Abstract: An apparatus has a plurality of printing cartridges to reproduce an image, wherein each printing cartridge prints a portion of the image onto a substrate. The apparatus further includes a media transport for moving the substrate parallel to a first dimension. The printing cartridges are disposed on a carrier in a two dimensional pattern such that the plurality of printing cartridges are able to print on the substrate a line that is perpendicular to the first dimension. Fewer than half of the plurality printing cartridges that print segments of the line that abut each other are adjacent to each other along the first dimension.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus for recording images to a recording medium comprises a recording head arrangement device for arranging the line recording head so that at least the lengthwise direction of the line recording head is in an orthogonal position substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, or the lengthwise direction of the line recording head is in a parallel position substantially parallel to the conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a shuttle scan mechanism for causing the line recording head to shuttle-scan in the direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction while the parallel position is maintained, wherein the line recording head records images as a line head when arranged in the orthogonal position, and records images by shuttle scanning when arranged in the parallel position.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for arranging liquid droplet ejection heads comprising: arranging and fixing a plurality of inkjet liquid droplet ejection heads, ejecting a common functional liquid, on a common carriage plate, based on the amount of liquid droplets ejected from a number of ejecting nozzles in a nozzle row that each of the liquid droplet ejection heads has, with the heads shifted in a direction of the nozzle row, the heads being so arranged and fixed that in the heads closely aligned in the direction of the nozzle row, a difference between the amounts of liquid droplets ejected from two ejection nozzles located at each innermost end of the heads is within a predetermined range of tolerance, and the amounts of liquid droplets ejected from two ejection nozzles located at the outermost ends in the direction of the nozzle row are within a predetermined range of a reference amount.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a plurality of nozzle groups each including a plurality of nozzle openings; and a plurality of pressure generating chambers that cause liquid to be ejected from the nozzle openings. A plurality of recessed portions are formed at a nozzle forming member, the recessed portions each having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the nozzle forming member, the nozzle openings being formed at the recessed portions. A set of at least one of the plurality of nozzle openings included in each single nozzle group defines a nozzle set, the nozzle set being arranged to correspond to each of the pressure generating chambers. The nozzle groups each have a plurality of nozzle sets in an array, the nozzle sets of one of the nozzle groups being relatively shifted from the nozzle sets of another one of the nozzle groups in a nozzle-set-array direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a mixture of compressed fluid and marking material and depositing the marking material in a pattern onto a substrate, includes a high pressure source of a mixture of compressed fluid and marking material. A micro-machined manifold includes a plurality of micro-nozzles, a fluid chamber, and an entrance port with portions of a first surface of the micro-machined manifold defining the entrance port with the entrance port being connected in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. Each of the micro-nozzles having an inlet and an outlet with the inlet being connected in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the outlet being located on the second surface of the micro-machined manifold. Each micro-nozzle is shaped to produce a directed beam of the mixture of compressed fluid and marking material beyond the outlet of the micro-nozzle.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus comprising a printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrays, where a plurality of nozzles for one ink are arranged in a predetermined direction, for performing printing by moving the printhead relatively to a printing medium in a direction crossing to the predetermined direction, the plurality of nozzle arrays are controlled so that a printing duty of preceding nozzle arrays in the relative movement is higher than a printing duty of subsequent nozzle arrays. By virtue of this control, it is possible to suppress generation of color mixture and bleeding, and achieve high-speed printing with high image quality.

Abstract: A printhead module comprising at least first and second rows configured to print ink of a similar type or color, at least some nozzles in the first row being aligned with respective corresponding nozzles in the second row in a direction of intended media travel relative to the printhead, the printhead module being configurable such that the nozzles in the first and second rows are fired such that some dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the first row and at least some other dots output to print media are printed to by nozzles from the second row.

Abstract: An inkjet apparatus and method are provided. The inkjet printing apparatus includes a dual row of ink orifices in an integral inkjet printhead. The method provides ink streams with more nozzles per inch in the widthwise direction on a paper without alignment problems and without the need to utilize very small droplets of ink.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes an elongate ink supply body defining a plurality of ink supply channels; an elongate cradle member defining a plurality of rows of apertures, the elongate cradle member being fastened to the elongate ink supply body to communicate ink within the ink supply channels through respective ones of said rows of apertures; and a plurality of printhead segments each having a carrier defining a plurality of rows of ink supply passages arranged in alignment with respective apertures of the cradle member, each printhead segment further having an elongate ink ejection printhead mounted to the carrier in fluid communication with the ink supply passages. Each carrier defines a complementary formation for mating serially with the cradle member.

Abstract: A pattern forming method forms a pattern on a substrate by relatively moving a plurality of nozzle groups each including a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction and the substrate a plurality of times in a main-scanning direction to allow the nozzles to discharge liquid droplets thereon.

Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising: at least one printhead module comprising: at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein; a longitudinal extending fluid transfer member configured to support the at least two printhead integrated circuits, wherein the fluid transfer member includes a plurality of chambers which are in fluid communication with a supply of printing fluid and respective ports of the at least one printhead module; and an electrical connector for receiving electrical signals for the at least two printhead integrated circuits; a drive electronics part incorporating at least one controller which is connected to at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits via the electrical connector for controlling the printing operation of at least one of the at least two printhead integrated circuits; and a casing part for supporting the drive electronics part and the at least one printhead module.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for a printer (10) includes a print engine controller (48) that is configured to receive image data in an image storage format. The print engine controller includes data processing circuitry that is configured to process the image data at a rate of at least one billion pixels per second to transform the data into print data. The print engine controller includes data communication circuitry (176) that is operatively connected to the data processing circuitry and is configured to communicate the print data to a printhead (41).

Abstract: An inkjet drop ejection apparatus that has a chamber with a plurality of nozzles, and an actuator with associated drive circuitry for selectively ejecting drops of ink through any one of the nozzles. By using a single actuator for ejecting ink from multiple nozzles, it reduces the drive circuitry etched into the printhead. This in turn allows the nozzle spacing to be reduced.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to methods and apparatus for depositing one or more materials (e.g., one or more films, such as one or more solids) on one or more substrates, which may form part of an OLED or other type(s) of display. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for depositing ink on one or more substrates. The apparatus can include, for example, one or more chambers for receiving ink, and plural orifices configured in the one or more chambers which are adapted for ejecting droplets of the ink; a discharge nozzle comprising an array of micro-pores (e.g., configured in a rectangular array), with each micro-pore having an inlet port and an outlet port, and the discharge nozzle receiving plural quantities (e.g., droplets) of ink from the chamber(s) via the orifices at the inlet ports and dispensing the ink from the outlet ports. The droplets of ink can be received at unique, spaced-apart locations on the inlet ports of the discharge nozzle.

Abstract: A volume element (voxel) printing system for printing a three-dimensional object includes a first printhead group having a plurality of first printheads configured to print a first voxel layer on a substrate; at least one second printhead group having a plurality of second printheads downstream from the first group, the second printhead group configured to print a subsequent voxel layer on at least part of the first layer, said second printheads being reconfigurable as backup printheads for the first printheads in case of failure; a conveyor configured to convey the substrate past the printhead groups; and a control system configured to control and monitor the printhead groups, the object insertion device, and the conveyor, and dynamically to reconfigure the second printheads upon detection of failure of a first printhead. The at least one second printhead group is vertically spaced from the substrate by a greater distance than the first printhead group.

Abstract: An ejecting apparatus is provided for readily controlling ejection even when the number of nozzles is increased. In each of N heads in an ejecting apparatus, DA equals a distance between a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, and a distance between the second nozzle array in one arbitrary head of the N heads and the first nozzle array in another head adjacent to this arbitrary head in the Y-axis direction is substantially equal to an integer multiple of DA.

Abstract: A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a wafer assembly defining spaced groups of ink supply channels. Groups of ink ejection nozzle arrangements extend from the wafer assembly and are in fluid communication with respective ink supply channel groups. Each group of nozzle arrangements includes a pair of rows of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes an ink ejection head from which an actuator tail extends and is arranged so that actuator tails of one group of nozzle arrangements are interleaved with actuator tails of any adjacent groups of nozzle arrangements.

Abstract: A printing head, having symmetrically-arranged ejection openings, can suppress deterioration in image quality as caused by manufacturing errors or problems in mounting accuracy thereof. Specifically, in the case the printing head inclines, for example, by 0.5 degrees at a line connecting corresponding ejection openings of ejection opening arrays relative to the scanning direction, deviations occur in the dots formed through one of the ejection opening arrays with reference to the dots formed through another ejection opening array. However, the deviations can be minimized by arranging adjacently small-ejection opening arrays for cyan and magenta with a spacing reduced between those ejection opening arrays.

Abstract: A printing system includes a conveyor for conveying a substrate along a conveying direction; and a sequence of printhead groups arranged along the conveying direction for printing respective object layers onto one another, a first of the sequence of printhead groups printing an object layer onto said substrate. Each printhead group includes a plurality of printheads. At least one of the printheads in each printhead group is for printing a material different to the material printed by the other printheads in the same group.

Abstract: Provided are an inkjet printhead and a method of manufacturing the same. The inkjet printhead includes: a substrate including an ink feed hole; a chamber layer formed on the substrate and including a plurality of ink chambers in which ink supplied from the ink feed hole may be filled; and a nozzle layer formed on the chamber layer and including a plurality of nozzles through which ink may be ejected, wherein the chamber layer and the nozzle layer are respectively formed of cured products of a first negative photoresist composition and a second negative photoresist composition, wherein the first negative photoresist composition and the second negative photoresist composition include a bisphenol-A novolac epoxy resin represented by Formula 1; at least one epoxy resin selected from a first epoxy resin represented by Formula 2, and a second epoxy resin represented by Formula 3; a cationic photoinitiator; and a solvent.

Abstract: A print engine assembly includes an elongate chassis; a pair of bearing moldings operatively mounted to either end of the chassis; a rotatable platen supported by a rotary shaft extending between and mounted in the pair of bearing moldings; and a printhead assembly mounted to the chassis, the printhead assembly including an elongated pagewidth printhead having a plurality of ink printing integrated circuits. The rotatable platen includes an extruded material shaped to define a cavity in which a blotting material is disposed, and the rotatable platen defines an aperture extending along a length thereof through which aperture the blotting material is exposed.

Abstract: A three dimensional object creation system for printing a three dimensional object comprised of layers stacked vertically with respect to each other includes a series of printheads for printing the layers, the series of printheads simultaneously printing at least two layers of different vertical positions within the stack; and a semiconductor memory for storing data defining at least one layer. The series of printheads are arranged in groups of one or more printheads per group, each group being fixedly positioned downstream of a preceding group with respect to the three dimensional object. Each group of printheads is adapted to print a layer at a predetermined vertical position within the stack.

Abstract: A printhead module assembly includes a printhead integrated circuit (IC) assembly. The printhead IC assembly includes a plurality of ink ejection nozzles arranged to form staggered rows. The printhead IC assembly defines a plurality of ink channels for supplying ink to the ink ejection nozzles. A flexible printed circuit board (PCB) is electrically connected to supply both power and data to the IC assembly. A support sheet defines a plurality of ink holes. The IC assembly is bonded to the support sheet so that the ink channels are aligned with the ink holes.

Abstract: A print head of which influence on an ink to be ejected from an ejection port subsequently by an air flow generated by an ink to be ejected from the ejection port is suppressed evenly for respective ejection ports in the print head is provided. A print head has an ejection port for ejecting ink. On an ejection port forming face formed with the ejection port, a projection projecting from the ejection port forming face is formed. The projection is arranged at a position where the distance from a center of the ejection port is within the maximum of a diameter of a vortex core of a vortex that is formed when liquid droplets are ejected in the case without a projection.

Abstract: A printer including a print media transport path, a plurality of printhead modules located across the print media transport path, each printhead module having an elongate printhead, said printheads being slanted and nozzles of respective printheads overlap with nozzles of printheads of neighboring printhead modules, and a dot data generator for providing print data to nozzles such that print data is stochastically ramped from one neighbouring printhead module to a next neighbouring printhead module.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including a plurality of nozzle groups, a plurality of reservoirs, each of which corresponds to each nozzle group, each reservoir having an introduction port, wherein the reservoirs include a first reservoir in which the introduction port is disposed in the center of the reservoir in the nozzle row direction and a second reservoir in which the introduction port offset from the center of the reservoir, and wherein a liquid having a pressure P comparatively higher than those of other liquids among plurality types of liquids ejected from the liquid ejecting head is introduced into the first reservoir.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer includes a wafer defining a plurality of nozzle chambers and a plurality of ink supply channel in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzle chambers for supplying the plurality of nozzle chambers with ink; an ink ejection port associated with each nozzle chamber; and a plurality of actuators associated with each nozzle chamber, the plurality of actuators each including a petal formation. A plurality of petal formations are arranged around an ink ejection port of each nozzle chamber to annularly surround the ink ejection port. Each actuator is operable to displace a respective petal formation into the nozzle chamber.

Abstract: A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a wafer assembly defining rows of spaced apart ink supply channels. Rows of ink ejection nozzle groups extend from the wafer assembly. Each nozzle group includes a pair of rows of ink ejection nozzles. Each ink ejection nozzle includes an ink ejection head from which an elongate actuator tail extends. All of the ink ejection heads of each group are in fluid communication with a respective ink supply channel.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet print head having plural types of nozzles arranged on the same substrate and through which ink droplets of different sizes are ejected, the ink jet print head exhibiting acceptable ejection performance regardless of the type of the nozzle. Thus, according to the present invention, each of the plural types of nozzles includes a bubbling chamber having an ejection energy generating element allowing an ink droplet to be ejected to a position located opposite an ejection port and an ejection port portion allowing the ejection port and the bubbling chamber to communicate with each other. Ratio of opening area of the ejection port portion at a position where the ejection port portion and the bubbling chamber communicate with each other, to the opening area of the ejection port is higher for the nozzle with a smaller ejection amount.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head including an energy generating element configured to generate energy required for discharging a liquid, a substrate having the energy generating element formed thereon, and an orifice member provided on the substrate and including a plurality of discharge ports facilitating discharging the liquid and a plurality of flow paths communicating respectively with the plurality of discharge ports. The orifice member is constituted by a first resin forming a portion connected to at least the substrate and a second resin connected to the first resin and forming the plurality of discharge ports, and the first resin includes a silane material in a larger amount than the second resin.

Abstract: An apparatus produces a probe carrier by discharging plural kinds of liquids respectively containing plural kinds of probes capable of specifically bonding to a target substance on a carrier. The apparatus includes a liquid discharge device, a positioning device for determining a position between the liquid discharge device and the carrier, and moving the carrier in the scanning direction, an application information detector to detect application information of discharged liquids, and a defective spot detector to detect defective spots where the liquids are not applied. Also included are a discharge data forming device for forming data on the defective spots, a processor for counting a number of redrawings, and a secondary scanning direction driver for relatively moving the carrier in a secondary scanning direction. In the apparatus, redrawing is performed according to discharge data, and when the number of redrawings exceeds a prescribed number, a message of abnormality is outputted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printhead assembly. The assembly includes a printhead module having a plurality of modular printhead tiles each tile having a plurality of micro-electromechanical nozzle assemblies for operatively printing on a printing medium. Also included are printhead controller integrated circuits for controlling operation of the printhead tiles. The printhead assembly further includes a number of electrical connector assemblies for operatively connecting the printhead tiles. Each tile is mounted to a modular support defining a raised portion and a recessed portion at an end thereof, the tile having electrical connecting strips which overlie the respective recessed portions. Each connector assembly includes a connecting member having a series of parallel spaced conducting strips, said member shaped and configured for fitment into a cavity defined by the raised and recessed portions of two abutting supports to connect the connecting strips of two tiles via said conducting strips.

Abstract: An inkjet print head is provided having a nozzle areal density of at least 40000 inkjet nozzles per square centimeter on a printing surface. Each nozzle has an ink chamber on the printing surface having an ink ejection port, and a heater for heating the ink in the chamber to cause ink ejection from the ink ejection port.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a conveyance section which conveys a recording medium; a plurality of recording heads each aligned along a conveyance direction of the recording medium, which ejects the same kind of photo-curing type ink onto the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance section; and a plurality of light irradiating sections each aligned along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, which irradiates light onto the recording medium to which the photo-curing type ink has been ejected from each of the plurality of recording heads.

Abstract: A method for compensating for induced artifacts on an image to be printed includes processing the image to be printed. An image region of the image susceptible to at least one artifact is identified. An imaging process is modified to reduce an effect of the at least one artifact on the image region. The image is printed.

Abstract: An inkjet head includes a flow path unit and a reservoir unit. The reservoir unit stores ink and includes an ink flow path, a reservoir flow path and an ink drop flow path. The reservoir flow path includes a main flow path formed with plural tributary communication ports, and plural tributary flow paths. A section area of the main flow path taken along a width direction of the reservoir unit is larger than each of section areas of the tributary flow paths taken along a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of ink. The ink drop flow path drops ink onto a substantially center of the main flow path as viewed in a plan view. The tributary communication ports are substantially equal to each other in an opening area.

Abstract: A system for creating a three dimensional printed structure having a plurality of layers. The system includes a plurality of printheads arranged to print voxels of material so as to define respective layers of the structure, a robot for inserting objects into voids created in the structure during printing, and a conveyance for conveying a substrate past the printheads such that the printed structure is created on the substrate.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of nozzles arranged in adjacent rows, each nozzle having an ejection aperture and a corresponding actuator for ejecting printing fluid through the ejection aperture, each actuator having electrodes spaced from each other in a direction transverse to the rows. It also has drive circuitry for transmitting electrical power to the electrodes. The electrodes of the actuators in adjacent rows have opposing polarities such that the actuators in adjacent rows have opposing current flow directions. By reversing the polarity of the electrodes in adjacent rows, the punctuations in the power plane of the CMOS can be kept to the outside edges of the adjacent rows. This moves one line of narrow resistive bridges between the punctuations to a position where the electrical current does not flow through them. This eliminates their resistance from the actuators drive circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to prevent appearance of streaks in head scanning direction at the joint of print data of the image to be printed. Print data composed of a multiplicity of dot information is supplied to a printing head having a plurality of dot forming elements arrayed along a sub-scanning direction. The printing head and the printing medium relatively move in main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction each other, and an image is printed on the surface of the printing medium. In the print data supplied by every main scanning action of the printing head, a deformed data portion of concave and convex shapes of waveform are formed, for example, so that dots may not be arrayed in parallel continuously in the main scanning direction of the printing head, at the joint of the ends of the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A liquid-discharge recording head includes large nozzles for discharging large liquid drops and medium and small nozzles for discharging medium and small liquid drops that are smaller than the large liquid drops. The large nozzles are arranged on one side of an ink-supply opening and the medium and small nozzles are arranged on the other side of the ink-supply opening. The number of large nozzles is greater than the number of medium and small nozzles, and the liquid-discharge recording head performs high-speed printing using the large nozzles, high-speed photo printing using the medium and small nozzles, and high-quality photo printing using the small nozzles.

Abstract: An ink-jet head has a plurality of nozzle groups which respectively jet inks of a plurality of colors. Each nozzle group has a high density portion of small nozzle interval and two low density portions of larger nozzle interval than the high density portion. The high density portion is positioned between the low density portions. Because in accompaniment with a reciprocating movement of the ink-jet head, an intermediate area, in which inks from the two low density portions land in a mixed manner, is formed between two areas, in which inks from the high density portion land, color banding is made inconspicuous and lowering of the printing quality due to differences in color can be suppressed.

Abstract: A printhead module is provided for an inkjet printhead assembly. The printhead module includes a support defining a plurality of internal ink chambers. An elongate ink distributor is mounted to the support. A subassembly includes a micro-electromechanical integrated circuit (IC) configured to eject ink and mounted to the distributor so that ink from the ink chambers can be distributed to the IC by the distributor. The support, distributor and subassembly are shaped to define complementary formations on opposite sides of the printhead module so that a pair of the printhead modules can be mated together.

Abstract: A printhead assembly comprises an elongate support structure; a series of side wall sections extending a length of the support structure and defining ink supply channels, edges of the walls delineating a gap; a plurality of carriers positioned end-to-end in the gap and supported by said edges of the walls, the carriers defining a recess and ink supply passages in fluid communication with the recess and the ink supply channels; and a printhead integrated circuit mounted in each recess to receive ink from the ink supply channels. The elongate support structure is configured to permit a printed circuit board (PCB) to be fastened to an outside of the support structure so that the PCB can be connected to the printhead integrated circuits.

Abstract: A system that prints three dimensional products is provided. The system includes at least one printhead for printing material to create the printed product, and an object incorporation device. The object incorporation device incorporates inorganic semiconductor objects into cavities created during the printing process.

Abstract: A cradle unit is provided which has a body complementary to a removable printhead cartridge, the removable printhead cartridge having a pagewidth printhead and a capper assembly, a controller for controlling operation of the printhead to facilitate printing when the removable printhead cartridge is received within the body, and an electromagnet assembly on the body which is controlled by the controller for operating the capper assembly of the removable printhead cartridge to permit the operation of the printhead.

Abstract: To shorten time for an abnormal discharge test and time for cleaning; and to reduce the amount of drain ink used at the time of the abnormal discharge test and the cleaning. A liquid drop discharging apparatus comprising: a plurality of nozzles that discharge liquid drops; a sensor that detects a malfunctioning nozzle at which abnormal discharge occurs when the liquid drop is supposed to be discharged therefrom; and a controller that determines whether the liquid drop is discharged or not from each of the nozzles on the basis of image data, the controller causing the sensor to detect the malfunctioning nozzle among the nozzles that are determined to discharge the liquid drops on the basis of the image data.

Abstract: A recording unit according to the present invention includes a holding member, a recording element held on the holding member, an ink supply section held on the holding member, and a guiding portion provided in the holding member. The guiding portion guides a recording medium so as to prevent the recording medium from contacting the recording element. An image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveying mechanism having a conveying member on which a recording medium is placed for conveyance, a recording unit, and a fixing member which fixes the recording unit. A guiding portion of the recording unit guides the recording medium to the conveying member so as to prevent the recording medium from contacting the recording element. The guiding portion also maintains a constant gap between the recording medium and the recording element to achieve high-quality image recording.

Abstract: A liquid recording head includes an element substrate on which ejection energy generating elements for generating energy for ejecting droplets of liquid are provided in a staggered arrangement; ejection outlets provided opposed to the ejection energy generating elements; ejection energy generation chambers enclosing the ejection energy generating elements; and a flow path constituting member constituting first and second nozzles for supplying the liquid into the ejection energy generation chamber, wherein the second nozzles have flow path lengths shorter than those of the first nozzle, and the first and second nozzles are arranged alternately, wherein an average height of the path of the first nozzles is larger than that of the second nozzles.

Abstract: A nozzle device is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle device includes a substrate assembly defining an ink supply. A chamber-defining layer defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with a nozzle opening and the ink supply. An actuating arm is coupled to the substrate assembly and terminates in a paddle separating the ink supply and nozzle chamber. The actuating arm is configured to pivot during actuation so that the paddle moves and causes ink within the nozzle chamber to be ejected out through the nozzle opening. A movement sensor is configured to determine the degree or rate of pivotal movement of the actuating arm.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a plurality of nozzles; a plurality of liquid supply channels each of which is communicated with a corresponding one of the plurality of nozzles and supplies a liquid to the corresponding one of the plurality of nozzles; a plurality of drive elements each of which applies pressure in the liquid in a corresponding one of the liquid supply channels so as to eject the liquid as a droplet from the corresponding one of the plurality of nozzles; a pressure determination device which is arranged through the plurality of liquid supply channels and determines a pressure of the liquid in each of the liquid supply channels applied by a corresponding one of the plurality of drive elements, the pressure determination device being separated from the plurality of drive elements; and a failed ejection detection device which detects failed ejection of the droplet from each of the plurality of liquid supply channels according to the pressure determined by the pressure determination device

Abstract: Several embodiments are disclosed of bar code readers in which one or more piezoelectric bimorph elements are utilized as a drive element in the optical system thereof. In different embodiments, the piezoelectric bimorph element is utilized in the scanning function of the bar code reader optical system, or in a variable focus zooming function of the optical system. The bar code readers are provided with improved decoding reliability, speed and orientation freedom, with regular or high density, one or two dimensional bar codes, by using multiple beam symbol crossings, created by using one or more piezoelectric bimorph elements. In different disclosed embodiments, one or more cantilever mounted piezoelectric bimorph elements support a scanning mirror, or a focusing lens, or a laser diode, or a laser diode and limiting aperture, for movement at the free ends of the bimorph elements to produce a scanning of the bar code reader optical system.