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.

Abstract: In a printing device includes a plurality of heads corresponding to black K ink and colored inks C, M, and Y, wherein the heads are extended in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of a medium and are disposed in parallel from the upstream side to the downstream side, and ink droplets are discharged and deposited on the medium in order from the heads while the medium is being conveyed, a print condition setting method includes the steps of setting an order in accordance with the extent of concentration irregularity in the composite colors RGB; and creating, within the discharge order of the inks, the most separation of discharge order between the two colored inks that manifest the composite color having the greatest concentration irregularity, and inserting K ink between the discharge orders of the two colored inks that manifest the composite colors having the second greatest concentration irregularity.

Abstract: A print engine for an inkjet printer which has a media path extending past a printhead assembly along a paper axis, has an elongate printhead carriage extending transverse to the paper axis, a series of interfaces for supplying ink to respective printhead modules spaced along the printhead carriage such that during use, the printhead modules span the media path and ink conduits connected to the interfaces for feeding ink to the printhead modules. The printhead carriage has a series formations to position the ink conduits such that they all extend away from the interfaces in a direction transverse to the long axis to a common side of the printhead carriage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an assembly includes a lift and a print bar mounted to the lift. The lift includes first and second guide rods oriented parallel to one another and perpendicular to an axis of the print bar across the print zone. The first end of the print bar is slidably connected to the first guide rod, the second end of the print bar is slidably connected to the second guide rod, and the lift is configured to simultaneously move both ends of the print bar along the guide rods. In another embodiment, an assembly includes a chassis and a lift supported by the chassis. The lift is configured to loosely hold a print bar and to raise and lower the print bar over a print zone such that both ends of the print bar move simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for arraying head assemblies of an inkjet printer and an apparatus used for the method that can reduce a period of time taken to array the head assemblies after the head assemblies are mounted in the inkjet printer by adjusting height and rotation center of each of the head assemblies before the head assemblies are mounted in the inkjet printer, and can improve array precision of the head assemblies by adjusting a position in the X direction and a rotation angle of each of the head assemblies having already adjusted height and rotation center after the head assemblies are mounted in the inkjet printer, by adjusting a position in the Y direction of each of the head assemblies and can control an ink spray time.

Abstract: A pagewidth printhead assembly for an inkjet printer, that has an elongate ink distribution member mounted with a series of inlets spaced along the length of the elongate ink distribution member, one or more integrated circuits fixed to the ink distribution member, the or each integrated circuit having nozzles for ejecting ink supplied by the distribution member onto a passing media substrate, and an electrical connector for transmitting data to the or each integrated circuit, the electrical connector having an elongate array of contacts for electrical connection with a corresponding array of contacts on the inkjet printer.

Abstract: The pagewidth inkjet printer provides for simultaneous printing across a horizontal portion of a sheet of paper, as opposed to horizontal scanning of a conventional inkjet printer. The pagewidth inkjet printer includes a platen for incrementally translating a page of paper and a controller for selectively driving rotation of the platen. A housing is mounted adjacent to the platen and is fixed with respect thereto. A plurality of print heads are mounted within the housing. Each print head has a plurality of nozzles for selectively ejecting ink, and each nozzle is adapted for ejecting a distinct color of ink. The plurality of nozzles of each print head are aligned in a direction parallel to a direction of translation of the page of paper. The plurality of print heads are arrayed and aligned linearly along a direction orthogonal to the direction of translation of the page of paper.

Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit includes one or more nozzle rows extending along a longitudinal axis thereof. The printhead IC has first and second ends for butting engagement with other printhead ICs so as to define a pagewidth printhead. Each nozzle has an associated primary dot position, wherein a first nozzle positioned at the first end is configured to fire some ink droplets skewed towards the first end in addition to firing some ink droplets at its own primary dot position.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes at least one liquid ejecting head having a nozzle surface formed with a nozzle array which is operable to eject liquid toward a target medium and extends in a first direction, a reference surface perpendicular to the nozzle surface, and two correctors arranged side by side with a predetermined distance and brought into contact with the reference surface.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer having a plural number of line heads arranged in a paper printing direction, it is sought to render the printing density high in the nozzle row direction without the need to exchange the line heads. The invention provides an ink jet printer in which line heads other than at least one of the line heads 3 are each displaceable by a distance that is equal to a part per the plural number of a nozzle pitch in the line head in a direction of the nozzle row.

Abstract: A digital camera includes an image capture assembly; a print media transport assembly; a pagewidth ink jet printhead; a roll of print media; an internal chassis serving as a frame on which the image capture assembly, the print media transport assembly, and the printhead are directly supported; and an external casing completely encasing therewithin the internal chassis. The external casing is openable, and the internal chassis together with the assemblies and printhead supported thereon are removable from the external casing. The internal chassis is provided as an integral frame configured with pre-molded fittings adapted to receive and support the assemblies and printhead.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: nozzles that discharge liquid; a liquid discharge head including the nozzles arranged in arrays; cleaning belts formed in the shape of a Mobius strip; installation rollers around which the cleaning belts rotate; a support frame that supports the installation rollers so that an angle is formed between a width direction of the cleaning belt and an arrangement direction of the nozzles; a moving unit for moving the support frame in the arrangement direction of the nozzles; and a rotational drive unit for rotationally driving the installation rollers. The cleaning belts clean the liquid discharge head by adsorbing attached liquid via contact with the liquid discharge head.

Abstract: A method of ejecting fluid from a printhead nozzle is provided. The printhead nozzle has a fluid chamber, a fluid ejection port, electrodes on opposite sides of the chamber and a heater element suspended between the electrodes. The heater element has a cross section with a lateral dimension at least triple that of the thickness of heater element. The he thickness of the heater element being less than 0.3 microns. In the method the heater element is heated to a temperature above the boiling point of the fluid to form a gas bubble that causes ejection of a drop of the fluid from the ejection port, and the chamber is supplied with a replacement volume of the fluid equivalent to the ejected drop.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus herein provide for automated calibration of multiple printheads used in a multi-pass printing system. Aspects hereof print a plurality of gray scale printed patterns each printed pattern corresponding to a gray scale value for each of the multiple printheads. The printed patterns are then measured to determine the intensity (e.g., optical density) of each of the printed patterns. A measurement function is derived from the measured intensity and gray scale levels used to print each pattern. Calibrated transfer functions are then determined from the measurement function and target function where each calibrated transfer function relates, for a corresponding printhead, an input gray scale level of a pixel in an image to be printed to a calibrated gray scale level to use for the corresponding printhead when operating in multi-pass mode.

Abstract: A printer includes a first ink-jet head which is fixed, and a second ink-jet head which is movable selectively to a first position which is opposite to an upper surface of a recording paper by an reversing-mechanism, and a second position which is opposite to a lower surface of the recording paper by the reversing-mechanism. Accordingly, it is possible to carry out printing on both surfaces of the recording paper, and it is possible to realize a high-speed printing and a high quality printing at the time of single-face printing.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is provided having a support member, a plurality of ejection integrated circuits supported by the support member, and a plurality of controllers mounted on respective printed circuit boards supported by the support member. Each ejection integrated circuit has a plurality of ejection nozzles. Each controller is connected to a plurality of the ejection integrated circuits via individual flexible printed circuit boards and to the other controllers. Each controller is configured to control operation of at least 10,000 of the ejection nozzles of the connected ejection integrated circuits.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a plurality of inkjet ejector arrays having corresponding ink receptacles. Each inkjet array is formed from a plurality of inkjet stack layers that are bonded to a single aperture layer, and the inkjet arrays are positioned with a predetermined alignment about a curved image receiving surface.

Abstract: An ink manifold constructed with a number of semiconductor tiles which are fastened end to end on a rigid base member to form a page wide print mechanism. Each tile is constructed with ink channels on one side in liquid communication with ink outlet ports on the opposite side. The ink channels carry ink from ports in the base member to the outlet ports of the tiles. The interface between each tile defines a boundary. An inkjet printhead is fastened over each boundary of the tiled manifold so that the ink inlet ports of the printhead are aligned with the ink outlet ports of the underlying tiles. No ink passes across the boundary of the adjacent manifold tiles. The fabrication of the individual tiles from a semiconductor wafer facilitates usage of the wafer when fabricating page wide print mechanisms.

Abstract: A pagewidth printhead assembly includes a plurality of printhead integrated circuits linked end to end across a width of the pagewidth printhead assembly; a support molding to which the plurality of printhead integrated circuits are sealed, the support molding defining a plurality of ink channels; a plurality of etched channels provided on an underside of each printhead integrated circuit, each etched channel defining along a length thereof a plurality of ink inlets for receiving ink from one of the plurality of ink channels; and a polymer sealing film for sealing the printhead integrated circuits to the support molding, the polymer sealing film defining therethrough a plurality of openings. Each of the plurality of etched channels is divided into two or more separate channel sections separated by respective channel wall structures. Each opening of the polymer film is in fluid communication with ink inlets of two separate channel sections.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, in which a line head is configured by arranging a plurality of nozzles, some of which are made to overlap, of short nozzle rows each having a jetting nozzle row arranged in one direction relative to a conveyance direction of a recording medium being conveyed by a conveyance mechanism and which forms records an image by jetting ink from the jetting nozzles onto the recording medium, comprises a conveyance information generating unit which generates conveyance information indicating a conveyance distance of the recording medium, a recording medium detecting unit which detects an edge of the recording medium being conveyed, and a controlling unit which performs a density correction of an image recorded by an overlapping portion of the short nozzle rows on the basis of a detection result of the recording medium detecting unit and the conveyance information obtained from the conveyance information generating unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of controllers that controls nozzle groups for forming an image on an image forming medium based on image data; a plurality of distribution processing units that are connected to a portion of the controllers to transmit to the controllers image data for controlling the nozzle groups allocated to the controllers; and a transmitting processing unit that transmits the image data to the distribution processing unit. Upper and lower level distribution processing units from the first distribution processing unit at the uppermost level to the second distribution processing unit at the lowermost level are communicatably connected to each other. The first distribution processing unit is communicatably connected to the transmitting processing unit.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing an image to optimize print time of the image by a print apparatus based on the size of the image to be printed and the print pass thresholds of the print apparatus. A dimension of the image corresponding to the dimension along the sub-scanning axis of the image as it will be printed by the print apparatus is obtained, along with the corresponding number of print passes required to print the image. An analysis is performed to determine whether the size of the image could be reduced to require one less print pass by the print apparatus in printing the reduced image based on the proximity of the determined dimension to the range of dimensions that will result in one less print pass by the print apparatus.

Abstract: A method of locating a printhead on a printer is provided in which a printhead is provided which has at least one integrated circuit having a plurality of ejection nozzles, the printhead is mounted to the printer by bringing each of a slot defined with respect to the x-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with a mesa feature of the printer, an angled surface defined with respect to the x- and y-coordinates of the printhead into cooperation with a protrusion across the slot of the printer, and a flat surface defined with respect to the z-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with protrusion located within the slot of the printer, and the location of the nozzles with respect to the x-, y- and z-coordinates is determined from the cooperation.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printer includes a chassis; a pagewidth inkjet printhead mounted on the chassis; a cover assembly mounted on the chassis to accommodate a printing cartridge storing sheets of media and an ink supply; a printed circuit board mounted on the chassis and connected to the printhead to control operation of the printhead; an ink supply manifold connected to the printhead to supply the printhead with ink, the ink supply manifold being connected the ink supply of the printing cartridge via ink conduits; and a print media feed arrangement mounted on the chassis to feed print media from the cartridge through the printer. The cover assembly includes a rotatable axle and a cog mounted on each end of the rotatable axle, the cogs engage corresponding racks on the printing cartridge to inhibit skewing of the cartridge as the printing cartridge is inserted into and withdrawn from the cover assembly.

Abstract: An inkjet head support assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart carrier members mounted for relative movement along an elongate path, each carrier member including laterally offset first and second coupling positions. In use alternate inkjet heads are coupled at each of their ends between first coupling positions or between second coupling positions respectively of successive pairs of carrier members. At least one coupling position of each carrier member includes an adjustment mechanism to enable parts of inkjet heads coupled to the respective coupling positions of the same carrier member to be relatively aligned in the elongate direction.

Abstract: The liquid ejecting heads are arranged on the head carrying member such that each pair of nozzles that are next to each other in terms of first-direction positions of adjacent ones of the liquid ejecting heads are shifted relative to each other by an offset length ? corresponding to a relative displacement in the first direction between the liquid ejecting heads due to thermal expansion during liquid ejection with reference to a specified pitch at which nozzles included in a single nozzle row are provided.

Abstract: A method enables a controller to align printheads in a printer. The method includes identifying a first cross-process position for each printhead in a plurality of printheads in a printer with reference to image data of a test pattern printed by the plurality of printheads on a media substrate, identifying a second cross-process position for each printhead in the plurality of printheads, calculating a printhead cross-process position error between the identified first cross-process position and the identified second cross-process position for each printhead, comparing a maximum printhead cross-process position error to a predetermined threshold, and operating a plurality of actuators with reference to the calculated printhead cross-process position errors to reposition the printheads in the plurality of printheads in response to the maximum printhead cross-process position error being equal to or less than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for pen drop weight calibration includes altering an image prior to printing based on the difference in printing performance of a first pen and a second pen to produce altered image data, the first pen and the second pen being disposed in the same printer. The altered image data is then printed with the printer.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes an elongate carrier. A plurality of printhead modules is serially positioned on the carrier. Each printhead module includes an ink supply arrangement mounted on the carrier and a printhead chip mounted on the ink supply arrangement to be fed with ink from the ink supply arrangement. A plurality of capping devices is mounted on the carrier. Each capping device is displaceable with respect to the carrier between an operative position in which the capping device caps the printhead chip and an inoperative position in which the printhead chip is uncapped.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for printing directly onto textiles including digitally printing an image in a single pass. The systems and methods provide for printing in one pass, thereby reducing distortion from movement of the textile or misalignment of the print head(s). The systems and methods provide for a second print head that may operate as a redundant print head.

Abstract: A loss of print quality is suppressed even when the recording medium is skewed by the paper feed roller. A distance D2, which is the length of separation between a black nozzle line BT of an upstream head unit and a yellow nozzle line YT of a downstream head unit, is a distance corresponding to the distance offset the conveyance distance of the recording medium when the paper feed roller turns a half revolution from the conveyance distance of the recording medium when the paper feed roller turns an integer number of revolutions.

Abstract: Provided herein is a head unit arrangement method for arranging a plurality of head units in a liquid droplet ejection device that plots an image in a matrix form with functional liquid droplets in a number n of colors by performing the number n of primary scans and a number (n?1) of secondary scans. The head unit arrangement method includes evaluating liquid droplet ejection performance of each of the head units based on an inspection result of a volume of liquid droplet ejection from each of the functional liquid droplet ejection heads to arrange two of the head units that exhibit the lowest liquid droplet ejection performance at both ends in the Y-axis direction.

Abstract: A head cap, including: a cap including (a) a bottom plate portion and (b) a projecting portion which functions as a side wall, which extends from the bottom plate portion so as to define a recessed portion with the bottom plate portion, and whose distal end contacts with a surrounding of a liquid-droplets ejecting area formed in a liquid-droplets ejecting surface of a liquid-droplets ejecting head so as to enclose the liquid-droplets ejecting area; a holder configured to support the cap; a groove formed in at least one of a first surface of the bottom plate portion which is opposed to the holder and a second surface of the holder which is opposed to the bottom plate portion so as to partly constitute an air communicating channel that communicates the recessed portion and an outside with each other; and a channel wall provided between the first surface and the second surface so as to enclose the groove as seen in a direction perpendicular to one of the first surface and the second surface by contacting with at

Abstract: A printing device includes a first nozzle column in which nozzles discharging liquid to a medium are arranged in a line in a predetermined direction, a second nozzle column in which nozzles discharging liquid to the medium are arranged in the predetermined direction, in which the first and second nozzle columns are arranged in a line in an intersecting direction with respect to the predetermined direction, a control portion which causes the first nozzle column and the second nozzle column to discharge the liquid to the medium while moving the first and second nozzle columns and the medium relatively to each other in a moving direction, in which the control portion forms a certain correction pattern composed of a first pattern formed by the first nozzle column and positioned on one side in the intersecting direction with respect to the moving direction and a second pattern formed by the second nozzle column and positioned on the other side in the intersecting direction with respect to the moving direction in p

Abstract: A two pass print mode method and apparatus limits wind-related print defects produced during printing, utilizing a reciprocating carrier of a printer carrying a printhead having an array of columns of actuator-fired fluid-jetting nozzles along a bi-directional scanning path. Due to instructions from a controller, printing proceeds along an initial partial swath on a print medium during a first pass along the scanning path by firing actuators associated with a first plurality of segments of a given column of nozzles. Then, printing proceeds along a final partial swath on the print medium during a second pass along the scanning path by firing actuators associated with a second plurality of segments of the given column of nozzles. Each segment of nozzles of the first and second pluralities includes more than one consecutive nozzle so that gaps are created in the partial swath printing accommodating wind-related effects without causing wind-related print defects.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting device includes a head unit having a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array that ejects a liquid of a same type as that of the first nozzle array and a movement mechanism that moves at least one between a target in which the liquid lands and the head unit in a movement direction that intersects with a direction of nozzle arrangement of each of the nozzle arrays. The second nozzle array is disposed in a position deviated from the first nozzle array in the movement direction and is disposed in a position deviated from the first nozzle array in the intersection direction such that an end part of the second nozzle array is located in a center part of the first nozzle array in the intersection direction that intersects with the movement direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid ejection assembly that includes an injection-molded mounting substrate that is formed by a two-shot injection molding process, wherein a housing portion of the mounting substrate is formed by a first shot molding, and a die-attach portion of the mounting substrate is formed within the housing portion by a second shot molding.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printhead includes an elongate ink distribution assembly connectable to an ink supply; a printhead intergrated circuit mounted to the ink distribution assembly to receive ink from the ink distribution assembly; a plurality of positioning protuberances protruding from the ink distribution assembly; a power and data transmission film positioned about the ink distribution assembly using the plurality of positioning protuberances; at least one power busbar positioned about the ink distribution assembly also using the plurality of positioning protuberances; and a cover attached to the ink distribution assembly, the power and data transmission film and the at least one power busbar interposed between the cover and the ink distribution assembly.

Abstract: A print engine for a printer unit includes a cradle unit including a print engine controller provided on flex printed circuit board, and a cover assembly for covering a recess defined by the cradle; a replaceable cartridge unit received within the recess of the cradle unit in a releasable manner, the replaceable cartridge having a body, an ink storage module assembly, and a pagewidth printhead assembly; and a print media transport means for transporting print media. The ink storage module assembly includes a plurality of ink storage modules received in the body from a first side, and the pagewidth printhead assembly is mounted to the body at a second side opposite the first side. The cover assembly is engaged with the flex printed circuit board to pivot the flex printed circuit board in and out of electrical engagement with the pagewidth printhead assembly upon closing and opening of the cover assembly with respect to the recess.

Abstract: A web press printer includes a printbar supporting an array of printheads extending across a media web. The printbar includes a support member coupled to the printbar via one or more biasing mechanisms to locally counteract a deflection of the printbar at a location of one or more of the respective printheads along the printbar.

Abstract: Among other things, for jetting ink droplets on a substrate during relative motion of an apparatus and the substrate along a process direction, a first and second jetting assemblies at least partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the process direction so that some jets in the first jetting assembly align with some jets in the second jetting assembly along the process direction to form one or more pairs of aligned jets. A mechanism enables, in at least one pair of the aligned jets, one jet to jet a first ink drop that has a size smaller than a size of an ink drop the jet would otherwise be required to jet to form a desired pixel and the other jet to jet a second ink drop that has a size sufficient to form the desired pixel in combination with the first ink drop.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device comprises an inkjet print head, a carriage on which the print head is mounted and which moves to and fro in a main scan direction while facing a sheet, a detector unit mounted on the carriage and detecting whether or not the sheet exists at a position facing a detecting position (prescribed position of the carriage in the main scan direction), an acquisition unit which acquires a print command including size information specifying sheet size, a setting unit which sets the detecting position depending on the size information, a moving unit which moves the carriage to the detecting position set by the setting unit, and a checking unit which checks whether the sheet exists at the position facing the detecting position by use of the detector unit after the carriage is moved to the detecting position and before the printing on the sheet is started.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus which jets liquid droplets on to an object, including a transporting mechanism which transports the object along a transporting path extended in a predetermined transporting direction, two heads, each having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row along a direction intersecting the transporting direction, which jet liquid droplets from the plurality of nozzles while maintaining relative positions of the two heads, and a head relative-position changer which switches the relative positions of the two heads to a predetermined first relative position, and a second relative position which is different from the first relative position in the direction intersecting.

Abstract: An ink level control system includes a first dividing wall that divides a reservoir of a printhead into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first and the second chambers are each connected to the ink passages of the inkjet stack by an ink port. The first dividing wall includes an opening that connects the first chamber and the second chamber to enable ink to pass therebetween. The opening is located a predetermined distance above the bottom surface of the reservoir. An ink diverter is associated with the inlet opening that directs ink received through the inlet opening to one of the first and the second chambers in response to the reservoir being tilted in a first direction, and directs ink to the other of the first and the second chambers in response to the reservoir being tilted in a second direction.

Abstract: A method of printing with a printing system comprising an array of print heads, the array of print heads including a redundant print head, and a service station, includes, with the redundant print head located at the service station, printing using a remainder of the array of print heads; and positionally and functionally replacing a second print head in the array with the redundant print head while printing continues.

Abstract: A printhead cradle is provided for removably receiving a printhead. The cradle has a controller for controlling operation of the received printhead and an electromagnet for causing movement of a movable capper of the printhead under control of the controller.

Abstract: The present invention related to a high-speed page wide printing method, comprising the steps of: providing a printing device and a medium, wherein the printing device at least comprises an ink-jet device including a plurality of odd-number ink-jet nozzles and a plurality of even-number ink-jet nozzles; the printing device receiving a printing order and the ink-jet device executing an ink-jet operation in response to the printing order; and the ink-jet device completing the ink-jet operation for completing a printing operation to a first printing region of the medium. Besides, the odd-number ink-jet nozzle and the adjacent even-number ink-jet nozzle of the ink-jet device form a set and are controlled by the same set of printing control data. Moreover, the ink injected through the plurality of odd-number ink jet nozzle is at least partially overlapped with the ink injected through the adjacent even-number ink-jet nozzle on the medium.

Abstract: In a liquid droplet discharge apparatus that prevents deterioration in the precision of ink droplet landing positions resulting from deformation of long members due to changes in the temperature environment, long members to which plural head units are attached are fixed at one end but slidably supported at the other end. The long members no longer bend because the other ends of the long members slide.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printing apparatus which can prevent possible stripe-like density unevenness in a joint in a print head constructed by joining a plurality of chips together even if the print head is inclined to the regular position of the print head. The present invention uses a print head having the nozzle arrays being shifted in a direction in which the nozzles are arranged, so as to have overlapping portions in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arranging direction. The present invention controls an ink ejecting operation of the nozzles in the overlapping portions between the plurality of nozzle arrays on the basis of an angle between the nozzle array arranging direction and a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the print head moves relative to the print medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a head array unit in which a plurality of head members is easily aligned on an alignment member with a simple structure and a method for manufacturing the head array unit, and an image forming apparatus including the head array unit. The head array unit includes a head unit. The head unit includes a head member, a head member retainer, and an alignment member. The head member includes a plurality of nozzles and is configured to eject liquid droplets. The head member retainer, on which the head member is disposed and fixed thereto, includes a reference hole for aligning the head unit relative to the alignment member. The alignment member includes an opening formed at a location associated with the reference hole and relatively larger than the reference hole. The head member may be directly aligned and fixed on the alignment member.