Abstract: A method of generating halftone print data for overlapping end portions of a pair of consecutive printhead segments in an array of two or more printhead segments. Generally an end portion of a first printhead segment overlaps an end portion of a second printhead segment, in which each printhead segment includes a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. The method includes generating a dither value from a dither matrix, and then combining the dither value with an overlap signal, which represents an extent of overlap of the end portions, to produce an output value. A mathematical operation is then performed on continuous tone print data using a comparator, based on the output value, to produce the half tone data.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has a molded ink manifold bonded to a printhead by an adhesive film. The printhead has: (a) a plurality of nozzles formed on a frontside of a substrate, the nozzles being arranged in rows extending longitudinally along the substrate, each nozzle having a respective nozzle inlet; and (b) a plurality of ink supply channels extending longitudinally along a backside of the substrate. Each ink supply channel is configured for supplying ink from the backside to at least one corresponding row of nozzle inlets. Further, each ink supply channel is interrupted along its length by one or more transverse bridges. The transverse bridges provide the printhead integrated circuit with strength in a transverse direction.

Abstract: Groups of discharge ports having plural discharge port rows are arranged in a zigzag shape, and thereby the difference in landing time among the dots which are adjacent to one another in an array direction of the discharge ports while dots overlap one another is kept constant.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a line-type liquid discharging head including nozzles configured to jet liquid droplets. The nozzles are aligned in a sheet width direction. The line-type liquid discharging head includes plural nozzle rows each including an alignment of a plurality of the nozzles configured to discharge liquid droplets of the same color. A distance L1 between the nozzle rows is L1=T11×V1, where T1 is a liquid transfer amount impregnating time of a standard sheet and V1 is a sheet conveying speed.

Abstract: An array printhead and an inkjet image forming apparatus having the same are include a first member, a second member, a third member, and a support member. The first through third members and the support member sequentially overlap and couple to each other. The first member supplies ink of different colors into the second member and the second member separately receives the ink of different colors supplied from the first member. The third member includes a plurality of head chips that eject ink supplied from the second member thereon and the support member fixes the first member, the second member, and the third member using a plurality of coupling elements.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided having at least one printhead module of at least two inkjet printhead integrated circuits, a casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted, and a printer body arranged to removably receive the casing. The printhead module has a first side which is slidably received in a longitudinally extending groove of the casing and a second side which is clamped to the casing by a clamp mounted to the casing. The clamp is configured to constrain movement of the printhead module relative to the casing, and therefore the printer body, across the longitudinal direction of the casing and in the direction of ink ejection from the printed integrated circuits, and to allow movement of the printhead module along the longitudinal direction of the casing.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a plurality of arrays of liquid ejecting portions each having a nozzle for ejecting a droplet. The nozzle is arranged along each of an imaginary straight line R1 and an imaginary straight line R2 that are arranged in parallel at a distance ? from each other, and a distance, with respect to the direction of the imaginary straight lines R1 and R2, between two adjacent ones of the nozzles respectively arranged on the imaginary straight line R1 and the imaginary straight line R2 is set to a fixed value P. The liquid ejecting portions arrayed along at least one of the imaginary straight lines R1 and R2 are formed so that a liquid is ejected from each of the liquid ejecting portions while being deflected to the other imaginary straight line side.

Abstract: A head module includes lines of head chips, each head chip having energy-generating elements for discharging liquid and electrodes for electrically connecting the energy-generating elements to a control substrate, and a wiring board having wires for electrically connecting the electrodes to the control substrate. The head module drives the energy-generating elements through the wiring board to discharge liquid. The wiring board includes connecting sections connecting the wires to the respective electrodes, common wire sections joining some of the wires that are common to the head chips, and a terminal section connecting the wires to the control substrate at one side of the wiring board. The wires in the connecting and terminal sections are arranged in a single-layer structure along a horizontal direction. The wires in the common wire sections are arranged in a multi-layer structure in which portions of the wires are stacked in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A display device has: an RGB-RGBW conversion circuit that converts RGB signals fed thereto into RGBW signals; a display panel that has a plurality of dots each composed of four, namely R, G, B, and W, unit pixels and that displays an image based on the RGBW signals; a defect position specifier that specifies, if a unit pixel is found defective, a position of the defective pixel on the display panel; and a conversion rate controller that controls the rate at which, when the RGB signals are converted into the RGBW signals, the RGB signals are converted into a W signal according to the position of the defective pixel. If the defective pixel is a W pixel, the conversion rate for pixels adjacent thereto is made lower than the standard conversion rate set for the entire display panel.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection elements with liquid ejecting nozzles arranged in a matrix along a row direction and in a column direction which is substantially parallel to a sub-scanning direction along which either the head or a liquid ejection receiving medium is moved. Each group of ejection elements forming each column of the matrix having a heating element that is as long as the length of that column and that can heat the liquid prior to ejection. A prediction device predicts a number of the ejection elements to be driven in each of the column groups according to ejection data and a heating control device independently controls the heating elements of each column group according to the number of the ejection elements to be driven in that column group as predicted by the prediction device.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having at least one printhead module, at least one controller and a casing in which the printhead module and controller are removably mounted. The module is a unitary arrangement of a support member, at least two print nozzle integrated circuits, at least two fluid distribution members each mounting the print nozzle integrated circuits to the support member, and respective electrical connectors. The controller is configured to process print data and to communicate the processed print data to microprocessing circuitry of at least one of the print nozzle integrated circuits via the respective electrical connector so as to control the printing operation of the print nozzle integrated circuit(s) to print the processed print data.

Abstract: A printhead module capable of printing a maximum of n of channels of print data, the printhead being configurable into: a first mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a first number of the channels; and a second mode, in which the printhead is configured to receive print data for a second number of the channels, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes an elongate ink distribution assembly defining elongate ink ducts from which ink transfer ports extend. The ink distribution assembly further defines a recess in which a laminated stack structure is received in fluid communication with the ink transfer ports. The laminated stack structure has layers between which ink channels in fluid communication with the ports are interleaved. The laminated stack defines at least one cavity in which respective ink ejection print head integrated circuits (ICs) can be received in fluid communication with the ink channels.

Abstract: A spliced ink-jet head including head chips, each of which is capable of discharging inks of two or more colors, and which are spliced in a staggered manner which restrains the occurrence of splice streaks, white streaks caused by deflection at ends or uneven colors attributable to different landing orders of ink droplets in spliced portions of different colors when one-pass recording is carried out. The head chips is arranged such that, in a relationship between two adjoining head chips, at least one discharge port of one head chip and one discharge port of the other head chip for the same color tone ink in end portions overlap on a line in a recording material feeding direction, while discharge ports for different color tone inks do not overlap.

Abstract: A printer cradle is provided having a recess with an inclined face for receiving and removably locating a print cartridge, a retainer for removably retaining the print cartridge within the recess, and resilient members arranged to act against the print cartridge as it is located by the inclined face and to bias the print cartridge against the retainer once located within the recess. The print cartridge has a pagewidth printhead, a printing fluid supply and a fluid connection between the printhead and the printing fluid supply.

Abstract: An inkjet printer cradle including a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply; and an integrated circuit assembly arranged to test an authentication device of said cartridge.

Abstract: An inkjet printer assembly includes a cartridge which has a pagewidth printhead integrated circuit (IC) and a printhead auxiliary member. The auxiliary member is operatively rotatable between a platen position, to support a printing medium proximate the IC, a blotting position, to blot the printhead IC, and a capping position, to cap the printhead IC. The assembly also includes a cradle configured to receive the cartridge such that the printhead IC is adjacent a media feed path. The cradle has a transmission assembly arranged selectively to engage and rotate the printhead auxiliary member. The assembly also includes a controller arranged to determine a performance characteristic of the cartridge and to operate said transmission assembly, printhead IC and printhead auxiliary member in response to the determined performance characteristic.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus is provided that is capable of stably maintaining image quality by preventing the degradation in image quality due to a rotational body for holding down a recording medium. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a linked-up head having a plurality of short chips arranged in a staggered arrangement in the width direction of the recording medium. The rotational bodies for holding the floating of the recording medium on the downstream side of the linked-up head in the conveying direction are arranged in the width direction of the recording medium within a range of the short chip that ejected ink earlier on the recording medium.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles 3 and a bubble forming chamber 7 corresponding to each nozzle respectively. At least one heater element 10 disposed in each bubble forming chamber 7 to heat a bubble forming liquid 11 to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble 12 therein. The generation of the bubble 12 causes the ejection of a drop 16 of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through an ejection aperture 5 in each nozzle 3, to effect printing. The heater element 10 has at least one bubble nucleation section 158 with a smaller cross section than the remainder of the heater element. The smaller cross section creates a region of higher resistance. A high resistance section in the heater element will heat up quicker than the rest of the element. The gas bubble will nucleate at this point and subsequently grow to the other areas of the heater element.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet printhead which comprises a plurality of nozzles 3 and a bubble forming chamber 7 corresponding to each nozzle respectively. At least one heater element 10 disposed in each bubble forming chamber 7 to heat a bubble forming liquid 11 to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble 12 therein. The generation of the bubble 12 causes the ejection of a drop 16 of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through an ejection aperture 5 in each nozzle 3, to effect printing. The heater element is a suspended elongate strip, the strip having a cross section with a lateral dimension at least triple that of the thickness of the strip. A heater element that is relatively wide and flat can be more accurately fabricated by lithographic deposition and will require less etching. The resulting heater elements have greater consistency, conformity with specification and reliability.

Abstract: A printer includes an elongate print assembly defining a transverse path along which print media can pass. The print assembly includes a plurality of printhead modules configured to print upon the print media. A support structure is arranged to support the print assembly. The support structure includes a pair of spaced legs which extend from respective ends of the print assembly and each terminates in a respective foot. A supply spool is rotationally mounted between the legs and is configured to carry a wound length of the print media which passes along the path. An uptake spool is rotationally mounted between the legs and the printed print medium can be wound onto it.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ink jet printing can reduce density unevenness caused by an end deviation condition associated with ink droplets ejected from a print head, regardless of gray scale of a printed image. The present invention thus sets the print duty for a nozzle located at an end of a nozzle array formed in a print head on the basis of the end deviation amount of a position impacted by an ink droplet ejected from the end of the nozzle array.

Abstract: Plural nozzle arrays of which each comprises plural nozzle holes (247a) from which ink is ejected are arranged slantingly in a main scanning direction. A distance between a first arbitrary nozzle hole (247a-1) and a second nozzle hole (247a-2), in a nozzle array adjacent to the array to which this first nozzle hole (247a-1) belongs, which is adjacent to the first nozzle hole (247a-1), and a distance between the first nozzle hole (247a-1) and a third nozzle hole (247a-3), in the nozzle array to which the second nozzle hole (247a-2) belongs, which is further adjacent to the first nozzle hole (247a-1) are different from each other.

Abstract: A printhead module includes a plurality of rows of printhead nozzles, at least some of the rows including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed, wherein the displaced row portions of at least some of the rows are different in length than the displaced row portions of at least some of the other rows.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: an acquirer acquiring M-ary (M?3) image data; a divider dividing the acquired image data into pixel areas; a calculator calculating total concentration values of pixels in the divided pixel areas; a storage unit storing a pixel area dot constitution table designating the total concentration value of each calculated pixel area and a dot constitution corresponding to the total concentration value; a calculator calculating a constitution of dots arranged in the pixel area based on the pixel area dot constitution table; a storage unit storing a dot arrangement order table designating an arrangement order of the dots in the pixel area; an arranger arranging the dots having the calculated dot constitution corresponding to the designated dot arrangement order; a generator generating print data by combining the respective pixel areas in which the dots are arranged; and a printer printing based on the print data.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead with an array of droplet ejectors arranged in adjacent rows, each nozzle having a nozzle, a chamber for containing printing fluid and a corresponding actuator for ejecting the printing fluid through the nozzle. Each of the chambers has a respective inlet to refill the printing fluid ejected by the actuator. A printing fluid supply channel extends parallel to the adjacent rows for supplying printing fluid to the actuator of each droplet ejector in the array via the respective inlets. The inlets for one of the adjacent rows configured for a refill flowrate that is substantially the same as the refill flowrate through the inlets for another of the adjacent rows. The invention configures the nozzle array so that several rows are filled from one side of an ink supply channel. This allows a greater density of nozzles on the printhead surface because the supply channel is not supplying just one row of nozzles along each side.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead with an array of nozzles for ejecting drops of printing fluid onto print media. The print media moves in a print direction relative to the printhead and the nozzles in the array are spiced apart front each other by less than 10 microns in the direction perpendicular to the print direction. Wish nozzles spaced less than 10 microns apart in the direction perpendicular to the print direction, the printhead has a very high ‘true’ print resolution—i.e. the high number of dots per inch is achieved by a high number of nozzles per inch.

Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit (IC) with a planar array of droplet ejectors, each having data distribution circuitry, a drive transistor, a printing fluid inlet, an actuator, a chamber and a nozzle, the chamber being configured to hold printing fluid adjacent the nozzle so that the drive transistor activates the actuator to eject a droplet of the printing fluid through the nozzle. The array has more than 700 of the droplet ejectors per square millimeter. With a high density of droplet ejectors fabricated on a wafer substrate, the nozzle array has a high nozzle pitch and the printhead has a very high ‘true’ print resolution—i.e. the high number of dots per inch is achieved by a high number of nozzles per inch.

Abstract: A cradle unit for an inkjet printer including: a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead, an ink supply and a capper assembly; and a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing when the removable inkjet cartridge is received within the body; and an electromagnet assembly on said body which is controlled by said controller for operating said capper assembly of the removable inkjet cartridge.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors for ejecting drops of printing fluid onto print media led passed the printhead in a media feed direction. Each drop ejector having a nozzle and an actuator for ejecting a drop of printing fluid through the nozzle. The array has more than 100000 of the droplet ejectors and extends in a direction transverse to the media feed direct between 200 mm and 330 mm. A pagewidth printhead with a large number of nozzles extending the width of the media provides a high nozzle pitch and a very high ‘true’ print resolution—i.e. the high number of dots per inch is achieved by a high number of nozzles per inch.

Abstract: Density unevenness caused in an image formed with an overlap portion of nozzles is suppressed.

Abstract: A printhead module having a plurality of rows of nozzles configured to extend, in use, across at least part of a printable pagewidth, the nozzles in each row being grouped into at least first and second fire groups, the printhead module being configured to sequentially fire, for each row, the nozzles of each fire group, such that each nozzle in the sequence from each fire group is fired simultaneously with respective corresponding nozzles in the sequence in the other fire groups, wherein the nozzles are fired row by row such that the nozzles of each row are all fired before the nozzles of each subsequent row.

Abstract: An ink-jet image forming apparatus includes an ink-jet head having a nozzle unit including a first nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles of different sizes and at least one second nozzle array disposed parallel to the first nozzle array and having a plurality of nozzles of different sizes. A method of compensating for the defective nozzle includes: detecting a defective nozzle of the first nozzle array; and compensating for missing dots of the defective nozzle using the second nozzle array.

Abstract: A modular printhead assembly includes an elongate chassis. A plurality of elongate printhead modules is serially arranged along and engaged with the chassis. Each end of each printhead module is shaped so that each adjacent pair of printhead modules forms a complementary fit. Each printhead module includes an elongate printhead configured to eject ink. Each printhead is oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chassis. Each adjacent pair of printheads overlaps to enable continuous printing along the axis.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising: an elongate shaft arranged, in use, to rotate so as to move a capper for capping a pagewidth printhead out of and into its capping position; a support frame for supporting the shaft at the longitudinal first and second ends of the shaft so as to allow the rotation of the shaft; and fixing means for fixing the shaft to the support frame at the first end of the shaft, the fixing means comprising: a bearing into which the first end of the shaft is positioned for allowing the rotation of the shaft; and engagement means arranged to slidably engage with the support frame so as to fix the shaft thereto, the bearing being configured to allow pivotal movement of the elongate shaft about the second end of the shaft during the sliding engagement of engagement means and support frame.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer that has an elongate array of nozzles (68) for ejecting ink and ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. The ink conduits extend adjacent the elongate array and have a plurality of pulse dampers individually in fluid communication with the ink conduits, each containing a volume of gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink conduits, distributed along the length of the elongate array. A pressure pulse moving through an elongate printheads, such as a pagewidth printhead, can be damped at any point in the ink flow line. However, the pulse will cause nozzle flooding as it passes the nozzles in the printhead integrated circuit, regardless of whether it is subsequently dissipated at the damper. By incorporating a number of pulse dampers into the ink supply conduits immediately next to the nozzle array, any pressure spikes are damped at the site where they would otherwise cause detrimental flooding.

Abstract: A printing cartridge comprising: a body configured to removably engage with an inkjet printer; a printhead assembly mounted to the body, the printhead assembly comprising at least one printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles and a support member mounting the, or each, printhead integrated circuit, the nozzles being operated, in use, to print on media by ejecting ink thereon; and a capping mechanism for capping the nozzles during non-operation; and a mounting arrangement for commonly mounting the printhead assembly and capping mechanism to the body, the support member of the printhead assembly being directly mounted to the body and the capping mechanism being directly mounted to the support member.

Abstract: An array inkjet head and an inkjet image forming apparatus having the array inkjet head. The array inkjet head is formed by sequentially combining a first member, a second member, a third member on an upper surface of which a plurality of base modules are mounted, and a cover member that covers the third member, and the cover member comprises a plurality of opening holes formed along the lengthwise direction of the cover member to expose the head chips and a plurality of concave units formed on both sides of each of the opening holes and to have a predetermined gaps between edge units of the base modules to be coated with an adhesive.

Abstract: A carrier for an array comprising a plurality of print heads, comprises an elongate bar having an ink conduit extending through the bar in a longitudinal direction. The carrier also comprises a print head receiving area adapted to receive or mount the plurality of print heads, and a heat transfer fluid conduit extending through the bar in a longitudinal direction. The carrier is arranged so that each print head received or mounted in the print head receiving area is in fluid communication with the ink conduit, wherein the heat transfer fluid conduit is disposed adjacent both the ink conduit and the print head receiving area. The carrier may comprise two ink conduits and two heat transfer fluid conduits. Heat transfer fluid may in use be conducted along the first and second heat transfer conduits in opposite directions.

Abstract: A printer assembly for a pagewidth printer includes a support frame having a fluid channel member and a clipping arrangement configured so that a printed circuit board can be clipped to the support frame. A printhead arrangement has printhead tiles arranged in the fluid channel member. The support frame is configured so that a positional relationship between individual tile members is substantially retained during environmental changes.

Abstract: An inkjet printer comprising: a printer body and a replaceable printhead cartridge, the printhead cartridge having a casing that supports a pagewidth printhead; the printer body having a cradle for holding the printhead cartridge in an operative position such that the pagewidth printhead is adjacent a paper path defined by the printer body; wherein, during insertion, the cradle and the casing interact to form an over centre mechanism whereby, the printhead cartridge rotates against a bias prior until reaching a balance point, after which it is biased to rotate into the operative position.

Abstract: Provided is a pagewidth printer having an elongate bi-lithic printhead unit. The unit includes two integrated circuits laid end-to-end, each having a multitude of micro-electromechanical nozzles for operatively ejecting printing fluid, and an ink distribution plate for feeding printing fluid into apertures defined in the integrated circuits. The unit also includes an ink distribution molding defining a plurality of elongate conduits for distributing printing fluid to the plate along a length of the printhead, and an end plug configured for fitment onto an end of the distribution molding to arrange said conduits in fluid communication with ink reservoirs. The unit further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to relay data signals from a printer controller to respective ends of the integrated circuits.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes an elongate casing. The casing defines a printhead channel extending there-along. A static pagewidth printhead is received within the printhead channel. The printhead includes an elongate fluid channel member defining a plurality of ducts for storing respective types of ink. The printhead further includes printhead tiles bearing respective printheads configured to eject ink supplied from the fluid channel member. The tiles are shaped to serially engage together so that adjacent printheads overlap along the length of the fluid channel member.

Abstract: A three dimensional object creation system prints objects layer by layer. A conveyor conveys a substrate relative to an arrangement of printheads having multiple groups of printheads. Each group of printheads prints a respective layer of multiple materials over the previous layer such that the system prints the entire three dimensional object in a single pass.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a carrier. An integrated circuit (IC) is configured to eject ink, and mounted on the carrier. The carrier defines a plurality of ink passages each in fluid communication with the IC. An elongate ink reservoir defines a recess in which the carrier can be received and a plurality of ink supply chambers which can each be located in fluid communication with a respective ink passage. A multi-layered shell is provided in which the ink reservoir can be received.

Abstract: A printer module for a compact printer system has an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a stationary printhead housed within the body. Two opposing slots are interconnected by a paper path which passes through the body. An ink reservoir within the body provides ink to the printhead. Images to be printed are transferred to the printhead from a storage device.

Abstract: A print engine for a printer includes an elongate support frame. A pinch roller assembly is rotationally mounted relative to the support frame and can engage and feed the print media along a print media path. A pair of opposed print head assemblies is mounted on the elongate support frame and the print media path is defined between the print head assemblies. The printhead assemblies are configured to perform duplex printing on print media fed along the print media path. Each print head assembly includes a printhead module operatively mounted to the support frame and has a printhead configured to print ink onto the fed print media. The printhead module defines a plurality of ink galleries for storing respective types of ink to be printed by the printhead. A pair of end moldings is operatively mounted to the printhead module at either end of the support frame and defines tubular ink inlets in fluid communication with respective ink galleries.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printer is provided having a pagewidth printhead which has a plurality of printhead modules mounted end to end on a carrier to extend across a pagewidth with each printhead module incorporating a plurality of inkjet nozzles and the nozzles of at least one of the printhead modules being rotationally displaced relative to the carrier, and a printer controller for communicating ink dot data to the inkjet nozzles in accordance with a cumulative correction factor for each printhead module. The printer controller measures the amount of rotational displacement of the rotationally displaced printhead module to determine the cumulative correction factor to at least partially compensate for the rotational displacement.

Abstract: A pagewidth printhead assembly comprising an elongate support member, the elongate support member includes a core element defining separate ink reservoirs and a laminate structure at least partially surrounding the core element. A plurality of printhead integrated circuits is mounted to the core element so as to be substantially aligned with one another along the elongate support member. The laminate structure includes at least a first layer of a first material adjacent the core element, a second layer of a second material adjacent the first layer, and a third layer of the first material adjacent the second layer, and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first material is different to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the second material. The effective coefficient of thermal expansion of the support member is substantially equal to that of the plurality of printhead integrated circuits.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has an array of droplet ejectors supported on a printhead integrated circuit (IC). Each of the droplet ejectors has a nozzle aperture and an actuator for ejecting a droplet of ink through the nozzle aperture. The actuator in each of the droplet ejectors is configured to generate a pressure pulse in a quantity of ink adjacent the nozzle aperture, the pressure pulse being directed towards the nozzles aperture such that the droplet of ink is ejected through the nozzle aperture. The actuator is positioned in the droplet ejector such that it is less than 30 microns from an exterior surface of the printhead surface layer.