Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid drop discharge apparatus capable of flushing in which the adverse effect on film deposition and patterning and the contamination of the apparatus are prevented without impairing productivity and a driving method of the same, an apparatus and a method for film deposition are provided. The liquid drop discharge apparatus can include a liquid drop discharge head configured to reciprocate in the X-axis direction with a plurality of nozzles arranged lengthwise and crosswise, a flushing area disposed on at least one side of a substrate on a stage, and a control device for controlling an operation by the liquid drop discharge head, in which the liquid drop discharge head is disposed obliquely toward the X-axis direction.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system is provided which has an ink jet printing apparatus and a host and which alleviates a data processing load on the ink jet printing apparatus, prevents a reduction in a printing operation speed, and realizes a cost reduction. The ink jet printing apparatus of this invention has an ink receiving member for receiving waste ink ejected onto an overrunning area outside edges of a print medium and an accumulated value memory section for storing an accumulated value equivalent to waste ink volumes ejected onto the ink receiving member. The host includes a waste ink volume setting section for obtaining a value equivalent to a waste ink volume and a data sending section for sending data to the ink jet printing apparatus. The accumulated value memory section of the ink jet printing apparatus stores the accumulated value equivalent to waste ink volumes obtained by the host.

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

Abstract: In a liquid-discharging apparatus, the work volume of a cleaning roller of a liquid-discharging head and the work volume of a waste-liquid receiver of a head cap are displayed. A dot array or a dot is formed by discharging a predetermined liquid from a plurality of liquid-discharging nozzles provided on a nozzle surface of the liquid-discharging head. The liquid-discharging apparatus includes a roller-wiping-count storage unit for storing the accumulated work volume of the cleaning roller during a period from the beginning of use to the present time, an idle-discharging-count storage unit for storing the accumulated work volume of the waste-liquid receiver during the period, and an information output unit that receives the work volumes from the storage units, and that outputs both of or the higher one of the work volumes.

Abstract: The ink receiving cup is provided with a cylindrical top portion, a bearing portion into which the center shaft of rotation is fitted when the ink receiving cup is rotated at the central portion, a black ink accumulating portion where blank ink is sprayed and accumulated, and a plurality of through-holes at the outer-circumferential side and inner-circumferential side of the black ink accumulating portion for causing color inks to flow.

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 platen assembly for an ink jet printer and method of operating an ink jet printer. The platen assembly includes a platen member having at least one channel therein for receiving a rotatable platen rod and a skive residing in the channel adjacent to the rotatable platen rod. The skive has an edge thereof engaging a surface of the rotatable platen rod and removing debris therefrom. A slot is provided through the bottom wall of the channel for allowing debris removed from the rotatable platen rod to pass there through and out of the channel. A control unit is provided for controlling operation of a motor used to rotated the platen rod at desired times.

Abstract: A recording head has a dot formation element array including a pluarlity of dot formation elements arranged in a first direction. A platen is operable to hold a recording medium in a position opposite to the recording head. The platen has a hole formed in a substantially center area in the first direction of the platen. The hole guides ink that has be discarded outside at least one of a leading end and a trailing end of the recording medium when data are recorded on the recording medium without leaving a margin on at least one of the leading end and the trailing end of the recording medium. The hole has a size in the first direction which is less than an entire portion of the dot formation element array.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing apparatus includes a recovery section having a pump for discharging ink from an ink-ejection portion of a printing head by the application of a suction force thereto. In the recovery section, the pump and the waste ink absorber for retaining the waste ink are disposed approximately at the same height so that the printing apparatus becomes thinner and is improved in portability. An interior space having a sealed waste ink flow passage for connecting the recovery section to the waste ink absorber is provided, in which a flow passage absorber is accommodated so that a gap is formed from a connection with the discharging port of the pump to a connection with the waste ink absorber and is further connected to the waste ink absorber. Thereby, the waste ink is effectively and securely guided to the waste ink absorber and securely retained there, without leakage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus and a preliminary ejecting method. In both a full-line and a serial printer, the amount of ink passing through nozzles of print heads is sometimes decreased below a normal value before and during actual printing, In the printer of present invention, a preliminary ejecting operation is performed taking the opportunity in which the amount of ink passing through nozzles is decreased below a normal value. Then, the amount of ink passing through nozzles recovers to the normal value at an ink ejection after the preliminary ejecting operation. Since only a small amount of ink is ejected through the nozzles during the preliminary ejection operation, dots formed on a print sheet are not noticeable. Further, it is unnecessary to move the print heads to a home position where an ejection recovering process is executed to remove ink having an increase viscosity.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a plurality of rollers, an endless transportation belt, a belt rotating mechanism, a recording unit, a printing medium supply mechanism, and a control unit. The transportation belt is laid on the rollers and defines a first recess portion, which extends in a direction perpendicular to a printing medium transporting direction, in an outer circumferential surface thereof. The belt rotating mechanism applies a rotating force to the transportation belt. The recording unit is disposed to face the transportation belt and forms an image. The printing medium supply mechanism supplies a printing medium onto the transportation belt. The control unit controls at least one of the belt rotating mechanism and the printing medium supply mechanism so that when the printing medium is on the transportation belt, one of front and rear end portions of the printing medium is located in the first recess portion.

Abstract: An ink cartridge comprises an upper cover, and the inside of an inner frame portion of the upper cover is partitioned into a groove and a waste ink storing portion by a wall portion. A waste ink absorber is accommodated in the waste ink storing portion, and the inner frame portion is sealed with a film in this state so that a passage and a waste ink storing chamber are formed. The opening of a lower cover accommodating an ink pack therein is sealed with the upper cover thus constituted so that the ink cartridge is formed. Even if the ink cartridge is turned in various directions such that any surface of the lower cover acts as a lower surface, the position of the ink pack in the ink cartridge is always set to be higher than the liquid level of the ink in an ink bag.

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

Abstract: Cartridge total weight SN of an ink bag filled with ink is measured. Ink weight SU of ink stored in the ink bag is calculated from the found cartridge total weight SN (step S17). The ink weight SU is converted into a printable amount and this printable amount is stored in an IC chip as an initial value Sc for calculating a remaining amount (step S19). A printer reads the initial value Sc for calculating the remaining amount from the IC chip, subtracts the ink consumption amount from the initial value Sc for calculating the remaining amount to calculate a new ink remaining amount, and stores the calculated ink remaining amount in the IC chip.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording head, a platen and a first hole. The recording head includes a dot formation element array, and the platen holds a recording medium opposite the recording head. The first hole is disposed in an area of the platen opposite a downstream portion of the dot formation element array and guides ink discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin. Alternatively or additionally, a second hole is formed in an area of the platen opposite an upstream portion of the dot formation element array, and the platen guides ink, which is discarded outside an end of the recording medium when the end is printed without a margin, too the second hole.

Abstract: An inkjet printer adapted to sense type of supplied consumable receiver media, inks, printhead, and cleaning fluid. A transponder attached to a consumable is coupled to a memory device capable of storing information characteristic of the consumable. A transceiver is disposed within the inkjet printer, with antennae disposed for polling an individual transponder attached to each consumable. The transponder is capable of receiving a first RF frequency electromagnetic field from the transceiver and deriving power and address information from the first frequency, then generating a second RF frequency electromagnetic field in response, where the second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data stored in memory. As instructed by a machine control logic processor, the transceiver can both read manufacturing data from the transponder about the consumable and write usage and processing data to the transponder for storage in memory.

Abstract: A inkjet printing device comprising a drum platen, the platen having a recess in its circumferential surface. The recess is adapted to accept an inkjet servicing device. The inkjet servicing device, for example a spittoon, may be permanently or semi-permanently located in the recess. Alternatively, The inkjet servicing device, for example a printhead wiper element, may from time to time pass into or through the recess.

Abstract: This invention allows images to be printed up to the edges of printing paper while preventing ink droplets from depositing on the platen. Ink droplets Ip are ejected from a print head 28 and printing is started when printing paper P is fed in the sub-scanning direction by upstream paper feed rollers 25a and 25b, and the front edge Pf reaches a position above a downstream slot 26r. Since printing is started when the front edge Pf of printing paper P has reached a position behind nozzle No. 1, images can be printed without forming blank spaces up to the front edge Pf of the printing paper P by causing the nozzles to eject ink droplets Ip irrespective of whether the nozzles are above the printing paper. When images are formed in the vicinity of the front edge Pf of printing paper P, the paper is repeatedly fed in small increments in the sub-scanning direction, and printing is carried out.

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 method for determining service criteria for a printhead in a printer includes receiving an indication that service is needed, determining a calculated age of the printhead, and selecting a service procedure based on the determined calculated age. The selected service procedure has an impact on the long term life of the printhead that is proportional to the calculated age. The calculated age may be classified as a beginning of life phase, a middle of life phase or a maturity phase, and the service procedures may be selected such that the service procedure for the beginning of life phase has a low impact on the printhead's long term life, the service procedure for the middle of life phase has a moderate impact on the printhead's long term life, and the service procedure for the maturity phase has a severe impact on the printhead's long term life.

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

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing recording on the full surface of a recording sheet without any complication, enlargement or cost increases, and without any need to execute secondary processing after the end of recording. Platen ribs for guiding and supporting the recording sheet are provided in parallel within the ink discharge nozzle row length of a recording head, and each rib constituting one platen rib row is disposed in a position between the adjacent ribs of another platen rib row. When recording is performed on the leading end or the rear end of the recording sheet, recording data is divided into data according to a platen rib array, and one-line recording data is recorded by a plurality of scanning operations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inkjet image forming apparatus capable of recording non-margin images on a recording medium by discharging ink from a recording head to regions within as well as beyond edges of the recording medium. The apparatus includes an ink absorbing material for receiving ink discharged at a position beyond the recording medium and a platen having a holding portion to hold the ink absorbing material and supporting the recording medium at a recording position. The holding section formed at the platen has an opening for receiving the ink and is formed with a wall for holding a periphery of the ink absorbing material and a rib supporting a bottom of the ink absorbing material.

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

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

Abstract: An ink jet device comprising at least one print head arranged to eject ink drops in a spitting operation and a spittoon arranged to store said ejected ink, the device further comprising a temporary spittoon arranged to move between first and second positions, in said first position said temporary spittoon being located in close proximity to a nozzle plate of said printhead and arranged such that ejected ink drops are directed onto a surface of said temporary spittoon, in said second position said temporary spittoon being located sufficiently distant from said nozzle plate to allow a capping or wiping operation to be performed and arranged to transfer said ink to said spittoon.

Abstract: A fluid containment system includes an ink depository and a hood secured thereto. The hood includes an ink redirection structure for directing ink emitted from a printhead through a constrictive conduit into the ink depository.

Abstract: A porous absorbent can be formed using recycling materials, which makes it possible to provide at lower costs an excellent capability of absorbing ink or the like, as well as an excellent handling performance. The porous absorbent contains at least virgin fiber, old paper fiber of waste newspaper, and hemp fiber, and an ink jet recording apparatus is provided with such porous absorbent for absorbing waste ink discharged from the recording head thereof.

Abstract: In an ink-jet printer, flushing region is arranged in a part of a conveyor belt. In a flushing operation, the ink-jet head ejects ink onto the flushing region. An ink mover is arranged confronting the conveyor belt. Ejected ink onto the flushing region is moved by the ink mover toward an opening arranged adjacent to the flushing region. An ink retainer is arranged confronting the ink mover under the conveyor belt, and thereby ink moved by the mover and passed through the opening is retained by the ink retainer.

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 mid-frame for use in an imaging apparatus includes an undulating surface extending in an undulation direction. At least one elongated slot can be formed in the mid-frame, wherein a direction of elongation of the elongated slot is substantially the same direction as the undulation direction.

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

Abstract: This invention allows images to be printed up to the edges of printing paper while preventing ink droplets from depositing on the platen. Ink droplets Ip are ejected from a print head 28 and printing is started when printing paper P is fed in the sub-scanning direction by upstream paper feed rollers 25a and 25b, and the front edge Pf reaches a position above a downstream slot 26r. Since printing is started when the front edge Pf of printing paper P has reached a position behind nozzle No. 1, images can be printed without forming blank spaces up to the front edge Pf of the printing paper P by causing the nozzles to eject ink droplets Ip irrespective of whether the nozzles are above the printing paper. When images are formed in the vicinity of the front edge Pf of printing paper P, the paper is repeatedly fed in small increments in the sub-scanning direction, and printing is carried out.

Abstract: An ink jet aerosol control includes a carrier frame, a carrier, at least one airflow channel and a filter. The carrier is disposed and moveable within the frame and selectively creates a high-pressure zone and a low-pressure zone. The airflow channel joins the high-pressure zone to the low-pressure zone. The filter is disposed in association with the airflow channel.

Abstract: A platen assembly for a printer includes a chassis to which there is mounted a printhead and a pair of bearing moldings supported by the chassis and movable toward and away from the printhead. A platen body (83) is rotatably mounted between the bearing moldings and includes a platen surface (78) extending therealong, a capping device (80) extending therealong and a blotting device (81) also extending therealong. Each device is selectively aligned with the printhead upon a rotation of the body between respective angular orientation. The body includes end caps having cam surfaces engageable with a projection affixed to the chassis to cause movement of the bearing members toward and away from the printhead during rotation of the body so that the body does not damage the printhead.

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

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

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to allow images to be printing all the way to the edge portions of printing paper without depositing ink drops on the platen. Cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) nozzle groups are sequentially arranged in the direction of sub-scanning A. Slots 26mC, 26mM, and 26mY are provided at points disposed opposite nozzle Nos. 5-9 near the center of each nozzle group in the direction of sub-scanning. Cyan images are printed by a process in which ink drops Ip are ejected by cyan nozzle Nos. 5-9 onto the printing paper P and its peripheral area. Magenta and yellow images are printed in the same manner. Images of all colors are printed without blank spaces along the upper and lower edges of printing paper. The recorded images are superposed, making it possible to print color images without blank spaces on the printing paper. The nozzles of all groups are used to print images while leaving blank spaces on the periphery of the printing paper.

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

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing recording on the full surface of a recording sheet without any complication, enlargement or cost increases, and without any need to execute secondary processing after the end of recording. Platen ribs for guiding and supporting the recording sheet are provided in parallel within the ink discharge nozzle row length of a recording head, and each rib constituting one platen rib row is disposed in a position between the adjacent ribs of another platen rib row. When recording is performed on the leading end or the rear end of the recording sheet, recording data is divided into data according to a platen rib array, and one-line recording data is recorded by a plurality of scanning operations.

Abstract: An orifice electrode/ink receiving member 11 is attached to an orifice plate 13 that is attached to a recording head module 10. An ink absorbing member 111 is embedded in a lower surface of the orifice electrode/ink receiving member 11. A recording ink droplet 14 ejected through an orifice 12 is deflected as needed by an angled electric field 85 and then impinges on a recording sheet 60 to form a recording dot 70. On the other hand, a refresh ink droplet 15 is deflected by the angled electric field 85 and impinges on the ink absorbing member 111 of the orifice electrode/ink receiving member 11 after flying in a U-turn path. In this configuration, the ink absorbing member 111 provided to the orifice electrode/ink receiving member 11 collects ink, so that there is no need to increase a gap between the recording head module 10 and the recording sheet 60 so much in order to dispose the ink absorbing member 111, preventing decrease in recording precision and paper jam.

Abstract: A casing of an ink cartridge is formed with an accommodating chamber for accommodating an ink accommodating pouch and a waste ink introducing chamber into which waste ink from print heads is discharged. A stepped opening formed penetrating through a cover is sealed off with an air permeable film. One end of a labyrinth channel formed in the cover is fluidly connected to the stepped opening outside the air permeable film. Another end of the labyrinth channel is exposed to ambient air through a hole formed in an air non-permeable film that is placed over both the stepped opening and the labyrinth channel.

Abstract: A catcher device is provided for a continuous ink jet printer of the kind for generating a row of parallel selectively charged drop streams catches charged ink drops. The catcher device combines the attributes of two different materials, specifically a polymer and a metal, and two different processes, to eliminate high cost, material limitations, and geometry constraints associated with prior art catcher constructions.

Abstract: Printing on a printing medium with ink and treatment liquid having a function of setting ink, by using an apparatus which includes an ink ejection port for ejecting ink, a treatment liquid ejection port for ejecting treatment liquid, a waste liquid accommodating substance for accommodating waste liquid, a first introducing path for introducing waste ink discharged by recovery operation from the ink ejection port into a first portion of the waste liquid accommodating substance, and a second introducing path for introducing, independently of waste ink, waste treatment, liquid discharged by recovery operation from the treatment liquid ejection port into a second portion separated from the first portion of the waste liquid accommodating substance.

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: A recording device for recording an image on a recording medium, the recording device comprising: a recording head having a liquid drop discharging surface for discharging liquid drops toward a recording medium; a liquid receptacle disposed at a position opposing a liquid drop discharging surface of the recording head, and able to accommodate the liquid drops; and a conveying device for conveying the recording medium between the recording head and the liquid receptacle, by a non-electrostatic attraction method.