Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transporting section that transports a work, a printing mechanism section that has a nozzle plate that performs printing by discharging ink on the work, and a moving section that reciprocally and relatively moves the printing mechanism section in a direction intersecting the transporting direction of the work. In the printing apparatus, when the printing mechanism section moves reciprocally, printing in a forward path includes a first printing area, a second printing areas, and printing in a backward path includes a first printing area, and second printing areas. In addition, the transportation amount of the work is adjusted based on the second printing areas.

Abstract: A method to increase the print quality of a printer can include determining sensor data corresponding to a print image printed by a print head of the at least one print head of the printer onto the recording medium; determining, based on the sensor data, undulation information corresponding to unevenness of the recording medium, a distance between the one or more nozzles of the print head of the printer and the recording medium varying due to the unevenness; and printing, based on the undulation information, a subsequent print image with the print head of the printer. The printer can include at least one print head including one or more nozzles that are configured to fire ink droplets onto a recording medium to generate a print image on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance.

Abstract: A system for printing on a multi-dimensional object includes a plurality of print heads, and a printing chase configured to receive an object holder for an object and provide accurate registration of the object. The system further includes an actuator configured to move the printing chase relative to the print heads. The system is configured to receive information corresponding to an object holder mounted on the printing chase, determine a position of at least one printable area using the retrieved information, receive information relating to print data to be printed on the at least one printable area, use the determined position of the at least one printable area to control a movement of the printing chase relative to the print heads, and operate the print heads to eject marking material onto the at least one printable area to print data on the at least one printable area.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a center frame that supports a recorder which performs recording on a medium; and at least two side frames positioned with the center frame interposed therebetween. The two side frames include: a first sub-frame to which both of a first feeder and a second feeder that feed a medium are mountable, the second feeder differing from the first feeder in the position from which to feed a medium; and a second sub-frame to which one of the first feeder and the second feeder is mountable. The second sub-frame includes a support portion that supports a power transmission unit which transmits drive power from a motor to the first feeder or the second feeder, the motor being a drive source necessary to feed a medium.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for depositing a substance onto an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of directly printing on three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed thereby or having a substance deposited thereon. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve creating a re-circulating relative motion between at least one article and a substance deposition device. In some embodiments, the articles can be conveyed in a closed loop path past one or more substance deposition devices. The articles can be conveyed past the substance deposition device(s) one or more times, and during each pass by the substance deposition device(s), a portion of a predetermined pattern may be applied to the articles by the substance deposition device(s).

Abstract: The printing apparatus is provided with a transport mechanism section that transports work, a printing mechanism section that has nozzles, which carry out printing by discharging an ink, as liquid droplets, onto the work transported by the transport mechanism section, and an adjustment section that adjusts a volume per single droplet of the ink discharged from the nozzles on the basis of a separation distance between the nozzles and the work, which is positioned directly below the nozzles.

Abstract: A printing assembly has a frame having two side walls and has at least one cross member which extends at least in a transverse direction between the side walls and which has at least one supporting body which can be moved in relation to the frame in at least one parking direction and which extends at least in the transverse direction. At least one printing head is arranged on the supporting body and can be moved jointly with the supporting body. At least one first contact point, which is arranged on the supporting body, and at least one second contact point, which is arranged on the cross member, form a first contact-point pair. The first contact points lie opposite each other in the parking direction and are one of in contact and can be brought into contact with each other. At least one third contact point, which is arranged on the supporting body, and at least one fourth contact point, which is arranged on the cross member, form a second contact-point pair.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus is described, which includes a platen locating the print medium, at least one printhead for marking on the print medium, a carriage holding the at least one printhead, a sensor at least partially mounted to the carriage to measure a printhead-to-platen spacing (PPS) along scanning axis during scanning, and an integrated circuit including a dynamic compensation module and a PPS analysis module to delay firing of printing fluid drops from the at least one printhead to compensate platen defects based on the measured PPS.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a base; a thermal head; a first motor; a second motor; a head holding member holding the thermal head; a first pivoting member and a second pivoting member pivotally supported by the base; a guide rail extending in a second direction and connected to a first end of the first pivoting member on a first side in a first direction and to a second end of the second pivoting member on the first side in the first direction; a head pressing member which is in contact with the guide rail to be slidable in the second direction and facing the thermal head from a first side in a third direction; and a movement mechanism configured to move the head holding member in the second direction through driving of the second motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printer that forms dots on a recording medium using a recording head that discharges an ink, as liquid droplets, from a nozzle formation surface, in which a nozzle opening is formed, as a result of deforming a meniscus of the ink in the nozzle using a piezoelectric element. The printer includes a liquid-repellent film that covers the nozzle formation surface, and a wiping process that wipes away a stain on the nozzle formation surface. The printer forms dots on the recording medium using a first liquid droplet discharging operation that discharges ink, which is separated from a wall surface of the nozzle and disposed on an inner side of the nozzle, as liquid droplets.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a carriage that has a recording head which performs recording on a medium; and a gap adjusting unit that causes the carriage to shift in a direction in which a gap between a medium and the recording head changes depending on rotation of a cam. In a state in which the carriage is positioned at an end portion in a moving range in the first direction, at least a part of the carriage and at least a part of the cam overlap in a moving direction of the carriage. In the state in which the carriage is positioned at the end portion in the moving range in the first direction, the cam does not project with respect to the carriage in the first direction.

Abstract: A process of producing printed decorations includes providing a gumpaste mixture, creating a plurality of blanks from the mixture, arranging the plurality of blanks onto a platen of a printer, printing a pattern on the plurality of blanks, after the printing, removing the plurality of blanks from the platen, and forming each blank of the plurality of blanks into a shape of a decoration.

Abstract: A printing assembly has print heads, by the use of which, application locations for printing fluid are specified. A transport path through the printing assembly, and provided for print stock, is specified by at least two guide elements. One printing section of the transport path begins at a first application location and ends at a last application location. The application locations are arranged on that transport path having specifying guide elements, each having a pivot angle, and pivoting, in a pivoting manner, about at least one pivot axis, common thereto, which pivot angle equals at least 10°. A main conveying direction is specified by a linear connection between a first guide element based on the print section and a last guide element based on the print section. The main conveying direction is arranged, having guide elements arranged in the maintenance position thereof, under an angle of 30°, at maximum, to a vertical direction.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus is provided. The ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a plurality of rollers that convey a sheet in a conveyance direction; a platen; a recording unit; a plurality of first ribs provided in the platen; and a plurality of second ribs provided between the first ribs and the rollers in the conveyance direction. The plurality of rollers, the plurality of first ribs, and the plurality of second ribs are each disposed in a position where at least parts of them overlap in the width direction, and a length in the width direction of each of the supporting surfaces of the plurality of second ribs is longer than that in the width direction of each of the supporting surfaces of the plurality of first ribs, and is shorter than that in the width direction of an abutting surface on the sheet in each of the plurality of rollers.

Abstract: A system for detecting friction between an object, that is being printed in a printer, and a print head moving relative to the object, comprising: an acoustic sensor system arranged to detect an acoustic noise signal generated by the printer; a recording system arranged to record the noise signal while the print head moves relative to the object; and an electronic processing system arranged to detect, in the recorded noise signal, correlated with the reciprocating movement of the printhead over the printed object, a signature that is characteristic of an event of friction between the print head and the object.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a mark detector which detects a mark that is formed on a recording medium and has a width in a first direction in a detection region thereof, and is supported to be rotatable around a rotation shaft that is parallel to a second direction intersecting with the first direction; a driving portion which drives the mark detector in the first direction; an angle determination portion which determines a rotation angle of the mark detector that considers the rotation shaft as a center; and a control portion which matches positions of the detection region and the mark in the first direction by adjusting a position of the mark detector in the first direction by the driving portion based on the rotation angle of the mark detector which is determined by the angle determination portion.

Abstract: To more appropriately carry out printing at high precision even when a gap distance is large. A printing apparatus includes an inkjet head, a main scan driver, and a controller, where the controller sets a moving speed of the inkjet head according to a gap distance, and sets the moving speed in a main scanning operation so that an entering angle at a time of landing of the ink droplet on a medium becomes smaller than or equal to 45 degrees with respect to at least a position where the gap distance becomes the largest in a region of the medium to become a target of the main scanning operation.

Abstract: An inkjet printer including a feeding device configured to feed a sheet in a feeding direction, a platen configured to support the sheet, a recording device configured to eject ink on the sheet, contacting members configured to contact the sheet, a detector configured to detect an end portion position of the sheet in a width direction, and a controller configured to control the feeding device and the recording device is provided. The contacting members are arranged at intervals in the width direction, and the controller performs a suppression process in which at least one of the feeding device and the recording device is controlled to suppress a contact of the sheet with the recording device when the end portion position detected by the detector is a position between the two adjacent contacting members.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: an apparatus main body; a plurality of liquid ejecting heads that have a nozzle-formed surface; a unit base to which the plurality of liquid ejecting heads are fixed; a lifter that is fixed to the apparatus main body and causes a position of the nozzle-formed surface to move with respect to the apparatus main body; and a non-contact sensor unit that is provided in the apparatus main body and the unit base and identifies a position of the nozzle-formed surface with respect to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A controller, upon remaining sheets existing in both a print conveyer and a lower conveyer and a sheet size of the sheets being equal to or larger than a specified size upon occurrence of a sheet jam: control an elevator to maintain the print conveyer at a print position, determine to position the print conveyer at a lower limit position in response to removal of the remaining sheet from the lower conveyer, and then drive the elevator to move the print conveyer to the lower limit position; or drive the elevator to move the print conveyer to the lower limit position, determine to position the print conveyer at the print position in response to removal of the remaining sheet from the lower conveyer, and then drive the elevator to move the print conveyer to the print position.

Abstract: A method for avoiding collisions in a digital inkjet printing machine, a method and a device for actuator-based lifting movement of inkjet heads. A sensor/camera monitors the sheets as they travel towards the inkjet heads. In order to avoid collisions, the inkjet heads are raised and lowered again individually and in an oscillation-optimized manner when a defective sheet is detected. The machine does not need to be stopped in the event of defective sheets. Advantageously, rejects can thus be reduced and the performance of the machine can be exploited better.

Abstract: A conveyor includes: a first roller; a second roller opposed to the first roller; a roller holder including a roller supporter; a frame supporting the roller holder and having a first surface and second surface; and a moving member that is moved to move the roller supporter. The roller holder includes: a contact portion that is located upstream of the roller supporter in a conveying direction and contacts the second surface; a thin portion disposed between the roller supporter and the contact portion; and an engaging portion engaged with the moving member at a position located downstream of the thin portion in the conveying direction. The roller supporter is moved from a first position to a second position by bending of the thin portion, which bending is caused when the engaging portion is moved away from the second roller with movement of the moving member.

Abstract: A controller drives a conveyer to start to convey a sheet of continuous paper and accelerates the sheet to a printing conveyance speed, and drives an inkjet head to start to perform a printing while driving the conveyer to convey the sheet at the printing conveyance speed. The controller drives a tension adjuster to adjust a tension of the sheet such that the tension of the sheet during acceleration after start of conveyance of the sheet is smaller than the tension of the sheet during the printing, and drives the head gap adjuster to adjust a head gap between the inkjet head and the sheet such that a first head gap during the acceleration of the sheet is greater than a second head gap during the printing.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus is provided that comprises a printing section, a belt-type medium conveyance section, a support section, and a gap adjustment section. The printing section has an inkjet head and performs printing on a recording medium. The medium conveyance section conveys the recording medium. The support section supports the medium conveyance section. The gap adjustment section has first and second adjustment sections that are placed across the medium conveyance section, an input section that operates the first adjustment section, and an interlock section that interlocks the first adjustment section and the second adjustment section. The first and second adjustment sections are movable in parallel to an adjustment direction to move the printing section in the adjustment direction and adjust a gap between the inkjet head and the medium conveyance section in the adjustment direction.

Abstract: An examination is performed of whether or not a bank having a defect portion is present. When a bank having a defect portion is present, the bank having the defect portion is repaired by forming a dam in each of adjacent concave spaces between which the bank having the defect portion is located. A dam formed in a concave space partitioning the concave space into a first space in a vicinity of the defect portion and a second space outside the vicinity of the defect portion.

Abstract: A printer has a platen top unit fastened above the platen unit. The platen top unit is separate from the platen unit, and has first star wheels and second star wheels disposed on parallel horizontal frame members extending perpendicularly to the media conveyance direction above the platen surface. The first star wheels and second star wheels prevent the continuous paper conveyed over the platen surface from lifting away from the platen surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method using a non contact Z height laser scan sensor to measure/detect an object surface containing extruded shapes with different Z axis elevation heights to determine the position where to precisely inkjet print outline contours, legends, logo images, or solid fill with materials. The apparatus consist of a printing carriage, a supporting beam, a printing platen for the object to be placed and a control system. The said printing carriage is installed with print heads and a laser Z height scan sensor. The object with uneven Z height surface elevation features to be printed is placed on the printing platen. The said printing carriage with the laser Z height scan sensor will scan across the object on the X and Y axis to detect the exact target positions of the uneven Z height surface elevation contours on the object.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus is provided with a liquid discharging section that discharges a liquid onto a medium, and a transport section that transports the medium, and a piezoelectric film sensor is provided in the liquid discharging section. Due to a liquid discharging apparatus having such a configuration, it is possible to suppress a circumstance in which at least one of the medium and the liquid discharging section become damaged due to contact between the medium and the liquid discharging section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording head, a recording head adjusting system, and a recording head adjusting method. A recording head includes: a head module having a recording surface; a support member that supports the head module; a first direction position adjusting unit that adjusts the first-direction position of the head module; a rotation direction adjusting unit that adjusts the angular deviation of the rotation direction; and a position detection unit that detects the first-direction position of the head module that is used when performing adjustment by the first direction position adjusting unit and the rotation direction adjusting unit. The rotation direction adjusting unit includes a rotation support mechanism for rotatably supporting the head module within the plane parallel to the recording surface and a second direction moving mechanism for moving the adjustment position of the head module in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A printer includes a controller configured to, when determining that print data of a next page is stored in a storage while a through-up printing process or a constant-speed printing process is in execution, perform a nonstop printing process, when a first distance between a cut position and a cut target portion closest to the cut position becomes coincident with a second distance over which a print medium is conveyed while a conveyance speed is decelerated at a particular deceleration from a current speed to zero, during the execution of the nonstop printing process, perform a through-down printing process until conveyance of the print medium is stopped, and when conveyance of the print medium is stopped, control a cutter to cut the cut target portion in the cut position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a carriage that retains a discharge section that discharges liquid droplets (ink) onto a medium; a frame; a guide shaft; a guide rail that support the carriage in a manner that permits it reciprocating movement; a housing that supports the frame; a detection section that detects a relative positional relationship between the frame and the housing; and a control section. On the basis of the detection results of the detection section, the control section executes a warning process, which displays a warning on a display section, if the positional relationship changes, and does not execute the warning process if the positional relationship does not change.

Abstract: An ejector is caused to eject a liquid such that first patterns are formed in a first direction on a medium while the ejector is moved outward, second patterns are formed in one-to-one correspondence with the first patterns with different first amounts of interval in the first direction from the first patterns while the ejector is moved backward, and a third pattern is formed in an end region that is at least a part of an end of the first patterns in the second direction and at least a part of an end of the second patterns in the second direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an image onto a curved surface of a three dimensional article. The apparatus principally includes a support fixture, an ink jet print head having a plurality of nozzles, and an articulatable robotic arm. One of the support fixture and the print head are mounted to and carried by the robotic arm. The robotic arm is moveable so as to cause relative movement of the print head along a series of scanning paths that follow the surface contour of the curved surface of the article. A controller is coupled to the robotic arm and is configured to cause articulation of the robotic arm. The controller causes the robotic arm to continuously locate the print head relative to the curved surface and to cause the plurality of nozzles to eject printing medium at predetermined locations along the scanning paths so as to form the image.

Abstract: A printing device (1) is provided with: a can body conveying mechanism (100) for sequentially conveying can bodies (10); and a can body moving mechanism (200) for moving the can body (10) while forming an image onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10) conveyed by the can body conveying mechanism (100). The can body moving mechanism (200) is provided with a rotating member (210) formed in a disc shape and rotating in a clockwise direction in the drawing. The can body moving mechanism (200) is also provided with plural image forming units (220) provided on the rotating member (210) and forming an image onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10) while moving the can body (10). The image forming units (220) are each provided with plural ink ejection devices for ejecting ink onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10). This provides an image forming device capable of increasing the number of can bodies on each of which an image can be formed per unit time.

Abstract: A method of printing on a mixed sequence of media sheets uses a printer with a print head that is adjustable in height relative to a print surface that supports the media sheets. The media sheets differ in their specifications that define an admissible range for the height of the print head. The method includes the steps of retrieving admissible height ranges for a plurality of media sheets that are scheduled for printing, searching for a height value that is contained in the admissible range of all scheduled sheets, if such a height value is found, adjusting the print head to that height value, and if such height value is not found, proceeding to a problem handling routine.

Abstract: To provide an inkjet recording apparatus in a simple configuration that can accurately adjust a gap between a nozzle surface of an inkjet head and a recording medium placed on a feed route with simple operations, it is provided with a printing section having an inkjet head and performing printing on a recording medium, an apparatus main body having a pair of side frames that supports the printing section so as to stand the inkjet head face to face with the recording medium and a medium feed mechanism that feeds the recording medium along a feed route, and a gap adjustment section moving the printing section in parallel with respect to the pair of side frames in a separate direction and adjusting a gap between the nozzle surface of the inkjet head and the recording medium placed on the feed route.

Abstract: A printer including a print head, a transport belt, and a spacer. The print head may include a plurality of jets configured to eject ink. The transport belt may be positioned below the print head. The spacer may be positioned above the transport belt. The spacer may include a first surface, and a distance between a portion of the first surface and the transport belt may decrease moving in the direction that the transport belt moves.

Abstract: A method for applying an aerodynamically functional coating to an exterior surface is provided. The method includes preparing an uncoated substrate surface to obtain a prepared substrate surface; applying a primer on the prepared substrate surface to obtain a primed substrate surface with a primer layer; applying and curing a basecoat field color to obtain a basecoat field color layer; masking for a basecoat design color on the basecoat field color layer; applying and curing the basecoat design color to obtain a first basecoat design color layer; masking for, applying, and curing any subsequent basecoat design color layers on the basecoat field color layer; applying and curing a clearcoat to obtain a first clearcoat layer; mechanically aero-contouring a plurality of coating edges to obtain an aero-contoured surface; and, applying additional clearcoat to obtain one or more additional clearcoat layers.

Abstract: A method is provided that is implemented on a control device connected with an inkjet printer, which includes an inkjet head having an ink discharging surface, a head scanning unit reciprocating the inkjet head relative to a recording sheet along a scanning direction parallel to the ink discharging surface, and a wave shape generating mechanism deforming the recording sheet in a predetermined wave shape that has tops of portions protruding in a first direction toward the ink discharging surface and bottoms of portions recessed in a second direction opposite to the first direction alternately arranged along the scanning direction, the method including acquiring gap information related to a gap between the ink discharging surface and each individual one of the tops and the bottoms on the recording sheet, and determining whether the gap information acquired for each individual one of the tops and the bottoms is abnormal.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a liquid ejecting head having an ejection surface; a platen; a capping mechanism including: a first member opposed to the ejection surface with the platen interposed therebetween when image recording is performed; and a second member disposed around the head so as to cooperate with the first member to hermetically close an ejection space; a distance adjusting mechanism for adjusting a distance between the ejection surface and the first member; a platen moving mechanism for moving the platen between the facing position and a non-facing position at which the platen does not face the ejection surface; and a controller configured to control the platen moving mechanism such that the platen is located at the non-facing position and controls the distance adjusting mechanism such that the distance is equal to a members-abuttable distance that allows the second and first members to abut on each other.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a carriage configured to perform scanning and to detachably hold a recording head for performing recording on a recording material, a fixation member configured to fix the recording head to the carriage, a moving member arranged to be movable in a moving direction parallel to a conveyance direction of the recording material and configured to move to a first position to cause the fixation member to press-contact the recording head and to a second position to cause the fixation member to retract from the recording head, and a guide portion provided on the moving member and configured to guide the recording head when the recording head is being attached to the carriage.

Abstract: The present invention preferentially sets an adjustment value of a nozzle array having a deviation amount in a conveyance direction which exceeds a threshold amount, and sets the adjustment value in such a manner that the total of deviation amounts of a plurality of nozzle arrays can be minimized.

Abstract: A serial inkjet printer includes a recording head having a plurality of nozzles between which a pitch is X inches, a carriage, a first roller pair, and a second roller pair. The first roller pair is configured to move a medium at an upstream side of a conveyance direction of the medium relative to the recording head, and includes a drive roller with a hollow structure and a driven roller. A circumferential length Y of the drive roller is 2 to 4 inches. When a length along the conveyance direction of a row formed by the nozzles is Z inches, Y is greater than Z. While repeating scanning of the recording head and conveying of the medium, recording is performed in band units at a printing speed of 20 to 30 ipm, and stop error precision of the medium during conveyance is X/2 inches or less.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to assemblies, kits and methods for alignment of inkjet print heads. More particularly, the disclosure relates to assemblies, kits and methods facilitating the alignment of inkjet printheads by selectably modulating the printheads' phase, registration, and yaw relative to the printing direction and optionally, with respect to an additional printhead or printheads.

Abstract: Printer head shuttles configured to control contact pressure of one or more printer head assemblies against a printing substrate and an underlying platen during a printer operation are shown and described. The printer head shuttles include a shuttle guide and a shuttle main body having one or more printer head assemblies. Each printer head assembly includes an axel attached to the shuttle main body, an assembly main body pivotably attached to the axel, a mounting plate attached to the assembly main body, a printer head attached to the mounting plate, and a drive mechanism for pivoting the head assembly between a substrate compressing position and a substrate non-compressing position.

Abstract: In one example, a media guide for use with a print bar includes a plate suspended over the print bar to guide a leading edge of print media away from printheads on the print bar during printing when the print bar is installed in a printer.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided that is configured to store a plurality of pieces of gap information respectively corresponding to a plurality of examined sections discretely arranged along a head moving direction on a recording sheet, each of the plurality of examined sections including a corresponding one portion of top portions and bottom portions on the recording sheet, and calculate interpolation gap information to be interpolated over a whole width in the head moving direction of at least one of a plurality of segments, each of which has a width in the head moving direction defined by two adjacent sections of the plurality of examined sections, based on the stored gap information.

Abstract: Gas bearing systems, print gap control systems, and methods of print gap control are provided. The gas bearing systems can accommodate one or more print module packages. The systems and methods can be used for inkjet and/or thermal printing applications such as manufacturing organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). Gas bearing systems can employ one or more of pressurized gas and vacuum. For oxygen-sensitive applications, an inert gas, such as nitrogen gas, can be employed as the pressurized gas. Fluid channels and apertures of the gas bearing systems can be varied in terms of size and relative position to one another. Fluid channels and apertures can be grouped and paired with one or more manifolds and ultimately a pressurized gas and/or vacuum source.

Abstract: To provide an inkjet recording apparatus in a simple configuration that can accurately adjust a gap between a nozzle surface of an inkjet head and a recording medium placed on a feed route with simple operations, it is provided with a printing section having an inkjet head and performing printing on a recording medium, an apparatus main body having a pair of side frames that supports the printing section so as to stand the inkjet head face to face with the recording medium and a medium feed mechanism that feeds the recording medium along a feed route, and a gap adjustment section moving the printing section in parallel with respect to the pair of side frames in a separate direction and adjusting a gap between the nozzle surface of the inkjet head and the recording medium placed on the feed route.