzle, and a suction device which sucks air around the nozzle from the suction port, and cools down the heat generating section of the jetting head unit by the air which is sucked. Since the heat generating portion is cooled down by the air sucked from the suction port by the suction device, it is possible to reduce a possibility of the heat of the heat generating section being transferred to the jetting head unit, and destabilizing an operation of the jetting head unit. Moreover, since the suction port opens near the nozzle, it is possible to suck fine liquid droplets together with air around the nozzle.

Abstract: A portable cleaning apparatus comprises a base module for movement along a surface and a plenum. The base module comprises a base housing enclosing a fan for moving air through the housing from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing through an exhaust outlet in the housing. The plenum fluidly communicates at one end with the exhaust outlet and at another end with at least one plenum outlet opening adjacent the surface to direct air exhausted from the housing interior along the 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: Embodiments of a biodegradable absorbent material in a permeable membrane are disclosed.

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

Abstract: A liquid container of the invention has a container body including a storage space and a liquid feed port and a liquid injection port which are installed on the container body. The liquid feed port is structured so as to interconnect the storage space and the liquid ejecting head with each other, when the liquid container is mounted on a liquid ejecting unit. The liquid injection port is structured so as to interconnect the storage space of the container body and a liquid tank of a stationary unit with each other, when the liquid ejecting unit is united with the stationary unit. The invention provides a liquid container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary.

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

Abstract: A waste liquid tank that holds waste recording liquid is disclosed. In the waste liquid tank, a waste liquid wetting liquid that forms a liquid layer on the surface of the waste recording liquid is placed in the form of a liquid.

Abstract: A necessary amount of suppression ink is applied to each portion of an ink absorber in a short time and in an efficient manner. For that end, carriage scan is performed while changing an ejection condition of suppression ink so as to change an application amount of suppression ink according to a position of an ink absorber. This makes it possible to appropriately apply suppression ink, which suppresses accumulation of ink, to the entire area of the ink absorber by carriage scan in a short time even if an application amount of accumulation ink differs from part to part of the ink absorber.

Abstract: An ink supplying and collecting apparatus includes a case, ink cartridges detachably attached to the case, and a collecting container detachably attached to the case. The ink cartridges supply ink to a recording head of a printer via ink supply tubes. The collecting container collects ink drained from the recording head via an ink drain tube. The case is located outside of and is separate from the printer. Thus, the sizes and shapes of the ink cartridges and the collecting container can be freely designed.

Abstract: A inkjet printhead maintenance facility that has an ink storage reservoir for holding ink ejected from the inkjet printhead during a maintenance operation and, an outlet coupling in fluid communication with the ink storage reservoir and configured for connection to a vacuum source to draw ink out of the ink storage reservoir.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a setting portion on which a recording medium is set; a feeder which feeds the recording medium from the setting portion in a feed direction; a recording head which ejects ink so that an image is recorded on the recording medium fed by the feeder; a gap changing device which changes a gap between the recording head and the recording medium; a judgment portion which judges a setting direction of the recording medium on the setting portion; and a changing control portion which controls the gap changing device to change the gap between the recording head and the recording medium, according to the judged setting direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A waste ink collecting device includes a ratchet wheel defining a receiving groove for receiving waste ink, a detent, a reciprocatingly movable transmission pole, and immovable first and second poles. The detent includes a hook, and a main body defining elongated first, second and third holes. The second hole is between the first and third holes. The hook extends from the main body away from the first hole. The transmission pole extends into the first hole. The first pole extends into the second hole. A diameter of the first pole equals to a width of the second hole. The second pole extends into the third hole. A diameter of the second pole is smaller than a width of the third hole. When the transmission pole moves forward, the hook engages with and rotates the ratchet wheel. When the transmission pole moves backward, the hook moves away from the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: Printer waste ink subsystem apparatuses are described including an apparatus located between a waste ink pump output port and a waste ink container such as a waste ink pad or sponge for containing waste ink splashing. In one illustrative example, a muffler is placed at the distal end of the waste ink pump discharge port. Such a muffler contains waste ink splatter caused by air bubbles in the waste ink stream as it exits the waste ink pump output port.

Abstract: A waste ink container includes a container main body which forms a chamber to accumulate waste ink therein. An upper plate covers an upper part of the chamber and includes an opening to introduce a plurality of waste ink droplets therethrough. A waste ink containment device includes a discharge preventing unit which is adjacent to the opening and extends from the upper part of the chamber to inhibit the waste ink droplets from being discharged through the opening.

Abstract: A drip bib for use with a printhead of an imaging device includes a plate having an upper surface having an upper edge, an intermediate surface angled with respect to the upper surface, and a lower edge. The intermediate surface includes a plurality of fastener openings. The lower edge includes a drip point projecting from the lower edge with remaining portions of the lower edge being upturned and angled downwardly from at least one end of the lower edge toward the drip point. A plurality of protrusions protrudes from a back side of the upper surface. The protrusions in the plurality of protrusions are spaced from each other and proximate the upper edge.