Abstract: A liquid container includes: a container body which has a liquid containing portion for containing liquid therein and which is detachably mounted in a container mounting portion of a liquid consuming apparatus; a remaining liquid amount detecting unit in which a sensor member for detecting a state of a remaining liquid amount is provided in a unit case and which is detachably attached to the container body; a circuit board which has a memory device and a contact point for connecting the memory device to a connection terminal of the container mounting portion and which is attached to the container body; and a relay terminal which is attached to the unit case so as to electrically connect the sensor member to the circuit board. The remaining liquid amount detecting unit is attached to an attachment portion, which is provided at a position spaced apart from the circuit board on the container body, by a predetermined operation.

Abstract: A refill unit for a fluid container is provided. The unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly having a piston and cylinder reservoir, said piston having a thread which engages a screw thread in an internal wall of the cylinder, the piston rotationally biased by a wound spring and the ejector assembly having a pawl-and-ratchet detent preventing the biased piston threading into the reservoir until the pawl is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing to incrementally eject fluid from the reservoir.

Abstract: An inkjet printer using solvent ink containing an organic solvent and a colorant. The inkjet printer includes an inkjet head configured to eject the solvent ink to a medium, and a microwave irradiation unit configured to irradiate the medium, to which the solvent ink was ejected, with microwaves.

Abstract: A method of regulating pressure in an ink tank including biasing an aperture of the ink tank to a closed position, withdrawing ink from an outlet port of the ink tank to provide a reduced internal pressure in the ink tank. The aperture is opened in response to the reduced internal pressure in the ink tank. The aperture leads to ambient atmospheric pressure outside the ink tank. The biasing step can include using biasing a valve member with a predetermined force against a valve seat at a contact region between the valve member and the valve seat. Opening of the aperture can include moving the member away from the valve seat in response to a difference in pressure between ambient atmospheric pressure and the reduced internal pressure in the tank.

Abstract: Any of an improved conventional, a refillable, or a continuous ink supply system (CISS) ink delivery apparatus, including a housing comprising one or more walls defining a chamber therein, a structural feature configured during use to detachably engage with a reciprocal receiving portion of a printer device, a fluid dispensing port extending through a first wall of the housing, and a siphon structure comprising a curved fluid-conducting conduit originating at the chamber and extending to the fluid dispensing port. Additionally and/or alternatively with respect to the siphon structure, an improved ink delivery apparatus includes any one or more of an automatically resettable chipset, a detachable cover plate and/or a fluid (gaseous and/or liquid) input port.

Abstract: A refill unit for a fluid container is provided. The unit has a housing defining a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet and configured to be operatively engaged with the fluid container, a fluid reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and a plunger having a toothed thread which engages with a screw thread provided in an internal wall of the housing, the ejector having a drive gear so that actuation of the drive gear imparts rotation to the toothed thread so as to rotate the plunger within the screw thread of the housing to incrementally eject fluid from the fluid reservoir when the drive gear is actuated by operative engagement of the fluid container with the housing.

Abstract: A long-life pump capable of simultaneously conveying plural liquids and an inkjet printer having the pump are provided. The liquid pump includes: a liquid storage unit having liquid chambers trapping at least two types of liquids with each chamber corresponding to the type of the trapped liquid; a coupling member for connection to each liquid chamber of the liquid storage unit; a pressure adjusting mechanism, connected to the coupling member, for alternately switching between a negative pressure and a positive pressure of an internal pressure of the liquid chamber; an inlet valve capable of passing the liquid to the liquid chamber; an outlet valve discharging the liquid in the liquid chamber; and a pass resistance variable mechanism adjusting an amount of the liquid trapped in the liquid chamber depending on a level of the liquid in the liquid chamber.

Abstract: A multi-color ink jet printing system uses a two-part (Binary) imaging solution, where the precise mixture of the multiple fluid parts (Colorant(s) and Reactant) is controlled with the use of multiple drop size (Grey Scale) ink jet print heads. The precise mixture of colorant(s) and reactant initiates a chemical reaction, which cures the imaging solution into a solid or nearly solid compound that ensures proper drop location.

Abstract: A liquid-ejection apparatus, including: a head configured to eject a liquid from a plurality of liquid-ejection openings; a main tank configured to accommodate the liquid supplied to the head; a liquid-supply pump configured to supply the liquid in the main tank to the head; a sub-tank in which are formed (a) a connection opening for connecting the sub-tank to the head and (b) an air-discharge opening for communicating the sub-tank with ambient air; a first channel extending from the liquid-supply pump to the sub-tank via the head and the connection opening; a second channel extending from the sub-tank to the liquid-supply pump; a third channel extending from the air-discharge opening of the sub-tank to the ambient air; an air-discharge valve provided in the third channel so as to be openable and closable; and a controller configured to control the air-discharge valve such that the air-discharge valve is temporarily opened in a liquid introducing operation in which the liquid is introduced from the main tank

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a photosensitive member, the image formed on the photosensitive member is classified by a respective kind of the image. The image forming apparatus comprises a storage unit which stores a cumulative value of a pixel value by a respective kind of the image; adding means for adding the pixel value of a respective pixel of the image formed on the photosensitive member, to the cumulative value stored in the storage unit and corresponding to the kind of the image; and toner consumption calculating means for calculating a toner consumption based on the cumulative value stored in the storage unit. An image forming apparatus capable of totaling the pixel value by a respective kind of the image and calculating the toner consumption by a respective kind of the image is realized.

Abstract: An inkjet printer including: a printhead having a plurality of nozzles assemblies, each nozzle assembly having: a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; and a bend actuator for ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle opening by generating a positive pressure pulse in the ink during bending of the actuator. An ink supply system supplies ink to the printhead so that a hydrostatic pressure of ink can be varied. Increasing the hydrostatic ink pressure increases a volume of the ejected ink droplets, and decreasing the hydrostatic ink pressure decreases a volume of the ejected ink droplets.

Abstract: A method to determine an amount of remaining fluid in a replaceable fluid supply unit includes determining a first estimated fluid volume of a first replaceable fluid supply unit in communication with a fluid ejector unit, determining a first correction factor corresponding to the first replaceable fluid supply unit in communication with the fluid ejector unit including at least a first volume ratio parameter corresponding to a ratio of a first nominal fluid volume of the first replaceable fluid supply unit and the first estimated fluid volume, determining an amount of fluid consumed from a second replaceable fluid supply unit configured to replace the first replaceable fluid supply unit, and determining a remaining amount of fluid in the second replaceable fluid supply unit by subtracting the determined amount of fluid consumed from a second nominal fluid volume of the second replaceable fluid supply unit.

Abstract: A method of attempting a write to an entity to cause performance of an action is provided in which a first message is sent to the entity which causes performance of the action and adjustment of initial values in respective security fields of the entity to respective first adjusted values, and a second message is sent to the entity which causes adjustment of the initial values to respective second adjusted values. The security fields have write restrictions which prevent values in the security fields being adjusted, in accordance with the first message, if the initial values have been adjusted in accordance with the second message, and vice versa. The action is only performed when the initial values have been adjusted in accordance with the first message. The respective first adjusted values are different than the respective second adjusted values.

Abstract: A liquid supply device includes a liquid supply channel that supplies a liquid from an upstream side as a liquid supply source side to a downstream side, where the liquid is consumed, and a pump that pumps a part of the liquid supply channel as a pump chamber. A first one-way valve in the liquid supply channel on an upstream side from the pump chamber permits ink to flow from the upstream side to the downstream side. A second one-way valve on a downstream side from the pump chamber permits ink to flow from the upstream side toward the downstream side. A liquid pressure accumulation unit with a volume variable pressure accumulation chamber is disposed on a downstream side from the second one-way valve to form a part of the liquid supply channel and stores the liquid in a pressure-accumulated state within the pressure accumulation chamber.

Abstract: A liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus includes: a liquid containing section that contains the liquid; a liquid supply section that supplies the liquid to the liquid consuming apparatus; a liquid flow section that connects from the liquid containing section to the liquid supply section; a sensor that is provided in the liquid flow section and used for detecting presence or absence of the liquid at a corresponding position thereof; and a stirring member that stirs the liquid, the stirring member is provided at a position between the sensor and the liquid supply section in the liquid flow section.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes: an ink accommodating unit; and a storing unit. The ink accommodating unit is configured to accommodate ink therein. The storing unit is configured to store time length data indicative of a length of time to be taken by the ink cartridge to move from a first position to a second position different from the first position, the first position and the second position being defined within a mounting unit in a recording device, the ink cartridge reaching the first position before reaching the second position when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting unit.

Abstract: The inkjet apparatus for double-side recording, comprises: liquid ejection heads which are disposed on either side of a recording medium and face each other across the recording medium, the liquid ejection heads ejecting liquid onto recording surfaces of the recording medium; conveyance devices which hold the recording medium in such a manner that a normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal, and convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction in such a manner that the recording surfaces face ejection surfaces of the liquid ejection heads; and end supporting devices which support an upper end and a lower end of the recording medium, as the conveyance devices convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction while holding the recording medium in such a manner that the normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal.

Abstract: An inkjet print head assembly includes: an ink tank storing ink provided from the exterior; a partition demarcating the interior of the ink tank; a tank head including at least two ink movement holes allowing ink to flow into the interior of the ink tank therethrough and a common channel communicating with the ink movement holes; and an inkjet print head coupled to the tank head to discharge the ink from the common channel.

Abstract: The ink cartridge has: a cartridge container having a flat box shape; an ink bag that is made of a plastic material or an elastic body, accommodates ink, is disposed in the cartridge container, and has an ink supply port via which the ink is extracted from the ink bag, wherein: the cartridge container has an air connection port by which an interior of the cartridge container in which the ink bag disposed is able to connect to an atmospheric air; the ink bag has a flat shape matching the flat box shape of the cartridge container; the ink bag is provided with a negative pressure generating device which applies impelling force to the ink bag in a direction of expanding a volume of the ink bag to generate a negative pressure inside the ink bag; and the impelling force applied to generate the negative pressure inside the ink bag by the negative pressure generating device, becomes less in a continuous or a stepwise fashion, as a distance from the ink supply port of the ink bag increases.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer where an ink recycling path for recycling ink is formed by connecting among an ink head, an upstream tank, and a downstream tank, the inkjet printer includes a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of recycling ink, a temperature changing unit that is installed in the ink recycled path and changes the temperature of the recycling ink so that the temperature of the recycling ink reaches a predetermined temperature, and an ink recycling amount changing unit that is installed at the upstream tank and changes an ink recycling amount according to the change in temperature of the recycling ink. Time required to make the temperature of the recycling ink reach the predetermined temperature can be shortened.

Abstract: A recording method is provided for recording images based on image data on a recording area of a recording medium using a first color liquid and a second color liquid containing coloring material and a colorless liquid not containing the coloring material, the recording medium being transported along a predetermined transport direction, the method including: a consumption amount calculation step of calculating a consumption amount of the first color liquid consumed when recording the images based on the image data on the recording medium, the consumption amount being obtained by subtracting the content of the coloring material from a total consumption amount of the first color liquid, and the consumption amount being calculated for each unit area of the recording area of the recording medium.

Abstract: A solid ink printer includes a solid ink transportation control system that helps ensure a continuous supply of solid ink to a melting device within a printer. The solid ink transportation control system includes an ink loss measurement circuit configured to identify an accumulated ink mass loss of ink from an ink reservoir in a printer and to generate an ink supply replenish signal in response to the accumulated ink mass loss reaching an accumulated loss threshold, a drive motor electrically coupled to the ink loss measurement circuit, the drive motor being configured to operate in response to the ink supply replenish signal, and an ink stick drive train coupled to the drive motor, at least a portion of the ink stick drive train moving towards a melting assembly in the printer in response to the operation of the drive motor.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a data-providing component securing mechanism for a printing apparatus reservoir. According to embodiments of the present invention, a securing mechanism is provided with an image-formation-material reservoir. The securing mechanism includes a drawer-style support feature having two guiding regions that interact with sides of the data-providing component when it is inserted therein. Upon complete or substantially complete insertion of the data-providing component into the drawer-style support feature, a retention feature is engaged at an opening end of the drawer-style support feature in order to retain the data-providing component in its engaged position. Consequently, the data-providing component can be secured without the use of external bonding agents, and can be removed from the drawer-style support feature intact, thereby allowing such data-providing component to be reused.

Abstract: The present method detects an ink consumption condition in an ink cartridge loaded on an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for jetting ink drops, using a piezo-electric device mounted on the cartridge. The method detects the ink consumption condition using the piezo-electric device when the recording head is in a non-recording state. A complicated seal structure is not necessary and the ink residue can be detected surely.

Abstract: An ink jet remanufacturing chip verifier for new ink jet chips attached to remanufactured ink jet cartridges includes a controller for verifying during the process of remanufacturing the ink jet cartridges: if the new ink jet chips attached to the remanufactured ink jet cartridges are new ink jet chips, if the new ink jet chips attached to the remanufactured ink jet cartridges were manufactured by a predetermined manufacturer of new ink jet chips, if the new ink jet chips attached to the remanufactured ink jet cartridges are functional, and if the new ink jet chips attached to the remanufacture ink jet cartridges are a predetermined type of new ink jet chip; the controller for rejecting during the process of remanufacturing the ink jet cartridges: ink jet chips attached to remanufactured ink jet cartridges which have been previously used, ink jet chips attached to remanufactured ink jet cartridges which produced by manufacturers other than the predetermined manufacturer of inkjet chips, inkjet chips attached

Abstract: A printer includes first and second ink cartridges, a print head having first and second nozzle arrays, first and second ink supply passages having first and second valves, and a connecting passages having a third valve. The first passage connects the first cartridge to the first nozzle array. The second passage connects the second cartridge to the second nozzle array. The connecting passage connects the first and second passages at first and second connecting portions, respectively. The first valve is provided in the first passage between the first cartridge and the first connecting portion. The second valve is provided in the second passage between the second cartridge and the second connecting portion. Both the first and second valves are open and the third valve being closed in a first state. The third valve and either one of the first and second valves are open in a second state.

Abstract: Ink cartridge 70 is attached to cartridge holder 62 of printing apparatus 20 by being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction R until it is touching locating member. Ink cartridge 70 includes a plurality of low voltage circuit terminals 111-113 and a plurality of high voltage circuit terminals 114, 115 on body 71. Low voltage circuit terminals 111-113 are arranged so as to form row A2 orthogonal to insertion direction R. High voltage circuit terminals 114, 115 are arranged so as to form row B2 orthogonal to insertion direction R. Row B2 is arranged further towards the insertion direction R side than row A2.

Abstract: System and methods for heating and transporting liquefied solid ink in an imaging device. The system includes an electroconductive tube that not only melts the solid ink, but also permits a control system to sense the ink temperature due to the tube's inherent properties. A controller operatively coupled to the electroconductive tube provides power to the tube, which in turn enables current flow. The flow of current resistively heats the electroconductive tube, thereby heating and melting the ink. Further, the controller is configured to control the current flowing through the tube.

Abstract: An ink level sensing device and associated method. The ink level sensing device includes a near infrared illumination source that emits near infrared light, and a container configured to accommodate a supply of ink containing light absorption material. The device further includes a protruding chamber adjacent to the container. The protruding chamber is configured to accommodate a portion of the supply of ink accommodated by the container. The device also includes a sensor that is configured to receive a signal based on an amount of the light that passes through the protruding chamber. The method includes emitting a light from a near infrared illumination source and directing the light toward a protruding chamber of the ink supply. The method further includes sensing an amount of the light that passes through the protruding chamber in the ink supply.

Abstract: A printhead provides selective heating to a supply of molten ink within an ink flow channel. The printhead is adapted to be in electrical communication with a controller and programmed to determine ink required by a print job. Based on the determined ink required by the print job, the controller accordingly provides selective heating to the printhead. The printhead includes an ink inlet, a nozzle in fluid communication with the ink inlet, and an ink flow channel having a length and extending between the ink inlet and the nozzle. A molten ink supply from a solid ink supply retaining device is received by the ink inlet and ejected from the nozzle on a print medium. A plurality of heating zones is also disposed along the length and adjacent to the ink flow channel to provide heating to the molten ink supply adjacent to each of the plurality of heating zones.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system controls an ink droplet mass by regulating a pressure in an ink reservoir. The printing system includes an ink reservoir, an air pressure device, an ink ejection device, and a controller. The ink reservoir is configured to contain a supply of ink and an air space above the supply of ink. The air pressure device is fluidly coupled to the air space above the supply of ink. The ink ejection device is fluidly coupled to the ink reservoir to receive ink from the supply of ink and to eject ink droplets onto an image receiving surface. The controller is coupled to the air pressure device and is configured to activate the air pressure device selectively to change a mass of the ink droplets ejected by the ink ejection device.

Abstract: Even if an error occurred in a result of the detection by an optical detecting mechanism for optically detecting whether or not a remaining amount of ink in an ink tank is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, a correct situation of the remaining ink amount in the ink tank can be detected. A detecting method has a first discriminating step of discriminating whether or not a remaining ink amount in the ink tank is equal to or less than a predetermined amount by using an optical sensor and a second discriminating step of discriminating whether or not the remaining ink amount in the ink tank is equal to or less than the predetermined amount on the basis of information regarding an amount of ink consumed in the ink tank. If the absence of ink is determined in either the first or second discriminating step, information showing the absence of ink is notified.

Abstract: A handheld mobile communications device includes a chassis; mobile communications circuitry and components mounted on the chassis; a printer apparatus mounted on the chassis, the printer apparatus having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply module arranged on the printhead; and a print media feed mechanism mounted on the chassis to feed print media through the printer apparatus. The ink supply module is a molded multi-part structure defining a plurality of converging ink flow paths. The printer apparatus is detachable from the chassis for replacement after a predetermined amount of usage.

Abstract: A method of controlling a liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes: a pressure detecting step of detecting whether the pressure inside a functional liquid tank is below a lower-limit pressure of a working pressure or not; a step of confirming, when the pressure inside the functional liquid tank is below the lower-limit pressure, whether a functional liquid droplet ejection head is in imaging operation or not; and a pressurization control step of, upon confirmation that the functional liquid droplet ejection head is not in imaging operation, pressurizing the functional liquid tank to an upper-limit pressure of the working pressure.

Abstract: A method for recording an image based on image data in a recording region of a recording medium being transported in a predetermined transportation direction includes forming a first reference mark in a recordable region, including the recording region, of the recording medium using a first colored liquid containing a colorant; supplying an uncolored liquid containing no colorant uniformly over the entire recordable region of the recording medium; forming a second reference mark in the recordable region of the recording medium using a second colored liquid containing a colorant; detecting the amount of misalignment between the first reference mark and the second reference mark; calculating the total amount, excluding the content of the colorant, of first colored liquid to be used to record the image based on the image data on the recording medium for each unit area of the recording region of the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink cartridge configured to hold an ink includes a substantially hollow body including an inner space and a substantially continuous inner wall. An optical prism in the inner space is disposed at a predetermined distance from the continuous inner wall such that an ink pocket is defined by a prism wall and the continuous inner wall. The prism includes at least one reflection site formed at an angle configured to reflect light from a light source through the prism at a predetermined height relative to a bottom of the body. If ink is present in the ink pocket at a level below at least a portion of the reflection site, the ink does not block the light reflected off of the portion of the reflection site from traveling across the ink pocket at the predetermined height, such that the reflected light is externally detectable by electronic means.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a plurality of ink cartridges each supplying ink; an image processor generates print data for each ink based on input print data; a buffer which stores the print data generated by the image processor for each ink; a print head for discharging the ink supplied from each ink cartridge from a nozzle group for each ink based on the print data for each ink stored in the buffer; and a supply line that supplies print data from the buffer to the print head.

Abstract: Automatically determining the cost of a printed job on a digital printing press before the job is run. A job control component in the digital front end of the printing press collects and stores the processing information from the job processing components from prior runs. A job-reporting component displays the stored and estimated processing information and automatically computes and displays the estimated cost of the job. The method includes determining a future toner cost using a toner cost, a future press usage cost, and a substrate cost based on historical toner consumption and then rasterizing the job to determine the total job cost.

Abstract: A remaining amount of liquid contained in each of a plurality of cartridges is detected. When a small remaining amount is detected, information relating to the cartridge with the small remaining amount is transmitted. A substitute cartridge is determined based on the transmitted information, and liquid ejection data for the substitute cartridge is generated. An expected consumption amount of liquid contained in the substitute cartridge is calculated based on the liquid ejection data. A difference between the remaining amounts of liquid in the cartridge with the small remaining amount and in the substitute cartridge is calculated based on the expected consumption amount and information relating to the remaining amount of liquid. It is determined whether the calculated difference is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A custom color printhead module comprises a mixing reservoir having a first opening and a second opening each configured to receive a first colored ink and a second colored ink and to mix the ink in the reservoir to form a custom colored ink. A first and a second reservoir supply valve are connected to the first and second opening, respectively, to open and close the first and second openings to enable and disable a flow of a first colored ink and a second colored ink into the mixing reservoir. A printhead is connected to the mixing reservoir to receive the custom colored ink from the mixing reservoir. A housing is configured to support the mixing reservoir and the printhead and configured for connection and removal from an imaging device.

Abstract: A coating system comprises a high gloss coating ink supply source, and a low gloss coating ink supply source. The system includes a coating module configured to receive the high gloss coating ink and the low gloss coating ink. The coating module includes a first group of nozzles configured to emit the high gloss coating ink, and a second group of nozzles configured to emit the low gloss coating ink. The coating module includes a mixing reservoir configured to receive the high gloss coating ink and the low gloss coating ink and to commingle the high gloss coating ink and the low gloss coating ink to form an intermediate gloss coating ink. The coating module includes a third group of inkjet nozzles configured to emit the intermediate gloss coating ink.

Abstract: There is disclosed a solid semiconductor element which very efficiently detects information about a liquid and bidirectionally exchanges the information with the outside. The solid semiconductor element is disposed in a liquid container, and includes at least energy converting unit, information acquiring unit, and information communicating unit. The energy converting unit converts an electromotive force from the outside to a power, and operates the information acquiring unit and information communicating unit. The information acquiring unit acquires the information about the liquid in which the solid semiconductor element is disposed from the liquid, and the information communicating unit transmits the information acquired by the information acquiring unit to the outside.

Abstract: A remaining amount detecting step is performed by a first controller, in which a remaining amount of a liquid contained is detected for each of a plurality of cartridges containing the liquid to be ejected from nozzles. An information transmitting step is performed by the first controller, in which when the remaining amount of the liquid in at least one of the cartridges is detected to be equal to or lower than a predetermined amount, information relating to a cartridge with a small remaining amount is transmitted, the cartridge with the small remaining amount corresponding to the at least one of the cartridges.

Abstract: An ink cartridge filled with an ink added with an infrared absorption material with a function of absorbing an infrared ray to distinguish the ink from another ink of a same color, the ink cartridge used in a loaded state where the ink cartridge is loaded into a printing apparatus for performing printing, the ink cartridge includes an ink supplying system including a storage portion for storing the ink, an outlet for supplying the ink to the printing apparatus in the loaded state, and a flow path for guiding the ink from the storage portion to the outlet, a light emitter, a sensor including a light receiver disposed in opposition to the light emitter with the ink supplying system intervened therebetween, the light receiver for receiving transmitted light resulting from transmission of emitted light from the light emitter through the ink supplying system, and an ink cartridge-side terminal electrically connected to the sensor, coming in contact with an apparatus-side terminal provided to the printing apparatus

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for adjusting a skew angle of an LED array in the second of dual/tandem print engine systems to compensate for shrinkage of the printable medium exiting the first print engine. Features and aspects hereof provide for manually and/or automatically measuring the shrinkage of the printable medium as it exits the first print engine and for automatically and/or manually adjusting the skew angle of the mounting of the LED array in the second print engine. The image data applied through the LED to the corresponding photoconductor of the second print engine is similarly skewed to match the skew angle of the LED array. Thus a substantially normal bitmap image is applied through the skewed LED to the photoconductor of the second print engine shrunk in the width dimension. Visual artifacts and anomalies from the mathematical approximations and rounding are visually imperceptible at sufficiently high resolutions.

Abstract: In a droplet ejecting apparatus, a detection pattern output unit drives a droplet ejecting head based on a pulse signal and image information of a detection pattern comprising plural unit patterns so as to form an image of the detection pattern on a recording medium. A correction information generating unit derives a distance between adjacent unit patterns based on the image of a read detection pattern, compares the distance with a distance according to the conveyance velocity of the recording medium by a moving unit, and generates correction information so as to enlarge the pulse width when the derived distance is shorter, and to reduce the pulse width when the derived distance is longer.

Abstract: An ink refilling device including a supply portion to be connected to an ink cartridge and supply ink, an ink tank, a first connecting tube having one end connected to the ink tank, a three-way switching valve including an input end connected to the other end of the first connecting tube, a first output end and a second output end, and adapted to switch between a first flow path from the input end to the first output end and a second flow path from the input end to the second output end, a second connecting tube having one end connected to the first output end and the other end connected to the supply portion, a third connecting tube having one end connected to the second output end and the other end connected to the ink tank, and a feed pump provided along the first connecting tube to feed the ink.

Abstract: There are provided a method of detecting an ink residual quantity and a printing device which do not make an erroneous determination as to detection on presence/absence of ink without influence of ink mist generated in the middle of using a printing device on calibration of an optical sensor. Therefore, by performing allotment processing based upon ink tank memory element information, calibration of an optical sensor using a reflection portion equipped in the ink tank, in a state where it is determined that the ink is left in the ink tank.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a housing; a recording head which ejects droplets of one or more sorts of inks; a carriage which is provided in the housing and which carries the recording head and reciprocates in opposite directions; one or more ink supply tubes which are connected, at respective one ends thereof, to a tube connection portion of the carriage so as to supply the sorts of inks to the recording head, and is fixed, at respective fixed portions thereof, to the housing such that respective intermediate portions thereof located between the respective one ends thereof and the respective fixed portions thereof forms respective curved portions that are each convex in one of the opposite directions, wherein the ink supply tubes have respective flexibilities assuring that when the carriage reciprocates, the ink supply tubes follow reciprocation of the carriage while the respective curved portions thereof change respective shapes thereof; a pivotable support member which is supported by the housing

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a housing; a recording head which ejects droplets of ink; a carriage which is provided in the housing and which carries the recording head and reciprocates in opposite directions; an ink supply tube which is connected, at one end thereof, to a tube connection portion of the carriage so as to supply the ink to the recording head, and is fixed, at a fixed portion thereof, to the housing such that an intermediate portion thereof located between the one end thereof and the fixed portion thereof forms a curved portion convex in one of the opposite directions, wherein the ink supply tube has a flexibility assuring that when the carriage reciprocates, the ink supply tube follows reciprocation of the carriage while the curved portion thereof changes a shape thereof; a pivotable support member which is supported by the housing such that the support member is pivotable about a supporting point, wherein the support member includes an arm portion having a support portion that suppor