Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080204502 | Method of measuring landed dot, measuring apparatus for landed dot, liquid droplet ejection apparatus, method of manufacturing electro-optic apparatus, electro-optic apparatus, and electronic apparatus - A landed dot measuring method in which a topology measuring apparatus having an interferometer measures topology of a landed dot which is a functional liquid droplet landed on an inspection sheet when an inspection ejection for a functional liquid droplet ejection head is performed including: inspection-ejecting in which multiple ejection nozzles of a functional liquid droplet ejection head inspection-eject one by one at a time interval while the functional liquid droplet ejection head is moved in a main scanning direction relatively with respect to the inspection sheet and; and measuring in which respective topologies of multiple landed dots are measured while the topology measuring apparatus follows the functional liquid droplet ejection head and moves in the main scanning direction at a same speed as the functional liquid droplet ejection head relatively with respect to the inspection sheet. | 08-28-2008 |
20080211852 | Recording medium, print control device, printing system, and computer readable medium - A recording medium on which a test image testing an operation to a plurality of liquid droplet ejecting elements arrayed in a liquid droplet ejecting head is drawn, the test image comprising a straight line set having a predetermined number of straight lines which are evenly spaced from each other, and being drawn parallel to each other in a predetermined direction, each of the straight lines having start points and end points which are disposed thereon, and the test image having ratio of width of each of the straight lines to interval between the straight lines adjacent to each other, the ratio satisfying the following formula (1): | 09-04-2008 |
20080211853 | Inkjet Recording Apparatus - The inkjet recording apparatus comprises: a head which ejects ink droplets of light-curable ink to a print medium to form an image on the print medium; a light irradiating device which is located at a downstream side of the head, and irradiates light from a light source onto the ink droplets immediately after the ink droplets have been deposited on the print medium; and a control device which controls the light irradiating device in such a manner that luminous energy irradiated onto a region of the print medium where bleeding of the ink droplets would be conspicuous is greater than luminous energy irradiated onto another region of the print medium. | 09-04-2008 |
20080211854 | PRINTING POSITION ADJUSTING METHOD AND PRINTING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a printing position adjusting method capable of performing dot adjustment value acquisition processing that can accommodate diversified user needs of recent years, and a printing system capable of achieving the adjusting method. The printing position adjusting method according to the present invention provides a plurality of types of dot adjustment value acquisition processing capable of acquiring an adjustment value for matching printing positions, and enables selection of a single appropriate dot adjustment value acquisition processing type among the plurality of types of dot adjustment value acquisition processing according to the type of the print medium to be used. Consequently, a user will be able to suitably execute dot adjustment value acquisition processing with high accuracy in correspondence with the desired high level of quality. | 09-04-2008 |
20080218550 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - An inkjet recording apparatus which discharges ink onto a recording medium to form an image, the inkjet recording apparatus including: a recording head having a nozzle for discharging ink; a conveying belt for supporting a recording medium and conveying the recording medium to a position facing the nozzle; a cleaning roller for cleaning the conveying belt; a cleaning liquid storage section for storing cleaning liquid to be applied to the cleaning roller; a contamination detector for detecting a density of contamination of the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid storage section; a liquid supplying section for controlling supply of cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid storage section in accordance with a density of contamination detected by the contamination detector; and a liquid draining section for draining at least a part of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid storage section. | 09-11-2008 |
20080225072 | Calibration of drop detector and acquisition of drop detect data for nozzles of fluid-ejection mechanisms - A drop detector is calibrated to determine a location of a detection zone thereof relative to a carriage and to each of one or more fluid-ejection mechanisms disposed within the carriage. Drop detect data is acquired for nozzles of each mechanism by indexing the carriage in relation to the detection zone and attempting to eject fluid from the nozzles, based on the location of the detection zone relative to the carriage and to each mechanism. It is determined whether the drop detector remains properly calibrated, based on the drop detect data, and repeating the method at calibrating the drop detector where the drop detector is no longer properly calibrated. It is also determined which of the nozzles are properly ejecting fluid therefrom, based on the drop detect data, and attempting to recover the nozzles that are improperly ejecting fluid therefrom. | 09-18-2008 |
20080225073 | Printing apparatus and method utilizing a table - A printing apparatus including: an imaging mechanism; a drum for advancing media sheets past the imaging mechanism for printing; an encoder coupled to the drum; a controller coupled to the encoder; and, a memory coupled to the controller and containing controller executable code and at least one table including a plurality of data entries each indicative of one of a plurality of sequential drum positions and at least one associated action; wherein, the controller executable code, when executed by the controller, causes the controller, for each data entry in the table, to: communicate data indicative of the indicated drum position to the encoder; receive an indication that the drum has rotated to the communicated drum position; responsively to the received indication, initiate the indicated associated action; and communicate data indicative of another of the data entries' associated drum position to the encoder responsively to the received indication. | 09-18-2008 |
20080225074 | Method and Apparatus for Digital Printing with Preservation of the Alignment of Printed Dots Under Various Printing Conditions - A method and apparatus for printing dots on a printing medium, wherein the method includes the steps of printing a calibration test pattern, scanning the printed calibration test pattern, determining a spatial fire correction value for a number of print positions across the printing medium, based on the scanned calibration test pattern, and adjusting the fire position for each of these print positions. The method and apparatus may be used to preserve the alignment of the printed dots under various operating conditions of the printing process such as bidirectional printing, throw distance variations, multiple print head scan speeds, etc. | 09-18-2008 |
20080225075 | Image printing apparatus and method for calibrating image printing apparatus - The invention provides an image printing apparatus including: a printing unit that performs printing on a print target medium; a moving unit that can move in a predetermined main scan direction; an edge-detecting unit that is mounted on the moving unit and outputs, by utilizing photoelectric conversion, a voltage that changes across each edge of the print target medium; a position-detecting unit that detects the position of the moving unit; a reference stage that has one edge and another edge in such a manner that the reference stage has a predetermined reference width therebetween, the reference stage being formed in such a manner that the edge-detecting unit outputs a voltage that changes across each edge of the reference stage; and a calibrating unit that commands the moving unit to move in such a manner that the edge-detecting unit passes through each edge of the reference stage, commands the position-detecting unit to detect the position of the moving unit at a point at which a voltage outputted by the edge-detecting unit changes during the movement of the moving unit as each measured position, calculates a measured width on the basis of the measured positions, and calibrates the edge-detecting unit on the basis of the measured width and the reference width. | 09-18-2008 |
20080231651 | INK LEVEL DETECTING APPARATUS OF INK-JET IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An ink level detecting apparatus of an ink-jet image forming apparatus includes a switching part which is switched on and off by an input signal, an ink detecting part which is turned on and off according to a switching operation of the switching part to detect an ink level of ink in the ink-jet image forming apparatus, and a controller which checks a voltage between the ink and the ink detecting part before a saturation period of the ink detecting part in order to detect the ink level, based on whether the ink detecting part is turned on. | 09-25-2008 |
20080246796 | System for optically detecting and measuring release agent on a print drum in an ink jet printer - A system optically detects and measures release agent on a rotating image member in an ink jet printer. The system includes a collimated light source oriented to direct a collimated beam of light generated by the source towards a rotating image member, an image sensor for generating an image of a portion of the rotating image member from a portion of the collimated beam of light reflected by the rotating image member, an image differentiator for measuring a difference between a first image generated by the image sensor and a second image generated by the image sensor, and a release agent measurement generator that is coupled to the image differentiator to receive the difference between the two images and to generate a measurement of the release agent on the rotating image member. | 10-09-2008 |
20080252678 | Determining Drop Weight - Embodiments of determining drop weight are disclosed. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252679 | Ink Jet Device for the Controlled Positioning of Droplets of a Substance Onto a Substrate, Method for the Controlled Positioning of Droplets of a Substrate, and Use of an Ink Jet Device - The invention provides an ink jet device for the controlled positioning of droplets of a substance onto a substrate, the device comprising at least a print head with a nozzle designed to eject the droplet, the device further comprising at least one acoustic sensor arranged for detecting the landing of the droplet on the substrate. A feedback loop stops the printing process the moment the landing of a droplet is not detected within a predetermined delay time. | 10-16-2008 |
20080259112 | Printing device having supply of colorant that is non-refillable and at least substantially non-removable from end user perspective - A printing device includes a supply of colorant that is non-refillable from an end user perspective and that is at least substantially non-removable from the printing device from the end user perspective. The printing device also includes an inkjet printhead that forms images on media using the supply of colorant. | 10-23-2008 |
20080266348 | PRINTING APPARATUS - The present invention aims to obtain preferable correction values to correct the conveying error of a conveying roller in accordance with the size of a printing medium, even when the conveying error caused by the eccentricity of the roller varies from a point to another in the longitudinal direction of a roller, depending on the amount and the state of eccentricity of the roller. To achieve this object, correction values are acquired using the whole part of or only a part of plural test patterns formed in the longitudinal direction of the roller. The correction values thus acquired correspond to the respective zones where the test patterns are formed. | 10-30-2008 |
20080278533 | Method For Use In Achieving Velocity Optimization For A Printhead - A method for use with an imaging apparatus that mounts a printhead having a plurality of ink jetting actuators formed on a substrate that correspond to a plurality of ink jetting nozzles includes determining a resistance associated with the printhead; accessing a memory having stored therein a plurality of individually selectable fire pulse energy values; selecting a first fire pulse energy value of the plurality of individually selectable fire pulse energy values based on the resistance that was determined; and using the first fire pulse energy value for actuating at least one of the plurality of ink jetting actuators during a printing operation. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278534 | METHOD OF MEASURING VOLUMES OF INK DROPLETS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING NOZZLES OF INKJET HEAD USING THE METHOD - A method of measuring the volumes of ink droplets is provided that includes repeatedly forming print patterns each including a plurality of ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head, photographing ink droplets which correspond to each other in terms of ejection order among the ink droplets of the repeatedly formed print patterns and measuring the volumes of the photographed ink droplets. | 11-13-2008 |
20080291233 | TEST CIRCUITRY FOR A PRINTHEAD NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT - Provided is test circuitry for testing a thermal actuator of a printhead nozzle arrangement of a printhead. The circuitry includes an open actuator test input, a column enable input and a row enable input. A drive transistor operatively links said thermal actuator to a power supply, and a bleed transistor is arranged in parallel with the thermal actuator. The circuitry also includes a sense transistor operatively linking an output of the drive transistor and inputs of the thermal actuator and bleed transistor to a sensing node, as well as a controller configured to deactivate the bleed and sense transistors and to activate the drive transistor when the column enable and row enable inputs are activated to link the thermal actuator to the power supply, and to activate the bleed and sense transistors when the open actuator test input is activated, so that the thermal actuator is short-circuited and the sense node is pulled high if the thermal actuator is open-circuit. | 11-27-2008 |
20080297555 | ARRAY TYPE INKJET HEAD AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An array type inkjet head and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes providing a test head in which nozzle chips are mounted, printing ejection patterns on a printing medium according to various ejection timings of the nozzle chips by controlling the test head, classifying the nozzle chips into groups according to the ejection patterns, and assembling the nozzle chips that are classified in the same group having the same ejection pattern on the array type inkjet head. Since the array type inkjet head is manufactured by grouping together the nozzle chips having the same ejection pattern, poor printing results can be prevented. | 12-04-2008 |
20080303854 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING INTERMITTENT, WEAK AND MISSING JETS WITH AN INLINE LINEAR ARRAY SENSOR - Systems and methods are provided for detecting intermittent, weak or missing jets of a printer. The detection is implemented using a test pattern. Detected failed jets may be confirmed using a verification target. A printhead containing nozzles corresponding to detected failed jets may be wiped or purged. | 12-11-2008 |
20080309701 | Ink Jet Device for Releasing Controllably a Plurality of Substances Onto a Substrate, Method of Discrimination Between a Plurality of Substances and Use of an Ink Jet Device - The invention provides an ink jet device for releasing controllably a plurality of substances onto a substrate, the device comprising at least a print head comprising a nozzle, the device comprising at least a transducer provided to eject a droplet out of the nozzle, wherein a detection means is assigned to the ink jet device such that the substances are discriminable from each other by means of the detection of the behaviour of the transducer. | 12-18-2008 |
20080309702 | FLUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DRIVING OF CAPS - There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head capable of ejecting liquid; and a plurality of cap units each having a cap for individually capping a plurality of head areas of the liquid ejecting head. The plurality of cap units is constructed such that the shift position of each cap that is shifted from a retracted position toward the head area can be varied according to the distortion of the liquid ejecting head. | 12-18-2008 |
20080309703 | DOT MEASUREMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS - A dot measurement method includes: a line pattern forming step of forming line patterns on the ejection receiving medium; a pattern reading step of capturing an image of the line patterns; a profile graph acquiring step of acquiring profile graphs for each of the line patterns; a characteristic position calculating step of calculating extreme value positions, first edge positions and second edge positions for each of the line patterns; an approximation line calculating step of calculating a line-center approximation line, a first edge approximation line and a second edge approximation line; a line width calculating step of calculating a line width; a correlation information acquiring step of beforehand acquiring at least one of a first relationship between the line width and the dot diameter, and a second relationship between the line width and the ejection volume; and a measurement value calculating step of calculating at least one of the dot diameter and the ejection volume in accordance with the line width and the at least one of the first and second relationships. | 12-18-2008 |
20080309704 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming method that forms an image by using inks of secondary chromatic colors based on an input image, the method including: forming a test pattern that uses a color chart with the entire secondary chromatic colors of the used inks by using a normal color conversion table for converting a first color space of the input image into a second color space of the formed image; comparing data obtained by scanning the formed test pattern with second color space data of the test pattern, and identifying a non-matching color portion as a non-ejection color and a line position containing a non-ejection nozzle thereof; preparing a special color conversion table, the special color conversion table being provided for each omission ink; and setting and using the special color conversion table for an omission ink corresponding to the non-ejection color at the line position containing the identified non-ejection nozzle. | 12-18-2008 |
20080309705 | Liquid droplet jetting-inspection apparatus and liquid droplet jetting-inspection method - A pressurized liquid is supplied to an ink-jet head, and is discharged continuously from nozzles. In this state, a driving signal is applied to the ink-jet head at a predetermined time interval, and a light source is made to emit light in multiples of the predetermined time interval. Liquid droplets which are jetted continuously in the form of beads from the nozzles by the driving signal are picked up, and bending in a direction of jetting and state of liquid droplets are observed. Accordingly, a liquid droplet jetting-inspection apparatus and a liquid droplet jetting-inspection method which are capable of detecting easily a defect which is caused due to a channel and a nozzle as well as an electrical structure and a drive element of a liquid droplet-jetting apparatus are provided. | 12-18-2008 |
20080316246 | METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AN INK SENSE RESPONSE IN AN APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO FACILITATE OPTICAL INK SENSING - A method for calibrating as ink sense response of an optical ink sensor device in an imaging apparatus configured to facilitate optical ink sensing for an ink tank having an ink sensing window includes obtaining a calibration response to a reference reflective surface having a known reflectivity, which is associated with a printhead carrier of the imaging apparatus that carries the ink tank, using the optical ink sensor device; and calibrating the ink sense response based on the calibration response. | 12-25-2008 |
20080316247 | Method for increasing printhead reliability - A maintenance method for an ink jet imaging device comprises ejecting drops from a plurality of ink jets to successively form a plurality of images on the image receiver. Inter-image intervals between the ejection of drops to form one image in the plurality of images and the ejection of drops to form a successive image in the plurality of images are detected. A plurality of drops is ejected from at least a portion of the ink jets in the plurality of ink jets during at least one detected inter-image interval. The plurality of ejected drops having at least one drop ejecting characteristic selected from: a drop mass for the plurality of drops being greater than a standard drop mass; a drop ejecting frequency for the plurality of drops being lower than a standard drop ejecting frequency; and a substantially sequential drop ejecting pattern for the plurality of drops. | 12-25-2008 |
20080316248 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETECT TEMPERATURE OF PRINTHEAD FOR INKJET PRINTER - A method and apparatus to detect the temperature of an inkjet head are provided. A method of detecting the temperature of an inkjet head, comprising detecting an amount of printing data allocated to each of a plurality of unit head chips of the inkjet head, determining a detection frequency of temperature information on each of the plurality of unit head chips according to the detected amount of printing data, and detecting the temperature information on each of the plurality of unit head chips according to the determined detection frequency. | 12-25-2008 |
20080316249 | LIQUID SEALING STRUCTURE, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME, LIQUID CONTAINER, REFILLED LIQUID CONTAINER, AND REFILLING METHOD OF THE SAME - A liquid sealing structure includes: a liquid lead-out portion which has a liquid passage and an opening end surface formed in a liquid lead-out end of the liquid passage; a sealing member which is disposed on the opening end surface inside the liquid passage; a valve mechanism which is disposed inside the sealing member in the liquid passage to close the liquid passage; and a sealing film which covers the liquid passage and the opening end surface of the liquid lead-out portion and is thermally welded to the opening end surface and the sealing member, wherein a notch portion for passing a liquid lead-out member which is inserted into the liquid passage to open the valve mechanism is formed in the sealing film. | 12-25-2008 |
20090002427 | METHOD OF DETECTING MISSING NOZZLE AND INK JET PRINT HEAD USING THE SAME - A method of detecting a missing nozzle and an ink jet print head using the same, that can detect a missing nozzle immediately with a simple process when the missing nozzle is generated. The method of detecting a missing nozzle used in an ink jet print head provided with plural chambers in which an ink is filled, plural heaters corresponding to the chambers, and plural nozzles corresponding to the heaters, can include detecting a temperature of each of the nozzles, and when the detected temperature deviates from a predetermined temperature range, determining that the nozzle is a missing nozzle. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002428 | METHOD OF DETECTING MISSING NOZZLE AND INK JET PRINT HEAD USING THE SAME - A method of detecting a missing nozzle and an ink jet print head using the same can detect a missing nozzle immediately with a simple process when the missing nozzle is generated. One method of detecting a missing nozzle used in an ink jet print head provided with plural chambers, plural heaters corresponding to the chambers, and plural nozzles corresponding to the heaters can include detecting a temperature of each of the chambers, and when the detected temperature deviates from a predetermined temperature range, determining that a nozzle corresponding to the chamber is a missing nozzle. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002429 | PRINTER CALIBRATION - A printer and method of calibrating such a printer is presented. The method comprises: printing a reference pattern on print media; depositing ink over the printed reference pattern; printing a test pattern over the deposited ink to form an interference pattern; and determining an ink density value that results in an acceptable deformation of the printing media based on an optical evaluation of the interference pattern. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002430 | Measurement Field for Determining the Smearing Limit During Printing - A measurement field allows determining the smearing limit during printing, in particular during lithographic wet offset printing. The measurement field is arranged on a printing form, in particular a printing plate, which has printing, ink-carrying regions and nonprinting, dampening solution-carrying regions on its surface. A dampening solution-carrying property in the region of the measurement field is reduced by a nanoscopic coating (e.g., with amphiphilic molecules) or an unscreened, microscopic coating (e.g., a polymer coating) in comparison with the dampening solution-carrying property in the nonprinting regions of the surface of the printing form. The nanoscopic coating or the microscopic coating advantageously leads to a shifting of the smearing limit, that is to say to a displacement of the starting point of scumming, by the dampening solution requirement which is increased for scum-free printing within the region of the measurement field. Such a measurement field is thus advantageously used for the closed-loop control of a dampening solution supply. | 01-01-2009 |
20090009552 | PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PRINT CONTROL METHOD, CONTROL METHOD OF INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND PROGRAMS - A mechanism for performing tab paper printing and test printing by simple operation is provided. A printer performs a print process with an image formation position unshifted in the test printing and a print process with the image formation position shifted in the tab paper printing. In case of performing the tab paper printing after the test printing, the printing is performed by using print data already held in the printer or a host computer. It structured to enable to output to a plain paper a print result in which a decoration is added only to a tab position correspondence portion, enable to change its decoration method, and enable easy discrimination of the position. By the above structure, a user can easily correct the position of the content intended to be printed on a tab, and costs necessary for the tab paper used in the test can be reduced. | 01-08-2009 |
20090015620 | Printhead Auto-Alignment Detection System That Uses A Printed Printhead Alignment Pattern Containing Fluorescing Material - A printhead auto-alignment detection system includes a UV LED configured and positioned to transmit light in ultraviolet wavelengths onto a printed printhead alignment pattern formed using an aqueous ink having a UV fluorescing material. A sensor is configured and positioned to detect light in visible wavelengths emitted by the fluorescing material. A controller is communicatively coupled to the UV LED and the sensor. The controller is configured to execute program instructions for controlling the output of the UV LED and for reading a signal output of the sensor during a printhead alignment operation. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015621 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEFECTIVE NOZZLE DETECTION METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a water-repellent transfer belt, a pattern formation controller, a read unit, and a detection unit. The recording head has a plurality of nozzles aligned in a given direction, and ejects droplets of a liquid therefrom. The pattern formation controller directs each of the plurality of nozzles to eject the liquid to form a detection pattern on the transfer belt. The detection pattern has multiple droplets ejected from each of the plurality of nozzles sequentially arranged and spaced apart from each other both in the given direction and in a direction orthogonal to the given direction. The read unit includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and reads the detection pattern to output a read result. The detection unit detects a defective nozzle according to the read result. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015622 | Liquid property detection device, liquid container, image forming device, and liquid property detection method - A liquid property detection device includes: an electromotive force obtaining unit that obtains an electromotive force which is generated between two electrodes in a liquid container, the two electrodes formed by metals having respectively different ionization tendencies, and the liquid container containing a liquid so that the liquid is in contact with the two electrodes; a storage unit that stores a table showing correspondence between a property of the liquid contained in the liquid container and the electromotive force; a property determination unit that determines the property of the liquid contained in the liquid container on the basis of the electromotive force obtained by the electromotive force obtaining unit and the table stored in the storage unit; and an output unit that outputs information corresponding to the property determined by the property determination unit. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015623 | Liquid discharge apparatus, method for controlling the same, and program for controlling the same - Disclosed is a liquid discharge apparatus that allows a discharge head to discharge liquid to a predetermined object. The apparatus includes the following elements. A plurality of discharge heads are detachable independently. A head switching circuit switches a target discharge head to another target discharge head among the discharge heads in a set switching order to allow the target discharge head to discharge liquid. A monitoring circuit monitors liquid discharge conditions of the respective discharge heads. The liquid discharge conditions of each discharge head include the frequency of use of the discharge head and the presence or absence of a failure in the discharge head. A life determining circuit determines the life of each discharge head on the basis of the result of monitoring by the monitoring circuit. A target head setting circuit sets each of the discharge heads having a remaining life to the target discharge head and sets the switching order so that the frequencies of use of the target discharge heads are imbalanced. A notifying circuit provides a notification for urging replacement of the discharge head whose remaining life is lower than a predetermined value. | 01-15-2009 |
20090021551 | METHOD OF MEASURING PRINTER CHARACTERISTICS | 01-22-2009 |
20090021552 | METHOD OF MEASURING PRINTER CHARACTERISTICS | 01-22-2009 |
20090027438 | DETERMINING ENCODER STRIP EXPANSION - A system is provided that includes an encoder strip having encoder markings, first and second optical encoders positioned at a fixed distance from one another on a substrate and, responsive to being moved along the encoder strip, configured to generate first and second signals, respectively, that each indicate detection of the encoder markings on the encoder strip and processing circuitry configured to determine a current phase difference between the first and the second signals using a first portion of the first signal that corresponds to a first plurality of encoder markings and a second portion of the second signal that corresponds to a second plurality of encoder markings. | 01-29-2009 |
20090027439 | Non-volatile memory data integrity validation - The present disclosure relates to a replaceable printing component for use in a printing system including print mechanism configured to receive the replaceable printing component. The replaceable printing component includes an electrical storage device responsive to printing system control signals for selectively storing information received from the print mechanism, the electrical storage device includes a storage portion containing data associated with the replaceable printing component, and first and second validation fields configured to store error detection codes relatable to the data contained in the storage portion to determine whether the data is valid. Wherein the electrical storage device is configured, prior to a first transfer of data from the print mechanism to the storage portion, to receive and store in one of the first and second validation fields an error detection code related to the data currently contained in the storage portion, and the electrical storage device is configured to receive and store in the other of the first and second validation fields an error detection code related to the data that will be contained in the storage portion after the first data transfer. | 01-29-2009 |
20090027440 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A controller of a liquid ejecting apparatus forms first inspection patterns on a medium in a head moving direction while moving a liquid ejecting head in a forward direction. Corresponding second inspection patterns are formed on the medium in the head moving direction while moving the liquid ejecting head in a backward direction. When forming the patterns, the controller sets a voltage of a drive pulse corresponding to a preferable combination of the first and second inspection patterns, as a normally-used voltage used for normal forming. The controller differentiates the voltages of the drive pulses used for forming the inspection pattern for every combination of the first and second inspection patterns. The second inspection patterns correspond to the first inspection patterns at timings when positions of the second inspection patterns in the head moving direction are theoretically aligned with the positions of the first inspection patterns. | 01-29-2009 |
20090033704 | Recording Method and Printed Matter - A recording method with an ink ejected by an ink jet head, in which an ink repellent layer is formed on a surface of a nozzle plate of the ink jet head so that an opening portion for liquid ejections is established, the ink jet head being formed such that a cross-sectional area for the opening portion neighborhood of the ink repellent layer in a plane which is perpendicular to a centerline of the opening portion grows big sequentially as the cross-sectional area is further separated from the surface of the base material nozzle plate, wherein the amount of the ink transferred onto a recording medium during a contact time of 100 ms measured by a dynamic scanning absorptometer with environmental conditions of temperature 23° C. and relative humidity 50% RH is between 4 and 15 ml/m | 02-05-2009 |
20090033705 | Interactive Printer/Scanner - A printer comprises: a feed mechanism and a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly comprises: a printhead for printing a position-coding pattern onto a surface and a scanhead for scanning a pre-printed graphic image. The printer further comprises an ink supply and a processor configured for generating association data. The association data indicates an association between a scanned graphic image, an impression identity and a plurality of positions. | 02-05-2009 |
20090033706 | MEASURING METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT TO DETERMINE THE PLAY OF AN INK JET CARTRIDGE PIVOT UNIT - A measuring arrangement and measurement method determine the play of a cartridge pivot unit of an inkjet printing system that has at least one stop for the cartridge pivot unit. The cartridge pivot unit is driven by a first motor via a gear train and is equipped with a first movement sensor to establish a movement of the cartridge pivot unit upon leaving the stop. The cartridge pivot unit moves only when the play of the gear train is overcome. The stop for the cartridge pivot unit is formed by a mobile cleaning and sealing station. A counter is provided to count pulses, the count being representative of the play of the gear train of the cartridge pivot unit counting begins with leaving the mobile stop and continues until the movement of the cartridge pivot unit upon leaving the stop again ensues in conformity with the actuation by the first motor. | 02-05-2009 |
20090040260 | Disabling a nozzle - Embodiments of nozzle disable systems and methods are disclosed. | 02-12-2009 |
20090040261 | System and method for calibrating a printing system to compensate for sensor artifact using non-complementary illuminations of test patterns on an image substrate - A system removes a light sensor artifact from a light sensor in a printer that is used to obtain reflectance measurements from test patterns printed on an image substrate. The system includes a print head for ejecting a plurality of pixels having a first single color in a test pattern onto an image substrate, a light source for illuminating the test pattern on the image substrate with a light, a light sensor for measuring reflectance of the first portion of the test pattern with reference to a light having a color that is non-complementary to the first single color of the test pattern, measuring reflectance of the first portion of the test pattern with reference to a light that is complementary to the first single color of the test pattern, and measuring reflectance of the second portion of the test pattern with reference to the complementary light, the second portion including an area that overlaps the first portion of the test pattern, and a sensor controller configured to scale the reflectance of the first portion measured with reference to the non-complementary light to minimize a difference between the reflectance of the first portion measured with reference to the complementary light and the reflectance of the second portion measured with reference to the complementary light in the overlapped area. | 02-12-2009 |
20090040262 | Remaining amount detection sensor and ink-jet printer using the same - Provided is a remaining amount detection sensor ( | 02-12-2009 |
20090040263 | PRINTING POSITION ALIGNMENT METHOD AND PRINTING APPARATUS - Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value. | 02-12-2009 |
20090040264 | SUBSTRATE FOR INK JET PRINTING HEAD, INK JET PRINTING HEAD, INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF BLOWING FUSE ELEMENT OF INK JET PRINTING HEAD - A fuse element can be reliably blown and data that corresponds to whether or not the fuse element has been blown can be stored with high reliability. A resistor element is provided in a circuit through which an electric current flows to blow the fuse element in the ink jet printing head. The resistor element adjusts the electric current so that, in the process of blowing the fuse element, the current continues to flow for a predetermined duration even after a maximum current has passed through the fuse element. The predetermined duration is longer than a period from a time point when the electric current rises to a time point when the electric current reaches the maximum current. | 02-12-2009 |
20090046121 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - An ink non-ejection detecting circuit device for an inkjet recording apparatus is disclosed which comprises a bridge circuit including a piezoelectric head having a piezoelectric element, a first resistor connected in series to the piezoelectric head, a capacitor provided outside the piezoelectric head, and a second resistor connected in series to the capacitor. A differential voltage that appears between the piezoelectric head and the first resistor and between the capacitor and the second resistor is amplified, so that the acoustic-system admittance of the piezoelectric head can be detected with a high SN ratio. | 02-19-2009 |
20090058918 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RELIABILITY TESTING AND TROUBLESHOOTING INKJET PRINTERS - Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for reliability testing an inkjet printing system. The invention includes a testing interface, a print head coupled to the testing interface, printer control electronics coupled to the testing interface and coupled to the print head via the testing interface, the printer control electronics adapted to transmit a firing voltage signal through the testing interface to the print head, and a measurement apparatus coupled to the testing interface. The testing interface includes an input path for receiving the firing voltage signal from the printer control electronics, the input path splitting into a first path coupled to the print head and a second path coupled to the measurement apparatus. Numerous other aspects are disclosed. | 03-05-2009 |
20090058919 | INK-JET RECORDING DEVICE - An ink-jet recording device includes an image forming unit and a maintenance-process performing unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium having a first surface and a second surface. The image forming unit includes a recording head ejecting ink droplets onto the first surface to form a first image thereon, and ejecting ink droplets onto the second surface to form a second image thereon after forming the first image. The maintenance-process performing unit performs a maintenance process for improving a quality of the second image, within a standby time period after forming of the first image is finished and before forming of the second image is started. | 03-05-2009 |
20090058920 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A printing apparatus includes an ejection unit that ejects fluid from nozzles onto a target and a nozzle inspection unit that performs nozzle inspection to inspect whether the fluid is ejected. An automatic print setting unit sets a check pattern automatic print mode in which a check pattern for confirming whether the fluid is ejected from the nozzles. An automatic inspection setting unit, when a predetermined automatic inspection condition is established, sets an automatic nozzle inspection mode in which the nozzle inspection is performed. A cleaning unit performs nozzle cleaning to clean abnormal nozzles that are detected. When the automatic nozzle inspection mode is set, a control unit controls the nozzle inspection unit so as not to perform the nozzle inspection during a period from when one of printing based on the print data and printing of the check pattern is started until the other is finished. | 03-05-2009 |
20090073213 | Image forming apparatus - A printer includes a line-type inkjet printer, sheet feed trays, and a sheet receiving tray. The line-type inkjet printer includes a conveying unit that conveys a transfer sheet in a nearly vertical direction and an inkjet unit that discharges ink on an entire area in a width direction of the transfer sheet that is conveyed by the conveying unit from a direction perpendicular to the transfer sheet and forms an image on the transfer sheet. The line-type inkjet printer further includes a maintenance mechanism that maintains the inkjet unit and a controller that controls maintenance of the inkjet unit. | 03-19-2009 |
20090073214 | FLUSHING METHOD FOR FLUID EJECTING DEVICE AND FLUID EJECTING DEVICE - There is provided a flushing method for a fluid ejecting device that prevents clogging of a nozzle by ejecting a fluid of a set number of droplets at each set time interval in a fluid ejecting process from the nozzle of a fluid ejecting head toward a fluid receiving part that is disposed to face a nozzle opening face of the fluid ejecting head in a state of non-contacting the nozzle opening face. The flushing method includes applying an electric field between the nozzle opening face and the fluid receiving part, ejecting the fluid from the fluid ejecting head toward the fluid receiving part, detecting a voltage change based on electrostatic induction that occurs at a time when the fluid is ejected toward the fluid receiving part, and changing one between the set time interval and the set number of the droplets based on the voltage change. | 03-19-2009 |
20090079780 | Methods And Systems For Providing Print Media Distortion Compensation - A reference image of an area of a print media is captured at approximately a first time by an image acquisition system. A first application of ink is applied onto the print media area by a printing assembly at the first time. A comparison image of the print media area is captured at a second time by the image acquisition system subsequent to the first application of ink onto the print media area. The reference image and the comparison image are processed to determine a relative displacement of a feature pattern on the print media between approximately the first time and the second time. A second application of ink from the printing assembly onto the print media is adjusted based on the determination. | 03-26-2009 |
20090079781 | PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS - A print control apparatus includes: an operation state storing section that stores operation information relating to operation states of a plurality of printing elements arranged in a printing head; and a drawing controlling section that causes the plurality of printing elements to draw a test image for checking the operation states of the plurality of printing elements, wherein the test image includes a set of a predetermined number of lines that are drawn in parallel with one another in a predetermined direction, and the drawing controlling section causes a printing element placed in the vicinity of a printing element determined as a malfunction on the basis of the operation information, to draw a check line having a predetermined length and thickness in the test image. | 03-26-2009 |
20090079782 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND METHOD OF DETERMINING DENSITY CORRECTION COEFFICIENTS - An image recording apparatus includes: a recording head which has a plurality of recording elements; a characteristics information acquisition device which acquires information that indicates recording characteristics of the plurality of recording elements; a correction object determination device which selects from the plurality of recording elements a correction object recording element to be corrected; a correction range setting device which selects from the plurality of recording elements N correction recording elements to be used for correcting an output density, N being an integer not less than 2; a virtual dot setting device which sets a virtual dot to be arranged between dots recorded by the selected correction recording elements; a correction coefficient determination device which determines density correction coefficients for the N correction recording elements in accordance with correction conditions that reduce a low-frequency component of a power spectrum representing spatial frequency characteristics of the density non-uniformity; a correction processing device which performs calculation for correcting the output density by using the density correction coefficients; and a drive control device which controls the plurality of recording elements in accordance with the corrected output density. | 03-26-2009 |
20090085952 | TEST CHART, TEST CHART MEASUREMENT METHOD, AND TEST CHART MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - A test chart is recorded on a recording medium by means of a line head having a plurality of recording elements by causing the plurality of recording elements to perform recording operation while moving the recording medium and the line head relatively to each other in a relative movement direction. The test chart includes: a line pattern block which includes a plurality of line patterns respectively corresponding to the plurality of recording elements, the plurality of line patterns being arranged at a prescribed interval or above so as to be separated from each other, wherein the plurality of line patterns include reference line patterns arranged on both end regions of the line pattern block, the reference line patterns having line characteristic quantities different from the others of the plurality of line patterns. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085953 | INK-JET RECORDING APPARATUS - An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a flow-passage unit; a plurality of actuators including a plurality of individual electrodes; a plurality of signal output circuits; a power supply device; an electric current detecting device; and a control device including an abnormality judging portion which judges that there exists an abnormality among (a) at least one of the signal output circuits corresponding to at least one test-target individual electrode that is at least a part of the individual electrodes and (b) at least one of the actuators corresponding to the at least one test-target individual electrode, on the basis of a current change amount that is a difference between a first current value and a second current value, the first current value being detected by the detecting device when each of the signal output circuits outputs a first signal for giving a first potential and the second current value being detected by the detecting device when each of the at least one of the signal output circuits outputs a second signal for giving a second potential while each of the rest of the signal output circuits which excludes the at least one of the signal output circuits output the first signal. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085954 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PRINTING CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a conveying path that continues to a paper feeding unit and a paper discharge unit, a conveying mechanism that conveys a sheet along the conveying path, plural liquid ejecting heads that eject liquid onto the sheet conveyed on the conveying path, a sensor that is provided in a position between the plural liquid ejecting heads and the paper discharge unit and measures the glossiness of the sheet on which the liquid is ejected, and a control mechanism that compares the glossiness of the sheet immediately after the liquid is ejected and the glossiness measured by the sensor to calculate drying time of the liquid and controls conveying speed of the conveying mechanism to equalize conveying time for the sheet from the plural liquid ejecting heads to the paper discharge unit with the drying time. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085955 | LIQUID EJECTION HEAD, LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF LIQUID EJECTION HEAD - A liquid ejection head includes an energy-generating element arranged on a semiconductor substrate, a barrier layer deposited on the semiconductor substrate for forming a liquid chamber in the periphery of the energy-generating element, and a nozzle sheet bonded on the barrier layer and having a nozzle formed at a position opposing the energy-generating element, in which the liquid ejection head ejects liquid contained in the liquid chamber from the nozzle as liquid droplets by the energy-generating element, and the barrier layer is provided with a plurality of depressions, each having an independent contour, arranged within a range, which is separated from the border of the barrier layer, on an adhesive region adhering to the nozzle sheet. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085956 | Image forming apparatus and information recording medium - An ink-jet printer performs formation of an image by jetting an ink from nozzles of an ink-jet head. When a power supply is switched ON after a time measuring section is not capable of measuring time due to the power supply has been switched OFF, then the ink-jet printer outputs to a display section a signal which causes a display control section, provided on a controller, to display a message asking a user whether or not a cleaning operation by a recovery operation control section is to be performed. Accordingly, any unnecessary operation for recovering the jetting function is reduced, solving problems such as waiting time required for performing the operation for recovering the jetting function and that the ink is consumed unnecessarily. | 04-02-2009 |
20090091595 | LIQUID-DISCHARGE-FAILURE DETECTING APPARATUS AND INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - A liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus detects a liquid discharge failure. A light-emitting element emits a beam onto a droplet of liquid discharged from a liquid-droplet-discharge surface with an optical axis of the beam making a right angle with a direction in which the droplet is discharged. A light-receiving element receives a scattered light generated by scattering of the beam by the droplet. A failure detecting unit detects the liquid discharge failure from data of the scattered light received by the light-receiving element. A distance changing unit changes a distance between the liquid-droplet-discharge surface and the optical axis of the beam based on, for example, a diameter of the droplet. | 04-09-2009 |
20090102880 | Liquid Storing Container - Provided is a liquid storing container including: a liquid containing unit which discharges a liquid by introducing a pressurized fluid into a region, in which the liquid is received; a liquid lead-out port which supplies the liquid from the liquid containing unit to a liquid consumption device; and a detecting device which is provided between the liquid containing unit and the liquid lead-out port, wherein the detecting device includes a liquid storing unit which is provided between the liquid containing unit and the liquid lead-out port; a piezoelectric element which applies vibration to a sensor cavity for containing the liquid in communication with the liquid storing unit and detects a state of free vibration due to the vibration; and a movement member which is displaced according to a pressurized state of the liquid storing unit at a position facing the sensor cavity. | 04-23-2009 |
20090109255 | Fluid ejection device - Embodiments of a fluid ejection device are disclosed. | 04-30-2009 |
20090115812 | LIQUID-DISCHARGE-FAILURE DETECTING APPARATUS AND INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - A liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus includes a light-emitting unit, a light-receiving unit, and a light-trapping unit. The light-emitting unit emits a detection beam. The light-receiving unit is located at a position offset from an optical axis of the detection beam, and receives a scattered light generated by scattering of the detection beam by a droplet of ink (liquid). The light-trapping unit traps a detection beam that travels straight without striking the droplet so that the detection beam does not enter the light-receiving unit as a stray light. | 05-07-2009 |
20090115813 | HAND-HELD PRINTER WITH CAPPING DEVICE - A hand-held printer comprises an elongate body defining an ink ejection slot through which ink is ejected; an ink cartridge received in the body and defining a plurality of ink reservoirs storing respective types of ink; a movement sensor for sensing movement of the printhead module along print media; a printhead module in fluid communication with respective ink reservoirs, the printhead module including a printhead for ejecting ink through the ink ejection slot in accordance with the movement sensed by the movement sensor; and a capping device movable to expose or cover the printhead, the capping device including an elastomeric pad at an end thereof positioned to be in contact with nozzles of the printhead when the capping device covers the printhead. | 05-07-2009 |
20090115814 | Fluid-dispensing Devices And Methods - An embodiment includes determining a temperature change of a fluid-ejecting substrate, and determining a mass of fluid ejected from the fluid-ejecting substrate from the temperature change of the fluid-ejecting substrate. | 05-07-2009 |
20090122099 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CALIBRATION OF INKJET DROP POSITIONING - Methods and apparatus for inkjet drop positioning are provided. A first method includes determining an intended deposition location of an ink drop on a substrate, depositing the ink drop on the substrate using an inkjet printing system, detecting a deposited location of the deposited ink drop on the substrate, comparing the deposited location to the intended location, determining a difference between the deposited location and the intended location, and compensating for the difference between the deposited location and the intended location by adjusting a parameter of an inkjet printing system. Numerous other aspects are provided. | 05-14-2009 |
20090135220 | Off-line printhead inspection and recovery unit for production piezo ink jet architectures - A method and apparatus for printhead inspection and recovery in an ink jet printing system includes a modular printhead assembly disposed within the printing system for on-line printing operation. An off-line printhead inspection and recovery unit including a printhead dock for receiving the printhead assembly is locally disposed for ready diagnostic inspection of printhead operation and includes a user interface for reporting diagnostic results. A modular printhead assembly is disposed within the off-line printhead inspection and recovery unit for identifying the head failure to an operator. The inspection and recovery unit may execute a printhead purge and maintenance cycle to repair the failing on-line printing assembly. The inspection and recovery unit maintains a spare head assembly in a heated print-ready state for minimal downtime in production operation upon the replacement of the failing printhead with the spare head from the inspection and recovery unit. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135221 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING MISSING NOZZLE IN THERMAL INKJET PRINTHEAD - Provided is a method of detecting a missing nozzle in a thermal inkjet printhead. The method includes: applying an input energy high enough to eject ink to a heater corresponding to a target nozzle, and applying an input energy not high enough to eject ink to a hear corresponding to a nozzle adjacent to the target nozzle; when a predetermined time passes, detecting a difference between temperatures which are measured at points spaced by a predetermined distance from each of the two heaters; and determining whether the target nozzle is missing. | 05-28-2009 |
20090141065 | Method and apparatus for controlling diaphragm displacement in synthetic jet actuators - A method for calibrating a synthetic jet ejector is provided which comprises (a) taking a first measurement DCR | 06-04-2009 |
20090141066 | Recording Device - A recording device may include a conveying mechanism including a peripheral surface that has an endless loop shape and includes a transmissive region. The conveying mechanism may convey a recording medium placed on the peripheral surface by rotation of the peripheral surface. A recording head may include a plurality of nozzles ejecting liquid drops and opposing the peripheral surface. The recording head may record an image on the recording medium conveyed by the conveying mechanism, by ejecting liquid drops from the nozzles. A transmissive state detection sensor may detect liquid drops ejected from the nozzles onto the transmissive region. The transmissive state detection sensor may be positioned in an inside space of the peripheral surface. | 06-04-2009 |
20090141067 | PRINTING DEVICE AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORD MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM THEREFOR - 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. | 06-04-2009 |
20090141068 | Test-Pattern Forming Method, Computer Readable Medium for Forming A Test-Pattern, And Printer - A method of forming a test pattern in a printer, wherein the printer may include at least one liquid discharge head including a nozzle plate, and the nozzle plate has a plurality of nozzles formed therethrough, wherein the plurality of nozzles are configured to discharge a liquid and are arranged in a plurality of rows which are parallel to each other and extend in a particular direction, the method may comprise the steps of selecting a first nozzle of the plurality of nozzles from a first row of the plurality of rows, selecting a second nozzle of the plurality of nozzles from a second row of the plurality of rows, and discharging the liquid from the first nozzle and from the second nozzle onto a medium, wherein a third row of the plurality of rows is positioned between the first row and the second row. | 06-04-2009 |
20090153610 | Electronic Apparatus, Semiconductor Storage Device, Print-Recording Material Container, and Control Device - An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor storage devices, each of which includes an access determination unit that determines whether the semiconductor storage device is accessed, an input terminal and an output terminal used for connection checking, a normally-closed switching element that electrically disconnects the input terminal from the output terminal when the access determination unit determined that the semiconductor storage device is accessed, and a bypass circuit that electrically connects the input terminal to a reference point through predetermined impedance. The electronic apparatus further includes a plurality of attachment portions to which the plurality of semiconductor storage devices are arranged in a predetermined order, signal lines used to connect the plurality of semiconductor storage devices which are attached to the plurality of attachment portions to one another by bus connection by electrically connecting each of input terminals of the plurality of semiconductor storage devices to corresponding one of output terminals the adjacent semiconductor storage devices as daisy-chain connection, the signal lines being used to access the semiconductor storage devices, a power supply line that supplies power to the input terminal serving a beginning point of the daisy-chain connection through predetermined impedance, a reference point connection line that electrically connects the output terminal serving as an end point of the daisy-chain connection to the reference point, a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage between the input terminal serving as the beginning point and the reference point, an access execution unit that successively accesses the plurality of semiconductor storage devices, a first voltage detection unit that detects a voltage between the input terminal serving as the beginning point and the reference point every time the access execution unit accesses one of the semiconductor storage devices, and an attachment-position determination unit that determines whether the plurality of semiconductor storage devices are properly attached to the corresponding plurality of attachment portions in accordance with the voltage detected using the first voltage detection unit. | 06-18-2009 |
20090153611 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD - A method of moving a cap apart from a printhead within a short period of time without damaging a printing apparatus when the cap sticks to the printhead. A cap moving unit is driven to try to move the cap apart from the printhead. When a detection unit for detecting that the cap has moved apart from the printhead detects that the cap has not moved apart from the printhead, it is controlled to slightly reciprocate the carriage while driving the cap moving unit. When the detection unit detects that the cap has moved apart from the printhead under this control, the slight reciprocation of the carriage is forcibly stopped. | 06-18-2009 |
20090160900 | REGISTRATION ERROR DETECTION METHOD AND INKJET IAMGE FORMING DEVICE - An inkjet image forming device records a test pattern | 06-25-2009 |
20090167807 | PRINT HEAD ERROR CHECKING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Provided are a print head error checking apparatus and method in which the residual oscillation of a piezoelectric element corresponding to each nozzle of a print head is sensed, the sensed residual oscillation of each piezoelectric element and a predetermined residual oscillation of the piezoelectric element are compared to each other, and whether a print head normally operates is checked in consideration of the results of the comparisons. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167808 | METHOD FOR MAKING ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICE AND LIQUID EJECTING DEVICE - A method for making en electro-optic device includes a filling step of ejecting liquid matter containing a solvent and a functional layer-forming material into recesses formed in a substrate to fill the recesses with the liquid matter; and a fixing step of removing a solvent component from the liquid matter to fix the functional layer-forming material in the recesses. In the filling step, the concentration of the functional layer-forming material in the liquid matter filling each recess is changed on the basis of the size of an opening width of the recess. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167809 | CARTRIDGE-INFORMATION DETECTING DEVICE - A cartridge-information detecting device including: an optical sensor for detecting information about a cartridge which stores ink and is removably mounted on a cartridge mount, the information including specific information indicating that the cartridge is in a state of being mounted on or removed from the cartridge mount; and a controller including a timer which measures time and configured to execute a control for changing an operational mode of the optical sensor, wherein the controller permits the optical sensor to operate in a constant operational mode in which the information about the cartridge is constantly detected through the optical sensor until the timer has measured a predetermined time from a timing at which the detection of information about the cartridge becomes to be allowed, and wherein the controller permits the optical sensor to operate in an intermittent operational mode in which only the specific information is intermittently detected through the optical sensor, after the predetermined time has passed. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167810 | INKJET PRINTER CRADLE - An inkjet printer cradle including a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply; and an integrated circuit assembly arranged to test an authentication device of said cartridge. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167811 | DOCKING PORT IN A COVER ASSEMBLY - This invention relates to a cover assembly for a cradle unit of a pagewidth print engine. The cover assembly defines a docking port for a refill unit configured to refill a cartridge unit of the print engine. The cartridge unit is housed in the cradle. The docking port includes a rim portion, engagement means and a push rod. The rim portion is for receiving a base portion of the refill unit so that the refill unit is able to pass through the cover assembly, in use, to dock with the cartridge unit. The engagement means is located within the rim portion, the engagement means being configured to engage the refill unit to retain the refill unit securely in position to facilitate refilling of the cartridge unit. The push rod extends through a hole in the rim portion for operatively actuating the refill unit to incrementally dispense ink. | 07-02-2009 |
20090174746 | Spacing-sensing apparatus for use in a printing module of printer - A spacing-sensing apparatus for use in a printing module of printer is disclosed. The spacing-sensing apparatus includes an oscillating device pivotally disposed on the frame of printing module, wherein the oscillating device has a swing body designed to be rotatably disposed on the lateral plate of the frame, and one end of the swing body is capable of making contact with the surface of a print media when the printing module descends to a predetermined distance from the printing module to the print media, allowing rotation of the other end thereof to trigger switch means for stopping the descending of printing module. | 07-09-2009 |
20090174747 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING PRINT, APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING PRINT, AND PRINTER - A print inspection device is provided with a camera for picking-up an image of a substrate to be processed after a paste is printed on the substrate through a mask sheet by a printer, a measured value calculating a measured value of a printed paste area based on the picked-up image of the substrate, a setting means for setting a standard range for working state judgment of the area, and a comparing and judging means for comparing the measured value with the standard range and for judging whether the printer is in a normal working state or not depending on whether the measured value is in the standard range or not. The setting means sets the standard range to a less paste amount side for a predetermined period of time after the mark sheet is cleaned up than for other periods of time. | 07-09-2009 |
20090189942 | HUMIDITY CONTROLLED CONTAINER FOR DEVICE INCLUDING A LIQUID - A container assembly includes a container including an inside and an outside, the container being sealed to isolate an environment inside the container from an environment outside the container. An electronic device is disposed inside the container. The electronic device includes an internal cavity, the internal cavity including a liquid. A predetermined mass of desiccant material is disposed inside the container. An air path exists between the desiccant material and the liquid in the internal cavity of the electronic device. The predetermined mass of desiccant material and the liquid maintain a humidity level of the environment inside the container within a desired range. | 07-30-2009 |
20090195589 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, TRANSPORTING CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An image forming device prints an image on a recording sheet by performing a reciprocating movement of a print head in a main scanning direction while transporting the recording sheet intermittently in a transporting direction. The image forming device is arranged to select one of a measurement value and a theoretical value based on a result of comparison between the measurement value and the theoretical value, so that the selected value is used as a value that indicates a rear-end position of the recording sheet. | 08-06-2009 |
20090201331 | PRINTING METHOD, PRINTING SYSTEM AND METH0D FOR DETERMINING CORRECTION VALUE - A medium is carried to a predetermined position in a carrying direction. A first pattern is formed on the medium with nozzles on the carrying direction upstream side of a nozzle row constituted by a plurality of nozzles lined up at predetermined intervals. After forming the first pattern, the medium is carried in the carrying direction by a target carry amount that is shorter than the length in the carrying direction of the nozzle row. Along with forming on the medium a second pattern that forms a boundary with the first pattern with nozzles on the carrying direction downstream side of the nozzle row, a third pattern is formed on the medium with the nozzles on the carrying direction upstream side of the nozzle row. After forming the second pattern, the medium is carried in the carrying direction by a target carry amount that is shorter than the length in the carrying direction of the nozzle row so that a carry amount of the medium after forming the first pattern is longer than the length in the carrying direction of the nozzle row. A fourth pattern that forms a boundary with the third pattern is formed on the medium with the nozzles on the carrying direction downstream side of the nozzle row. | 08-13-2009 |
20090213164 | System for Detecting Offset Printing Using Same - The invention concerns a detection system ( | 08-27-2009 |
20090213165 | OPTICAL SENSOR FOR A PRINTER - A printing system includes a platen; a photosensor including an integrated lens; a light source configured to provide light, the light source including an integrated lens; and an aperture disposed to provide a field of view, the field of view being a portion of a plane parallel to the platen, wherein reflected light from the light source passes through the aperture to the photosensor without passing through an external lens. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213166 | SIGNAL PROCESSING FOR MEDIA TYPE IDENTIFICATION - A method for identifying a type of recording medium using a time-varying output signal from a photosensor includes amplifying the time-varying output signal of the photosensor; converting the amplified time-varying output signal of the photosensor to digitized data points using an analog to digital converter thereby creating a first set of digitized data; filtering the first set of digitized data to provide a low pass data set; filtering the first set of digitized data to provide a high pass data set; computing the standard deviation of the low pass data set; computing the standard deviation of the high pass data set; and identifying the recording medium type using values from both the standard deviation of the low pass data set and the standard deviation of the high pass data set. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213167 | PRINTING DEVICE - A printing device includes: a print head configured to perform printing of information by discharging ink onto a recording medium while moving in a main scanning direction; and a linear encoder configured to obtain a position of the print head in the main scanning direction by optically obtaining scale information of a linear strip oriented in the main scanning direction, with a sensor unit disposed on the print head. The print head includes: a wall in proximity to a face of the linear strip; and an expelling groove formed in the wall, configured to expel ink mist from a space between the face of the linear strip and an opposing face of the wall opposing the face of the linear strip. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213168 | NOZZLE INSPECTING DEVICE IN FLUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS, FLUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS, AND NOZZLE INSPECTION METHOD - A nozzle inspection device includes an inspection electrode placed apart from a discharge unit with a gap therebetween, an inspection unit for inspecting the presence of a defective nozzle by discharging a fluid with respect to the inspection electrode in a state in which the electric field is generated by application of a voltage between the discharge unit and the inspection electrode, a detection unit for detecting whether the inspection unit is in a non-inspectiable state, and a gap adjustment unit for adjusting the gap by transferring either the discharge unit or the inspection electrode in a case in which the inspection unit is in the non-inspectable state. | 08-27-2009 |
20090219328 | Heated Drum Assembly Having Integrated Thermal Sensing For Use In A Printer - A heated drum assembly enables improved thermal control of a hollow drum in the heated drum assembly by integrating thermal sensing devices in the assembly. The heated drum assembly includes a hollow drum having a circumferential wall that defines an outer boundary for an internal cavity, the hollow drum having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis about which the hollow drum rotates, a stationary heater that is located within the internal cavity of the hollow drum to heat the circumferential wall as it passes by the heater, the heater having a reflector with at least one wall and at least one heating element between the reflector and the circumferential wall of the hollow drum, the reflector and a portion of the circumferential wall subtended by the reflector forming a heating zone, an insulating shield mounted to the wall of the reflector, a thermal cutout mounted on the insulating shield, a support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the support arm being mounted to the insulating shield, and a thermal sensor mounted to the second end of the support arm. | 09-03-2009 |
20090219329 | INK SENSING DEVICE - An ink sensing device for an ink supply system, the device comprising:
| 09-03-2009 |
20090231381 | Print control method - A print control method comprising the steps of measuring a battery remainder index correlating with a remaining capacity of a battery in a printing unit operating on the battery, specifying a number of remaining printable copies of the printing unit on the basis of the battery remainder index, and outputting the number of remaining printable copies. | 09-17-2009 |
20090231382 | Systems and Methods For Reducing Process Direction Registration Errors Of A Printhead Using A Linear Array Sensor - Systems and methods are provided for detecting process direction registration errors in a printer. The errors are detected by analyzing a metric of a dash minimum response obtained from a test pattern. The test pattern contains dashes. At least one dash is shifted in the process direction in relation to another dash. | 09-17-2009 |
20090237439 | MOUNTABLE APPARATUS, BOARD, AND METHOD OF REWRITING LIQUID INFORMATION - A mountable apparatus, which is adapted for installation in a liquid jetting device when delivering a liquid contained in a liquid container that contains a liquid to the liquid jetting device via a liquid delivery tube connected to the liquid container, includes an installation status notifier portion. In an installed state wherein the mountable apparatus is installed in the liquid jetting device, the installation status notifier portion is able to make the liquid jetting device determine that there exists the installed state, and alternatively to make the liquid jetting device determine, even in the installed state, that there exists a non-installed state wherein the mountable apparatus is not installed in the liquid jetting device. | 09-24-2009 |
20090237440 | CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Described is a conveyance apparatus that includes a first conveyance path along which a printing medium is conveyed, a first discharge port, and a second conveyance path which causes reversal of the conveyance direction of the printing medium partially exposed from the discharge port and feeds the printing medium to the first conveyance path again. The apparatus further includes an estimation unit which estimates amount of exposure of the printing medium at the discharge port, a decision unit which, when jamming of the printing medium occurs, decides a printing-medium removal method in accordance with the amount of exposure estimated, and an output unit which outputs the removal method decided. | 09-24-2009 |
20090244163 | Drop detection mechanism and a method of use thereof - A drop detection mechanism and method of use thereof is disclosed. In an embodiment, a shaped laser beam is employed to scatter light off of ink drops that are fired from a plurality of nozzles. A low cost, high throughput detector is utilized to detect the individual drops and thereby calculate the drop count, drop velocity and other drop characteristics. Consequently, through the use of the below described embodiments, new levels of print image quality are enabled on a broad range of inkjet printers, including industrial and web printers. | 10-01-2009 |
20090244164 | Method Of Printing An Indication Of Defective Printing, An Inkjet Printer, A Printer Driver, And A Defective Printing Notification Method - A method of printing an indication of defective printing can print a defective printing mark indicating that printing was not completed normally on a printout containing unprinted or missing dots. When printing one page of print data on recording paper is completed but before a paper discharge command indicating a page break (step ST | 10-01-2009 |
20090244165 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image formation device that inspects for image irregularities caused by joining of inkjet head modules. The image formation device is equipped with a belt conveyance unit, a recording head, a print sensor and a system controller. The belt conveyance unit moves paper in a conveyance direction. At the recording head, modules including plural recording elements that eject ink droplets are joined up to a length corresponding to the width of the paper. The recording head ejects ink droplets at the paper being conveyed to form an image. The print sensor reads the image recorded on the paper, while moving in the width direction of the paper. On the basis of the image that is read, the system controller inspects the quality of the image recorded on the paper. | 10-01-2009 |
20090244166 | ATTACHABLE MEMBER-RECOGNITION DEVICE AND INK-JET PRINTER PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - An ink cartridge is formed with an information-engraved section formed to have a predetermined shape. A cartridge-attachment section, to which the ink cartridge is attached, includes a deformable section, a stress light-emitting section which emits light depending on the shape of the information-engraved section by means of a stress received when the deformable section makes contact with the information-engraved section, and a light-receiving sensor which receives the light emitted by the stress light-emitting section to generate a recognition signal corresponding to the information-engraved section. An attachable member-recognition device is provided, which has a relatively cheap and simple structure, which is capable of setting information about an attachable member including, for example, the ink cartridge and a printing paper tray, and which is capable of recognizing the information. | 10-01-2009 |
20090244167 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS, TEST IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An inkjet recording apparatus has: a head having a plurality of nozzles which eject an ink onto a recording medium; a conveyance device which conveys the recording medium; a droplet ejection control device which controls ink ejection of the head; a test image forming device that forms a test image on the recording medium by causing the ink to be ejected from every n (where n is a natural number equal to 2 or higher) nozzles in an X direction perpendicular to a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, and causing the ink to be ejected so as to form vertical lines forming n columns which shift by one nozzle in the X direction and each extend continuously in terms of a Y direction parallel to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed; and a reading device which is provided on a conveyance path of the recording medium, reads in a test image on the recording medium and has an image reading structure covering a length corresponding to full width of the recording medium in a breadthways direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, wherein in the test image, an arrangement pitch in the X direction of the vertical lines is equal to or exceeding a reading pitch in the X direction of the reading device, an arrangement pitch in the Y direction of the vertical lines is N times a reading pitch in the Y direction of the reading device (where N is a natural number), and an interval corresponding to variation in a conveyance of the recording medium is provided between the vertical lines in such a manner that a length in the Y direction of each of the vertical lines is less than the reading pitch in the Y direction of the reading device. | 10-01-2009 |
20090251506 | INK JET PRINTER, INK SUPPLY MECHANISM FOR THE INK JET PRINTER, AND INK SUPPLY METHOD - An ink jet printer system includes an ink jet head, a plurality of ink supplying cartridges, an ink flow channel and a control device. The ink flow channel connects the ink jet head and the plurality of ink supplying cartridges to supply ink from the plurality of ink supplying cartridges to the ink jet head. The control device is configured to sequentially supply ink from each of the plurality of ink supplying cartridges to the ink jet head. | 10-08-2009 |
20090256881 | Inkjet Printer Control - A printing speed for printing an image using an inkjet printer is determined. Information regarding a measure of the nozzle firing quality of the printer as a function of printing speed and in relation to an image attribute is determined. The image to be printed is analysed in respect of the image attribute and the information regarding the measure of the nozzle firing quality is used to determine an optimum printing speed for printing the image. Thus a determination may be made as to how fast a particular image may be printed using a particular printer arrangement without unacceptable loss of print quality of the image. Also described is a method of determining printing instructions for printing a plurality of images in which a printing speed for each image is determined, and printing instructions for printing the plurality of images is determined so as to increase the overall efficiency of printing the plurality of images. | 10-15-2009 |
20090262161 | Liquid Jetting Apparatus, Liquid Delivery System, and Circuit Board - A liquid jetting apparatus receives delivery of liquid from a liquid delivery system including a delivery system-side terminal. The liquid jetting apparatus includes a apparatus-side terminal, a contact sensing portion and a remaining level sensor portion. The apparatus-side terminal contacts the delivery system-side terminal when receiving delivery of liquid from the liquid delivery system. The contact sensing portion supplies a first electrical signal to the apparatus-side terminal to sense contact between the apparatus-side terminal and the system-side terminal. The remaining level sensor portion supplies a second electrical signal different from the first electrical signal to the apparatus-side terminal to sense a liquid volume in the liquid delivery system. | 10-22-2009 |
20090278882 | Method of calculating correction value, method of ejecting liquid, and liquid ejecting apparatus - A method of calculating a correction value includes: forming a test pattern by ejecting a liquid by a liquid ejecting apparatus, which has a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles ejecting the liquid to a medium are arranged in a predetermined direction and a second nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles ejecting the liquid to the medium are arranged in the predetermined direction, the second nozzle row being disposed so that an end portion on one side thereof in the predetermined direction overlaps with an end portion on the other side of the first nozzle row in the predetermined direction, to an area of the medium corresponding to certain pixel data on the basis of the certain pixel data from first nozzles belonging to the end portion on the other side of the first nozzle row and second nozzles belonging to the end portion on the one side of the second nozzle row; acquiring a read-out gray scale value by allowing a scanner to read-out the test pattern; and calculating a correction value used to correct the pixel data corresponding to the area to which the liquid is ejected from the first and the second nozzles on the basis of the read-out gray scale value. | 11-12-2009 |
20090284563 | Ink jet printer having ink maintenance system - An ink jet printer is provided with an ink circulation route in which are arranged an ink jet head for ejecting ink, a first tank for supplying ink to the ink jet head, a second tank for collecting ink which is not consumed by the ink jet heads. The ink jet printer comprises a measuring unit operable to obtain a value indicative of the flow resistance measured when ink flows the first tank to the second tank through the ink jet head; and a control unit operable to select one of maintenance operations on the basis of the value indicative of the flow resistance as obtained. Particularly, when the value indicative of the flow resistance as obtained is lower than a predetermined value, the control unit selects the operation of circulating ink around the ink circulation route as the one of maintenance operations, and the maintenance unit does not perform the maintenance operation which consumes some amount of ink. By this configuration, it is possible to perform maintenance in accordance with the ink viscosity by a simple structure. | 11-19-2009 |
20090289985 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DETECTING EJECTION FAILURE IN PRE-PROCESSING AGENT EJECTION NOZZLES IN IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - The ejection positions of a plurality of pre-processing agent ejection nozzles and the ejection positions of a plurality of ink ejection nozzles as seen in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of a recording medium are in a one-to-one correspondence with each other. A controller causes the process of ejecting ink of a first color from the ink ejection nozzles onto the recording medium subjected to the ejection from the plurality of pre-processing agent ejection nozzles so as to form a failure detection printing pattern which is a printing pattern formed by providing a time lag between the processes of ejecting the ink from adjacent ones of the plurality of ink ejection nozzles. An ejection failure in the pre-processing agent ejection nozzles is detected by judging that a pre-processing agent ejection nozzle corresponding to a region where bleeding results suffers the ejection failure. | 11-26-2009 |
20090303276 | Collision avoidance measure and sensor - To avoid possible damaging collisions of a printhead with small receiver defects and other obstacles in a digital printer using a printhead mounted on a scanning shuttle for recording an image on a receiver while scanning along the receiver, a method using the following steps is used:—sensing for possible obstacles having a size smaller and larger than the inkjet head-receiver clearance distance in an area of the receiver to be scanned over by the printhead using a sensor system mounted on the scanning shuttle,—avoiding a collision of the printhead with the obstacle when an obstacle is sensed. Preferably an evaluation step is include to evaluate is a detected obstacle is evaluated to be potentially damaging. A system for using the steps is also disclosed. | 12-10-2009 |
20090303277 | Image detection device of inkjet printing machine - An image detection device of inkjet printing machines is revealed. The image detection device of inkjet printing machines mainly includes an image detector connected with a print head of the inkjet printing machine. The image detector moves along with the print head so that the image detector detects figures and words printed by the print head in real time for learning whether the print head printed the printed figures and words correctly. If there are some printing defects, this means that the print head is obstructed. Through the image detection device, the inkjet printing machine runs a cleaning process and prints figures as well as words after complete cleaning of the print head. Thereby, figures and words are printed continually and precisely, without printing defects caused by obstruction of the print head. Therefore, not only the operation is simplified and convenient, but the labor cost is reduced and the working efficiency is improved. The practical value of the device is increased. | 12-10-2009 |
20090315939 | System And Method For Defective Inkjet Correction Using Edge Information In An Image - A method for image correction compensates for a defective inkjet in a printhead by distributing compensation values to other image data locations in an image data memory. The method includes searching image data stored in an image data array to detect one or more edges in the image data, modifying an ordered sequence search to search for compensation candidate positions in image data array positions proximate a defective inkjet image data array position in response to an edge being detected proximate to the defective inkjet image data array position, searching the image data array positions proximate the defective inkjet image data array position in accordance with the modified ordered sequence, identifying a compensation candidate image data array position to which a compensation image value can be moved, and moving the compensation image value to the identified compensation candidate image data array position. | 12-24-2009 |
20100002039 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus enables the output of a high-quality image even when an expendable supply, such as ink, recording head, or recording sheet other than a specific expendable supply, such as one designated by a manufacturer, is used. The image forming apparatus includes a carriage for moving a recording head having plural recording nozzles in a horizontal scan direction. The recording head discharges ink onto a recording medium. A detection unit detects whether one or more expendable supplies required for image formation is a specific expendable supply. Upon detection of a non-specific expendable supply, a notifying unit notifies an operator and suggests that the image forming method be changed. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002040 | RECORDING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF CHECKING POSITIONS OF INK CONTAINERS, AND METHOD FOR CHECKING THE POSITIONS - A recording apparatus includes a carriage, ink containers mounted in the carriage and including respective light emitters, a driving unit for moving the ink tanks, a light receiver receiving light from the light emitters, a light control unit controlling lighting the light emitter of a predetermined ink container, and a determining unit for determining whether the predetermined ink container is mounted at a correct position, based on the light emitted from the light emitter of the predetermined ink container at positions. When the driving unit does not move the carriage to a position where at least one of the ink containers is facing the light receiver, the determining unit determines whether the at least one of the ink containers is mounted at the correct position, based on the light received from the light emitters at a position adjacent to the facing position. | 01-07-2010 |
20100007689 | CARRIAGE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE INCLUDING CARRIAGE - In a carriage of a liquid drop discharging device, an encoder sensor is arranged to read slits on a linear scale at a slit reading position. The carriage includes a stain detection part that detects a stain on the linear scale based on position information output from the encoder sensor. An encoder sensor moving part moves the encoder sensor from the slit reading position in a width direction of the linear scale. An encoder sensor movement control part controls movement of the encoder sensor from the slit read position by the encoder sensor moving part based on stain information output from the stain detection part. | 01-14-2010 |
20100007690 | REGISTER MARK TO BE DETECTED BY A REGISTER SENSOR - An apparatus in a machine for processing printing material has a register sensor for register measurement between at least two color separations of a printed image printed above one another on a printing material. The register sensor registers optically deviations between the two color separations and forwards the deviations onto a computer. The register sensor contains at least one photodiode having at least two quadrants. The largely rectangular evaluation areas of the photodiode are aligned obliquely in relation to the edges of the conveyed printing material. A register mark to be detected by the register sensor has a plurality of wedge-shaped colored areas pointing in a peripheral direction of the printing material, one of the wedge-shaped colored areas being a reference color used as a reference variable and others of the wedge-shaped colored areas being register colors to be controlled. An alternative register mark has a first field for length calibration; a second field having a wedge of a reference color selected as a reference variable; and a third field containing a register color to be controlled. The may also be provided a measuring field formed as a point-symmetrical field exhibiting a color of a color separation as a full tone. | 01-14-2010 |
20100007691 | Ink Consumption Determination - An ink jet printer includes an ink feed apparatus. The ink feed apparatus includes an ink feed channel for conducting discrete substantially solid ink sticks along a feed channel path, a plurality of ink sticks in the ink feed channel, each of the ink sticks comprising an ink stick body having an ink stick sensing feature on an external surface of the ink stick body that is located between a first end and a second end of the ink stick body, and each of the ink stick bodies has substantially the same mass as the other ink stick bodies in the plurality, a detector positioned at a fixed position proximate the ink feed channel and configured to be triggered by an ink stick sensing feature on an ink stick in the ink feed channel as the ink stick moves along the ink feed path past the detector, and a counter configured to accumulate the number of times the detector is triggered. | 01-14-2010 |
20100020121 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING JETS WITH FULL WIDTH ARRAY LINEAR SENSORS - Systems and methods are provided for monitoring jets of an image device. The detection is implemented using a data processor that monitors information sent to a jet and using an image sensor that monitors an image being printed or an image after being printed. A detector detects the difference between the image being printed and/or the image after printing to the information sent to the jet, and identifies a faulty jet based on the difference detected. | 01-28-2010 |
20100020122 | INKJET PRINTING SYSTEM AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME - An inkjet printing system includes; a stage configured for mounting a substrate thereon, an inkjet head which drips an ink droplet on the substrate, a conveying device which moves the inkjet head, and a measuring device which measures a height of the ink droplet on the substrate. | 01-28-2010 |
20100020123 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a full-line inkjet head that includes ejection nozzles arrayed in the width direction of a recording medium, and that ejects a liquid functional material on the recording medium; a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium at a position opposite to the full-line inkjet head; a test image formation sheet-feeding unit that contact-feeds a test image formation sheet on the recording medium in the upstream of the ejection position on the conveying unit; and a test image formation sheet-separating unit that separates the test image formation sheet from the recording medium in the downstream of the ejection position on the conveying unit. | 01-28-2010 |
20100039473 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND CALCULATION METHOD - An image recording apparatus, including: a platen which supports a sheet; a movable carriage disposed so as to face to the platen; a head mounted on the carriage to record an image on the sheet; an optical sensor mounted on the carriage and constituted by an emitting element which emits light and a receiving element which receives light reflected from the sheet and output an electric signal according to intensity of the reflected light; a changing mechanism which changes the optical sensor between first and second positions; and a calculation section which calculates at least one of a distance between the optical sensor and the sheet and a reflectivity of the sheet on the basis of (a) a first electric signal outputted from the receiving element with the optical sensor disposed at the first position and (b) a second electric signal outputted from the receiving element with the optical sensor disposed at the second position. | 02-18-2010 |
20100045729 | METHOD FOR TESTING ALIGNMENT OF A TEST BED WITH A PLURALITY OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS THEREON - The invention relates to a method for testing an alignment of a carrier with respect to a plurality of integrated circuits on the carrier. The carrier has optically discernible carrier references and each integrated circuit has optically discernible circuit references. The method includes the steps of receiving the carrier in a holding assembly, sensing positions of the carrier and circuit references, and measuring the positions of the carrier and circuit references | 02-25-2010 |
20100045730 | METHOD FOR TESTING INTEGRITY OF A BASE FOR PRINTHEAD INTEGRATED CIRCUITRY - Provided is a method for testing integrity of a base for printhead integrated circuits. The base has at least one fluid inlet in fluid communication with a plurality of fluid outlets via discrete fluid paths. The method includes the steps of engaging the, or each, fluid inlet of the base to a fluid supply in a sealing manner, charging the base with pressurized fluid until a predetermined pressure is reached, and monitoring the pressure in the base for a predetermined period of time, wherein a rate of pressure decay is indicative of an integrity of the base. | 02-25-2010 |
20100045731 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING DROPLET DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTICS OF INK-JET PRINTED HEAD - An apparatus for inspecting droplet discharge characteristics of an ink-jet printer head, subsequently discharging ink droplets, includes a photographing means for operating a digital camera to generate an overlapped droplet image for ink droplets at a photographing point before each subsequently discharged ink droplet hits a target point; a light emitting means for operating a speed light to give light to an ink droplet passing the photographing point after a delay time from an ink droplet discharging time point; and a droplet discharge characteristic inspecting means for calculating a signal-to-noise ratio distribution of each pixel of the overlapped droplet image, calculating an overlap rate of droplet images of each pixel from the signal-to-noise ratio distribution to calculate a center coordinate of droplet images, and quantitatively calculating and outputting deviation to droplet jetting velocity and direction using the center coordinate of droplet image, a droplet jetting coordinate and the delay time. | 02-25-2010 |
20100053254 | RECORDING APPARATUS - There is disclosed a recording apparatus including a recording head, a feeding mechanism, a detector, and a controller. The recording head has an ejection surface from which a droplet of a liquid is ejected. The feeding mechanism includes a plurality of rollers and an endless feeder belt wound around the rollers and having a feeding surface opposed to the ejection surface, and feeds a recording medium placed on the feeding surface a part of which serves as a liquid-droplet ejection area onto which a droplet of the liquid is ejected. The detector detects a trigger for initiating a manual cleansing of the liquid-droplet ejection area. The controller controls the feeding mechanism such that when the detector detects the trigger, the liquid-droplet ejection area is located at a cleansing position where the liquid-droplet ejection area is not opposed to the ejection surface of the recording head. | 03-04-2010 |
20100053255 | Printhead Integrated Circuit With Open Actuator Test - Provided is a printhead integrated circuit for an inkjet printer that has a nozzle and a corresponding actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle. The Printhea IC also has drive circuitry for controlling the operation of the actuator. The drive circuitry has an open actuator test circuit comprising an open actuator test input, a column enable input and a row enable input, a drive transistor operatively linking said actuator to a power supply, a bleed transistor arranged in parallel with the actuator, a sense transistor operatively linking an output of the drive transistor and inputs of the actuator and bleed transistor to a sensing node. Actuating the actuator to eject ink by enabling the column and row enable inputs, deactivates the bleed transistor and activates the drive transistor to link the actuator to the power supply. Testing the actuator involves enabling the open actuator test input to activate the sense transistor, so that the actuator is short-circuited and the sense node is pulled high if the actuator is open-circuit. | 03-04-2010 |
20100060694 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An apparatus includes a printing unit which is disposed in a housing and configured to form an image on a sheet, an lid attached to the housing by a hinge mechanism, and a camera which is attached to the lid and configured to read an image on a document while the lid is open, wherein the sheet having the image formed by the printing unit is discharged on the lid, and when the lid is opened, the camera can read the document which is placed at a reading position below the camera. | 03-11-2010 |
20100079534 | MARKING ELEMENT REGISTRATION - A method of measuring a relative offset between a first array of marking elements and a second array of marking elements in a printer; a registration target; and a printer are provided. The method includes printing a target by printing a first group of pixels using a plurality of marking elements from the first array and printing a second group of pixels using a plurality of marking elements from the second array; scanning the target to measure an optical characteristic of the target as a function of position along the target; and identifying a position at which an extreme in the optical characteristic of the target occurs. | 04-01-2010 |
20100079535 | INSPECTION DEVICE FOR LIQUID EJECTING HEAD - Provided is an inspection device for a liquid ejecting head including: a first vibration plate which is positioned at a position opposite to the nozzle openings of the liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid from the nozzle openings such that the liquid ejected from the nozzle openings of the liquid ejecting head lands thereon; a first piezoelectric element bonded to the first vibration plate; and a detecting unit which is connected to the first piezoelectric element so as to detect an electrical variation in the first piezoelectric element, wherein the detecting unit inspects the ejection state of the nozzle openings based on a voltage variation in the first piezoelectric element by the liquid landing onto the first vibration plate. | 04-01-2010 |
20100085398 | INK SURFACE DETECTING SYSTEMS AND INK CARTRIDGE - An ink surface detecting system has an ink cartridge and a first optical detector, and a second optical detector positioned above the first optical detector. The ink cartridge has an ink chamber and a pivoting member having a detected portion and a floating portion. A first distance between the center of pivotal movement of the pivoting member and a first end of the pivoting member is different from a second distance between the center of pivotal movement and a second end of the pivoting member. | 04-08-2010 |
20100091063 | LIQUID DROP DISCHARGE HEAD INSPECTING DEVICE AND LIQUID DROP DISCHARGE DEVICE - This ink jet application device ( | 04-15-2010 |
20100110137 | USE OF VCSEL TO DETECT PAPER IN A PRINTER - A method of detecting the properties of a printing target in a printing apparatus capable of performing a recording process on the printing target. The method uses a vertical cavity surface emitting laser disposed in the printing apparatus and comprises transporting the printing target through the printing apparatus, emitting a wavelength modulated optical signal toward the printing target using the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, receiving a reflection of the wavelength modulated optical signal, and analyzing the reflected optical signal to identify a property of the printing target. | 05-06-2010 |
20100110138 | RECORDING APPARATUS - There is provided a recording apparatus including a colorimeter unit. The colorimeter unit includes a colorimeter including a color-measuring device that acquires colorimetric data from a recording surface of a recording medium; a first member that is a frame that supports the colorimeter; and a second member that is a frame fastened to the first member using a fastening device. The fastening device has an elastic member and fastens the first member and the second member together relatively movably against the elastic force of the elastic member. | 05-06-2010 |
20100123752 | Printhead Registration Correction System and Method for Use with Direct Marking Continuous Web Printers - A registration system for use with an imaging device includes sensors for detecting a web speed and a web tension of a moving web and a control system configured to generate a first timing offset for at least one marking station based on the detected web speed and web tension. An image sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of a marking material applied to the moving web by at least one of the marking stations. The control system is configured to generate a second timing offset for the at least one marking station based on the position of the marking material indicated by the third signal, and to adjust an actuation time for the at least one marking station using the first timing offset and the second timing offset. | 05-20-2010 |
20100123753 | CLEANING APPARATUS AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A cleaning apparatus, which cleans a print head of a printing apparatus in response to a start trigger for regular cleaning, includes a sound sensor that detects a sound of the operational environment of the printing apparatus, a determination unit that determines whether the operational environment is quiet or not based on a comparison result between detected sound of the sound sensor and a threshold value, and a controller that delays the start of the regular cleaning by holding the start trigger until the operational environment becomes quiet based on a determination result of the determination unit when the start trigger for the regular cleaning has occurred. | 05-20-2010 |
20100128080 | METHOD FOR EVALUATING DISCHARGE AMOUNT OF LIQUID DROPLET DISCHARGING DEVICE - A discharge amount evaluation method of a liquid droplet discharging device evaluates a discharge amount of a liquid discharged by the liquid droplet discharging device. The liquid includes at least one of a solution prepared by dissolving a solute in a solvent and a dispersion prepared by dispersing a dispersoid in a dispersion medium. The method includes discharging the liquid by the liquid droplet discharging device on a receiving layer of a test piece, the test piece including the receiving layer that absorbs at least one of the solvent and the dispersion medium as components included in the liquid and a base layer that is abutted with the receiving layer and that does not absorb the at least one component absorbed by the receiving layer in the components included in the liquid; and evaluating the discharge amount of the liquid based on a result obtained by evaluating an area of an absorbing portion where the at least one absorbed component has spread in the receiving layer. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128081 | RECORDING DEVICE, METHOD OF POSITIONING RECORDING HEAD, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING RECORDING DEVICE - A recording device may comprise a recording head comprising a discharge port configured to discharge a liquid droplet. The recording device may also comprise a head supporting member. The recording device may yet further comprise a securing member configured to secure the recording head to the head supporting member such that a positional relationship between the head supporting member and the recording head is changeable in a direction intersecting a liquid droplet discharging direction. The recording device may yet further comprise a light emitter, and a light receiver configured to receive the light from the light emitter. The recording device may yet further comprise a position detector configured to detect the positional relationship on the basis of an intensity of the light received by the light receiver. The recording device may yet further comprise an outputting unit configured to output a signal of the positional relationship. | 05-27-2010 |
20100141702 | CMOS-CONTROLLED PRINTHEAD SENSE CIRCUIT IN INKJET PRINTER - A CMOS-controlled printhead sense circuit includes a CMOS control circuit module operable as a transmission gate switchable between first and second signal levels and a CMOS sense circuit module operable in a printhead sense mode in response to the CMOS control circuit module being switched to the first level and in a transparent mode in response to the control circuit module being switch to the second level. The CMOS control circuit module includes a combination of PMOS and NMOS FETs which define a CMOS switchable transmission gate. The CMOS sense circuit module includes a combination of PMOS and NMOS FETs which define respectively a switch device switchable between high and low states corresponding to the sense and transparent modes and a load enhancement device for the switch device. | 06-10-2010 |
20100149246 | MEDIA IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM WITH MOVING OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICE - A printing system includes a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction and an optoelectronic device mounted on the carriage. A media input location, for storing a recording medium, is included along with at least one unobstructed optical path between the optoelectronic device and a plurality of regions of the media input location as the carriage is moved along the carriage scan direction. | 06-17-2010 |
20100149247 | NOZZLE FUNCTIONALITY DETECTION OF INKJET PRINTERS | 06-17-2010 |
20100149248 | PRINT POSITION CORRECTING DEVICE, METHOD OF CONTROLLING PRINT POSITION CORRECTING DEVICE, AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A print position correcting device includes: a head unit which ejects a liquid onto a print medium being transported on a transport surface; detectors which detect a position of the print medium being transported; a transport information calculator which calculates transport information regarding a transport status of the print medium based on the position of the detected print medium; a movement speed calculator which calculates a movement speed used to move the head unit based on the transport information; and a controller which moves the head unit in a direction parallel to the transport surface based on the transport information and the movement speed. | 06-17-2010 |
20100156987 | METHOD OF MEASURING PRINTER SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS | 06-24-2010 |
20100165034 | Detection Of Missing Nozzle For An Inkjet Printhead - A technique for detecting a defective printhead nozzle employing acoustical energy. During printhead maintenance, the nozzles of the printhead are sequentially fired to eject ink therefrom. The acoustical energy emitted by a nozzle during ejection of an ink droplet can be detected by a sound receiver. Acoustical energy can also be transmitted in the field of travel of the ink droplet so that when the ink droplet passes therethrough the acoustical energy is perturbated, and such perturbation can be detected. The perturbation can be an attenuation of the received acoustical energy when the ink droplet passes between the acoustical transmitter and a sound receiver. The perturbation can also be a change in the acoustical energy when the ink droplet reflects acoustical energy from the acoustical transmitter to the sound receiver. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165035 | DISCHARGE INSPECTION APPARATUS, FLUID DISCHARGING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR WORKING SHIELD CABLE - A discharge inspection apparatus inspects a fluid discharge state of a discharging head by applying a voltage. The discharging head discharges fluid from nozzles onto a target. The discharge inspection apparatus includes a detecting unit and a shield cable. The detecting unit detects an electric change that occurs when the fluid is discharged. The shield cable includes a first conductor, an insulating layer, a conductive layer, a second conductor, and a cover layer. A first voltage is applied to the first conductor. The conductive layer is positioned on an outer surface of the insulating layer, which covers the first conductor. The second conductor is positioned on an outer surface of the conductive layer and is covered by the cover layer. A second, lower voltage is applied to the second conductor. The shield cable is connected to at least either the detecting unit or the discharging head. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165036 | RECORDING TARGET MEDIUM AND RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording target medium includes a base material, a recording portion, and a guided-array portion. The recording portion is formed on or at one surface of the base material. The recording portion includes an ink-accepting layer. The guided-array portion is formed on the base material at a side opposite to an observation side of the recording portion. | 07-01-2010 |
20100177138 | LIQUID MATERIAL DISCHARGE DEVICE - A liquid material discharge device that can discharge a liquid material supplied to the device while keeping the liquid material clean and holding a stable discharge amount of the liquid material, and that can be reduced in size. The liquid material discharge device comprises a liquid material supply section for supplying a liquid material to be discharged, a discharge section having a discharge port for discharging the liquid material, a measurement section comprising a measurement hole and a plunger sliding along an inner wall surface of the measurement hole to suck and discharge the liquid material into and from the measurement hole, a valve section comprising a body and a valve member which is formed with a channel for interconnecting the liquid material supply section and the measurement section and with a channel for interconnecting the measurement section and the discharge section, the valve member sliding in a space formed in the body, and a control section for controlling the aforesaid sections. When the liquid material is sucked into the measurement hole, the control section controls the valve member to be located at a first position to interconnect the liquid material supply section and the measurement section and to interrupt the interconnection between the measurement section and the discharge section. When the liquid material in the measurement hole is discharged, it controls the valve member to be located at a second position to interconnect the measurement section and the discharge section and to interrupt the interconnection between the liquid material supply section and the measurement section. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177139 | INKJET IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An inkjet image forming apparatus including an array inkjet head including at least one head chip row, the at least one head chip having a plurality of head chips on which nozzles are formed; a light emitting unit including a light emitting device that is disposed on a first side of the head chip rows in a main scanning direction and radiates light; a light receiving unit including a light receiving device that is disposed on a second side of the head chip rows in the main scanning direction and faces the light emitting device to detect the light; and a malfunctioning nozzle detection unit that controls the array inkjet head to eject ink across the light and detects malfunctioning nozzles using detection signals received from the light receiving unit, wherein an alignment error angle between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit is Arctan[(D−C)/A] or less when a length of the head chip rows in the main scanning direction is A, a gap between nozzles furthest from each other in a sub-scanning direction in one of the head chips is C, and a width of the light receiving unit is D. | 07-15-2010 |
20100182369 | METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTIVE NOZZLE OF PRTINER HEAD - Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for detecting a defective nozzle of an inkjet print head. The method may include detecting a light transmitted through ink ejected from a nozzle of a print head, generating a signal associated with the detected light, amplifying the signal, and determining whether the nozzle is defective based on the amplified signal. | 07-22-2010 |
20100188458 | TEST CIRCUITRY FOR A PRINTHEAD INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A printhead integrated circuit that has a nozzle, a thermal actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle, an open actuator test input, a column enable input, a row enable input, a drive transistor for connecting the thermal actuator to a power supply when the column enable input and the row enable input are asserted, a sense node, and a sense transistor for connecting the sense node to the drive transistor drain when the open actuator test input is asserted. During use the sense node is pulled high when the row enable input, the column enable input and the open actuator test are all asserted, and the thermal actuator is open circuit. | 07-29-2010 |
20100207989 | LIGHT-SCATTERING DROP DETECTOR - A drop detector has a light-source and a light detector. The light-source is configured to scatter light off two or more substantially currently ejected drops. The light detector is configured to substantially concurrently sense, respectively at two or more different spatial locations, the light scattered off the two or more substantially currently ejected drops. | 08-19-2010 |
20100214344 | System And Method For Generating Robust Fiducial Patterns Used To Determine Coordinate Transformations - A method generates and evaluates a fiducial pattern for an imaging system. The method includes generating a fiducial pattern for an image substrate, and measuring a difference between a structure of the fiducial pattern and at least one of a structure of a printing system and a structure of a measurement pattern to determine whether the structure of the fiducial pattern is distinguishable from at least one of the structure of the printing system and the structure of the measurement pattern. | 08-26-2010 |
20100214345 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INVESTIGATING EJECTION FAILURE DETERMINATION PERFORMANCE - An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a recording medium; a conveyance device which conveys the recording medium in a prescribed direction along a conveyance path; an investigation pattern generation device which generates a thinned-out investigation pattern that is to be output by causing the nozzles other than a portion of the plurality of nozzles of the head to eject the ink; a reading device which is provided on the conveyance path and which reads in the investigation pattern output onto the recording medium; and a checking device which performs comparison between data of the investigation pattern read in by the reading device and data of the investigation pattern generated by the investigation pattern generation device, wherein a determination rate of ejection failure nozzles is found from result obtained by outputting the investigation pattern generated by the investigation pattern generation device onto the recording medium from the head, reading in the output investigation pattern by the reading device, and performing the comparison between the data of the investigation pattern thus read in and the data of the investigation pattern generated by the investigation pattern generation device. | 08-26-2010 |
20100214346 | INK-JET RECORDING APPARATUS - An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a platen provided with a suction-collection section which sucks in and collects ink discharged deviating from an end portion of recording medium. The ink-jet recording apparatus includes a suction force generation unit for collecting ink configured to enable the suction collection section to generate a suction force, a collection flow path connecting the suction collection section to the suction force generation unit for collection, and a flow path control unit configured to vary an sectional area of the collection flow path. The sectional area of the collection flow path is varied according to an image forming time or a type of the recording medium. | 08-26-2010 |
20100214347 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An image recording apparatus includes: a recording head having a plurality of recording elements; a conveyance device which conveys at least one of the recording head and a recording medium so as to cause relative movement between the recording head and the recording medium; a test chart output device which outputs a test chart including at least a density pattern onto the recording medium by using the recording head; an image reading device which reads in the test chart output by the test chart output device; a reading position information acquisition device which acquires reading position information for the density pattern, according to an image of the test chart obtained by reading in the test chart by the image reading device; a density information acquisition device which acquires reading density information for the density pattern corresponding to the reading position information, according to the image of the test chart obtained by reading in the test chart by the image reading device; a recording defect information acquisition device which acquires recording defect information indicating a recording element having a recording defect, of the plurality of recording elements; a density non-uniformity correction value calculation device which calculates density non-uniformity correction values for the plurality of recording elements, according to previously prepared output position information which indicates output positions of the plurality of recording elements with respect to the density pattern, the reading position information, the reading density information and the recording defect information; a density non-uniformity correction device which performs non-uniformity correction of image data, according to the density non-uniformity correction values; and an image output device which outputs the image data that has been subjected to the non-uniformity correction by the density non-uniformity correction device, onto the recording medium. | 08-26-2010 |
20100214348 | METHOD OF EVALUATING PERFORMANCE OF OPTICAL SENSOR AND INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS - Provided are a method of precisely evaluating the performance of an optical sensor including light-emitting elements corresponding to light-emitting wavelengths respectively representing multiple colors as well as a light-receiving element even under a condition in which mists of color inks adhere to the sensor, and a printing apparatus for carrying out the method. To this end, how much the performance of the optical sensor mounted on a carriage decreases is evaluated based on a cumulative number of ejections for each ink color, which number corresponds to the amount of mist, and a degree at which each ink affects each color LED. This makes it possible to precisely evaluate the performance of the optical sensor including the light-emitting elements corresponding to the light-emitting wavelengths respectively representing the multiple colors as well as the light-receiving element even under the condition in which the mists of the color inks adhere to the sensor. | 08-26-2010 |
20100231635 | System And Method For Evaluating And Correcting Image Quality In An Image Generating Device - A system evaluates image quality in an image generating system in a manner that accounts for the interaction of the calibration tools used to evaluate and correct image quality in the image generating system. The system includes a test pattern generator configured to generate an image with an image generating system, an image capture device configured to generate a digital signal corresponding to the generated test pattern, an image evaluator configured to process the digital signal to detect and correct anomalies detected in the generated test pattern, a plurality of calibration tools, each calibration tool being comprised of at least one test pattern, at least one set of detection criteria, and at least one set of anomaly correction parameters, and a controller configured to select the calibration tools for operation of the test pattern generator and the image evaluator in accordance with a predetermined sequence that attenuates changes arising from application of correction parameters of one calibration tool upon a later selected calibration tool. | 09-16-2010 |
20100231636 | Method For The Printing Of Homogeneous Electronic Material With A Multi-Ejector Print Head - Printing systems are disclosed that produce homogenous, smooth edged printed patterns (such as integrated circuit (IC) patterns) by separating pattern layouts into discrete design layers having only parallel layout features, and by printing each design layer using individual print solution droplets deposited onto the substrate. A first alignment operation is performed to achieve a specified orientation between the printhead and a first set of alignment marks on the substrate using first image data generated by the imaging sensor of the camera before performing a first print operation, and a second alignment operation to orient the printhead relative to a second set of alignment marks is performed before a second print operation. A first pattern layout portion includes first layout elements aligned parallel to a first reference axis, and the first print operation is performed by making multiple printing passes in a print direction aligned with the first reference axis. | 09-16-2010 |
20100231637 | Method For The Printing Of Homogeneous Electronic Material With A Multi-Ejector Print Head - Printing systems are disclosed that produce homogenous, smooth edged printed patterns (such as integrated circuit (IC) patterns) by separating pattern layouts into discrete design layers having only parallel layout features, and by printing each design layer using individual print solution droplets deposited onto the substrate. A printhead alignment operation includes printing a first spot from a first printhead ejector on a first substrate location, positioning a second ejector over the first substrate location and printing a second spot, measuring a distance between the first spot and the second spot, adjusting a rotational orientation between the print head and the substrate to reduce the distance between the first spot and the second spot, and then repeating the printing, measuring and adjusting processes until the first and second spots are separated by a predefined threshold value apart. The design layers are then printed. | 09-16-2010 |
20100231638 | Method For The Printing Of Homogeneous Electronic Material With A Multi-Ejector Print Head - Printing systems are disclosed that produce homogenous, smooth edged printed patterns (such as integrated circuit (IC) patterns) by separating pattern layouts into discrete design layers having only parallel layout features, and by printing each design layer using individual print solution droplets deposited onto the substrate. A printhead alignment operation includes positioning the printhead and printing a spot onto the substrate from each ejector, determining a vertical offset between an expected location of each spot along a vertical axis and the actual location of the spot along the vertical axis, calculating a linear fit line for the vertical offset of each spot plotted against an expected location of the spot along a horizontal axis, calculating the slope of the linear fit line, and rotating the printhead relative to the substrate according to an angle defined by the slope of the linear fit line. | 09-16-2010 |
20100238227 | PRINTHEAD DE-PRIME SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOLID INK SYSTEMS - A system and method to provide pressure to de-prime a printhead. An image forming device comprises an ink reservoir that contains ink and provides the ink to a printhead. When a fault condition is detected that indicates a likelihood of a solidifying of the ink, the printhead is de-primed by applying pressure to the printhead to purge the ink from the printhead. The fault condition comprises any of a loss of power, a power-down process, or a printhead temperature being less than or equal to a threshold temperature. | 09-23-2010 |
20100238228 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING DROPLET DISCHARGE HEAD, DEVICE FOR INSPECTING DROPLET DISCHARGE HEAD, AND DROPLET DISCHARGE DEVICE - A method for inspecting a droplet discharge head includes generating illuminating light based on a color tone of a dot pattern of a droplet discharged from the droplet discharge head by selecting at least one of a plurality of illuminating light sources of different color tones and by modulating light illuminated from the at least one of the illuminating light sources based on the color tone of the dot pattern, capturing an image of the dot pattern while a photographed region including the dot pattern is being illuminated by the illuminating light, and inspecting the image of the dot pattern using image processing. | 09-23-2010 |
20100238229 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING DROPLET DISCHARGE HEAD, DEVICE FOR INSPECTING DROPLET DISCHARGE HEAD, AND DROPLET DISCHARGE DEVICE - A method for inspecting a droplet discharge head includes discharging a plurality of droplets on an inspection workpiece from a nozzle row of the droplet discharge head at least twice in different positions on the inspection workpiece thereby forming a plurality of dot pattern rows each including a plurality of dot patterns, inspecting each of the dot patterns included in a first dot pattern row among the dot pattern rows by sequentially acquiring, using an image processing, a predetermined inspection value of the each of the dot patterns determined based on a shape of the each of the dot patterns, and initiating inspection of a second dot pattern row among the dot pattern rows when inspection of the first dot pattern row is interrupted upon one of the predetermined inspection values sequentially acquired exceeding a predetermine threshold established in advance according to a type of the predetermined inspection value. | 09-23-2010 |
20100238230 | ELECTRODE CONTAINER BOX, PRINTING DEVICE AND NOZZLE INSPECTION METHOD | 09-23-2010 |
20100245454 | System And Method For Scheduling Ink Jet Recovery In An Ink Jet Printer - A method enables an ink jet image generating system to select an operational mode in response to detection of a missing ink jet. The method includes generating a digital image of an ink image on an image receiving member of an ink jet image generating system, detecting missing inkjets in a printhead of an ink jet image generating system from the digital image of the ink image on the image receiving member, and selecting an operational mode for the ink jet image generating system in response to the detection of at least one missing ink jet. | 09-30-2010 |
20100245455 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING PRINT HEAD ROLL - A method of detecting print head roll begins with the formation of a test pattern on an image receiving surface. The test pattern includes a plurality of marks arrayed across the image receiving surface in a cross-process direction with each mark in the plurality being formed by a different nozzle of a print head. The cross-process direction positions of each mark in the plurality of marks are then detected; and the detected cross-process direction positions are correlated to a print head roll value for the print head. | 09-30-2010 |
20100245456 | INK SUPPLY DEVICES - An ink supply device includes a controller, a cartridge mounting portion, and an ink cartridge. The cartridge mounting portion includes first, second, and third detectors configured to detect first, second, and third detection target portions of the ink cartridge and to output first, second, and third detection information, respectively. The controller is configured to execute a first process if both the first detection information and the second detection information are output and execute a second process if at least one of the first detection information and the second detection information is not output when the third detection information is output during insertion of the ink cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion. It is determined that the ink cartridge has reached a predetermined mount position in the first process, and a type of the ink cartridge is determined in the second process. | 09-30-2010 |
20100245457 | INK SUPPLY DEVICES - An ink supply device includes a cartridge mounting portion to which an ink cartridge is configured to be mounted by being inserted thereinto in an insertion direction. The ink supply device further includes a controller configured to determine a type of the ink cartridge based on first determination information initially stored during an insertion of the ink cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion and second determination information finally stored during the insertion of the ink cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion. | 09-30-2010 |
20100245458 | INK SUPPLY DEVICES - An ink supply device includes a controller, a cartridge mounting portion, and an ink cartridge. The cartridge mounting portion includes first, second, and third detectors configured to detect first, second, and third detection target portions of the ink cartridge and to output first, second, and third detection information, respectively. The controller is configured to execute a first process based on whether the first detection information and the second detection information are output when the third detection information is output during insertion of the ink cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion. A type of the ink cartridge is determined in the first process. | 09-30-2010 |
20100245459 | INK SUPPLY DEVICES - An ink supply device includes a cartridge mounting portion to which an ink cartridge is configured to be mounted by being inserted thereinto in an insertion direction, a first determiner configured to determine a first characteristic of the ink cartridge, and a second determiner configured to determine a second characteristic of the ink cartridge. | 09-30-2010 |
20100253732 | System And Method For Detecting Weak And Missing Ink Jets In An Ink Jet Printer - A method detects weak or missing ink jets in an ink jet image generating system. The method includes generating a test pattern of line segments in a process direction on an image receiving member with each line segment corresponding to one ink jet in a printhead, generating a digital image of the generated test pattern on the image receiving member from light reflected by the test pattern and the image receiving member to a plurality of light sensors linearly arranged on a support member that is transverse to the process direction, generating a response profile for a portion of the image receiving member on which the test pattern was generated, measuring the response profile, comparing the measurement of the response profile to a predetermined threshold, identifying missing and weak ink jets in response to the measurement of the response profile being less than the predetermined threshold, and moving the support member transversely across the process direction to a second position that enables each light sensor to image another portion of the image receiving member. | 10-07-2010 |
20100253733 | SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE AND LIQUID DROPLET EJECTION DEVICE - A signal processing device is provided including: an alternating voltage generation section that generates a square shaped alternating voltage from plural direct voltages, and applies the square shaped alternating voltage to a sensor that is either a temperature detection sensor or a humidity detection sensor; a current-voltage conversion section that converts current of an output signal output from the sensor to an analog voltage; a selector section that selects a range of the current convertible by the current-voltage conversion section from one or other of plural current ranges; and a resistance value computation section that computes the resistance value of the sensor, based on the voltage value of the analog voltage converted by the current-voltage conversion section, the range of current convertible by the current-voltage conversion section, and the voltage value of the voltage generated by the alternating voltage generation section. | 10-07-2010 |
20100271417 | IMAGE QUALITY MATCHING IN A MIXED PRINT ENGINE ASSEMBLY SYSTEM - A method and system for improved image quality using an image quality matching method is used to match the optical density of single prints produced on multiple print engines by first sensing the optical density of a first image produced on a first print engine and then sensing the optical density of a second image produced on a second print engine before comparing the optical densities and determining if they are substantially equal. If they are not equal set points and exposures are adjusted on one or both print engines until the differences between the optical densities is less than 0.05, preferably 0.03. The density is changed by adjusting the initial voltage on the primary imaging member of at least one print engine and/or by adjusting the exposure of the primary imaging member of at least one print engine. | 10-28-2010 |
20100277540 | Method for Calibration - A method of operating a printhead of an imaging device includes actuating a plurality of ink jets of the printhead to emit drops of ink onto an image receiving surface in accordance with a test pattern. The test pattern includes full pixel density areas and half pixel density areas that alternate in a process direction. Distances in a process direction between drops of the full pixel density areas and drops of the half pixel density areas in transition regions of the test pattern are then measured. The measured process direction distances are then correlated to a graininess level for the printhead. | 11-04-2010 |
20100283813 | ADJUSTING THE CALIBRATION OF A RECORDING APPARATUS WITH RECORDING HEAD MOVEMENT CHANGES - The present invention relates to a method for changing a calibration of a recording apparatus ( | 11-11-2010 |
20100289846 | SYNCHRONIZED SPEED FOR NOZZLE HEALTH SCANNING - A method for nozzle health scanning including repositioning at least one moving platform at a synchronized speed for a drop detection sensor to scan nozzles in a set of nozzles firing, where the synchronized speed is based on a rate of firing from nozzles in the set of nozzles and a distance between the nozzles in the set of nozzles, and storing the health of the nozzles in a computer readable memory accessible by a machine. | 11-18-2010 |
20100289847 | RECORDING MATERIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR RECORDING MATERIAL-CONSUMING APPARATUS; CIRCUIT BOARD; STRUCTURAL BODY; AND INK CARTRIDGE - A circuit board of an ink cartridge is provided with a plurality of terminals, with the contact portions of the plurality of terminals forming a plurality of lines. The contact portions of two terminals used for detecting installation are positioned in a first line, and the contact portion of a power terminal is positioned between the two terminals. The first line may be positioned to a leading side when the ink cartridge is moved in a prescribed direction to effect installation in a printer. Alternatively, the first line may be the line closest to an opening of an ink delivery port. Alternatively, the first line may be the line closest to an ink delivery needle. | 11-18-2010 |
20100302302 | LIQUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS, CONNECTION INSPECTING METHOD OF THE SAME AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - A connection inspecting method is provided to inspect the electrical connection between bumps and lands of a printer provided with an ink-jet head, FPC having the lands electrically connected to the bumps formed for the ink-jet head, and a driver IC. The connection inspecting method includes supplying a connection inspecting signal from the driver IC to the ink-jet head; detecting whether or not the ink liquid droplets are discharged from a certain nozzle; and judging whether or not the connection between the bump and the land corresponding to the certain nozzle is the normal connection. The connection inspecting signal is set so that ink liquid droplets are discharged from nozzles only when the connection between the bumps and the lands is the normal connection. | 12-02-2010 |
20100302303 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CALCULATING RECORD POSITION SHIFTS, AND METHOD OF RECORDING MEASURED PATTERNS - An image recording apparatus records a plurality of measuring patterns on a recording medium. Each measuring pattern is constituted by dots spaced from one another on the recording medium, or by dots contacting one another, forming lines spaced from one another on the recording medium. Further, the measuring patterns have gravity centers are almost identical in position on the recording medium. Hence, the relative record shifts of the measuring patterns recorded by recording element arrays, respectively, can be decreased. | 12-02-2010 |
20100315461 | SENSOR CALIBRATION FOR ROBUST CROSS-PROCESS REGISTRATION MEASUREMENT - Systems and methods are provided for calibrating a sensory array to ensure a robust cross-process registration measurement. The calibration is implemented using a calibration step that determines the signature error amount of a given image reading sensor. The signature error amount for the sensor is stored in a signature error look-up table. When the sensors are used to sense print head alignment, the correction may be implemented by accessing the signature error look-up table for the given sensor when calibrating the print heads. The signature error look-up table provides an amount of offset for each sensor that is used in determining the appropriate head position of a given print head to calibrate the print heads for the signature error associated with the given sensor. | 12-16-2010 |
20100321440 | INKJET HEAD MAINTENANCE METHOD - An inkjet head maintenance method is used in an inkjet printing apparatus, the inkjet printing apparatus includes a control unit, an inkjet head maintenance unit and at least one inkjet head. Firstly, the control unit reads inkjet head maintenance data from a predetermined inkjet head maintenance table. The inkjet head maintenance table includes the inkjet head maintenance data correlating with different printing modes. The inkjet head maintenance data include the number of maintenance times of the inkjet head during a predetermined printing period or a time interval between two adjacent maintenance times of the inkjet head. Next, the control unit issues an inkjet head maintenance command to the inkjet head maintenance unit according to the read inkjet head maintenance data. In response to the inkjet head maintenance command, the inkjet head maintenance unit is controlled to perform an inkjet head maintenance task corresponding to the inkjet head maintenance data. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321441 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND INK DISCHARGE FAILURE DETECTION METHOD - A printing apparatus and ink discharge failure detection method capable of precisely detecting temperature information corresponding to each nozzle are provided. Temperatures of respective electrothermal transducers (heaters) are measured on the basis of outputs from a plurality of sensors corresponding to the respective heaters. The temperatures of the heaters at a predetermined timing during a printing operation are predicted on the basis of the temperature change profiles of the respective heaters that are generated by energizing the heaters. A plurality of thresholds corresponding to nozzle states are generated on the basis of the predicted temperatures and the driving conditions of an inkjet printhead, and it is controlled to execute temperature measurement at the predetermined timing. A temperature measured under the control is compared with the respective generated thresholds, and the nozzle state is identified on the basis of the comparison results. | 12-23-2010 |
20100328394 | MULTIFUNCTIONAL PORTABLE DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM - A multifunctional portable data processing system having print, scan, and copy capabilities includes a portable computer having a housing, a display screen, a input panel, a pointing device, and a data processing unit which may be within or attached to the housing. The data processing unit includes a contact image sensor scan unit and a full page width ink jet printhead unit, an ink container, a paper path, paper feeding and ejecting rollers, control circuitry, and electrical power and standard data protocol data connections with the portable computer. The data processing unit further includes a clock with a clock rate fed to the printhead unit to reduce printing throughput of the printhead unit to approximately 1 to 60 pages per minute. The use of a stationary printhead unit and a reduced clock rate allows full functionality of the print system without sacrificing needed portability. | 12-30-2010 |
20110012953 | LIQUID SUPPLY DEVICES - A liquid supply device includes a liquid cartridge having a liquid chamber that stores a liquid, a cartridge mounting portion, and a level detector that detects a position of a liquid surface of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber. The position of the liquid surface of the liquid is detected to be at one of at least three liquid surface levels. The liquid supply device also includes a determiner that determines that the liquid supply device is in an abnormal state when the position of the liquid surface of the liquid moves up by two or more liquid surface levels and determines that the liquid supply device is not in the abnormal state when the liquid surface of the liquid moves up by one or fewer liquid surface level. | 01-20-2011 |
20110032301 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SERVICING 3D PRINTERS - The invention relates to apparatus and methods for producing three-dimensional objects and auxiliary systems used in conjunction with the aforementioned apparatus and methods. The apparatus and methods involve 3D printing and servicing of the equipment used in the associated 3D printer. | 02-10-2011 |
20110050780 | IMAGE RECORDER - An image recorder includes a driving source generating any of a first-direction force and a second-direction force, a function executing mechanism executing a functional operation, a switching mechanism switching between a first state to allow the function executing mechanism to execute the functional operation and a second state to forbid the function executing mechanism to execute the functional operation, a transmission mechanism transmitting the first-direction force to a feed roller unit and the function executing mechanism and transmitting the second-direction force to the feed roller unit and the switching mechanism, and a controller that after detection of a sheet on a tray, controls the driving source to generate the second-direction force such that the switching mechanism switches to the second state, and thereafter controls the driving source to generate the first-direction force such that the feed roller unit nips the sheet on the tray. | 03-03-2011 |
20110063359 | Real Time Bleed-Though Detection for Continuous Web Printers - An imaging device includes a substantially continuous web of media; a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web along a web path; and a print station positioned along the web path and configured to apply ink to a first side of the continuous web to form images thereon. An image sensor is positioned downstream from the print station along the web path to scan a second side of the continuous web opposite from the first side. The image sensor is configured to generate a reflectance signal indicative of a reflectance of light from the second side of the continuous web. A controller is operably coupled to receive the reflectance signal from the image sensor, and to adjust at least one print process parameter based on the reflectance signal while the imaging device is performing print operations. | 03-17-2011 |
20110063360 | Inkjet print head and method of measuring temperature thereof - An inkjet print head includes a plurality of pressure chambers receiving and storing ink which is to be discharged to a nozzle, a piezoelectric body interposing a membrane with the pressure chamber, the piezoelectric body providing a driving force for discharging ink to each of the pressure chambers, and a measuring unit measuring capacitance of the piezoelectric body so that a temperature of ink being discharged to the nozzle is measured. | 03-17-2011 |
20110069105 | ADJUSTMENT OF A PRINT ARRAY AND A SUBSTRATE IN A PRINTING DEVICE - A method for adjusting a recording substrate and at least one array relative to each other, the array being part of a printing device having a carrying structure for mounting the array. The array has nozzles arranged in a row substantially parallel to a direction for forming second test marks on a recording substrate, the substrate being pre-printed with first test marks. The array and the recording substrate are in an attainable relative position. The method comprises forming a test pattern having the first and second test marks and detecting the locations of the first and second test marks; determining a plurality of deviation factors for a plurality of attainable relative positions based on said detected locations, wherein each one of said deviation factors is an attribute of a distinct attainable relative position and is indicative of an amount by which distances between neighboring first and second marks deviate from a nominal distance; and selecting an attainable relative position among the plurality of attainable relative positions which satisfies a selection criterion applied to the plurality of deviation factors. | 03-24-2011 |
20110074860 | CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR MULTI-PRINTHEAD INK SYSTEMS - A method for calibrating a multi-printhead printing system, the method includes the steps of employing an encoder to track movement of a media through the printing system; providing a first printhead that prints a first image plane that includes a first test mark at a first defined location on the media as the media moves relative to the first printhead; providing a second printhead that prints a second image plane that includes a second test mark at a second defined location on the media as the media moves relative to the second printhead; employing a first image capture device that captures an image that includes both the first and second test marks; determining an error factor based on the placement of the second mark relative to the first mark in the captured image; and creating a frequency-shifted pulse train of the encoder in which the frequency shift is based on the error factor; wherein the first printhead prints the first image plane in response to output of the encoder and the second printhead prints the second image plane in response to the frequency-shifted pulse train of the encoder. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074861 | COLOR TO COLOR REGISTRATION TARGET - A method for calibrating a multi-color inkjet printing system includes using a 3×2 test target array. The test target includes printing a first color three times in which two of the three colors are aligned along a first axis and the third is offset from the first axis and at a midway point between the other two test marks along the other axis. A second test color is aligned with at least one of the first colors along both axes. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074862 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE RECORDING METHOD - An image recording apparatus includes: a recording head having a plurality of recording elements; a conveying device which conveys at least one of the recording head and a recording medium to cause relative movement between the recording head and the recording medium; a density information acquisition device which acquires output density data indicating a recording density of each of the plurality of recording elements; a characteristic computation device which obtains recording information of each of the plurality of recording elements from the output density data acquired by the density information acquisition device; a characteristic storage device which stores characteristic information in an appropriate state of the plurality of recording elements that is set in advance; a comparison device which compares, for each recording element that is able to perform recording on the recording medium, the recording information with the characteristic information stored in the characteristic storage device; a density correction value calculation device which calculates, for each of the plurality of recording elements, a correction value for recording control according to a comparison result of the recording information and the characteristic information obtained by the comparison device; a density correction value modification device which performs modification of the correction value for recording control of a peripheral recording element that performs recording on a periphery of a recording position on the recording medium performed by a detected recording element, from among the plurality of recording elements, for which the recording information is determined to fulfill a predetermined condition with respect to the characteristic information according to the comparison result, the modification being performed according to the characteristic information and the recording information of the detected recording element so as to compensate the recording density of the detected recording element; and an image correction device which performs, for each of the plurality of recording elements, correction of data of an image outputted by the plurality of recording elements onto the recording medium, according to the correction value calculated by the density correction value calculation device and the correction value modified by the density correction value modification device. | 03-31-2011 |
20110096118 | INKJET PRINTER FOR DETECTING THE TYPE OF PRINT MEDIA - An inkjet printer includes a media support defining a surface; an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward the defined surface; a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; a light source directed at the defined surface and positioned on a first side of the defined plane to provide an illuminated portion of the plane extending substantially along the carriage scan direction; a light sensing device mounted on the movable platform on a second side of the defined plane that is opposite the first side, which sensing device functions to sense media type by sensing light emitted from the light source and transmitted across the defined plane and to light sensing device; memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; and a processor for comparing signals from the light sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type. | 04-28-2011 |
20110096119 | DROPLET DISCHARGE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DROPLET DISCHARGE DEVICE - A droplet discharge device is adapted to perform drawing of droplets of functional liquid from a functional droplet discharge head onto a workpiece in a drawing area, and to perform discharge inspection of the functional droplet discharge head in an inspection area, which is separated from the drawing area. The droplet discharge device includes a positioning stage, a flushing unit and an inspection stage disposed in this order along a common movement axis passing through the drawing area and the inspection area so that the inspection stage is disposed at a position closer to the inspection area. An image recognition device is disposed in the inspection area. A movement mechanism is arranged to move the positioning stage, the flushing unit and the inspection stage along the common movement axis. The movement mechanism is arranged to move the inspection stage independently of the positioning stage and the flushing unit. | 04-28-2011 |
20110109685 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE APPARATUS - In at least one of the period when the conveying speed of a continuous record medium is accelerated until the conveying speed reaches a constant speed and the period when the conveying speed is decelerated to stop conveying the continuous record medium, a test pattern is recorded on the continuous record medium by a first image recording unit and a second image recording unit. The pattern is read by a first detection unit and a second detection unit, and a record check unit determines whether or not there is a record error in the test pattern. | 05-12-2011 |
20110141182 | METHOD OF POSITION DETECTION WITH TWO-DIMENSIONAL SENSOR IN PRINTER - A method for monitoring relative position of a carriage and a recording medium in an inkjet printing system having a roller for advancing the recording medium along a recording medium advance direction, the method includes sending light from a light source toward at least a portion of the roller; receiving reflected light in a two-dimensional sensor mounted on the carriage; sending a signal from the two-dimensional sensor to a controller, wherein the signal indicates the pattern of reflected light received by the two-dimensional sensor; comparing the received signal by the controller to a signal stored in memory; and calculating a shift between the received signal and the signal stored in memory. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141183 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND LANDING-LOCATION ADJUSTMENT METHOD - The present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus recording image data by using recording heads that can be separately attached to and/or detached from the inkjet recording apparatus, wherein the attachment and/or detachment of each of the recording heads is detected, and only a pattern used to adjust the displacement of the landing location of the attached and/or detached recording head alone and a pattern used to adjust the displacement between the landing locations of recording heads including the attached and/or detached recording head are recorded. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141184 | Dot Omission Inspection Method Used in Printing Apparatus and the Printing Apparatus - Provided is a dot omission inspection method used in a printing apparatus for forming an image constituted by dots of photo-curable ink. A normal print process including performing liquid droplet discharge of causing a liquid droplet of the photo-curable ink to be landed on a medium, performing provisional curing of irradiating the liquid droplet landed on the medium using light from a first light source to be provisionally cured thereby suppressing flowing of the liquid droplet, and performing main curing of irradiating a liquid droplet provisionally cured using light from a second light source to be fixed on the medium, and an inspection print process including performing the main curing after the liquid droplet of the photo-curable ink landed on the medium by the liquid droplet discharge is not subjected to the provisional curing and is flowed on the medium to increase the surface area of the liquid droplet, are selectively performed. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141185 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - In multipass printing, a mask pattern which increases the degree of dot dispersion in each pass is used for a combination of inks for increasing glossiness when printing an image. Contrary, a mask pattern which decreases the degree of dot dispersion in each pass is used for a combination of inks for decreasing glossiness. Thus, an entire image can be made uniformly glossy by suppressing gloss unevenness within the image. | 06-16-2011 |
20110148974 | COMPUTER BASED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING PAGE PLACEMENT ON A CONTINUOUS FEED PRINT ENGINE - A system for adjusting page placement on a continuous feed print engine. The engine includes: a feed system for displacing a continuous sheet of material in a process direction; and at least one printhead with a plurality of ink ejectors. The system includes at least one specially programmed computer with a processor and memory element. The processor receives ejector data regarding a defective ink ejector. The ejector data includes a position for the ejector in a transverse direction. The memory element stores the ejector data. The processor: receives print data including positions, in the transverse direction, for pixels on the page; creates, using the processor and the print data, a logical page; and creates, using the processor and the ejector data, a logical sheet by positioning the logical page in the traverse direction such that the ejector and the respective pixels are out of alignment in the process direction. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148975 | Dot Missing Inspection Method of Printing Device and Printing Device - A method of inspecting presence/absence of dot missing in a printing device for discharging and impacting liquid droplets of a light curable ink from nozzles onto a medium, irradiating light to the impacted liquid droplets so as to cure the liquid droplets, and forming an image formed of minute dots on the medium includes, at the printing device, discharging and impacting the liquid droplets of the light curable ink from the nozzles onto the medium, irradiating light including a predetermined wavelength component for curing the light curable ink toward the liquid droplets impacted on the medium, at a light receiving unit, selectively receiving the predetermined wavelength component from reflected light of the irradiated light and outputting a received light intensity signal, and determining the presence/absence of the dot missing based on the received light intensity signal output from the light receiving unit and outputting inspection result data indicating the determination result. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148976 | RECORDING HEAD AND RECORDING APPARATUS, AND INSPECTION APPARATUS OF RECORDING HEAD AND METHOD THEREOF - A temperature detection circuit acquires first temperature data detected by a temperature sensor corresponding to a heater of a recording head in a state in which no electric current is flowed into the heater, and second temperature data for the heater in a state in which an electric current is flowed into the heater. Correction data for correcting the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor is obtained based on the first and second temperature data. The temperature data detected by the temperature sensor is corrected based on the correction data. | 06-23-2011 |
20110157273 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE CHARACTER WIDTH OF CHARACTERS CONSTRUCTED FROM PRINTED DOTS IN A PRINTING OR COPYING DEVICE - In a method to determine a character width of characters from printed dots in a printing or copying device the printed dots are generated at a location of individual printed elements of a print raster made up of printed elements. In a first raster cell of the print raster a first test pattern is generated that does not cover an entire area from multiple printed dots, and the first raster cell is measured for areal coverage. In a second raster cell of the print raster a second test pattern is generated that does not cover an entire area in which the printed dots are arranged at least in part at different printed element locations in comparison to the first test pattern, and the second test pattern is measured for areal coverage. A ratio of the areal coverages is calculated and the printed dot size is calculated with aid of the ratio. Alternatively instead of measuring areal coverage with respect to the first and second test patterns, toner quantity is measured. | 06-30-2011 |
20110175962 | PRINTING CONTROL DEVICE, PRINTING DEVICE, AND PRINTING CONTROL METHOD - A control device for a printer includes a master controller and a slave controller, and the constituent elements of the master controller and the slave controllers are configured symmetrically. The master controller includes a virtual mechanical controller. | 07-21-2011 |
20110175963 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND ABNORMALITY DETECTION METHOD FOR LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD - An inkjet recording apparatus may include a liquid discharge head and a control unit. The liquid discharge head includes a heat generation resistor to generate thermal energy used for discharging liquid and a protection film disposed in at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the heat generation resistor. The control unit measures a minimum energy value required by the heat generation resistor to discharge liquid. In addition, the control unit stops discharge operation of the liquid discharge head when at least one of the energy value and a statistical value of the energy value is less than a threshold. | 07-21-2011 |
20110181651 | INK-JET APPLICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A film paid out from a feed side film roll is conveyed so that an application target area of the film is located on a suction table in an application portion. Image-capturing cameras are disposed so as to be adjacent to ink-jet application heads so that one application head and one image-capturing camera are integrated with each other in terms of position of installation to form one application head unit portion. Each application head unit portion is moved above the suction table by a three-dimensionally movable XYZ-direction driving unit. A position where application will be performed next is image-captured by each of the image-capturing cameras in advance during the applying operation due to each of the application heads. A result of image capturing by each of the image-capturing cameras is processed by an image processing unit. | 07-28-2011 |
20110181652 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND MAINTENANCE METHOD THEREOF - An actual measurement value indicating an ejection state of ink ejected from nozzles is measured, the actual measurement value is compared with a first threshold value and a second threshold value which are set for each ink color to determine which is the ejection state of the ink among three states of a normal state, a clogged state, and an unstable ejection state between the normal state and the clogged state, which are distinguished by the first threshold value and the second threshold value, and different maintenance operations are performed in accordance with a determination result. | 07-28-2011 |
20110187784 | LIQUID EJECTION DEVICE - A liquid ejection device includes: a recording head for ejecting an ultraviolet curable ink onto continuous paper so that an image corresponding to liquid ejection data is formed on the continuous paper; an ultraviolet radiation device in which a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs for radiating ultraviolet rays onto the ink deposited on the continuous paper by ejection from the recording head are aligned along a direction that intersects the relative movement direction of the continuous paper; a camera for acquiring the image formed on the continuous paper as image data along the alignment direction of the ultraviolet LEDs, based on the ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation device; and a control device for comparing the image data acquired by the camera with the liquid ejection data and distinguishing the quality of the ultraviolet LEDs based on the comparison results. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187785 | IMAGE RECORDING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An image recording method of recording a desired image on a recording medium by a recording head having recording elements which form pixels on the recording medium, while moving at least one of the recording medium and the recording head relatively to each other in a prescribed conveyance direction, the method includes: a defective recording element information acquisition step of acquiring defective recording element information including position information of defective recording elements included in the recording elements; and a defective recording element compensation step of performing compensation for the defective recording elements by using compensation recording elements in accordance with a distance between a pair of the defective recording elements derived from the position information, the compensation recording elements being of normal recording elements included in the recording elements situated nearby the pair of the defective recording elements. | 08-04-2011 |
20110199419 | FLUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A fluid ejecting apparatus that has a nozzle row provided with a plurality of nozzles and a fluid ejection head ejecting a fluid from the nozzle row is provided. The fluid ejecting apparatus includes a linear absorption member that is provided movable and is extended along the nozzle row, and a traveling mechanism that causes the absorption member to move. The traveling mechanism includes a delivery rotating body that drives out the absorption member, a winding-rotating body that winds up the absorption member, a tension regulating member that applies a predetermined tension to the absorption member and is displaced according to the tension of the absorption member, and a sensor portion that detects the displacement of the tension regulating member and controls rotations of the delivery rotating body and the winding-rotating body. | 08-18-2011 |
20110205283 | DROPLET DETECTING DEVICE AND INKJET PRINTER - Provided is an ink detecting module ( | 08-25-2011 |
20110211011 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus including a supply unit configured to supply a sheet, a recording unit configured to perform recording by discharging a plurality of colors of inks onto the sheet, a reading unit configured to read out an image of the sheet, a drying unit configured to dry the sheet on which recording is provided by the recording unit, and a control unit configured to perform control so as to record an inspection pattern onto the sheet by the recording unit and so as to readout the inspection pattern of the sheet by the reading unit after the sheet on which the inspection pattern is recorded passes through the drying unit in order to acquire inspection data of the inspection pattern of the sheet. | 09-01-2011 |
20110216120 | Universal closed loop color control - A system and processes for the accurate measurement and control of image color values on a printing press with or without the presence of a color bar. More particularly, a universal closed loop color control system and processes for controlling the color quality of color images printed on a substrate online or offline, with or without a color bar printed on the substrate. The system may be run in a “Color Bar Mode” and scan simple rectangular color patches corresponding to each ink key in the print units, or can run in “Gray Spot Mode” and maintain overall target ink density values on the substrate as well as gray balance if the job has critical half tone images, or if the color bar is obtrusive on the job. | 09-08-2011 |
20110227988 | FINE PATTERN POSITION DETECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS, DEFECTIVE NOZZLE DETECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND LIQUID EJECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS - A fine pattern position detection method includes: a reading step of reading line patterns formed on a recording medium, at a prescribed read pixel pitch in a prescribed reading direction to acquire read data; a read pixel position acquisition step of acquiring from the read data corresponding positions of the line patterns based on the read pixel pitch; a characteristic value acquisition step of acquiring, from the read data, characteristic values at the corresponding positions of the line patterns and characteristic values at adjacent pixel positions which are adjacent to each of the corresponding positions of the line patterns according to the read pixel pitch; a candidate position output step of applying the characteristic values at the corresponding positions of the line patterns and the characteristic values at the adjacent pixel positions, to a position table in which the characteristic value at each of the corresponding positions of the line patterns and the characteristic values at the adjacent pixel positions are associated with a candidate position which is a candidate position having highest possibility of arrangement of each of the line patterns and which is assigned at a distance shorter than the read pixel pitch from the corresponding position of each of the line patterns, so as to output the candidate position of each of the line patterns; and a recording position acquisition step of calculating a recording position of each of the line patterns on the recording medium, from the corresponding position of each of the line patterns based on the read pixel pitch and the output candidate position of each of the line patterns. | 09-22-2011 |
20110227989 | METHOD OF ADJUSTING OPTICAL AXIS OF INK DROPLET DETECTING DEVICE, METHOD OF ASSEMBLING INK DROPLET DETECTING DEVICE, AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING OPTICAL AXIS - After a light emitting element holder is rotated, it is detected from the output value of a position adjusting light receiving element that a light beam formed by light emitted from a light emitting element is incident on a positioning target provided in a light emitting element. The light emitting element holder is duly fixed to a base member. When the incidence of the light beam on the positioning target is not detected from the output value of the position adjusting light receiving element even though the light emitting element holder is rotated, a light receiving element holder is made to slide for height adjustment and the light emitting element holder is rotated again. The adjustment of the height of the light receiving element holder and the adjustment of the rotation of the light emitting element holder are repeated until the light beam is incident on the positioning target. | 09-22-2011 |
20110234676 | METHOD OF PRINTING TEST PATTERN AND INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - A test pattern is printed for ascertaining ejection characteristics of nozzles arranged in a recording head in an inkjet recording apparatus which forms and records a desired image on a recording medium by performing ejection of droplets of liquid from the nozzles and deposition of the droplets onto the recording medium. Ejection of droplets of the liquid from the recording head is performed by applying, to the recording head, a drive signal having a test waveform in which at least one of a voltage, a frequency and a waveform shape is altered with respect to a drive signal having a recording waveform which is applied to the recording head when the desired image is formed, to thereby perform the ejection with an increased ejection force compared with a case where the drive signal having the recording waveform is applied; and the test pattern is formed by the ejected droplets. | 09-29-2011 |
20110234677 | CORRECTION VALUE ACQUISITION METHOD, CORRECTION VALUE ACQUISITION PROGRAM, AND LIQUID EJECTION RECORDING APPARATUS - A correction value acquisition method includes: forming parts of a test pattern and a linear scale on a medium of which a length in a predetermined direction is shorter than a length of the test pattern in the predetermined direction; detecting positions of the scales of the linear scale from image data obtained by reading the test pattern and the linear scale; obtaining a read density of the image data; and calculating a correction value based on the read density. | 09-29-2011 |
20110242186 | Test Pattern Effective For Coarse Registration Of Inkjet Printheads And Method Of Analysis Of Image Data Corresponding To The Test Pattern In An Inkjet Printer - A test pattern printed by printheads in an inkjet printer enables image analysis of the test pattern that identifies positions of the printheads and the inkjets operating in the printheads. The test pattern includes a plurality of arrangements of dashes, each arrangement of dashes having a predetermined number of rows and a predetermined number of columns, each dash in a row of dashes in the arrangement of dashes being separated by a first predetermined distance and each dash in a column of dashes in the arrangement of dashes being separated by a second predetermined distance, each dash in a column of an arrangement of dashes being ejected by a single inkjet ejector in a printhead of the inkjet printer, and a plurality of unprinted areas interspersed between the plurality of arrangements of dashes. | 10-06-2011 |
20110242187 | Test Pattern Effective For Fine Registration Of Inkjet Printheads And Method Of Analysis Of Image Data Corresponding To The Test Pattern In An Inkjet Printer - A method analyzes image data corresponding to a test pattern generated on an image receiving member by a printer to identify positions for and registration between printheads in the printer. The method includes identifying a process direction position for each row of dashes in a plurality of rows of dashes in image data of a test pattern printed on an image receiving member, the test pattern being formed by each printhead in a printer forming at least one dash in each row of dashes in the plurality of rows of dashes, identifying a center of each dash in a cross-process direction, identifying an inkjet ejector that formed each dash in the row of dashes, identifying a process direction position for each printhead in the printer, identifying a cross-process displacement for each column of printheads, identifying a stitch displacement in the cross-process direction between neighboring printheads in a print bar unit that print a same color of ink, and operating an actuator to move at least some of the printheads in the printer with reference to the identified process direction positions, cross-process displacements, and the identified stitch displacements. | 10-06-2011 |
20110242188 | Recording Apparatus - A recording apparatus includes a recording unit, a conveying unit disposed below the recording unit, a return path unit configured to return the recording medium from the upstream side of the recording unit to the conveying unit, and a casing. The return path unit is disposed below the conveying unit and includes a horizontal conveying path including an upper portion and a lower portion. Side walls of the casing includes a drawing port through which the conveying unit and at least the upper portion of the horizontal conveying path are drawn out, and an opening facing in a direction perpendicular to the drawing direction thereof. The inner edge of the lower end of the opening is positioned the same or lower in height than the uppermost portion of the horizontal conveying path in the return path unit. | 10-06-2011 |
20110261105 | INDICATION OF PRINT MEDIA QUALITY TO PRINTER USERS - A printing system for indicating print media quality to printer users includes a printing assembly configured to route print media along a pathway for printing. In an example, the system includes, but is not limited to, a thermal printer having a thermal print head for printing onto paper. The system also includes a light meter configured to detect light reflected from the print media, such as the paper. The light meter also measures a characteristic of the detected light. An indicator is coupled to the light meter, and configured to present a quality level of the print media to a user based on the measured characteristic of the detected light. | 10-27-2011 |
20110273507 | PRINTHEAD AND PRINTING APPARATUS - This invention is directed to real time detection of occurrence of a transfer error and feedback of the detection result to a printing apparatus in consideration of a possible risk that a signal transfer error occurs on a transfer path that becomes longer as the printhead is elongated. To accomplish this, in a printhead configured by cascade-connecting a plurality of element substrates, information of a transfer error detected in real time in each element substrate during transfer of a print data signal is output to an element substrate on the next stage by taking account of information input from an element substrate on the preceding stage. Information containing pieces of information from all element substrates is output from an element substrate on the final stage. | 11-10-2011 |
20110279513 | Method And System For Printhead Alignment To Compensate For Dimensional Changes In A Media Web In An Inkjet Printer - 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. | 11-17-2011 |
20110304668 | COLOR CONSISTENCY FOR A MULTI-PRINTHEAD SYSTEM - A printing system using multiple printheads maintains color consistency between the printheads by printing a first color patch ( | 12-15-2011 |
20110310159 | INKJET APPARATUS AND METHOD OF JUDGING REPLACEMENT TIMING FOR COMPONENTS OF THE APPARATUS - In an inkjet apparatus using an inkjet head ejecting multiple types of inks different in viscosity after evaporation of solvent, a replacement timing for a component is judged by using a consumption amount of each type of ink and a generation rate in amount of ink droplets. Accordingly, in the case of using a large amount of ink strongly susceptible to fixed adhesion and increase in viscosity, the component is replaced at an earlier timing, which prevents fixed adhesion from influencing the print performance and the printing apparatus main body. By contrast, in the case of using a large amount of ink less susceptible to fixed adhesion and increase in viscosity, the component is replaced at a later timing and thus can be used until reaching its lifetime. | 12-22-2011 |
20110310160 | INKJET APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR JUDGING REPLACEMENT TIMING FOR COMPONENTS OF THE APPARATUS - In an inkjet apparatus capable of ejecting an ink and a treatment liquid for insolubilizing or coagulating a color material in the ink, a replacement timing for a component of the apparatus is judged based on both the consumption amounts of the ink and treatment liquid measured when the two are consumed together and the consumption amount of the ink measured when the ink is consumed alone. Thus, the component is replaced at an earlier timing when the influence of fixed adhesion is great due to frequent ejection of both of the ink and treatment liquid, which prevents fixed adhesion from influencing the print performance and the printing apparatus main body. By contrast, when the fixed adhesion slowly develops because of less-frequent ejection of both of the ink and treatment liquid, the component is replaced at a later timing and thus can be used until reaching its lifetime. | 12-22-2011 |
20110316925 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD OF INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS - An inkjet printing apparatus includes: an inkjet head having nozzles which eject ink; a first conveyance device which moves at least one of an image formation medium and the inkjet head during image formation by the inkjet head; a second conveyance device which conveys the image formation medium along a conveyance path after the image formation by the inkjet head; an imaging device; a test pattern printing control device which controls ejection of the inkjet head; an ejection failure nozzle detection processing device; an expansion-contraction reference mark printing control device; an expansion-contraction deformation amount measurement device; an image deformation processing device which applies image deformation processing corresponding to the amount of deformation due to expansion and contraction, to image data to be printed on the second surface,; and a print control device which carries out the printing on the second surface on a basis of the image data which has been corrected through the image deformation processing. | 12-29-2011 |
20120001977 | PROVIDING UNIFORM ILLUMINATION TO A MOVING SENSOR - A method for providing uniform or substantially uniform illumination to a field of view of a light sensing device that is moving with respect to a light source, the method comprises the steps of (a) providing an inkjet printhead to eject ink for printing; (b) providing a monitor to track the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source; and (c) providing an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in a manner that provides substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device. | 01-05-2012 |
20120001978 | PRINTER WITH UNIFORM ILLUMINATION FOR MEDIA IDENTIFICATION - An inkjet printer includes (a) a media support defining a surface; (b) an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward a print region proximate the defined surface; (c) a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; (d) a monitor for tracking the position of the carriage; (e) a light source directed toward the defined surface; (f) a light sensing device mounted on the movable carriage; and (g) an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in order to provide substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device. | 01-05-2012 |
20120007910 | Apparatus for inspecting inkjet head - Disclosed herein is an apparatus for inspecting an inkjet head. The apparatus for inspecting an inkjet head includes a scan unit that is connected to the piezoelectric actuator of an inkjet head to measure whether the capacitance of the piezoelectric actuator is changed; a pulse input unit that applies high voltage pulses to the scan unit; a switching unit that connects or disconnects the scan unit to or from the piezoelectric actuator and the pulse input unit; and a controller that controls the switching unit to connect the scan unit to the piezoelectric actuator and the pulse input unit and receives the information on whether the capacitance of the piezoelectric actuator is changed according to the applied high voltage pulse from the scan unit to determine whether the piezoelectric actuator is abnormal. | 01-12-2012 |
20120013674 | Virtual Pen Calibration - 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. | 01-19-2012 |
20120019586 | AUTOMATIC PRINTING OUTPUT INSPECTION DEVICE FOR OPTIC DISC AND PRINTER AND DISC WRITER INCORPORATING SAME - Disclosed are an automatic printing output inspection device for optic disc and a printer and a disc writer incorporating the device. The automatic inspection device includes an image taking unit that takes an image of printing output of an optic disc, which is then processed by an image processing unit and compared by a comparison and identification unit with an original source of patterns to determine printing quality of the image. When it is determined that the printing quality does not match the original source, an alarm and feed-back unit is actuated to issue alarm notification for facilitating subsequent handling. Through the automatic inspection, printing quality of an optic disc can be efficiently inspected and products with poor printing can be identified for timely notification that helps saving waste of material, improving efficiency of printing output of optic disc, and saving human labor and time for inspection. | 01-26-2012 |
20120033007 | PRINTING POSITION ALIGNMENT METHOD AND PRINTING APPARATUS - Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value. | 02-09-2012 |
20120044294 | LIQUID EJECTION HEAD THAT PERFORMS RECORDING BY EJECTING LIQUID AND METHOD OF INSPECTING LIQUID EJECTION HEAD - A liquid ejection head includes a member having ejection ports and dummy ejection ports. The ejection ports are provided in correspondence with energy-generating elements used in ejecting liquid. The dummy ejection ports are provided in correspondence with a light-receiving element outputting current whose level changes in accordance with the intensity of light applied thereto. By detecting the level of current that is output from the light-receiving element, the shapes of the ejection ports are estimated. | 02-23-2012 |
20120056928 | METHOD AND PRINTING SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING JET DETECTION - Disclosed is a user interface associated with a printing system and a method of using the user interface to select a profile for jet detection. The printing system has a plurality of jets for outputting test images and document images and a jet detection device with at least one or more sensors for reading the output test images to detect faulty jets. The user interface provides a plurality of profiles for the jet detection device for selection. Each profile has a plurality of predetermined conditions that cause a test image to be printed at a particular location and analyzed. For example, a profile can include a time and a location for printing output test images using one or more of the plurality of jets. Thus, a user can control the conditions for outputting test images and determining missing or faulty jets within the system. | 03-08-2012 |
20120062641 | REFLEX PRINTING - The present disclosure provides for an imaging system comprising an image receiving surface which is moved in a downstream direction; a first marking station which applies a first image to the image receiving surface; and, a second marking station, downstream of the first marking station, which applies a second image to the image receiving surface. The imaging system further comprises a first measuring device at a first location at a beginning of a platen which outputs velocity measurement information related to the moving image receiving surface; a second measuring device at a second location at an end of the platen which outputs tension measurement information related to a tension increase in the media receiving surface between the first and second locations; and, a control system in communication with the first and second marking stations, the control system being configured for determining a modified actuation time of at least one of the first and second marking stations based on the information provided by the first and second measuring devices. | 03-15-2012 |
20120062642 | INKJET PRINTER WITH DOT ALIGNMENT VISION SYSTEM - Image processing of printed patterns of arrays of dots generated by an array of inkjet heads uses a vision system, including an HD color camera that can be a fixed focus or include autofocus and zoom capabilities. Pattern recognition techniques are used to analyze as many patterns as necessary to perform multiple alignment functions, such as dot size, shape, and integrity; unidirectional, bidirectional, and step alignments; physical position and straightness of jet packs; flatness of platen or media belt; mapping imperfections in rods and rails of guiding systems; and checking jet alignments from a reference jet to all other jet packs. From such image analysis, correction values are generated that are used to effect manual or automatic adjustment of the inkjet heads physical position, voltage, temperature, and firing pulse timing and/or duration; and to position the printed dots fired from the nozzles in the inkjet heads in the appropriate position. | 03-15-2012 |
20120062643 | Image forming apparatus, image forming method, pattern forming method and recording medium - A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a recording head having nozzles discharging ink droplets to form dots on a recording medium based on image data supplied thereto. The image forming apparatus includes a detector configured to detect a defective nozzle that discharges a defective ink droplet forming an expected defective dot, a focus region setting unit configured to set a focus region including a position of the expected defective dot to be formed of the defective ink droplet discharged by the detective nozzle, and a rearranging unit configured to rearrange, when the defective nozzle is detected by the detector, the dots in the focus region based on a slope of a line image expressed by the supplied image data in the focus region and values indicating respective sizes of the dots in the focus region. | 03-15-2012 |
20120069079 | DISCHARGE RATE CONTROL METHOD FOR INK-JET PRINTER, INK SPREAD INSPECTING METHOD, AND ORIENTED FILM FORMING METHOD - Discharge rate control method for ink-jet printer | 03-22-2012 |
20120075378 | QUANTITATION AND ANALYSIS OF DROPLETS EJECTED FROM AN INKJET DEVICE - A method for determining either the mass of one or more drops dispensed from an inkjet dispensing device or the concentration of dissolved solutes form one or more drops of a liquid of interest dispensed from an inkjet dispensing device utilizes UV visible spectroscopy. The UV absorption spectra o the constituents of the solution may be compared to predetermined calibration curves to accurately determine mass and concentrations of a single drop. | 03-29-2012 |
20120081449 | INKJET PRINTER, IMAGE PROCESSOR, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In the present invention, a first calculation unit calculates, based on image data obtained by reading with a reading unit a plurality of patches formed on a printing medium by a plurality of nozzle regions constituting nozzle array of a printing head, respective color specification values of a plurality of correction regions corresponding to a plurality of nozzle regions constituting the nozzle array. Then, a target value setting unit sets, based on the calculated color specification values of the plurality of correction regions, a target color specification value of the patch. Further, a second calculation unit calculates a difference between each of the color specification values of the plurality of correction regions and the target color specification value as a correction amount. After that, based on the correction amount calculated, image data corresponding to an image printed by each of the plurality of nozzle regions are corrected. | 04-05-2012 |
20120081450 | TEST PATTERN FORMING METHOD, TRANSPORT ADJUSTING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A test pattern forming method is used in adjustment transport of an image forming apparatus, by the image forming apparatus which includes transport rollers transporting a medium in the sub-scanning direction and a plurality of nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction and repeats the transport and main scanning for moving the plurality of nozzles in the main scanning direction. The method includes forming a plurality of first patterns using a first nozzle among the plurality of nozzles, and forming a plurality of second patterns using a second nozzle among the plurality of nozzles. The plurality of first patterns is formed by repetitive transport of the medium by a first intermittent transport. The plurality of second patterns is formed by repetitive transport of the medium by a second intermittent transport. The acceleration of the first intermittent transport is more gradual than the acceleration of the second intermittent transport. | 04-05-2012 |
20120081451 | PRINTING DEVICE AND PRINTING METHOD - A printing device includes a head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink that hardens under emission of light are arranged, the head being adapted for ejecting the ink from the nozzle row onto a medium that undergoes a relative movement, thereby forming a plurality of dot lines; a light source for emitting light; an adjusting part for adjusting a distance between the head and the light source; a detecting part for detecting a dot width of a given dot line; correction data in which a concentration correction value is defined for every dot line; and a memory part for storing a dot width of the given dot line in relation to when the correction data was created; wherein the distance between the head and the light source is adjusted. | 04-05-2012 |
20120092409 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING MISSING INKJETS IN AN INKJET PRINTER USING IMAGE DATA OF PRINTED DOCUMENTS WITHOUT A PRIORI KNOWLEDGE OF THE DOCUMENTS - A system and method detect missing inkjets in an inkjet image generating system. The system and method generate digital images of printed documents that do not have test pattern data within them. The digital images are processed to detect light streaks and the positions of the light streaks are correlated to inkjet positions in printheads. Identification of the ink color associated with the correlated inkjet positions are obtained with analysis of color separated images and/or color errors. | 04-19-2012 |
20120105533 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING PRINT DENSITY - A method of controlling print density in a printing system includes gathering first data from a first sensor; gathering second data from a second sensor; comparing the first data to the second data; if the first data correlates to the second data no action is required; if the first data deviates from the second data; determine a confidence level for each sensor; identify the sensor with the lowest confidence level; and take corrective action. | 05-03-2012 |
20120113183 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND INKJET RECORDING METHOD - When the width of a recording head is greater than the width of a recording medium having a maximum conveyable width, a recorded image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head cannot be corrected. Multiple correction test patterns are recorded using ejecting ports in part of the recording head, and correction data for correcting an image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head on the basis of the colorimetric result of the test patterns. In this way, image data to be recorded by the ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head is corrected. | 05-10-2012 |
20120113184 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING PRINT HEAD ROLL - A method of detecting print head roll begins with the formation of a test pattern on an image receiving surface. The test pattern includes a plurality of marks arrayed across the image receiving surface in a cross-process direction with each mark in the plurality being formed by a different nozzle of a print head. The cross-process direction positions of each mark in the plurality of marks are then detected; and the detected cross-process direction positions are correlated to a print head roll value for the print head. | 05-10-2012 |
20120120143 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO POSITION A SENSOR - In one embodiment, a media is advanced in the process direction to cause a plurality of fiducials to successively appear within a sensor's focal width. Each fiducial includes a target and a background, with the target superimposed to the background. Each target has a substantially same target width, a substantially same optical density, and a position at a distinct distance from an edge of the media. Each background has an optical density less than the optical density of the targets and greater than an optical density of the media. An optical density for each fiducial is read utilizing the sensor. The target the sensor is most aligned with is discerned by identifying an identified fiducial with the highest-read optical density. Utilizing data indicative of a position of the discerned target relative to a desired position, the sensor is caused to move to the desired position. | 05-17-2012 |
20120120144 | System And Method For Evaluating And Correcting Image Quality In An Image Generating Device - A system evaluates image quality in an image generating system. The system includes a test pattern generator configured to generate an image with an image generating system, an image capture device configured to generate a digital signal corresponding to the generated test pattern, an image evaluator configured to process the digital signal to detect and correct anomalies detected in the generated test pattern, a plurality of calibration tools, each calibration tool being comprised of at least one test pattern, at least one set of detection criteria, and at least one set of anomaly correction parameters, and a controller configured to select the calibration tools for operation of the test pattern generator and the image evaluator in accordance with a predetermined sequence that attenuates changes arising from application of correction parameters of one calibration tool upon a later selected calibration tool. | 05-17-2012 |
20120127230 | Separation of Drive Pulses for Fluid Ejector - A method for causing fluid to be ejected from a fluid chamber of a jet in a printhead. An actuator is actuated with a first energy imparting pulse to push fluid away from the actuator and toward a nozzle. Following a lapse of a first interval, the actuator is actuated with second energy imparting pulse to push fluid away from the actuator and toward the nozzle. Following a lapse of a second interval as measured from the second energy imparting pulse, the actuator is actuated with a break-off pulse to cause fluid extending out of an orifice of the nozzle to break off from fluid within the nozzle, wherein the second lapse is longer than the first lapse and is an inverse of the meniscus-jet mass frequency. | 05-24-2012 |
20120127231 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - An image recording apparatus includes: a sheet conveying unit; an ink ejection head having a nozzle and an ink ejection surface; a pretreatment liquid ejection head; a purge unit; a wiping unit having a wiper; a paper jam detection unit detecting a position when the recording sheet is jammed; and a maintenance control unit, wherein, when the paper jam detection unit detects a paper jam on the downstream side from the pretreatment liquid ejection head, the maintenance control unit performs a first maintenance operation, in which the purge unit discharges ink from the ink ejection head, and the wiping unit wipes the ink ejection surface with the wiper, and in the first maintenance operation, the maintenance control unit performs control such that a discharge amount of ink to be discharged from the ink ejection head decreases or the wiping speed when the ink ejection surface is wiped decreases. | 05-24-2012 |
20120127232 | PRINTING DEVICE - A printing device includes a casing having an opening, a carriage provided to be capable of moving within the casing, a heat-generating part provided inside the casing so as to be positioned deeper in from the opening than the carriage, and a detecting part for detecting the temperature of the interior of the casing; wherein when the detected temperature of the detecting part exceeds a predetermined value, the carriage is stopped at a position covering at least part of the heat-generating part as seen through the opening. | 05-24-2012 |
20120133700 | LIQUID-DISCHARGING DEVICE, INSPECTION METHOD OF LIQUID-DISCHARGING DEVICE, AND PROGRAM - A first discharge inspection part is configured to inspect and judge a first target nozzle regarding whether or not the first target nozzle discharges the liquid, and is configured to again inspect the first target nozzle if noise is detected. A second discharge inspection part is configured to inspect and judge a second target nozzle regarding whether or not the second target nozzle discharges the liquid, and is configured to again inspect the second target nozzle if noise is detected. The first discharge inspection part and the second discharge inspection part inspect the first target nozzle and the second target nozzle in parallel. The first target nozzle and the second target nozzle shift, if the first target nozzle has been judged, regardless of or not the noise is detected during the first target nozzle being again inspected. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133701 | Position Detecting Device, Liquid Ejecting Apparatus and Method of Detecting Smear of Scale - A position detecting device for detecting a position of an object, includes a light emitting portion that emits light, a light receiving portion that receives the light from the light emitting portion, and a scale that is arranged between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and includes a position detecting pattern and a smear detecting pattern. The position detecting pattern has a first light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a first light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged in a detection range of the object. The smear detecting pattern for detecting smear of the scale has a second light transmitting portion for transmitting the light from the light emitting portion and a second light interception portion for intercepting the light from the light emitting portion which are alternately arranged. | 05-31-2012 |
20120139990 | Print Head Vacuum Relief Mechanism - A method is disclosed. The method includes monitoring a sensor for measured vacuum pressure within a print head, determining if the vacuum pressure measured at the sensor is less than a predetermined pressure threshold and indicating that the print head is ready to be decoupled from the maintenance station if the measured vacuum pressure is less than the predetermined pressure threshold. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139991 | PRINTER FOR DETERMINING PAPER TYPE USING REFLECTION - A printer that determines paper type includes one or more short and long wavelength radiation sources sequentially outputting a short wavelength radiation and a long wavelength radiation onto a paper that reflects the long wavelength radiation and the short wavelength radiation is absorbed by a fluorescent compound in the paper resulting in the emission of long wavelength fluorescent radiation; a first detector that detects a long wavelength fluorescence signal resulting from the short wavelength source and a reflectance signal resulting from the long wavelength source; and a lookup table that determines a paper type from a plurality of paper types based on the fluorescence signal and reflectance signals. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139992 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a head tank and a main tank that sends liquid to the head tank. When the remaining ink amount in the main tank is less than or equal to a predetermined amount (near empty), the liquid sending amount to be sent from the main tank to the head tank required for detecting a full state of the head tank is set to be a second liquid sending amount which is greater than a usual first liquid sending amount. An ink supply operation is performed to send liquid corresponding to the second liquid sending amount, from the main tank to the head tank. Then, it is determined whether the head tank is in a full state. When the head tank is not in a full state, the main tank is determined to be in an ink empty state. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139993 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus including a recording head that discharges UV ink onto a recording material and an ultraviolet light irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet light to the discharged UV ink so as to harden the UV ink; further includes a failure diagnostic unit that diagnoses a failure condition of the ultraviolet light irradiation unit and a controller that controls operations of the recording head, the ultraviolet light irradiation unit, and the failure diagnostic unit. Further, the controller is so configured as to change the operation mode of the recording apparatus to a failure-state mode when the ultraviolet light irradiation unit has been diagnosed as a failure by the failure diagnostic unit. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139994 | NAPHTHALOCYANINE DYE AND INK CONTAINING THE SAME - The present disclosure includes naphthalocyanine dyes or fused naphthalocyanine dyes represented by one of the general structures I to XV; inkjet ink formulations including the naphthalocyanine dyes; and a detection system ( | 06-07-2012 |
20120147081 | FOREIGN OBJECT DETECTION DEVICE, FOREIGN OBJECT DETECTION METHOD, DROPLET DISCHARGING DEVICE, AND DROPLET DISCHARGING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a foreign object detection device includes a signal generator, a transmitter, a receiver, a storage section, and a detection section. A signal generator configured to generate an electrical signal. A transmitter configured to convert the electrical signal from the signal generator and to generate a pressure wave in a liquid. A receiver configured to receive a reflection wave from the liquid and to convert it to an electrical signal. A storage section configured to store information on a state of absence of a foreign object in the liquid. A detection section configured to detect at least one of presence or absence of the foreign object and size of the foreign object based on difference between the electrical signal converted from the reflection wave and an electrical signal based on the stored information. | 06-14-2012 |
20120147082 | Image Forming Apparatus, Method of Processing Image, And Computer-Readable Recording Medium - An image forming apparatus includes a joint head in which a plurality of heads, each having a plurality of nozzles, are arranged in a nozzle arranging direction, and end portions of the heads adjacent to each other overlap, an overlap processing unit that distributes recording dot pattern data used for forming dots by using nozzles of an overlapping portion of the heads out of recording dot pattern data to the nozzles of the recording head adjacent to each other, a first tone correcting unit that performs tone correction, by a first correction characteristic, on recording dot pattern data using the nozzles other than the overlapping portion, and a second tone correcting unit that performs tone correction by a second correction characteristic on recording dot pattern data by using the nozzles of the overlapping portion. | 06-14-2012 |
20120154477 | DEFECTIVE RECORDING ELEMENT DETECTING APPARATUS, DEFECTIVE RECORDING ELEMENT DETECTING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A defective recording element detecting apparatus includes: an image signal acquiring device which acquires read image signals obtained by reading, a linear test pattern recorded by an image recording apparatus having: a recording head and a medium conveying device which causes relative movement between a recording medium and the recording head in a signal decomposing device which sequentially assigns reading pixel numbers 0 to n to the acquired read image signals, divides the reading pixel numbers by an analysis pitch unit PS to obtain remainders, and decomposes the read image signals into an image signal of each of the obtained remainders; a fluctuation signal calculating device which calculates a fluctuation signal of each of the remainders; and an identifying device which identifies a defective recording element among the plurality of recording elements based on the fluctuation signal of each of the remainders. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154478 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus is an apparatus that performs color printing using an inkjet system, and includes a scanning mechanism by which a printing medium is moved in a scanning direction, and an ejection unit that ejects minute ink droplets toward the printing medium that is being conveyed by the scanning mechanism. In the printing apparatus, an image capturing part captures an image of a page identifier printed on each page of a printing medium, and an inspection part compares a page identification result acquired from an output of the image capturing part with page identification information included in print data. Since the page identifier includes single-color parts that are each printed with only an ink of a respective one of a plurality of colors used in the printing apparatus, a printing defect can be quickly detected during inspection of the first page in which the printing defect has occurred, irrespective of with which ink color out of the plurality of colors the printing defect has occurred. | 06-21-2012 |
20120169805 | SENSOR - A sensor device including a base, first and second proximity sensors mounted to the base at a pre-determined distance from one another, and circuitry programmed to determine presence and speed of an article passing by the sensor device based upon signaled information from the proximity sensors. | 07-05-2012 |
20120188304 | INKJET PRINT APPARATUS AND INKJET CONTROL METHOD - When performing at least one of preliminary ejection or a suction unit as a countermeasure against adhering ink that accumulates in the portion where preliminary ejection is performed, the preliminary ejection amount and suction speed of the suction unit are optimized. An inkjet print apparatus that prints by using a printing head for ejecting ink, comprising: an ejecting unit; a sucking unit; a measuring unit that measures an elapsed time after the sucking unit is performed; and a control unit that control ejection by the ejecting unit or sucking by the sucking unit according to the elapsed time measured in the measuring unit; wherein as the elapsed time becomes longer, the amount of ink that is ejected to the ink receiving unit in the ejecting unit is increased or a suction speed at which the ink is sucked in the sucking unit is increased. | 07-26-2012 |
20120194599 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS - An inkjet printing apparatus is provided that can establish a test pattern detection region according to the printing format, where performing printing by way of a margined printing and a marginless printing is possible. The inkjet printing apparatus detects the position of both ends of the test pattern. In the case of a margined printing, a detection of the ink ejection status is performed with respect to ejection ports that perform printing at a region between both ends of the margined test pattern, and that eject the ink forming the pixels of the margined test pattern. In the case of a marginless printing, a detection of the ink ejection status is performed with respect to ejection ports that perform printing at a region between both ends of the marginless test pattern, and that eject the ink forming the pixels of the marginless test pattern. | 08-02-2012 |
20120194600 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS - There is provided a technique that, even if an image distortion is generated in an image acquired by reading out a test pattern by reading device, an analysis region of a pattern for detecting an ejection state of a nozzle is accurately set to determine the ejection state of the nozzle. There are provided control device for controlling the reading device to read out the pattern, and detecting device to detect a defect of an ejection based upon a distribution state of a density in a pattern in the analysis region. The detecting device corrects a position of the analysis region on the readout image determined based upon an arrangement of each nozzle on a design, corresponding to the distribution state of the density in the pattern in the analysis region. | 08-02-2012 |
20120194601 | Oil Reservoir with Float Level Sensor - A drum maintenance system for use in an imaging device includes a reservoir for the storage of release agent used by the drum maintenance unit. The reservoir includes a bottle, an end cap, and a float sensor. The float sensor has a buoyant member that is pivotably coupled to a proboscis extending from the end cap into the bottle and movement of the buoyant member enables detection of the release agent in the bottle reaching a predetermined level. | 08-02-2012 |
20120200632 | METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AN ARRAY OF IMAGING ELEMENTS - For accurately calibrating an inline scanner a printer such as an inkjet printer may print a pattern, which is scanned by the inline scanner. The method is configured such that print artifacts resulting from not yet calibrated print heads do not significantly influence the calibration of the scanner. After calibration of the scanner, the print heads and the control units driving the print heads may be calibrated using the calibrated inline scanner. | 08-09-2012 |
20120206530 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRINTHEAD ALIGNMENT TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE BANDING ARTIFACTS FOR INTERLACED PRINTHEADS - A method for aligning printheads, some of which are arranged in an overlapped configuration, in a printer has been developed. The method includes identifying a stitch error for each color station in a plurality of color stations in the printer. The stitch error is identified with reference to shrinkage of a print medium as the print medium passes the plurality of color stations. A portion of the stitch error is used to move at least one printhead in the color station corresponding to the stitch error to compensate for a banding issue caused by the overlapped printhead configuration. All or part of the stitch error may also be applied to other printheads in the color station to compensate for possible color to color registration issues. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206531 | TEST PATTERN LESS PERCEPTIBLE TO HUMAN OBSERVATION AND METHOD OF ANALYSIS OF IMAGE DATA CORRESPONDING TO THE TEST PATTERN IN AN INKJET PRINTER - A method generates a test pattern on an image receiving member that is less perceptible to human observation, but still detectable by an imaging device within a printer. A method implemented in the printer analyzes image data of the dashes in the test pattern that were randomly distributed in the process direction within an area of the image receiving member to identify positions for printheads in the printer and detect missing inkjets in the printheads. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206532 | ERROR DETECTION APPARATUS OF INKJET PRINTER HEAD AND ERROR DETECTION METHOD THEREOF - Provided is an error detection apparatus of an inkjet printer head including: an amplification unit connected between a piezoelectric element, which applies pressure to an ink chamber, and a ground to amplify a voltage generated from the piezoelectric element; and a detection unit for detecting whether ink is normally ejected using the voltage amplified by the amplification unit. It is possible to detect whether the inkjet printer head abnormally ejects ink by sensing vibration after ejection of ink using the piezoelectric element. | 08-16-2012 |
20120218340 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PATTERN POSITION DETERMINING METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming apparatus is disclosed which reads a test pattern, including a reading unit, a relative movement unit, a second detected data obtaining unit which obtains one or more second detected data sets of a reflected light which is received from a scanning position of a light by a light receiving unit while the reading unit moves relatively with respect to the recording medium before the test pattern is formed, a first detected data obtaining unit which obtains one or more first detected data sets of the reflected light which is received by the light receiving unit when the light moves over the test pattern at generally the same scanning position as the scanning position while the reading unit moves relatively with respect to the recording medium after the test pattern is formed, and a signal correction unit. | 08-30-2012 |
20120223996 | PRINT DATA COMPENSATION FOR VARIATIONS IN PAPER POSITION WITHIN A PRINTING SYSTEM - Methods and systems herein provide for print data compensation for a print head based on a lateral offset of a media relative to the print head. In one embodiment, a print controller of a printer identifies an edge of a media that is parallel to a direction of travel of the media, and determines a lateral offset between the edge of the media and a print head of the printer. The print controller then modifies data for the print head based on the lateral offset to compensate for a lateral motion of the media relative to the print head. | 09-06-2012 |
20120223997 | Image Forming Apparatus, Droplet Discharge Detecting Method In The Image Forming Apparatus, And Computer Program Product - An image forming apparatus includes: a droplet discharging head that includes nozzles; a light emitting unit that irradiates laser light emitted in a direction intersecting a discharging direction of a droplet discharged from each of the nozzles; a light-receiving unit that receives scattered light when the droplet is irradiated by the laser light and outputs a detection signal; and a droplet discharge detecting unit that detects a droplet discharging state of each of the nozzles based on the detection signal from the light-receiving unit. The light emitting unit emits the laser light such that intensity of the laser light gradually increases or decreases as the laser light travels farther, and the droplet discharge detecting unit selects nozzles so as to cause a variation in the detection signal depending on a droplet discharging state, and detects the droplet discharging state of the detection target nozzles based on the scattered light. | 09-06-2012 |
20120229552 | LIQUID DROPLET JETTING APPARATUS AND LIQUID DROPLET JETTING STATE INSPECTION UNIT - A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a liquid droplet jetting head which has a liquid droplet jetting surface on which a plurality of nozzles are open and aligned in a row in a first direction; and a liquid droplet jetting state inspection unit which inspects liquid droplet jetting state of each of the nozzles, including: a liquid droplet landing body which has a landing surface facing the liquid droplet jetting surface and on which the liquid droplets jetted from each of the nozzles land, and which is configured to be relatively movable, with respect to the liquid droplet jetting head, in a second direction which is parallel to the liquid droplet jetting surface and intersects the first direction; and a landing detection mechanism which detects whether or not the liquid droplets have landed on a predetermined detection area provided on the landing surface of the liquid droplet landing body. | 09-13-2012 |
20120229553 | LIQUID EJECTION HEAD AND LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS - A liquid ejection head includes a nozzle plate on which nozzle openings for ejecting liquid are provided, a flow path formation substrate on which pressure generation chambers communicating with the nozzle openings are provided, communicating portions in which the liquid to be supplied to the pressure generation chambers is stored, and piezoelectric elements which generate pressure change in the liquid in the pressure generation chambers. In the liquid ejection head, a thermistor is arranged on a surface of the flow path formation substrate at an opposite side to the nozzle openings and one lead wiring of the thermistor is connected to wiring layers which are formed on the surface of the flow path formation substrate in a state where one side ends of the wiring layers face to the communicating portions. | 09-13-2012 |
20120236063 | DISCHARGE TESTING DEVICE - A discharge testing device comprising:
| 09-20-2012 |
20120249655 | PRINTING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIA, FOR STORING PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS - A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints an image on a print sheet with a print agent; a discharging unit; a conveying unit including a conveying path through which a print sheet is conveyed from the printing unit to the discharging unit; a measuring unit provided on the conveying path of the conveying unit to measure each colored area formed by the printing unit that adds the print agent on the print sheet from at least one of a first face and a second face opposite to the first face; an identifying unit that identifies a measurement area satisfying a certain condition from the colored areas; and a measurement control unit that performs the measurement for the identified measurement area and does not perform the measurement for the colored areas that are not identified by the identifying unit. | 10-04-2012 |
20120249656 | PRINTER AND PRINTER CONTROL METHOD - A printer capable of preventing clogging the printhead nozzles due to paper dust produced from sprocket holes in continuous paper, and preventing the printhead from ejecting ink droplets except on the continuous paper, has a printhead that ejects ink droplets toward continuous paper having sprocket holes formed along both sides of the paper width; a cover member that covers the edge part of the width of the continuous paper where sprocket holes are formed in the range of the printhead in the conveyance direction of the continuous paper, and can move in the paper width direction; and a detection mechanism that detects the position of the cover member in the paper width direction. | 10-04-2012 |
20120249657 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A VELOCITY OF AN OBJECT IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - In a method for determining a velocity of an object in a printing system, a reference pattern is moved, in particular in a substantial linear movement or in a rotational movement, relative to an fixed reference point independent of the object. A first sensor, configured to have substantially the same velocity as said object with respect to said reference pattern, provides a sensor signal based on the sensed reference pattern. The velocity of the object with respect to said fixed reference point is determined based on the determined velocity of said reference pattern with respect to said fixed reference point, and based on the sensor signal. The movement of the reference pattern enables improved accuracy of the determination of the velocity of the object, in particular for a slow moving object. | 10-04-2012 |
20120249658 | PRINTING DEVICE AND PRINTING METHOD USING THE SAME - Including either a platen or a flat bed, and a printer head; the printing device is configured in such a way as to print by making a combination of a reciprocating motion of the printer head and an operation of discharging ink toward a white medium. Meanwhile, the printer head includes a plurality of heads individually corresponding to each color. The printing device includes a control unit for setting a test pattern for testing each color, and pattern print areas where the test pattern is printed. The control unit makes a setting in such a way that, for the pattern print area where a test pattern is printed by discharging white ink of a nearly-identical color as a color of the white medium, the test pattern is printed with the white ink on a primer print prepared with black ink. | 10-04-2012 |
20120256982 | Inkjet-printing mechanism calibration - An ink patch is printed on a swath of media, by an inkjet-printing mechanism of an inkjet-printing device. Printing the ink patch takes a first length of time. The ink patch printed on the swath is heated at a first temperature less than a second temperature specified for the first length of time the inkjet-printing mechanism takes to print the ink patch. A second length of time is waited. A total length of time the swath is heated is at least substantially equal to the first length of time plus the second length of time. | 10-11-2012 |
20120256983 | METHOD OF MONITORING GEL ACCUMULATION IN A DRUM MAINTENANCE UNIT - A process is implemented in a printer having a release agent application system that enables a controller in the printer to detect gel ink in the release agent application system exceeding a predetermined threshold. The process monitors a plurality of print characteristics with reference to print data and quantifies a risk of gel ink developing in the release agent application system. The print characteristics include a print area value identifying a total surface area of a print, an inked area value identifying an area of surface area covered with ink, and a print type indicating whether the print is a simplex print or a duplex print. | 10-11-2012 |
20120262515 | LIQUID DETECTION SYSTEM AND LIQUID CONTAINER - A cavity is provided between a supply port which supplies the liquid which is received in the liquid reception unit to the outside and the liquid reception unit, with a variable portion which is deformed between the supply port and the liquid reception unit. The variable portion is urged using an urging member from the inside of the cavity through a pressure reception member. In addition, a change in a position of the pressure reception member can be detected using a detection unit. Further, a notch is provided at a surface where the pressure reception member comes into close contact with the urging member, in which the notch extends to the outside from the inside of the contact surface. | 10-18-2012 |
20120281040 | INK CARTRIDGE USED FOR AN INKJET PRINTER - This invention relates to an ink cartridge used for an inkjet printer, comprising an ink storage chamber, an ink outlet and an air inlet, and a detection component is designed inside the ink storage chamber for detecting residual ink volume. The ink storage chamber comprises an ink detection chamber and a relatively enclosed ink refilling chamber with an opening at the lower part. The opening of the ink refilling chamber is inside the ink detection chamber. The detection component is designed inside the ink detection chamber. | 11-08-2012 |
20120287198 | Imaging Jetted Ink - In general, in an aspect, a laser produces a coherent beam to illuminate ink jetted from an orifice of an inkjet, for use in imaging the jetted ink, and a device is used to reduce an effect of speckle caused by the coherent beam in the imaging of the jetted ink. | 11-15-2012 |
20120306957 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING VARIANCE OF INKJET SENSOR - A method for determining a variance of a sensor in inkjet printers includes maintaining a printer carriage at a stationary position; illuminating a media patch of known characteristics with a light source that varies an intensity of the light between at least a first and second intensity, in which the second intensity is different from the first intensity; obtaining at least specular reflectance data from light reflected off the print media by measuring a signal from a photo-detector during the illumination; and comparing the specular data to stored values to determine a variation of the sensor response for forming a correction factor; and using the correction factor to calibrate at least a first signal of the inkjet printer. | 12-06-2012 |
20120306958 | METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A SENSOR RESPONSE - A method for determining a variance of a sensor in inkjet printers comprising maintaining a printer carriage at a stationary position; illuminating a media patch of known characteristics with a light source that varies an intensity of the light between at least a first and second intensity, in which the second intensity is different from the first intensity; obtaining an amount of light transmitted through the media patch by measuring a signal from a photo-detector during the illumination; and comparing the amount of received light to stored target values to determine a variation of the sensor response for forming a correction factor; and using the correction factor to calibrate at least a first signal of the inkjet printer. | 12-06-2012 |
20120306959 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus includes a first detection terminal and a second detection terminal which contact with respective two first terminals of each of printing material containers; a third detection terminal and a fourth detection terminal which contact with respective two second terminals of each of the printing material containers; a first detection unit detects a first detection signal from the first detection terminal via a first attachment detection path; and a second detection unit detects a second detection signal from the third detection terminal via a second attachment detection path. The first detection unit detects a short circuit occurring between the second detection terminal and the third detection terminal on the basis of the second detection signal, and the second detection unit detects a short circuit occurring between the first detection terminal and the fourth detection terminal on the basis of the first detection signal. | 12-06-2012 |
20120313995 | INKJET PRINTER WITH DOT ALIGNMENT VISION SYSTEM - Image processing of printed patterns of arrays of dots generated by an array of inkjet heads uses a vision system, including an HD color camera that can be a fixed focus or include autofocus and zoom capabilities. Pattern recognition techniques are used to analyze as many patterns as necessary to perform multiple alignment functions, such as dot size, shape, and integrity; unidirectional, bidirectional, and step alignments; physical position and straightness of jet packs; flatness of platen or media belt; mapping imperfections in rods and rails of guiding systems; and checking jet alignments from a reference jet to all other jet packs. From such image analysis, correction values are generated that are used to effect manual or automatic adjustment of the inkjet heads physical position, voltage, temperature, and firing pulse timing and/or duration; and to position the printed dots fired from the nozzles in the inkjet heads in the appropriate position. | 12-13-2012 |
20120320120 | LIQUID DISCHARGE DEVICE, TESTING METHOD, AND MEDIUM WITH RECORDED PROGRAM - There is provided a technique with which an abnormal discharge state in a discharge component can be determined on the basis of residual vibration. A printer includes a discharge component that discharges ink, a detector that detects residual vibration in the discharge component, and a tester that tests the discharge component on the basis of the change in the period of the residual vibration. | 12-20-2012 |
20120327154 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, ERASING DEVICE, IMAGE ERASING SYSTEM, AND CONSUMABLE - According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium includes an image forming material erasable by heat, a storage medium having stored therein information concerning temperature for heating the image forming material, and a controller configured to control an image forming operation on the basis of the information concerning the temperature stored in the storage medium. The information concerning the temperature includes forming temperature, which is temperature for heating the image forming material during image formation, and erasing temperature, which is temperature for heating the image forming material during image erasing. | 12-27-2012 |
20120327155 | PRINTING DEVICE - A printing device, to which a printing material container having an electric device connected two first terminals and a wiring connecting two second terminals can be attached, includes: first and second detection terminals that contact the two first terminals; third and fourth detection terminals that contact the two second terminals; a first detection signal generator that outputs a first detection signal to the first detection terminal; a first detector that is connected to the second detection terminal; a second detection signal generator that outputs a second detection signal to the third detection terminal; a second detector that is connected to the fourth detection terminal; a high voltage generator that outputs high voltage to the first or the second detection terminal; an overvoltage detector; and a voltage drop element arranged between the overvoltage detector and the third or fourth detection terminal. | 12-27-2012 |
20130002752 | Invoice Amount Calculation Method, Invoice amount Calculation Device, and Printer Invoicing System - A manufacturer server | 01-03-2013 |
20130016153 | INK REMAINING AMOUNT DETECTING DEVICE, METHOD FOR DETECTING INK REMAINING AMOUNT, AND INK JET PRINTING APPARATUSAANM YAMAGUCHI; KenroAACI Noda-shiAACO JPAAGP YAMAGUCHI; Kenro Noda-shi JPAANM SUGAI; TakashiAACI Noda-shiAACO JPAAGP SUGAI; Takashi Noda-shi JP - According to the present invention, in the case where the amount of ink remaining in an ink tank is detected using light from a light emitting unit, whether or not the amount of remaining ink is smaller than a predetermined value can be accurately determined with a decrease in the life of the light emitting unit suppressed. Thus, the present invention determines a difference between output signals each output by the light receiving unit according to a corresponding one of at least two of a plurality of levels of light emissions from the light emitting unit. Based on the difference, whether or not the amount of remaining ink is smaller than the predetermined value is determined. | 01-17-2013 |
20130016154 | IMAGE READING APPARATUS, IMAGE INSPECTION APPARATUS, PRINTING APPARATUS, AND CAMERA POSITION ADJUSTMENT METHODAANM Imamura; AtsushiAACI KyotoAACO JPAAGP Imamura; Atsushi Kyoto JPAANM Koike; ShiroAACI KyotoAACO JPAAGP Koike; Shiro Kyoto JP - An image reading apparatus includes two color line cameras and one monochrome line camera and captures a linear imaging area on printing paper. The imaging area is irradiated with illumination light by a line illumination part. When inspecting a printed image, a color image captured with the color line cameras and an original image are compared. An information element image such as a bar code is clipped from a monochrome image captured with the monochrome line camera, and target information indicated by an information element(s) is acquired. In the image reading apparatus, since the color image and the monochrome image are acquired from the same imaging area, it is possible to realize downsizing of the line illumination part and downsizing of the image reading apparatus. | 01-17-2013 |
20130021404 | METHOD FOR MONITORING A JETTING PERFORMANCE OF A PRINT HEAD - The invention relates to a method for monitoring a performance of a jetting device, the jetting device being configured to expel droplets of an electrically conductive fluid wherein at least a part of the conductive fluid is positioned in a magnetic field, the method comprising providing an electrical actuation current in the part of the conductive fluid positioned in the magnetic field, thereby generating a pressure wave in the conductive fluid; characterized in that the method further comprises detecting a resulting electrical current, which electrical current is induced by a residual pressure wave in the part of the conductive fluid positioned in the magnetic field, thereby obtaining a detection signal and based on the detection signal determining whether the jetting device is in an operative state. The invention further relates to a printing device, employing the described method. | 01-24-2013 |
20130027461 | METHOD OF CHARACTERIZING ARRAY OF RESISTIVE HEATERS - A method of characterizing an array of resistive heaters, a first resistive heater of the array having a nominal sheet resistance, a first nominal length and a first nominal width, the method includes (a) providing a first configuration test resistor disposed proximate the first resistive heater, the first configuration test resistor including a second nominal length and a second nominal width, wherein the second nominal length is different from the first nominal length; (b) measuring a resistance of the first resistive heater; (c) measuring a resistance of the first configuration test resistor; and (d) determining the actual sheet resistance and the actual length of the first resistive heater based on the measured resistances of the first resistive heater and the first configuration test resistor. | 01-31-2013 |
20130033538 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND NONTRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM - An image recording apparatus, including: a first head for ejecting first liquid; a second head for ejecting second liquid; a second-liquid test-pattern recording command section configured to command recording of a test pattern of the second liquid on the recording medium; and an output controller configured to output recording data to the first bead and/or the second head. When the second-liquid test-pattern recording command section does not command the recording of the test pattern of the second liquid, the output controller outputs recording data representative of an image to be recorded, to the first head and the second head. When the second-liquid test-pattern recording command section commands the recording of the test pattern of the second liquid, the output controller outputs the recording data representative of the test pattern of the second liquid, not to the first head but to the second head. | 02-07-2013 |
20130038657 | In Situ Calibration Of Multiple Printheads To Reference Ink Targets - A method for calibrating in situ a plurality of printheads in an imaging device has been developed. Firing signals operate a plurality of printheads to form ink test patterns on an image receiving member. Reflectance measurements of light reflected from the test patterns and optical density measurements for a portion of the patterns formed by only one printhead in the plurality of printheads are used to adjust the firing signals and enable the printheads to print within a predetermined range about an average reflectance value and a predetermined optical density. | 02-14-2013 |
20130044155 | Method and System for Distributed Network of Nanoparticle Ink Based Piezoelectric Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring - The disclosure provides in one embodiment a system for monitoring structural health of a structure. The system has a structure to be monitored for structural health. The system further has a distributed network of nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor assemblies deposited onto the structure. Each assembly has a plurality of nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensors and a plurality of conductive ink power and communication wire assemblies interconnecting the plurality of sensors. The system further has an ink deposition apparatus depositing the distributed network of nanoparticle ink based piezoelectric sensor assemblies onto the structure. The system further has an electrical power source providing electrical power to the distributed network. The system further has a data communications network retrieving and processing structural health data of the structure via one or more signals from the sensors. | 02-21-2013 |
20130044156 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head configured to eject liquid to a target; a supporting unit configured to support the target; a light-detecting unit arranged so that a transporting route is located between the supporting unit and the light-detecting unit in a prescribed direction in which the supporting unit and the target supported by the supporting unit are arranged when the supporting unit supports the target, and including a light-emitting portion configured to emit light and a light-receiving portion configured to receive the light from the light-emitting portion; and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not at least part of a supported portion of the target supported by the supporting unit is separated from the supporting unit on the basis of the light-receiving quantity at the light-receiving portion. | 02-21-2013 |
20130057611 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF IN-DOCUMENT DETECTION OF WEAK OR MISSING INKJETS IN AN INKJET PRINTER - A method enables the positions of inoperable inkjets in printheads to be corrected for positional changes arising from shifts in media, shrinkage of the media, thermal expansion of optical sensors that detect the inoperable inkjets, and other measurement errors. The measurement errors are detected with reference to image data corresponding to a reference pattern printed within a portion of a print job. Thus, reference marks do not need to be printed in areas outside of a print job as previously required. | 03-07-2013 |
20130063516 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A printer as an ink ejecting apparatus capable of ejecting sedimentation ink includes an LED as a first light emitting unit that emits light to a patch as a measurement target portion printed on a printing medium by the sedimentation ink, a light receiving sensor as a first light receiving unit that receives light transmitted from the LED and passing through the patch, and a control unit as a shielding degree determining unit that determines whether or not the patch has a predetermined shielding degree on the basis of a light reception signal output from the light receiving sensor. | 03-14-2013 |
20130070015 | INK SET WITH NEAR INFRARED DETECTION CAPABILITY AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - An ink set with near infrared detection capability is disclosed. The ink set includes a cyan ink including a cyan colorant, a magenta ink including a magenta colorant, and a yellow ink including a yellow colorant, each of the colorants having maximum light absorbance in the visible wavelength range of about 400 to 750 nm, wherein each of the cyan, magenta and yellow inks includes a near infrared (NIR) absorbing pigment, which is different in spectral absorption characteristic from the colorant and absorbs light in the wavelength range of about 750 to 1200 nm. | 03-21-2013 |
20130070016 | SEALING SHEET, AND LIQUID EJECTION HEAD AND INKJET APPARATUS USING SAME - A sealing sheet is configured to restrain at least one of leakage of liquid in and out. The sealing sheet includes: a film member which is impermeable to the liquid and configured to cover a region that needs to be sealed; and electrical wires which are arranged on the film member. An electrical signal corresponding to change in electrical resistance due to contact with the liquid is obtainable from the electrical wires. | 03-21-2013 |
20130076827 | LIQUID JETTING APPARATUS - There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head configured to jet liquid; a liquid discharge unit configured to discharge the liquid from the liquid jetting head; a waste liquid recover unit including a waste liquid absorber configured to absorb a waste liquid discharged from the liquid jetting head by the liquid discharge unit and detection electrodes configured to detect a waste liquid amount absorbed into the waste liquid absorber; and a vibration generating source configured to vibrate the waste liquid absorber in a vibration direction, wherein the detection electrodes are disposed to make contact with an end surface defining the waste liquid absorber, and a normal direction of the end surface intersects with the vibration direction. | 03-28-2013 |
20130106941 | RECORDING DEVICE, METHOD OF CONTROLLING A RECORDING DEVICE, AND A STORAGE MEDIUM STORING A PROGRAM RUN BY A CONTROL UNIT THAT CONTROLS THE RECORDING DEVICE | 05-02-2013 |
20130113859 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING PRINTED MATERIAL - Disclosed is an inspection apparatus which avoids a defective item from being mixed with good items, even when a marking device does not work appropriately and a mark for identifying a good item and a defective item cannot be applied. For this purpose, the apparatus is provided with a quality inspection device ( | 05-09-2013 |
20130120490 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus which includes an ejecting unit which ejects liquid cured by being irradiated with light onto a medium for printing, an irradiation unit which irradiates the liquid which has landed onto the medium for printing with the light, and an image quality inspection unit which inspects an image quality of an image which is formed on the medium for printing, in which, when the image quality inspection unit detects abnormal formation of the image, an intensity of the light of the irradiation unit is controlled. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120491 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND INK REMAINING AMOUNT DETECTION METHOD - According to this invention, an inkjet printing apparatus having an arrangement for detecting an amount of remaining ink in an ink tank starts a printing operation in a short time immediately after power-on. If an operation in preceding use is ended without any error at the time of power-off, and no error has occurred even at the time of power-on, the inkjet printing apparatus of this invention starts the printing operation without executing the operation of detecting the amount of remaining ink in the ink tank after power-on. | 05-16-2013 |
20130127946 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD - A printing apparatus measures spectral intensity of a printed medium before an image is printed thereon, and calculates Mahalanobis distances with respect to plural types of reference printing media stored in advance. Then, the type of the printed medium is determined from the reference printing media based on the Mahalanobis distances and the image is printed thereon. | 05-23-2013 |
20130147872 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A method includes providing a sheet on which a color patch to be subjected to colorimetric measurement by a colorimetric unit and a pattern corresponding to the color patch and used for obtaining a distance from a portion where the pattern is read to a portion where the colorimetric measurement of the color patch is performed when the colorimetric unit reads the pattern are recorded, obtaining the distance from the portion where the pattern is read to the portion where the colorimetric measurement of the color patch is performed by reading the pattern on the sheet by the colorimetric unit, moving the sheet based on the obtained distance, and performing colorimetric measurement on the color patch by the colorimetric unit. | 06-13-2013 |
20130147873 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink as a liquid, a detection unit including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and a transparent cover member that covers the detection unit. The cover member possesses the same charge polarity with respect to air as the charge polarity of ink mist which is mist generated from the ink ejected from the liquid ejecting head. | 06-13-2013 |
20130147874 | LIQUID DISCHARGE STATE DETECTION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A liquid discharge state detection device includes a light emitting element that emits a light beam; and a light receiving element that is placed at a position shifted from a beam diameter of the light beam. The light receiving element receives scattered light generated when the light beam collides with a liquid droplet. A discharge state of the liquid droplet is detected based on a received light amount of the received scattered light. The liquid discharge state detection device further includes an analyzer in the forward direction from the light receiving element. The analyzer detects the scattered light having a polarization direction the same as a polarization direction of the light beam emitted by the light emitting element. The light receiving element receives the scattered light that has passed through the analyzer. | 06-13-2013 |
20130147875 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus includes an electrolytic capacitor for stabilizing the head power source voltage, a transistor for charging the electrolytic capacitor, a transistor for discharging the electrolytic capacitor, a push-pull circuit, a resistor for controlling the charging/discharging current to the electrolytic capacitor, and a resistor for dividing the head power source voltage. The power supply to the head is turned on with the head power source voltage increased by the capacitor. | 06-13-2013 |
20130155139 | System and Method for Analysis of Test Pattern Image Data in an Inkjet Printer Using a Template - Test pattern template data are stored in a memory of a printer to identify locations spatially within image data of a test pattern printed by printheads in an inkjet printer. The test pattern template data identifies an origin of a test pattern in the image data and the distances between structures in the test pattern to enable test pattern structure in the image data to be detected and identified more easily. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155140 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CORRECTING MEDIA SHIFT DURING IDENTIFICATION OF PRINTHEAD ROLL - A method for aligning a printhead to compensate for printhead roll when an image receiving member moves laterally during printing has been developed. The method includes generating at different times a plurality of marks in a process direction with different inkjets in a printhead and identifying relationships between marks in each plurality. Lateral motion is thereby detected and removed from the analysis identifying the magnitude of the roll corresponding to the locations of the marks in the pluralities of marks. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155141 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING MAINTENANCE UNIT PERFORMANCE - In a method for determining a maintenance performance of a maintenance unit of an inkjet printing system, the inkjet system comprises an inkjet print head having an orifice surface, the orifice surface comprising an orifice, which orifice is in fluid communication with an ink chamber. The method comprises operating the maintenance unit to perform a maintenance operation on the orifice surface of the inkjet print head and detecting the presence of a wiper element or amount of ink over the orifice by detecting a pressure wave in the ink chamber and analyzing the detected pressure wave to determine the maintenance performance of the maintenance unit. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155142 | THERMAL SENSING FLUID EJECTION ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A fluid ejection assembly includes a fluid slot formed in a die. The assembly also includes a nozzle column is formed along a side of the fluid slot. The assembly also includes a pair of thermal sensors to measure die temperature at the middle of the nozzle column and at a first end of the nozzle column. | 06-20-2013 |
20130162715 | PRINTER FOR USE WITH LOCALLY DISTORTABLE MEDIUMS - Printers are provided. One print has an inkjet printer to print an inkjet image on a receiver using a hydrophilic ink, a sensor for capturing an image of the receiver after predetermined period of absorption and a control system and a second printer. The control system identifies local areas of the image of the inkjet print on the that have reached a threshold level of non-uniform distortion and where additional ink remains for absorption, determining a distortion estimate for distortion of the receiver at a time when a second image will be printed on the receiver based upon information from the identified areas and generating a second print image based on the distortion estimate. The second printer prints the second print image. | 06-27-2013 |
20130182029 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING DETECTION OF WEAK AND MISSING INKJETS IN AN INKJET PRINTER - A method increases the ability of a controller in a printer to detect weak or missing inkjets in the printer. The method includes generating a test pattern having at least twice as much ink as a typical test pattern used to detect weak or missing inkjets. The increased ink appropriately stresses inkjets to facilitate detection of weak or missing inkjets and the test pattern is transferred to media and removed from the printer to preserve the capacity of a drum maintenance unit to store residual ink removed from an imaging drum or belt. | 07-18-2013 |
20130182030 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS - An inkjet printing apparatus is provided that reduces a period required for detection of the ink ejection state for the individual ejection ports of a print head. The inkjet printing apparatus includes a carriage moving unit for moving a carriage in the main scan direction that crosses a conveyance direction in which a printing medium is to be conveyed. The inkjet printing apparatus also includes an LED and a photodiode, for receiving light emitted by the LED, both of which are employed to detect the ink ejection state for the ejection ports to be examined. The inkjet printing apparatus moves the LED and the photodiode in the main scan direction to move the inspection position, at which the ink ejection state is to be examined. | 07-18-2013 |
20130182031 | DROP DETECTOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A drop detector assembly includes an ejection element formed on a substrate to eject a fluid drop, and a light detector formed on the substrate to detect light scattered off of the fluid drop. A fluid drop ejected from a nozzle formed in a transparent nozzle plate scatters light that is detected through the transparent nozzle plate. | 07-18-2013 |
20130187975 | Test Apparatus for Liquid Drop Emission Apparatus - A test apparatus for a liquid drop emission apparatus having a plurality of emission mechanisms, the emission mechanisms each having a driving element configured to emit an ink drop from a nozzle, and an application switch coupled with a driving voltage source and the driving element in series, the application switch being configured to switch a driving voltage for emission of a liquid drop between being applied and not being applied to the driving element, the test apparatus including a test switch configured to make each of the emission mechanisms output a test voltage which appears between both ends of the application switch to a test terminal, the test apparatus including a failure deciding section configured to decide whether the emission mechanism is in failure or not on the basis of the test voltage outputted to the test terminal. | 07-25-2013 |
20130187976 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD MODULE AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting head module including: a head unit which has a plurality of heads having a nozzle plate on which a nozzle opening is provided; a carriage to which the liquid ejecting head unit is fixed; and a thermistor attached to the carriage, wherein the thermistor is biased to the cover head side which is in contact with the nozzle plate of a head, comes into contact with the nozzle plate and measures the temperature of the nozzle plate. | 07-25-2013 |
20130201244 | COLOR ANALYSIS - Techniques related to color analysis are disclosed herein. In an example, substrate locations on a printed pattern are selected based on a set of measurements related to substrate-height. Further, color of the printed pattern is determined at the selected locations. | 08-08-2013 |
20130201245 | METHOD OF PRINTHEAD CALIBRATION BETWEEN MULTIPLE PRINTHEADS - A method of identifying positions of a plurality of printheads in a printer is described. The printer identifies the positions of each of the plurality of printheads with reference to image data of a printed test pattern. The printer calibrates one or more printheads using only a single test pattern to correct registration errors in the printheads. | 08-08-2013 |
20130201246 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PAPER POSITION SENSING USING TRANSPARENT TRANSPORT BELT - A printing apparatus has a print head and a transport mechanism including a continuous transparent belt for transporting a sheet medium past a print head. The apparatus includes a through optical sensor operable to direct a sensing beam through the belt for sensing the position of the transported sheet medium when the sheet medium breaks the beam. | 08-08-2013 |
20130201247 | LIQUID CONTAINER, LIQUID SUPPLYING SYSTEM AND CIRCUIT BOARD FOR LIQUID CONTAINER - A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes an apparatus antenna and photoreceptor means, the liquid container includes a container antenna communicatable with the apparatus antenna without physical contact therebetween; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; and a controller for controlling light emission of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative individual information supplied through the container antenna and the information stored in the information storing portion. | 08-08-2013 |
20130201248 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting head includes a head body configured to eject liquid, a flow path member including a liquid flow path for supplying the liquid to the head body, and a circuit substrate held by the flow path member and including a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature. The flow path member includes a detection region, which has a thermal resistance lower than a thermal resistance of other regions and which is provided in a part of a partition wall that partitions the liquid flow path. The circuit substrate is fixed to the flow path member in a state in which the temperature detection unit faces the detection region. | 08-08-2013 |
20130208042 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING DEFECT INSPECTION METHOD FOR SAME - An aspect of a recording defect inspection method for an image recording apparatus includes: a recording step of sequentially recording test patterns of respective recording heads onto a recording medium, an image capturing step of capturing an image of a test pattern recorded on the recording medium by means of a scanner, an analysis step of analyzing the captured test pattern and detecting a recording defect of the recording head which has recorded the test pattern, an evaluation frequency setting step of setting an evaluation frequency for each of the recording heads on the basis of a recording defect occurrence frequency for each recording head, and a control step of setting a frequency of each of the recording heads in the test patterns to the set evaluation frequency. | 08-15-2013 |
20130208043 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus includes a plurality of image sensors imaging a sheet to be conveyed, and a direct sensor unit performing the signal processing of the outputs of the image sensors to detect the movement of the sheet. Here, the plurality of image sensors are provided on the carriage at least at two positions with at least the recording element array diagonally put between the two positions. The plurality of image sensors can image the sheet at two positions separated in a main scan direction and a sub-scan direction. | 08-15-2013 |
20130208044 | LIQUID CONTAINER AND LIQUID SUPPLYING SYSTEM - A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes apparatus electrical contacts corresponding to the liquid containers, respectively, photoreceptor means for receiving light, and an electric circuit connected with a line which is commonly connected with the apparatus electrical contacts, the liquid container includes a container electrical contact electrically connectable with one of the apparatus contacts; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; a controller for controlling emission of light of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative of individual information supplied through the container electrical contact and the information stored in the information storing means. | 08-15-2013 |
20130215183 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus including a supply unit configured to supply a sheet, a recording unit configured to perform recording by discharging a plurality of colors of inks onto the sheet, a reading unit configured to read out an image of the sheet, a drying unit configured to dry the sheet on which recording is provided by the recording unit, and a control unit configured to perform control so as to record an inspection pattern onto the sheet by the recording unit and so as to read out the inspection pattern of the sheet by the reading unit after the sheet on which the inspection pattern is recorded passes through the drying unit in order to acquire inspection data of the inspection pattern of the sheet. | 08-22-2013 |
20130222460 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING RECORDING HEAD AND HEAD TANK - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a head tank, a main tank, a liquid feed device, and a controller. When the main tank is in an ink end state, the controller causes the feed device to feed the liquid in reverse from the head tank to the main tank. When air is unlikely to be mixed with the liquid or the liquid is unlikely to be bubbled in the head tank before installation of a new main tank, the controller causes the feed device to feed the liquid from the main tank to the head tank with an air release unit opened after the installation. When air is likely to be mixed with the liquid or the liquid is likely to be bubbled in the head tank before the installation, the controller causes the feed device to feed the liquid with the release unit closed after the installation. | 08-29-2013 |
20130222461 | INKJET PRINT CALIBRATION USING TEST PATCHES AND DENSITOMETER - An inkjet printing system including a media source supplying sheets of transparent film. An image processing module receives and converts input image data to output image data comprising a plurality of output pixels configured to select an ink profile. Predetermined ink profiles are selected representative of a series of test patches each having an expected density. A printhead is configured to eject droplets of available colors of ink onto a sheet of transparent film based on the selected ink profiles to produce the output pixels and an output image thereon, including the series of test patches. A transmissive densitometer measures the actual density value of each of the test patches, wherein the image processing module adjusts the output pixel values based on a deviations between the expected and actual density values of the series of test patches. | 08-29-2013 |
20130229456 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a carriage that reciprocates and includes a recording head that ejects liquid and a liquid container that supplies the liquid to the recording head and an optical sensor that includes a light emitting section capable of emitting light toward the carriage and a light receiving section that receives reflected light that is light that has been emitted from the light emitting section and has been reflected by the liquid container. The carriage is provided with a projecting section capable of suppressing incidence of ambient light to the light receiving section of the optical sensor. | 09-05-2013 |
20130235113 | LIQUID-DISCHARGING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR SUBSTITUTING LIQUID - A liquid-discharging device includes a nozzle that discharges liquid including a substance having sedimentation properties, a liquid supply channel, an inspection part, stirring part and a control part. The inspection part brings the liquid to be discharged from the nozzle to a first electric potential by a first electrode, discharges the liquid toward a second electrode of a second electric potential, and inspects a discharge state of the liquid based on a change of an electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. The control part causes the nozzle to eject the liquid in order to substitute the liquid in an area downstream side than a predetermined area with the liquid stirred by the stirring part in the predetermined area. The control part determines a timing of ejection completion of the liquid based on the change of the electrostatic capacitance. | 09-12-2013 |
20130235114 | INKJET PRINTING METHODS AND INK SETS - An inkjet printing method includes, in order, the steps of a) providing to an inkjet printer at least two or more colorless liquids having a different composition and at least one color inkjet ink; b) mixing the color inkjet ink in a controlled amount with the two or more colorless liquids; and c) printing the ink-mixture of the color inkjet ink and the two or more colorless liquids with the inkjet printer onto an ink-receiver. | 09-12-2013 |
20130235115 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus conducts inspection associated with printing by changing a relative positional relationship between a line print head and a sheet feeding position for a sheet in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the sheet is fed, forming an image on the sheet using the line print head a plurality of times, and reading the formed images using a reading unit. | 09-12-2013 |
20130241988 | BACKLIT PRINTING - A method and apparatus for printing digital ink jet images to be backlit by a light source is provided. Such backlit printing relies upon additional color pigment to be hidden in the white layer to add additional color density to the image as the back light source passes light through the layers. Print heads are divided into a region of multiple single color print head arrays and a region of white and color print region printed over a color print region. Such backlit printing may be used on both first surface printing and second surface printing. When such backlit printing is used, it may not be necessary to divide the print heads exactly in half as one layer may require less print nozzles than the other as the interlacing and or DPIs may vary for the different layers. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241989 | Method For Sensing Remaining Life In A Drum Maintenance Unit - A method implemented in an imaging device senses the remaining life of a drum maintenance system in the imaging device. The method includes detecting a buoyant member, which is pivotably coupled to a proboscis extending from an end cap of a reservoir in a reservoir of the DMU, reaching a predetermined position in the reservoir and then updating an estimate of the remaining release agent in the reservoir with reference to a total media area and total inked area. | 09-19-2013 |
20130257966 | TESTING OF NOZZLES USED IN PRINTING SYSTEMS - A system for testing one or more nozzles in a nozzle plate includes a fixture for holding the nozzle plate, a gas input device for jetting gas through the nozzle, and a first stationary schlieren optical system for producing a light-intensity representation of a gas stream jetted from the nozzle. An image capture device can capture one or more images of the light-intensity representation or the light-intensity representation can be projected onto a screen. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257967 | TESTING OF NOZZLES USED IN PRINTING SYSTEMS - A method for testing a nozzle in a nozzle plate includes jetting gas through the nozzle and forming one or more light-intensity representations of a gas stream jetted from the nozzle using at least one stationary schlieren optical system. One or more images can be captured of the one or more light-intensity representations of the gas stream jetted from the nozzle. Alternatively, respective light-intensity representations of the gas stream jetted from the nozzle can be projected onto a screen. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257968 | TESTING OF NOZZLES USED IN PRINTING SYSTEMS - A method for testing a nozzle in a nozzle plate includes setting an angle of the nozzle plate with respect to an optical axis of a schlieren optical system to a first angle, jetting gas through the nozzle, forming a first light-intensity representation of the gas stream jetting from the nozzle using the schlieren optical system, and capturing a first image of the first light-intensity representation. The angle of the nozzle plate with respect to the optical axis of the schlieren optical system is then adjusted to a different second angle. A second light-intensity representation of the gas stream jetting from the nozzle is formed using the schlieren optical system and a second image of the second light-intensity representation is then captured. The first and second images can be analyzed to determine whether the nozzle is functioning properly. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257969 | Print Head Alignment Mechanism - A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes a print engine including two or more print heads to generate an alignment chart and an alignment system. The alignment system receives the alignment chart and computes a magnitude of misalignment between the print heads. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257970 | COLOR MEASURING APPARATUS, PRINTING APPARATUS AND BACKING PLATE - The present invention provides a color measuring apparatus and a printing apparatus that enable the user to easily keep a backing plate. A color measuring apparatus includes a holder on which a backing plate is capable of being attached, the backing plate having a white portion and a black portion, and a sensor for measuring color patterns on a sheet on the backing plate. Either one of the white portion and the black portion faces the sensor, depending on the attached state of the backing plate on the holder. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257971 | COLORIMETRIC APPARATUS AND COLORIMETRIC METHOD - In an apparatus including an irradiation unit capable of irradiating a sheet with at least either visible light or ultraviolet light, and an acquisition unit which acquires a spectral reflectance for each of a plurality of wavelength regions based on light reflected by the sheet, a spectral reflectance acquired by the acquisition unit when the sheet is irradiated with the visible light is stored in a memory unit. A storing unit stores, in the memory unit, a spectral reflectance in a wavelength region shorter than a predetermined wavelength among spectral reflectances acquired by the acquisition unit when the sheet is irradiated with both the visible light and the ultraviolet light. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257972 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus may be configured to enter a first state where electric power is supplied from a power supply and a second state where no electric power is supplied from the power supply. A capacitor may be connected to the power supply, and may be charged by the power supply in the first state. A controller may be connected to the capacitor, and may operate with electric power supplied from the capacitor in the second state. The controller may operate with electric power supplied from the power supply in the first state. The controller may cause the image forming apparatus to enter the first state upon detecting that the image forming apparatus is in a predetermined state. The controller may acquire the related information and may cause the image forming apparatus to enter the second state. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257973 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE AND MEDIUM EDGE PART JUDGMENT METHOD - To detect an edge part of a medium with accuracy although the medium includes a false detection element, more than one change point, which changes from a condition that an output of an optical sensor indicates existence of a print medium to a condition that the output indicates non-existence of the print medium, is detected while the optical sensor moved on the print medium along a main scanning direction. A right edge part candidate detection process and a left edge part candidate process are performed to detect at points immediately before output changes as the right and left edge part candidates of the medium when the output of the optical sensor continuously indicates a condition of non-existence of the medium while the optical sensor and the print medium are moved further along the main scanning direction for a predetermined distance from the detected change points. | 10-03-2013 |
20130265360 | Defective Nozzle Detection Mechanism - A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving image data from one or more image readers and analyzing the image data to locate and classify artifacts on the medium caused by defective print engine nozzles. | 10-10-2013 |
20130265361 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING MEDIUM EDGE POSITION IN LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - To provide a liquid ejecting apparatus and a method for detecting a medium edge position in a liquid ejecting apparatus whereby a decline in the accuracy of detecting an edge position of a medium caused by fouling of an optical sensor can be minimized, a reference reflecting surface, used in order to acquire a sensitivity determination value for determining the timing of switching the sensitivity of a sheet width sensor provided to a carriage, is irradiated with light and the output voltage of a light-receiving unit receiving the reflected light thereof is acquired; the output voltage is subtract from a power source voltage to measure a reference surface voltage. | 10-10-2013 |
20130265362 | LIQUID DISCHARGE DEVICE AND LIQUID DISCHARGE METHOD - A liquid discharge device includes a head, a carriage, an optical sensor and an outlet port. The head is configured and arranged to discharge liquid. The carriage is configured and arranged to move the head in a prescribed direction. The optical sensor is provided on the carriage further to an edge part side in the prescribed direction than the head, and configured and arranged to detect presence or absence of foreign matter when the carriage is moving in the prescribed direction. The outlet port is provided on the carriage so that air is blown through the outlet port from behind a surface of the optical sensor toward a front. | 10-10-2013 |
20130271522 | MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING MARKING ELEMENTS OF A MARKING HEAD - The invention relates to a monitoring device for monitoring marking elements of a marking head. The inventive device is characterized in that it comprises a detector for recording detected information on the marking elements, and a control and evaluation unit that is adapted to determine whether the marking elements carry out marking operations based on the detected information. The invention further relates to a method for monitoring marking elements of a marking head. | 10-17-2013 |
20130278669 | DRAWING DEVICE AND ERROR PROCESSING METHOD - A drawing device includes a recording head that discharges ink which cures when receiving irradiation light; a transport device that transports a sheet coated with the ink discharged from the recording head, along a transport path that faces the recording head; a gap sensor that is provided further upstream along the transport path than the recording head, and detects an error with respect to a gap between the sheet and recording head; a light irradiation device which is provided further downstream along the transport path than the recording head, and irradiates the ink coated on the sheet with light; and an advancing/retracting device which retracts the recording head to a position away from the transport path. | 10-24-2013 |
20130278670 | PRINT CONTROL DEVICE AND PROGRAM - A plurality of test patterns that are disposed in a predetermined direction are printed using dot arrays formed along an intersecting direction interesting with the predetermined direction using nozzles included in an overlapping portion of a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, a plurality of rules lined in the predetermined direction are printed so as to be adjacent to the test patterns using nozzles included in the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array, density correction values are computed according to density of each of raster lines of the test patterns, and the positions of nozzles specified from the positions of rules are associated with the positions of the raster lines for which density correction values are computed. | 10-24-2013 |
20130286078 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND COLOR MEASURING METHOD FOR RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit for applying ink on a sheet by a printing head; a drying unit for drying the sheet; a measuring unit for measuring patterns on the sheet; a conveying unit for conveying the sheet; a recovering unit for performing a printing head-recovering operation; and a control unit for controlling the apparatus such that, the recording apparatus performs recording to form patterns, the conveying unit performs first conveying to convey the sheet from a recording region to a drying region, the drying unit performs drying, the conveying unit performs second conveying to convey the sheet from the drying region to a measuring region, and the measuring unit performs measuring, in sequence, wherein the recovering operation is performed at timing at least partially overlapping at least one of the first and second conveying operations, the drying operation, and the color measuring operation, after the recording operation. | 10-31-2013 |
20130286079 | PRINTING APPARATUS, CONTROL APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD - The present invention provides a printing apparatus comprising a storage unit storing first information about a conveyance fluctuation amount of sheet conveyance by a roller that depends on a rotational phase of the roller, and second information about a conveyance deviation amount of sheet conveyance by the roller that is independent of the rotational phase of the roller. The first and second information are used for controlling the rotation of the roller when printing an image. The second information is determined based on an actual conveyance fluctuation amount acquired by reading test patterns printed by the printing apparatus. The first information is stored previously in the storage unit. | 10-31-2013 |
20130286080 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A recording apparatus includes a recording head for performing recording on a recording medium by applying a recording material to the recording medium, a measurement unit configured to read a patch recorded on the recording medium by the recording head and to optically measure a density of the patch, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on an optical characteristic of the measurement unit and a reference optical characteristic, and a determination unit configured to determine an amount by which the recording material is to be applied from the recording head, based on the density measured by the measurement unit and the information acquired by the acquisition unit. | 10-31-2013 |
20130293622 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUSES - An image recording apparatus includes a liquid applying mechanism that applies a first liquid onto a recording medium, a liquid discharge head that discharges a second liquid onto the recording medium, a wiper that wipes a liquid discharge surface of the liquid discharge head, and a processor. The processor counts a number of jams of the recording medium and a number of passages of the recording medium through the liquid discharge head. The processor increments the number of jams when the number of passages is equal to or greater than a first threshold value. The image recording apparatus performs a head recovery operation when a jam of a recording medium occurs and when the number of jams is incremented. | 11-07-2013 |
20130293623 | Printhead Apparatus, Printer System and Method of Printhead Built-In Test - A printhead apparatus, an inkjet printer system, and a method of built-in test employ a test flag transmitted through a data channel of a printhead. The apparatus includes a plurality of printheads, a data register at each printhead, and a status channel. Each printhead has a unidirectional data channel (UDC) to provide data to the printhead. The data register detects proper reception of a test flag received by the printhead through the UDC. The status channel reports printhead status information including whether or not proper reception of the test flag was detected by the data register. The system includes the apparatus and a controller to generate the test flag and receive the printhead status information. The method includes sending a test flag, and verifying proper reception thereof. | 11-07-2013 |
20130293624 | INKJET PRINTERS - The invention provides a method and system for determining fluid levels in an inkjet printer. A non-contact sensor array is provided external to the container in which the levels are to be determined and each sensor in the array is sequentially switched into a sensing circuit until a change in capacitance is noted. The sensing circuit is preferably a frequency oscillation circuit whose frequency is defined by circuit capacitance. | 11-07-2013 |
20130293625 | INK-JET PRINT HEAD WITH INTEGRATED OPTICAL MONITORING OF THE NOZZLE FUNCTION - An inkjet printer for producing graphic or functional products, the inkjet printer having integrated optical monitoring of the correct function of each of the nozzles that shoot the ink onto the substrate. For this purpose, the drops ejected from the nozzles are illuminated from the direction of the ejecting nozzles, and the light reflected backwards from the drop flying away is conducted onto light-sensitive sensors during the flight of the drop. | 11-07-2013 |
20130307896 | LIQUID EMISSION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LIQUID EMISSION - A liquid emission apparatus having a head provided with a plurality of nozzles which each emits liquid, the liquid emission apparatus being configured to emit liquid from the nozzles by applying a driving signal to the driver elements, the liquid emission apparatus being configured to apply the driving signal to the driver elements so as to obtain a plurality of detected signals, to decide whether one of the nozzles corresponding to one of the driver elements is causing a malfunction in liquid emission on the basis of one of detected signals, to drive the driver element corresponding to the nozzle again upon the nozzle having caused a malfunction in liquid emission, and to omit to drive the driver element corresponding to the nozzle upon the nozzle having caused no malfunction in liquid emission. | 11-21-2013 |
20130307897 | PRINTING DEVICE, METHOD OF OUTPUTTING ERRORS AND METHOD OF EXECUTING PROCESSES THEREOF - To prevent a user from their confusion when a cover mounted on a case is opened, when a cover mounted on a case is opened, in a case that a condition of an inkjet printer is a detection state that performs detection of an ink remaining amount by an ink sensor, a cover open error is outputted to a display part. On the other hand, in a case that the condition of the inkjet printer is not a detection state, the cover open error is not outputted to the display part. | 11-21-2013 |
20130314467 | INKJET PRINTER WITH CARRIAGE-COUPLED MEDIA DETECTOR - An inkjet printer having a print region, the inkjet printer includes an inkjet printhead; a media advance system for advancing recording medium through the printing region; a carriage for moving the printhead back and forth in a carriage scan direction across the print region, the carriage including a first magnetic element; and a platform that is movable along the carriage scan direction, the platform including: an optical sensor for receiving light from the recording medium to determine a type of recording medium; and a second magnetic element for selectively coupling to the first magnetic element. | 11-28-2013 |
20130314468 | DETECTING MEDIA TYPE USING CARRIAGE-COUPLED SENSOR - A method of printing on a sheet of recording medium in an inkjet printer, the method includes advancing the sheet of recording medium; coupling a platform to a carriage of the inkjet printer, the platform including an optical sensor; operating a motor to move the carriage along a carriage scan direction, thereby also moving the platform coupled to the carriage along the carriage scan direction; receiving light from the sheet of recording medium in the optical sensor; sending a plurality of electrical signals from the optical sensor; determining a media type of the sheet of recording medium; decoupling the platform from the carriage; selecting a print mode for printing an image; and using the print mode to print the image on the sheet of recording medium. | 11-28-2013 |
20130321512 | DETECTING STRETCH OR SHRINK IN PRINT MEDIA - A print media in a printing system includes multiple test patterns with each test pattern having one or more marks. Each test pattern can have a different number of marks. A method for detecting size variations in the print media while the print media is moving through the printing system includes scanning the test patterns as the print media is moving in a transport direction to produce test pattern signals, with each signal representing a respective test pattern, and analyzing the measured test pattern signals to determine whether a size variation has occurred in the print media. One or more compensation values can be determined based on the size variation. If a size variation is detected, the operation or setting of one or more components in the printing system can be adjusted based on the one or more compensation values. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321513 | DETECTING STRETCH OR SHRINK IN PRINT MEDIA - A printing system includes a print media and one or more non-objectionable test patterns formed or printed on the print media. An integrated imaging system captures images of the one or more non-objectionable test patterns. The integrated imaging system includes a housing, an opening in the housing for receiving light reflected from a moving print media, a folded optical assembly in the housing that receives the reflected light and transmits the light a predetermined distance, and an image sensor within the housing that receives the light and captures one or more images of the one or more non-objectionable test patterns. A processing device can process the one or more images to determine if one or more size variations have occurred in the print media. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321514 | PRINTER CALIBRATION - According to one example, there is provided a method of calibrating a printing system. The printing system is configured to supply print media and calibration media to a print zone. The method comprises controlling the printing system to position calibration media in the print zone, printing a predetermined set of color patches on the calibration media, measuring color characteristics of the printed set of color patches, and comparing the measured color characteristics with a set of reference color characteristics. The method further comprises calibrating the printing system based on the compared characteristics. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321515 | DETECTING STRETCH OR SHRINK IN PRINT MEDIA - A printing system includes a print media having two sets of test patterns formed or printed in at least two margins adjacent a content area on the print media. The two sets of test patterns are separated by a pattern distance and at least two test patterns in each set of test patterns have a different number of marks. Two integrated imaging systems are disposed opposite the print media and are mechanically tied together and separated by a fixed distance. The integrated imaging systems substantially simultaneously capture images of the two sets of test patterns. An image processing device can process the images to determine if one or more size variations have occurred in the print media in the in-track direction. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321516 | DETECTING STRETCH OR SHRINK IN PRINT MEDIA - A printing system includes a print media having two sets of test patterns formed or printed in at least two margins adjacent a content area on the print media. The two sets of test patterns are separated by a pattern distance and at least two test patterns in each set of test patterns have a different number of marks. Two integrated imaging systems are disposed opposite the print media and are mechanically tied together and separated by a fixed distance. The integrated imaging systems substantially simultaneously capture images of the two sets of test patterns. An image processing device can process the images to determine if one or more size variations have occurred in the print media in the in-track direction. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321517 | PRINTED MATERIAL INSPECTION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A printing system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of post-processing apparatuses that perform post-processing on a printed sheet, at least one inspection apparatus connected between the plurality of post-processing apparatuses that inspects the printed sheet, and a control apparatus that performs control for receiving a job and executing processing according to the job; the printing system sets an inspection item to be inspected by the inspection apparatus based on configuration information indicating an anteroposterior relationship between the inspection apparatus and the post-processing apparatuses in the job relative to a flow of the printed sheet, and based on the post-processing apparatuses to be used in the job. The inspection apparatus performs the inspection in accordance with the set inspection item. | 12-05-2013 |
20140002535 | IDENTIFYING A LINEHEAD PRODUCING AN ARTIFACT IN CONTENT PRINTED ON A MOVING PRINT MEDIA | 01-02-2014 |
20140002536 | FLAT FIELD AND DENSITY CORRECTION IN PRINTING SYSTEMS | 01-02-2014 |
20140002537 | Network Printer System | 01-02-2014 |
20140002538 | METHOD AND ASSEMBLY TO DETECT FLUID | 01-02-2014 |
20140015892 | EDGE DETECTION IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - A printing system includes an imaging system positioned opposite a print media for capturing images of the moving print media and a portion of a support device extending out from the edges of the print media. The integrated imaging system includes a housing, an opening in the housing for receiving light reflected from the moving print media and the support device, a folded optical assembly in the housing that transmits the light a predetermined distance, and an image sensor within the housing that receives the light and captures the one or more images. An image processing device is connected to the integrated imaging system and adapted to determine derivative data of averaged pixel data and to determine whether a respective edge of the print media is associated with at least one peak detected in the derivative data and positioned correctly. | 01-16-2014 |
20140022298 | INDIRECT MEDIA FLATNESS MEASUREMENT - An indirect media flatness measurement system, and method, by which the appropriate level of hold-down force may be determined with some degree of quantitative accuracy. In an ink jet printer that is operative to subject a substrate media to a hold down force during printing, the method including printing a predetermined test image having a predetermined pattern on a substrate media using an ink jet print apparatus to produce a test print. Optionally, pattern may be an array of test symbols. The test symbol may comprise a line printed on the substrate media in a direction perpendicular to a process direction of the printer. The test print is compared with the predetermined test image, including measuring drop placement errors of test symbols. The height of the substrate media at the location of each test symbol is calculated based upon the drop placement error. | 01-23-2014 |
20140028753 | INK JET RECORDING DEVICE, WASTE INK TRAY, AND WASTE INK COLLECTING METHOD USING WASTE INK TRAY - An inkjet recording device includes a recording head and a waste ink tray. The recording head is configured to eject droplets of ink. The waste ink tray is configured to receive the ink drained from the recording head. A surface of the waste ink tray, which receives the ink, is made of an antibacterial agent containing resin composition. A solubility of the antibacterial agent containing resin composition, which is measured by a predetermined measurement method, is 1.0 or higher and 3.0 or lower. | 01-30-2014 |
20140035990 | INCORRECT STITCHING DETECTION IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - A printing system includes a linehead that includes two adjacent printheads and an integrated imaging system positioned opposite a moving print media for capturing one or more images of content printed on the moving print media in at least a stitch boundary or an overlap region. The integrated imaging system includes an opening in a housing for receiving light reflected from the moving print media; a folded optical assembly in the housing that receives the reflected light and transmits the light a predetermined distance; and an image sensor within the housing that receives the light and captures the one or more images. An image processing device is adapted to determine derivative data of averaged pixel data obtained from the one or more captured images and to detect one or more peaks in the derivative data that represent stitching artifacts. | 02-06-2014 |
20140035991 | INCORRECT STITCHING DETECTION IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - A method for monitoring stitching between two adjacent printheads includes capturing one or more images of content printed on a moving print media in at least a stitch boundary or overlap region to obtain pixel data. The pixel data is then averaged in a media transport direction to produce blur in an image or images. Derivative data of the averaged pixel data is determined and one or more peaks is detected in the derivative data. A type of stitching artifact is determined based on the detected peak in the derivative data. | 02-06-2014 |
20140035992 | AUTOMATED HIGH PERFORMANCE WAVEFORM DESIGN BY EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHM - A method can include receiving an initial waveform and generating, testing, and evaluating the performance of an initial child set of waveforms based on an initial parent set of waveforms from the initial waveform. The method can also include determining whether a termination condition has been met based on the evaluating and, if so, providing an optimized waveform. If the termination condition has not been met, the method can also include generating subsequent child sets of waveforms based on the previous child set(s). | 02-06-2014 |
20140035993 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND INSPECTION METHOD - The objective of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can accurately determine stains that have occurred on the print surface during printing, and an inspection method employed for the printing apparatus. According to the present invention, the printing apparatus includes: a printing unit that forms an image on a print surface by ejecting ink from print heads based on image data; a reading unit that reads the print surface where the image is formed; and a determination unit that compares, with the image data, the read data obtained by the reading unit, and employs comparison results to determine stains that have occurred on the print surface. | 02-06-2014 |
20140043389 | PRINTER OPERATION - A method and apparatus are provided for determining a state of operation of a printer element. The method includes the steps of determining at least one optical value for an item of media as it is transported to a printer element, determining at least one optical value for the item of media as it is transported from the printer element, comparing the input and output optical values and responsive to the comparison determining a state of operation of the printer element. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043390 | CONTINUOUS PAPER CONVEYANCE DEVICE, AND PRINTER - A conveyance device | 02-13-2014 |
20140043391 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING A PROGRAM - An image forming apparatus that performs correction to make gradation values adding both of two head areas (A+C, B+D) approximately equal. An area whose density is the lowest is set as a target density. Assuming densities for head areas A=70, B=100, C=40, D=90, head areas B and D are corrected with correction amount that ΔB become equal to ΔD (ΔB=ΔD=40) in accordance with target value (A+C=100). | 02-13-2014 |
20140049580 | METHOD FOR STIMULATION RANGE DETECTION IN A CONTINUOUS INK JET PRINTER - A method for determining the quality of a break-off of an ink jet of a CIJ printing machine is disclosed. In one aspect, this method includes: generating a first line of N1 drops, all charged by the charge means, at the same voltage V | 02-20-2014 |
20140055519 | System and Method for Analyzing Images Deposited on an Image Receiving Member of a Printer - A method and apparatus for analyzing images deposited on an image receiving member of a printer, and more particularly analyzing images deposited on a surface of an imaging drum in an inkjet printer. A photoelectric sensor supported by a sled in contact with the surface of the imaging drum can be used to detect missing jets in the printhead, to align the printhead, to reduce the amount of purged ink, and to determine run out of the imaging drum. | 02-27-2014 |
20140063112 | CONTROL DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - There is provided a control device configured to control a drive system including a motor and a driven object. The control device includes a controller configured to compute an operation amount, to measure a control amount of the controlled object, to input a measurement signal of the control amount to an inverse model of a model indicating input-output characteristics of the controlled object, and to generate a differential signal between an output of the inverse model and the operation amount; and a filter configured to filter the generated differential signal, and which has frequency characteristics of attenuating a vibrational component which is developed due to mechanical characteristics of the controlled object, from the differential signal. The controller is configured to make a judgment of whether or not a defect has occurred in the controlled object, based on an output of the filter. | 03-06-2014 |
20140078213 | DROP DETECTOR - In one example, a drop detector includes a light source for illuminating drops passing through a drop zone, multiple light detectors near the light source for detecting light scattered off drops passing through the drop zone, and multiple lenses each configured to focus light from the drop zone on one of the light detectors. In one example, each light detector is arranged in the same plane with all of the other light detectors. In one example, the lenses are configured to focus light from two different spaces in the drop zone on different detectors or groups of detectors. In one example, the lenses are configured to focus light from a single space in the drop zone on multiple detectors. | 03-20-2014 |
20140092162 | Droplet Ejecting Apparatus and Computer-Readable Medium - In recording on a back side of a sheet in duplex recording, an overlapping pixel where both a pixel in back-side image data and a pixel opposed thereto in front-side image data has a gray level value larger than zero is retrieved from the front-side and back-side image data. A block area containing at least a predetermined number of overlapping pixels is extracted as an overlap area from block areas arranged in a matrix in the back-side image data. The area drying time in a block area other than the overlap area is determined from the volume of droplets to be ejected to the back side. The area drying time in the overlap area is determined from the total volume of droplets to be ejected to the front and back sides. The maximum area drying time is determined to be the drying time for the back side. | 04-03-2014 |
20140092163 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - This image recording apparatus comprises: a sheet accommodation portion configured to accommodate a sheet therein; a conveyance mechanism configured to convey the sheet along a conveyance direction from the sheet accommodation portion; a recording unit configured to record an image onto the sheet conveyed by the conveyance mechanism; a housing accommodating the conveyance mechanism and the recording unit and having therein open space that opens toward an outside of the image recording apparatus while holding the sheet accommodation portion; and a speaker disposed inside the housing and configured to output sound to the open space. | 04-03-2014 |
20140092164 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING SYSTEM - A process of detecting a defective recording element and a process of correcting the defective recording element are performed with appropriate processing loads. When the detection process and the correction processes are performed with small loads, for example, at a time of recording, a resolution used for reading an inspection pattern is set lower than that set in a case where the processes can be performed with small loads, for example, at down time before recording. The reading resolution to be set may be determined by an apparatus in accordance with a processing load or may be arbitrarily determined by a user. | 04-03-2014 |
20140098156 | DROP DETECTION ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A drop detection method comprises ejecting an ink drop that includes a fluorescent agent, illuminating the ink drop in flight with excitation light to excite the fluorescent agent, detecting fluorescence emitted by the drop in flight, having a longer wavelength than a wavelength of the excitation light, and, prior to such detecting, filtering out light having a shorter wavelength than the fluorescence wavelength; and a printer with drop detection assembly for performing the method. | 04-10-2014 |
20140104340 | INK LOADER HAVING OPTICAL SENSORS TO IDENTIFY SOLID INK STICKS - An ink loader enables identification of features on a solid ink stick placed on an ink stick support in the ink loader. The ink loader includes two optical sources configured to emit diffuse light toward different surfaces of the solid ink stick. Two corresponding sets of optical sensors are positioned to receive light reflected from identifying features, if present, on the solid ink stick. A controller receives signals generated by the two sets of optical sensors and identifies the ink stick with reference to the signals from the sensors. | 04-17-2014 |
20140111573 | METHOD FOR ANALYZING POSITIONAL DEVIATION OF HEAD MODULES, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING INKJET HEAD - A method for analyzing positional deviation of head modules of an inkjet head having head modules connected and joined with each other includes: dividing a printing pattern and thereby creating division patterns; obtaining conversion factors of the nozzles of each division pattern; changing the number of nozzles used in calculation and thereby obtain a minimum value of a standard error of a positional deviation shift amount; changing the number of divisions of the division patterns and performing the calculation of the conversion factor and the standard error with the changed division patterns; determining the number of divisions and the number of nozzles with which the value of the standard error is minimal; and creating an analysis chart with the determined number of divisions and calculating the positional deviation shift amount based upon an average value of the positional deviation shift amounts of nozzles corresponding to the determined number of nozzles. | 04-24-2014 |
20140118434 | TIMING DETECTION DEVICE, AND DRIVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH THE SAME - A timing detection device includes a moving object, an opening, a sensor unit, and a timing detection unit. The moving object includes a first face and a second face. The first face and the second face move in a moving direction that is parallel to faces. The openings are formed by penetrating the moving object from the first face to the second face. The sensor unit emits detection light from the first face side toward the moving object, and receives the detection light that passes through the openings. The moving object includes an inner wall part and an edge part. The inner wall part demarcates a lateral edge of the openings on a downstream side in the moving direction. The edge part protrudes toward the upstream side in the moving direction at an end fringe part on the second face side of the inner wall part. | 05-01-2014 |
20140118435 | INKJET PRINTHEAD DEVICE, FLUID EJECTION DEVICE, AND METHOD THEREOF - An inkjet printhead device, fluid ejection device and method thereof are disclosed. The fluid ejection device includes a fluid supply chamber to store fluid, an ejection chamber including a nozzle and a corresponding ejection member to selectively eject the fluid through the nozzle, and a channel to establish fluid communication between the fluid supply chamber and the ejection chamber. The fluid ejection device also includes a pressure sensor unit having a sensor plate to output a voltage value corresponding to a cross-sectional area of an amount of fluid in the at least ejection chamber. | 05-01-2014 |
20140125726 | WICKING ACCUMULATED INK AWAY FROM OPTICAL SENSOR IN INKJET PRINTER - An inkjet printer includes an inkjet printhead having a printhead die with an array of nozzles, and a media advance system for moving recording medium along a media path toward a print region. A carriage moves the inkjet printhead back and forth across the print region, and the carriage includes a holding receptacle for the inkjet printhead. The holding receptacle includes a bottom portion having an opening into which the printhead die extends. A viewing hole is disposed in the bottom portion of the holding receptacle for providing an optical pathway between an optical sensor and a portion of the media path. A wick is configured to contact the bottom portion of the holding receptacle proximate the viewing hole for removing accumulated ink. | 05-08-2014 |
20140125727 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING TOTAL AMOUNT OF INK IN INK-JET PRINTING APPARATUS - The application discloses a method for measuring the total amount of ink of an inkjet printing device. The method may include: printing a sampling figure (S | 05-08-2014 |
20140125728 | EJECTION INSPECTION METHOD AND LIQUID EJECTION DEVICE - An ejection inspection method includes: preparing a liquid ejection nozzle for ejecting liquid onto a recording medium; irradiating a pattern formed by the liquid ejected onto the recording medium with light; and conducting ejection inspection of the liquid ejection nozzle based on results of observing or recognizing reflected light or transmitted light of the light from the recording medium. The recording medium includes an ink absorption layer having light transmittance where a great number of void cells having a particle diameter smaller than wavelength of the light are dispersed into a joining material, and an ejection amount of the liquid is adjusted such that a region where the liquid is sufficiently filled in the void cells and a region where substantially no liquid is filled exist in a thickness direction and a horizontal direction in planar view of the ink absorption layer. | 05-08-2014 |
20140125729 | TRANSPORTATION DEVICE AND RECORDING APPARATUS - A transportation device includes: a transportation section that transports a continuous paper; and an imaging unit that detects a transportation amount of the continuous paper which is transported by the transportation section. The imaging unit includes a lens barrel; a light irradiation unit disposed in the lens barrel and capable of radiating light on the continuous paper; a condensing lens which is disposed in a position farther than the light irradiation section with respect to the continuous paper in the lens barrel and condenses a reflected light when the light is radiated from the light irradiation section to the continuous paper; and an imaging element which is disposed in a position farther than the condensing lens with respect to the continuous paper P in the lens barrel and captures an image by receiving the reflected light condensed by the condensing lens. | 05-08-2014 |
20140139583 | PRINTHEAD ALIGNMENT EVALUATION - In one embodiment, a first reference pattern is caused to be printed with transparent ink ejected from a first printhead. A second reference pattern is caused to be printed, with a first colorant ink ejected from a second printhead, to least partially overlap the first reference pattern. The overlapping causes the second reference pattern to be visually discernible where the first and second reference patterns overlap. A background pattern, overlapping and surrounding the first and second reference patterns, is caused to be printed with a second colorant ink less dark than the first colorant ink. The printing of the background pattern causes the first reference pattern to be visually discernible where the first and second reference patterns do not overlap. | 05-22-2014 |
20140139584 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING INK CARTRIDGE CHIP, INK CARTRIDGE CHIP AND INK CARTRIDGE - The present invention provides a method for controlling an ink cartridge chip, the ink cartridge chip and an ink cartridge. The ink cartridge chip comprises an interface unit and a control unit, wherein the interface unit is connected to an image forming apparatus and used for receiving a light control instruction sent by the image forming apparatus; the light control instruction includes a light-on instruction used for indicating the illumination of a light-emitting unit on the ink cartridge chip; and the control unit is used for controlling whether to execute the light control instruction according to the state of the ink cartridge chip when the interface unit receives the light control instruction, and updating the state of the ink cartridge chip according to the light control instruction. The present invention also provides a corresponding control method and an ink cartridge. | 05-22-2014 |
20140139585 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALIBRATING SPOT COLOR - The present invention provides a method for calibrating a spot color comprising: determining a target value for the spot color; and calibrating a printing device in an enumeration cycling manner, so that a spot color measurement value of a color block output by the printing device approximates the target value. The present invention further provides an apparatus for calibrating a spot color, comprising: a target module used for determining a target value for the spot color; a calibrating module used for calibrating a printing device in an enumeration cycling manner, so that a spot color measurement value of a color block output by the printing device approximates the target value. The present invention precisely calibrates the spot color of the printing device. | 05-22-2014 |
20140139586 | LIQUID CARTRIDGE - Second and third outer surfaces intersect a first outer surface, and are spaced from each other. A sensor-signal output terminal is disposed on the first outer surface. A discharge port is disposed on the second outer surface. A channel member is closer to the second outer surface than a liquid storing section is. First and second directions are perpendicular to the first and second outer surfaces, respectively. A third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions. When a space is divided by an imaginary line parallel to the first direction, as viewed from the third direction, into a first region in which the channel member is disposed and a second region in which the liquid storing section is disposed, the sensor and terminal are disposed in the first region. The liquid channel extends linearly in the second direction. The sensor and terminal are aligned in the first direction. | 05-22-2014 |
20140146108 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an access cover that opens/closes relative to an apparatus body, a carriage that includes an image forming device and moves in a moving area which is exposed when the cover is opened, a first detector that detects that the cover has been opened from a fully closed position to a first position, a second detector that detects that the cover has been opened to a second position at which the cover is more open than at the first position, a drive source that drives the carriage to move, and a controller that brakes the drive source while the drive source is supplied with power when the first detector detects that the cover has been opened to the first position, and cuts off power supply to the drive source when the second detector detects that the cover has been opened to the second position. | 05-29-2014 |
20140152735 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROGRAM, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - An image forming apparatus which reads a test pattern formed by ejecting liquid droplets onto a recording medium to adjust an ejection timing of the liquid droplets is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a reading unit including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit; a sensitivity adjusting unit; a relative movement unit; a first correction unit which detects a position of the test pattern; a second correction unit which detects the position of the test pattern; and a correction method selecting unit which selects the first correction unit or the second correction unit based on adjusting results of sensitivity adjusted by the sensitivity adjusting unit. | 06-05-2014 |
20140152736 | DRIVER APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING DRIVER APPARATUS - A driver apparatus includes a drive unit to move a moveable unit along a given path using a drive force; a movement detector to detect movement of the moveable unit; a drive control unit to control the drive unit using a given output for a given time to drive the moveable unit; a determination unit to determine whether the movement detector detects a movement of the moveable unit for a given distance or more in a driving direction when the moveable unit is driven under a control of the drive control unit; and an abnormality detector to determine occurrence of abnormal when the determination unit determines that the moveable unit does not move the given distance or more. | 06-05-2014 |
20140152737 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR FORMING TEST PATTERN, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid droplets; and a pattern forming unit configured to form a test pattern used for positional deviation adjustment including a first pattern serving as a reference pattern and a second pattern serving as an adjustment pattern. The first pattern and the second pattern each are a linear pattern that is parallel to a nozzle arrangement direction and has a disconnected portion. The disconnected portion of the first pattern and the disconnected portion of the second pattern are shifted from each other in the nozzle arrangement direction. | 06-05-2014 |
20140152738 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS - An inkjet printing apparatus is provided that can establish a test pattern detection region according to the printing format, where performing printing by way of a margined printing and a marginless printing is possible. The inkjet printing apparatus detects the position of both ends of the test pattern. In the case of a margined printing, a detection of the ink ejection status is performed with respect to ejection ports that perform printing at a region between both ends of the margined test pattern, and that eject the ink forming the pixels of the margined test pattern. In the case of a marginless printing, a detection of the ink ejection status is performed with respect to ejection ports that perform printing at a region between both ends of the marginless test pattern, and that eject the ink forming the pixels of the marginless test pattern. | 06-05-2014 |
20140160198 | PRINTING FLUID CARTRIDGE, PRINTING APPARATUS, AND USE OF PRINTING FLUID CARTRIDGE - A printing fluid cartridge includes at least one electrical interface configured to be electrically connected to at least one contact, and a light attenuating portion configured to attenuate light. | 06-12-2014 |
20140176635 | PRINTER VAPOR CONTROL - Examples systems and methods of this disclosure include a threshold corresponding to a vapor density, and a circuit or method step to compare an incoming signal that corresponds to a detected vapor density with the threshold. | 06-26-2014 |
20140184686 | Scan and Pause Method for Determining Ink Drying Time in an Inkjet Printer - A method for determining drying time of a print swath of ink deposited on a media sheet by an inkjet printer having a controller communicatively coupled to each of a printhead and a gloss sensor. The method comprises forming the print swath on the media sheet; scanning the print swath with the gloss sensor; processing an output response thereof to determine and store a gloss value; starting a predetermined scan interval and waiting scan interval to elapse; performing a next scan of the print swath with the gloss sensor; processing a next gloss sensor output response to determine and store a next gloss value; and, if the gloss value and next gloss value are within a predetermined range moving the media sheet for further processing including duplexing. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184687 | SEQUENTIAL SCAN METHOD FOR DETERMINING INK DRYING TIME IN AN INKJET PRINTER - A method for determining drying time of a print swath of ink deposited on a media sheet by an inkjet printer. The method comprises performing a predetermined number of sequential scans of a print swath with a gloss sensor; processing output responses thereof to determine and store gloss values; calculating percent differences between the gloss values; and, based on the calculated percent differences, selecting one of a long dry time and a short dry time before moving the media sheet. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184688 | Sensor for Determining Ink Drying Time in a Page-Wide Inkjet Printer - A page-wide inkjet printer for determining a drying time of a print swath of ink deposited on a sheet of media by a fixed printhead spanning a width of a printing zone in a subscan direction. The printer has a controller communicatively coupled to each of the printhead and a moveable gloss sensor or a scan bar for processing a respective output response for the determining the drying time of the print swath. | 07-03-2014 |
20140192110 | TEST METHOD - A test method includes preparing a test medium including a base and an ink-receiving layer that absorbs ink to swell in the thickness direction thereof, applying an ink onto the ink-receiving layer by ejecting droplets of the ink from a liquid ejecting apparatus, and observing the test medium. | 07-10-2014 |
20140198149 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus that recognizes a location of a substrate, which is a printing target, and performs printing. The printing apparatus includes: a stage to which the substrate is mounted; a location recognition unit recognizing a location of the substrate mounted to the stage; and a printing unit disposed in an upper portion of the stage and coating a printing solution on the substrate, and the location recognition unit includes a plurality of alignment marks formed in the substrate and a camera photographing the alignment marks. The plurality of alignment marks are disposed to be rotationally symmetrical to each other with reference to the center of the substrate for the locations of the alignment marks to be the same even though the substrate is rotated by a predetermined angle with reference to the center of the substrate. | 07-17-2014 |
20140204147 | PRINTHEAD COLOR DENSITY CORRECTION IN PRINTING SYSTEMS - A printing system includes a linehead that jets ink onto a moving print media to print a test block and an integrated imaging system positioned downstream of the linehead with respect to a media transport direction. The integrated imaging system includes an opening in a housing for receiving light reflected from a moving print media. A folded optical assembly in the housing receives the reflected light and transmits the light a distance. One or more image sensors, having known color filter arrays, within the housing each receive the light and capture one or more images of the printed test block. An image processing device is connected to the integrated imaging system for receiving pixel data from the one or more image sensors and configured to determine a color of the ink and a density of the printed test block using the pixel data. | 07-24-2014 |
20140204148 | INK LEVEL SENSOR AND RELATED METHODS - In an embodiment, a method of sensing an ink level includes applying a pre-charge voltage Vp to a sense capacitor to charge the sense capacitor with a charge Q | 07-24-2014 |
20140210897 | CONTROL SIGNALING USING CAPACITIVE HUMIDITY SENSOR - A circuit includes a capacitive-type humidity sensor. The circuit provides start and stop signals to a processor in accordance with a charge voltage across the sensor. The processor performs a counting function to derive an integer count value in response to the start and stop signals. The processor uses the integer count value to determine parameters for controlling an ink-jetting print engine. Printing speed can be controlled in accordance with ambient humidity and/or temperature so that the printed media are sufficiently dried before handling by a user or other operations. | 07-31-2014 |
20140210898 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING INK USAGE IN AN INKJET PRINTER - An inkjet printer estimates ink usage in the printer with reference to image pixels and a history of inkjet firing for each inkjet. The printer includes an apparatus that generates an ink mass for each image pixel with reference to the image pixel and a predetermined number of previously ejected image pixels and identifies a total ink mass measurement for a printhead with reference to the ink masses generated for the image pixels of an image to be printed by the inkjet printer. | 07-31-2014 |
20140210899 | CALIBRATION OF A RETRO-REFLECTIVE SENSOR - A printer system includes a handling system to move print media, a print medium detection sensor to produce a response indicative of an object, and a processor coupled to the handling system and to the print medium detection sensor to perform a two-point calibration of the sensor. The first point of the two-point calibration includes a first response from the sensor, and a second point of the two-point calibration includes a second response from the sensor. | 07-31-2014 |
20140218435 | OPTIMIZATION OF DRYING FOR WET COLORANTS IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - Systems and methods are disclosed for determining an operational range of colorant densities and heating powers that result in successful drying for a print media that is based on a drying quality of test images printed by a printing system. One embodiment comprises a printing system that applies colorant onto a continuous-form medium and applies heat to the medium based on a heating power. The printing system prints a plurality of test images onto the medium, where one or more of a colorant density and a heating power vary for each of the printed test images. The printing system determines a drying quality for the printed test images, and calculates an operational range of colorant densities and heating powers for the medium based on the drying quality of the printed test images. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218436 | CIRCUIT THAT SELECTS EPROMS INDIVIDUALLY AND IN PARALLEL - An integrated circuit including a first EPROM, a second EPROM, and a circuit. The first EPROM is configured to provide a first state and a second state. The second EPROM is configured to provide a third state and a fourth state. The circuit is configured to select the first EPROM and the second EPROM individually and in parallel with each other. | 08-07-2014 |
20140232780 | PAPER BASIS WEIGHT SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A sheet basis weight sensing device for an image forming apparatus includes a sensor to detect heat conductivity of an ambient gas on a surface of a sheet on which the droplet is deposited or the surface opposite the sheet before and after the droplet is deposited; and a controller configured to: measure a time it takes the heat conductivity after the droplet is deposited to change by a predetermined ratio compared to the heat conductivity before deposition of the droplet; and obtain the sheet basis weight based on a relation between the time and the basis weight. The sheet basis weight sensing device further includes a memory to store a first table and a second table, and an image forming condition controller to set an appropriate image forming condition with reference to the second table. | 08-21-2014 |
20140232781 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus including a recording head that discharges UV ink onto a recording material and an ultraviolet light irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet light to the discharged UV ink so as to harden the UV ink; further includes a failure diagnostic unit that diagnoses a failure condition of the ultraviolet light irradiation unit and a controller that controls operations of the recording head, the ultraviolet light irradiation unit, and the failure diagnostic unit. Further, the controller is so configured as to change the operation mode of the recording apparatus to a failure-state mode when the ultraviolet light irradiation unit has been diagnosed as a failure by the failure diagnostic unit. | 08-21-2014 |
20140240390 | EJECTION DETECTION DEVICE, EJECTION DETECTION METHOD, AND PRINTING APPARATUS - The objective of the present invention is to provide an ejection detection device with an inexpensive and simple structure that can appropriately detect conditions of nozzles, without the control of the quantity of liquid ejected from the nozzles being required. Therefore, for the ejection detection device of the present invention, a light-emitting unit emits light to a light-receiving unit in a direction in which a plurality of nozzles is arranged in a print head. The ejection detection device detects the condition of a nozzle to be detected, which ejects the liquid droplet. At this time, the emission intensity of the light-emitting unit or the responsivity of the light-receiving unit is controlled by the print head in accordance with the location of the nozzle to be detected. | 08-28-2014 |
20140247301 | LIQUID EJECTION DEVICE, INSPECTION METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A liquid ejection device comprising a plurality of ejection parts for ejecting liquid in cavities, an inspection part for inspecting the ejection parts. The ejection parts are classified into a plurality of ranks according to a characteristic of each of the ejection parts. | 09-04-2014 |
20140253625 | PRINTED MATTER, PRINTING APPARATUS, AND PRINTING PRECISION MEASURING METHOD - Provided is a printed matter for measuring printing precision of a printing apparatus configured to perform printing to both sides of a printing medium. The printed matter includes a plurality of positioning reference marks printed orthogonal to a transportation direction of the printing medium; and an inspecting window bored in a positioning reference mark of the plurality of positioning reference marks, the positioning reference mark corresponding to an object to be inspected. The printing medium is folded so as to make another positioning reference mark on the printing medium visible through the inspecting window, and the positioning reference mark on a side of the inspecting window is compared with the positioning reference mark visible through the inspecting window, whereby printing precision is measured. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253626 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, an ejection detection unit, a cleaner, and a holder member. The ejection detection unit has an electrode member disposed in an area in which the electrode member is opposable to the head. The cleaner includes a cleaning member to remove droplets adhering to the electrode member. The ejection detection unit detects ejection or non-ejection of droplets by detection of electric changes of the electrode member generated when droplets ejected from nozzles of the head land on the electrode member in a state in which a potential difference is created between a nozzle face of the head and the electrode member and the nozzle face is opposed to the electrode member. The holder member supports the electrode member, and holds the cleaning member movable in parallel to a nozzle array direction in which the nozzles is arrayed in the head. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253627 | FLOW PATH UNIT, LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF FLOW PATH SUBSTRATE - A flow path unit includes a light transmitting flow path substrate having a liquid flow path and a coupling substrate connected with the flow path substrate. In the flow path unit, a space as a first positioning mark is provided at the side of a first substrate-surface of the flow path substrate or at the inside of the flow path substrate. Further, a film as a second positioning mark is provided at the side of a second substrate-surface of the flow path substrate that is opposite to the first substrate-surface side. Furthermore, a hole as a third positioning mark is provided in the coupling substrate. The second positioning mark is provided at a position where the first positioning mark is projected. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253628 | LIQUID CARTRIDGE - A liquid cartridge includes a liquid storing portion that stores liquid therein, a detection portion in fluid communication with the liquid storing portion, a movable member that is disposed in the detection portion, and a sensor that outputs a signal relative to a position of the movable member. | 09-11-2014 |
20140267488 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSDUCER IN PRINT HEAD ASSEMBLY FOR INKJET PRINTING SYSTEM - A measurement device for measuring a response to actuation of an electro-mechanical transducer in a print head assembly for an inkjet printing system includes a sensing circuit and a measurement circuit. The sensing circuit provides a path to system ground for the transducer. The transducer is associated with an ink chamber in the print head assembly. The transducer is configured to transfer energy to contents of the chamber in response to an actuation of the transducer in conjunction with electronics controller and waveform amplifier modules of the printing system. The measurement circuit monitors a ground signal at a transducer-side of the sensing circuit and a reference signal at a system ground-side of the sensing circuit. The measurement circuit generates a difference signal indicative of a difference between the ground and reference signals. Various embodiments of methods for measuring the response and additional embodiments of devices are provided. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267489 | DETECTING METHOD FOR PRINTING MATERIAL BOUNDARY OF LARGE UV INKJET PRINTER - A detecting method for printing material boundary of a large UV inkjet printer includes steps of performing a full-field scanning process at a first scanning speed by a photosensitive element disposed on an inkjet module to cause a sensing device to produce induced voltage signals corresponding to different positions below sequentially in order to determine rough coordinate positions of two opposite sides of the printing material based on the changes of the induced voltage signals, and to define detailed scanning areas including the rough coordinate positions of the two opposite sides; and performing a detailed scanning process for the detailed scanning areas along an opposite direction at a second scanning speed slower than the first scanning speed by the photosensitive element in order to obtain boundary coordinate positions of the two opposite sides of the printing material based on the changes of the induced voltage signals. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285566 | LIQUID DISCHARGE DEVICE AND LIQUID DISCHARGE METHOD - A liquid discharge device includes a head, an optical sensor and an air blowing unit. The head is configured and arranged to record on a medium. The optical sensor is configured and arranged to detect presence or absence of foreign matter. The air blowing unit is configured and arranged to blow air toward the optical sensor for removing the foreign matter. | 09-25-2014 |
20140292888 | PATTERN INSPECTION APPARATUS, PATTERN INSPECTION METHOD, AND PRINTER - A pattern inspection apparatus is provided, including a reading mechanism configured to read a print pattern including an overlapped pattern portion formed by overlapping a first-pattern and a second-pattern and a single pattern portion formed with only any one of the first-pattern and the second-pattern; and a controller configured to perform acquisition of density information of the print pattern based on a result of the reading and correction of density information of the overlapped pattern portion by using density information of the single pattern portion. | 10-02-2014 |
20140292889 | PRINTING DEVICE - A printing device includes a transporter that transports a printing medium, a head that ejects ink onto the printing medium and forms an image, an inspector that inspects whether or not a dot of the image is omitted, and a controller that controls the transporter, the head, and the inspector. When the inspection of whether or not a dot is omitted is executed, the controller prints, on the printing medium, inspection result information that indicates whether or not the dot is omitted. | 10-02-2014 |
20140292890 | RECORDING APPARATUS - There is provided a recording apparatus including a support stage which supports a recording medium, a recording processing section which includes a recording unit for performing recording on the supported recording medium and is bridged so as to cross over the support stage in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis moving section which moves the recording processing section in a Y-axis direction with respect to the support stage, and a collision detection section which detects collision between a foreign matter and the recording processing section, in which the recording processing section includes projecting sections projecting in the X-axis direction with respect to the support stage, and side collision detection sections are respectively arranged on front and rear sides of the respective projecting sections. | 10-02-2014 |
20140292891 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND DETECTION METHOD - An inkjet printing apparatus includes a current source configured to be able to supply, to a resistance sensor, a constant current of the first constant current value and a constant current of the second constant current value larger than the first constant current value. A change of the resistance value of the resistance sensor is detected by switching the value of the constant current to be supplied to the resistance sensor between the first constant current value and the second constant current value a predetermined time after driving a heater to discharge an ink droplet. | 10-02-2014 |
20140292892 | LIQUID STORAGE DEVICE - A liquid storage device includes: a liquid storage having a storage chamber for storing liquid; first communication devices each for transmitting a radio wave for carrying out short distance wireless communication; a second communication device for receiving the radio wave transmitted from each first communication device; and a controller. The first communication devices are arranged in a configuration corresponding to a direction of movement of a boundary surface between a liquid stored area and a liquid non-stored area in the storage chamber. The movement is caused by increase or decrease of an amount of the liquid in the storage chamber. The storage chamber is partly interposed between the second communication device and the first communication devices. The controller detects a position of the boundary surface based on a reception status of the radio wave transmitted from each first communication device and received by the second communication device. | 10-02-2014 |
20140292893 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND MAINTENANCE METHOD - A movable member configured to move when a liquid ejecting apparatus is inclined from a posture to be taken when ejecting liquid upon receipt of an action of the gravitational force and a memory unit configured to store the fact that the movable member is moved in response to abutment with the moved movable member are provided and the presence or absence of the movement of the movable member is acquired after the power has been turned ON. Accordingly, a change of the posture of the liquid ejecting apparatus in a power OFF state can be determined after the fact after the power has been turned ON. | 10-02-2014 |
20140300662 | PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An apparatus and method for use in printing an image in a multipass printing device, the method comprising obtaining information identifying two or more defective nozzles in a nozzle array, determining that a line of a printed image is associated with more than a first predetermined number of defective nozzles based on the obtained information identifying two or more defective nozzles and selected step sizes, and identifying adjusted step sizes such that no more than the first predetermined number of defective nozzles is associated with any line of the printed image. | 10-09-2014 |
20140307021 | DETERMINATION OF A MEDIA MALFUNCTION EVENT BASED ON A SHAPE OF A MEDIA PORTION - A printing apparatus includes a media support assembly, a scanning module, and a control module. The media support assembly may position a respective media portion in a print zone to receive a printing fluid thereon. The scanning module may scan the media portion in the print zone and generate a media shape signal corresponding to a shape of the media portion. The control module may compare the media shape signal to a reference signal to form a resultant comparison and determine a media malfunction event based on the resultant comparison. | 10-16-2014 |
20140313256 | Method For Calibrating Optical Detector Operation With Marks Formed On A Moving Image Receiving Surface In A Printer - A method for calibration of an optical sensor to scan printed marks in a printer includes operating inkjets to form printed marks on an image receiving surface and activating the optical sensor after the image receiving surface moves a predetermined distance to generate scanned image data of a region of the image receiving surface that is longer than the region containing the printed marks. The method includes identifying an error between the location of the printed marks in the scanned image data and a predetermined expected location for the marks, and adjustment of the distance that the image receiving surface moves prior to activation of the optical sensor to correct the error. | 10-23-2014 |
20140320565 | Velocity Estimation Methods, and Imaging Devices and Printing Devices using the Methods - A method of determining the velocity of relative displacement between a substrate and an image sensor, for example the velocity of displacement of a page relative to a scanner, involves imaging a reference pattern on the substrate, using the image sensor, while the relative displacement occurs between the substrate and the image sensor. The reference pattern includes plural crossing points marked at predetermined locations on the substrate, each crossing point formed of a first line portion crossing a second line portion. Locations in the image that correspond to the crossing points are compared to the predetermined locations on the substrate and the velocity of the relative displacement between the image sensor and the substrate is determined using relationships between the predetermined locations and the detected locations in the generated image. | 10-30-2014 |
20140320566 | Printhead Die With Damage Detection Conductor Between Multiple Termination Rings - In one example implementation, a printhead die includes a SiO2 layer grown into a surface of a silicon substrate, a dielectric layer formed on the surface over an interior area of the substrate, a first termination ring surrounding the interior area and defined by an absence of the dielectric layer, a berm surrounding the first termination ring and defined by the presence of the dielectric layer, a damage detection conductor formed under the berm on the SiO2 layer, and a second termination ring surrounding the berm and defined by an absence of the dielectric layer. | 10-30-2014 |
20140320567 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus which includes an ejecting unit which ejects liquid cured by being irradiated with light onto a medium for printing, an irradiation unit which irradiates the liquid which has landed onto the medium for printing with the light, and an image quality inspection unit which inspects an image quality of an image which is formed on the medium for printing, in which, when the image quality inspection unit detects abnormal formation of the image, an intensity of the light of the irradiation unit is controlled. | 10-30-2014 |
20140327718 | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND INK-JET IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A power supply system includes: a switching power supply configured to rectify and smooth an alternating current voltage of an alternating current power supply and generate a direct current voltage; a small-capacity power supply having a power supply capacity smaller than a power supply capacity of the switching power supply; a sensor configured to output a detection voltage corresponding to a detection target; and a control device. The control device comprises: a reference voltage generation circuit configured to be fed with power from the small-capacity power supply and generate a reference voltage, a comparison circuit configured to compare the detection voltage output from the sensor with the reference voltage and generate a comparison voltage corresponding to the comparison result of the comparison circuit, and a monitoring unit configured to monitor the detection target based on the comparison voltage during the switching power supply is stopped. | 11-06-2014 |
20140333691 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VISUALLY DETECTING DEFECTIVE INKJETS IN AN INKJET IMAGING APPARATUS - A method of printer operation enables visual detection of defective inkjets. The method includes operating inkjets in a predetermined number of printheads that eject a same color of ink to form a test pattern having three portions. One portion is printed by the even-numbered inkjets in each printhead, one portion is printed by the odd-numbered inkjets in each printhead, and a third portion is printed by all of the inkjets in each printhead. The portions are printed immediately adjacent to one another in a process direction with the third portion between the other two portions. | 11-13-2014 |
20140333692 | LIQUID EJECTION HEAD AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME - There is provided a liquid ejection head that can reduce trouble in alignment of a print element substrate even in the case where a high magnification optical system is used and a method for fabricating the liquid ejection head. To achieve this, an auxiliary mark that indicates a relative position with respect to a reference mark is detected and recognized, and thus the position of the reference mark is identified even in the case where the reference mark is not reflected in a camera. | 11-13-2014 |
20140333693 | RECORDING APPARATUS, DETECTION METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A recording apparatus includes a sensor including a light emitting element for emitting light to a recording medium, and a light receiving element for receiving the emitted light and reflected by the recording medium, configured to, via the light emitting and light receiving elements, measure a patch recorded on the recording medium by a recording head; a calibration member configured to reflect the emitted light and to be used to calibrate the sensor based on a result of optical measurement of the calibration member performed by receiving, via the light receiving element, reflected light reflected by the calibration member; and a detection unit configured to detect dirtiness of the calibration member based on the result of the optical measurement of the calibration member by the sensor and a result of optical measurement of the calibration member performed before the measurement. | 11-13-2014 |
20140333694 | Detecting a Drive Bubble Formation and Collapse - Measuring an inkjet nozzle may nozzle may include taking at least one impedance measurement after the firing command is sent to detect the presence of a drive bubble and taking another impedance measurement to detect a collapse of the drive bubble. | 11-13-2014 |
20140347416 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING PIXEL DROPOUT - A technique is described for determining pixel dropout in a printhead that has a plurality of print elements arrayed along an axis. In the technique, a dataset of integrated intensity values, in the printing direction on a substrate, of a captured image is generated and used to determine if pixel dropout has or may have occurred. | 11-27-2014 |
20140347417 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - Multiple test pattern printing using each of multiple printing element arrays are read, and in a case where a streak is present in predetermined test patterns of the multiple test patterns at the same position in the direction of the array of the printing elements, determination is made that the streak is not due to failure of a printing element. | 11-27-2014 |
20140347418 | Use of a Sense Mark to Control a Printing System - A printing system includes a first imaging unit configured to print a first image and a single registration mark associated with the first image on a substrate contemporaneously during a production run, and a sensor configured to detect the registration mark at a point where the registration mark is within a second imaging unit. The printing system further includes a controller configured to calculate an offset along a width direction of the substrate based on the single registration mark and to instruct the second imaging unit to print the second image on the substrate. The second image is shifted in its entirety in accordance with the calculated offset and is printed on the same side of the substrate as the first image. | 11-27-2014 |
20140347419 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOF - An image forming system and methods are disclosed. The methods include detecting an ambient temperature of an image forming system by a first thermal sense resistor disposed in a first printhead to obtain a first detected ambient temperature, detecting the ambient temperature of the image forming system by a second thermal sense resistor disposed in a second printhead to obtain a second detected ambient temperature, and determining a temperature difference between the first detected ambient temperature and the second detected ambient temperature of the image forming system by a temperature variation module. | 11-27-2014 |
20140347420 | NOZZLE EJECTION TRAJECTORY DETECTION - Light redirected by liquid droplets ejected from nozzles ( | 11-27-2014 |
20140368571 | QUALITY ANALYSIS OF PRINTHEADS WITH CLEAR FLUID - Systems and methods for improving the quality analysis of printheads that apply transparent or hard-to-detect fluids to a media. The system includes a printhead operable to apply a clear fluid to a print media. The system also includes a controller operable to enter a diagnostic mode for quality analysis of the printhead. The controller initiates a supply of diagnostic fluid to the printhead that includes a colorant. The controller then directs the printhead to apply the diagnostic fluid to the print media. Because the diagnostic fluid includes a colorant, the output of the printhead will be more visible on the media. | 12-18-2014 |
20150015637 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND CHECK PATTERN PRINTING METHOD - A check pattern is printed which makes it possible to detect, with high precision, individual patterns corresponding to nozzles of a print head of an inkjet printing apparatus. More specifically, after an alignment mark is printed, ejection of an ink from the nozzles is stopped for a certain time. Because of this stoppage time, the concentration of a coloring material of the ink ejected from the nozzles increases, whereby the optical density of an analysis pattern which is printed later can be increased. In this manner, a scanner can read, with high precision, the patterns corresponding to the nozzles. | 01-15-2015 |
20150022580 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Because the ejection state of a printing element in a printing apparatus may vary at all times, an inspection item for inspecting a printed image may be set in consideration of the ejection state of the printing element. An inspection item for inspecting a printed image may be set based on information including a temperature characteristic of a printing head and a state of ink such as an elapsed time from the last ejection. This allows image inspection that matches with variations in the ejection state of the printing element. | 01-22-2015 |
20150029256 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CORRECTING STEP SHIFT THEREOF - Provided is an inkjet printing apparatus configured to perform printing by discharging ink droplets onto a print medium. The apparatus includes a printing head having a plurality of inkjet heads and configured to perform printing by discharging the ink droplets from the plurality of inkjet heads onto the print medium; a chart printing device configured to print a step-shift correcting chart with the printing head; a reading device configured to read the step-shift correcting chart printed on the print medium; a print medium-processed portion detecting device configured to detect a processed portion of the print medium; an uninfluenced step-shift correcting-chart generating device configured to generate an uninfluenced step-shift correcting chart; and a shift-amount calculating device configured to calculate a shift amount for correcting the step shift in accordance with the uninfluenced step-shift correcting chart. | 01-29-2015 |
20150029257 | SHEET ATTRIBUTION DETECTION SENSOR DEVICE, PAPER SHEET ATTRIBUTION DETECTION METHOD, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A sheet attribution detection sensor device includes a light emission element configured to emit incident light to a paper sheet, a light receiving element configured to receive a specular reflection component of reflection light from the paper sheet of the incident light in order to specify a thickness of the paper sheet, and light receiving elements configured to receive a diffuse reflection component of the reflection light in order to specify one of surface roughness and color of the paper sheet. | 01-29-2015 |
20150049139 | COLOR ANALYSIS - Techniques related to printing are described herein. According to an example, color patches are to be printed on a substrate. The substrate can be positioned on a substrate support for operation of a color sensor in a color measurement zone. Dimension and location in the substrate of the color patches are selected such that, for each color patch, at least a portion of the color patch can be positioned on a support projection in the color measurement zone. In some examples, color analysis techniques are described. | 02-19-2015 |
20150054879 | INKJET PRINT HEAD HEALTH DETECTION - A method and apparatus for self-sensing the detection of print head conditions on high resolution/multiple nozzle piezoelectric ink jet print heads resulting in increased ink jet efficiency and reduced ejection failure with no use of ink. This is done by creating a pressure wave in an ink-fillable ink jet head ejection chamber where the intensity of the induced pressure wave is below a threshold value necessary to produce ejection of a normal sized ink drop through the nozzle. An electrical signal based on the pressure wave is generated and analyzed to determine ink jet head ink drop ejection performance. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054880 | Substrate Defect Detection Mechanism - A method is disclosed. The method includes one or more light field cameras recording image data of a substrate during printing to the substrate and a control unit processing the image data received from the one or more light field cameras to identify defect areas in the substrate. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054881 | LIQUID EJECTING METHOD AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting method of a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto a target on the basis of acquired conditions, includes acquiring a residual amount of liquid that is useable, estimating a use amount of liquid that is used in ejection of liquid using a set use amount of liquid per single target quantity that is set in advance with respect to a size of a target that is included in the acquired conditions, and performing a warning that is related to the residual amount of liquid before ejecting the liquid onto the target that is used in a case in which the residual amount of liquid after liquid ejection, which is estimated on the basis of the residual amount of liquid and the use amount of liquid, is smaller than a threshold value. | 02-26-2015 |
20150062231 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - The present invention provided a printing apparatus including: an ink storage section; a detection unit detecting an ink remaining amount of the section; a printhead; an air communication section communicating with the section and air; a suction unit; and a control unit. When a predetermined transport-preparation condition regarding transport of the printing apparatus is satisfied, the control unit saves information about the ink remaining amount detected by the detection unit and controls the suction unit to drain ink in the air communication section through the printhead. When a predetermined start-up condition is satisfied, the control unit controls, based on the information, the suction unit to suck ink from the printhead. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062232 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND RESIDUAL INK DETECTION METHOD - An embodiment of this invention is directed to discriminating between an ink present state and a bubble state and accurately determining the presence/absence of ink in residual ink detection. A printing apparatus measures the voltage between two electrodes in an ink tank based on an electric current supplied to one of the two electrodes, and compares the measured voltage with a first threshold voltage. When the measured voltage is lower than the first threshold voltage, the measured voltage is compared with a second threshold voltage lower than the first threshold voltage. According to results of these two comparisons, control is performed to supply the electric current, re-measure the voltage between the two electrodes, and re-inspect a residual ink amount. In a case where accurate determination is suspected, the presence/absence of ink is determined by re-inspection. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062233 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS, AND METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM FOR OPTIMIZING DEFECTIVE-RECORDING-ELEMENT COMPENSATION PARAMETER - In the optimization of a non-discharge correction parameter for correcting a non-discharge using a non-discharge correction nozzle, a first test chart including a non-recording region that is the recording position of the non-discharge correction nozzle, a measurement chart region where a measurement chart is formed, and a uniform concentration region is formed for a designated nozzle that is previously designated. Then, the first test chart is read, the reading data is analyzed, the concentration at the measurement chart and the concentration at the uniform concentration region are compared for each non-discharge correction parameter, and a non-discharge correction parameter corresponding to the concentration at the measurement chart that minimizes the concentration difference from the uniform concentration region is derived as the optimum value of the non-discharge correction parameter for the designated nozzle. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062234 | COLOR MIXING INSPECTION METHOD, COLOR MIXING INSPECTION APPARATUS AND PRINT APPARATUS - To provide a color mixing inspection method, a color mixing inspection apparatus and a print apparatus capable of carrying out a color mixing inspection at low cost for the inspection with high detection ability. To that end, an evaluation pattern is irradiated with light having a color complementary to color mixed into the evaluation pattern to emphasize the color mixing and measure lightness, thereby determining the presence of color mixing. | 03-05-2015 |
20150070433 | LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS AND LIQUID EJECTION HEAD - A liquid ejection apparatus includes an energy generating element that generates energy for ejecting a liquid; a plurality of electroconductive protective films that are disposed so as to cover at least the energy generating element and that are in contact with the liquid; and an electrifying unit that is capable of electrifying the plurality of electroconductive protective films in such a way that surfaces of the electroconductive protective films in contact with the liquid serve as anodes. | 03-12-2015 |
20150077460 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - An image recording apparatus includes a roller that is configured to rotate in a direction of conveyance of a recording medium in a state of contact with the recording medium, which is being conveyed, and that has a support shaft extending in a direction intersecting with the direction of conveyance, a fixation member fixing the roller movably in the direction intersecting with the direction of conveyance; a detector that is positioned between the roller and the fixation member and configured to detect a force received from the recording medium via the roller, a support member having an elastic member, and a roller movement unit that is connected to the support member and configured to move the roller in the direction intersecting with the direction of conveyance. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077461 | PRINTING COMPENSATION METHOD FOR PRINTING MODULE - A printing compensation method for an inkjet printing system is provided. The inkjet printing system includes a printing module, an image capture module and a dynamic compensation module. The printing module includes plural nozzles. First, a nozzle test pattern corresponding to the plural nozzles is printed out by the printing module. Then, a digital data corresponding to the nozzle test pattern is acquired by the image capture module, and a judging step is performed to judge whether any of the plural nozzles is abnormal according to the digital data. If at least one of the plural nozzles is abnormal, an information about at least one failed-print part corresponding to the at least one nozzle is acquired. Then, the dynamic compensation module is enabled to perform a compensation printing operation according to the information about the at least one failed-print part. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077462 | LIQUID SUPPLY DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A liquid supply device includes diaphragms, pressing members, a movement unit, a rotating shaft, and cams. In the liquid supply device, when the rotating shaft is rotated in a first direction, the cams are moved to arrange adjoining ones of the cams to have a phase difference around the rotating shaft, in which one of the cams selectively causes a corresponding one of the pressing members to regulate an increase in a volume of a corresponding one of the diaphragms. When the rotating shaft is rotated in a second direction, the cams are moved to arrange the cams in phase with one another when viewed from an axial direction of the rotating shaft, in which the cams simultaneously cause all the pressing members to regulate the increase in the volume of each of the diaphragms. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077463 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus includes a piezoelectric element which is displaced according to a driving signal; a first ejection unit and a second ejection unit that include nozzles capable of ejecting; a detection unit that detects a first and second residual vibration signal; and a determination unit that determines an ejection state of the liquid in the first ejection unit to be normal in a case where a cycle of a waveform indicated by the first residual vibration signal belongs to a first range and determines an ejection state of the liquid in the second ejection unit to be normal in a case where a cycle of a waveform indicated by the second residual vibration signal belongs to a second range, in which a part or all of the second range includes a range which is not included in the first range. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077464 | INK SMEAR MEASUREMENT IN AN IMAGING APPARATUS - A system implementing a method for determining smear tendency of a sheet of print media to reduce smearing on future media sheets of a similar type. The method includes creating an image on the sheet of print media. The sheet of print media is reversed to allow at least one upstream roller to contact and smear the image and create smear marks on the sheet of print media. Reference marks are created over the smear marks and at unsmeared areas of the sheet of print media. To determine the smear tendency, the reference marks over the smear marks are compared to the reference marks at the unsmeared areas. The smear tendency indicates future corrections to an imaging device to reduce smearing on the future media sheets when used by the imaging device. | 03-19-2015 |
20150091970 | PRINTING METHOD AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus sequentially prints a plurality of images on a first surface of a sheet, and then sequentially prints a plurality of images on a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface. When a state of a printing unit is determined not to be normal when printing on the first surface, the printing apparatus executes processing for maintenance by using a sheet different from the sheet used for printing on the first surface. | 04-02-2015 |
20150109363 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND LIGHT SOURCE MODULE - A printer includes a light source module including an ejecting head that ejects a UV ink onto a medium. The UV ink hardens when irradiated with a UV light ray. The light source module includes an irradiator that irradiates the UV ink with the UV light ray. The printer may include a guide shaft to/from which the light module is attachable/detachable and a driving controller that performs control of the irradiator. The light source module includes, in addition to the irradiator, a memory module that stores therein information indicating a light irradiation feature of the irradiator. The driving controller performs control of the irradiator by using the information indicating a light irradiation feature of the irradiator. | 04-23-2015 |
20150116412 | IMAGING MODULE WITH ALIGNED IMAGING SYSTEMS - An imaging module including a plurality of imaging systems for capturing images of a receiver medium. An illumination system illuminates the receiver medium with an illumination pattern. First and second imaging systems are positioned to capture images of the receiver medium, each including at least a portion of the illumination pattern. The first and second images are analyzed to determine a relative position of the illumination pattern in the first and second images. Imaging system alignment parameters for use in aligning images captured with the first and second imaging systems are determined responsive to the determined relative position. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116413 | METHOD FOR ALIGNING IMAGING SYSTEMS - A method for aligning plurality of imaging systems for capturing images of a receiver medium. An illumination system is used to illuminate the receiver medium with an illumination pattern. First and second imaging systems are used to capture images of the receiver medium, each including at least a portion of the illumination pattern. The first and second images are analyzed to determine a relative position of the illumination pattern in the first and second images. Imaging system alignment parameters for use in aligning images captured with the first and second imaging systems are determined responsive to the determined relative position. | 04-30-2015 |
20150138268 | INKJET PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS WITH FEEDBACK CONTROL - An inkjet printing method and system includes an arrangement that is adapted to repair a printed image using a combination of in-line imaging and feedback control of an inkjet printhead or printing with a redundant inkjet printhead. The inkjet printing method and system is further adapted to print at higher optical density than is normally possible by use of multi-pass capabilities. | 05-21-2015 |
20150138269 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejection unit that ejects a liquid, a medium support unit that has a support face supporting a medium to which the liquid is ejected, an irradiation unit that irradiates the medium with a first electromagnetic wave from an oblique direction with respect to the support face, and a sensor that detects a second electromagnetic wave which is emitted from an irradiation region of the first electromagnetic wave on the support face, in which the sensor is in a position with respect to the irradiation unit which is the same side as an irradiation direction of the first electromagnetic wave, and is arranged in a position where a regular reflection component of the first electromagnetic wave reflected at a peak spot where irradiation energy of the first electromagnetic wave peaks in the irradiation region is not detected. | 05-21-2015 |
20150145919 | MEDIA DRIVE RESTRAINT AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A CLOSED MEDIA TRAY - In one embodiment, a device for a printer includes a movable tray for supporting a print media. The tray is movable between an open position in which media may be moved on to the tray and a closed position in which media is blocked from moving on to the tray. The device also includes a rotatable media drive component for moving print media on to the tray and a movable restraint operatively connected to the tray. The restraint is movable between: a first position, corresponding to the open position of the tray, in which the restraint does not restrain the media drive component; and a second position, corresponding to the closed position of the tray, in which the restraint restrains rotation of the media drive component. | 05-28-2015 |
20150298454 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING METHOD - A recording apparatus includes a first nozzle row and a second nozzle row. A part of nozzles of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are overlapped in a predetermined alignment direction. A defective nozzle is included in the nozzles of the first nozzle row. The recording apparatus includes a processing unit that causes the nozzle closest to the defective nozzle in one side of the opposite sides in the alignment direction to be selected as a first complementary nozzle and the closest nozzle in the other side thereof to be selected as a second complementary nozzle among the nozzles in an overlap section of the second nozzle row with the first nozzle row, and complementary dots that complement a dot which is supposed to be formed by the defective nozzle to be formed by the first complementary nozzle and the second complementary nozzle. | 10-22-2015 |
20150298475 | ASSEMBLY OF A PRINT HEAD AND A MAINTENANCE UNIT AND METHOD FOR THE USE OF SAID ASSEMBLY - The present invention relates to an assembly of a print head and a maintenance unit. The present invention further relates to a method for the use of an assembly of a print head and a maintenance unit. | 10-22-2015 |
20150306885 | LIQUID DISCHARGE TEST METHOD AND LIQUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS - There is provided a liquid discharge test method using a liquid discharge apparatus provided with a liquid storage tank and a liquid discharge unit, the method including: blocking communication between a first channel in a first channel forming member and a second channel in a second channel forming member; allowing the second channel to communicate with a third channel in a third channel forming member; discharging the liquid, which is supplied from the exterior liquid supply source through the third channel and the second channel, by the liquid discharge unit after blocking the communication between the first channel and the second channel and allowing the second channel to communicate with the third channel; blocking the communication between the second channel and the third channel after discharging the liquid; and allowing the first channel to communicate with the second channel after discharging the liquid. | 10-29-2015 |
20150314591 | METHOD FOR COMPENSATING A FAILING NOZZLE - A method is provided for compensating a failing nozzle in a printhead comprising a series of print elements with nozzles for operation in an inkjet printing process in which a colorant is applied for locally changing an optical density, thereby printing an image. | 11-05-2015 |
20150314622 | PRINTING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PRINTING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR TEST PRINTING - When test print is performed for printing an image on a transparent sheet, an inexpensive sheet is used instead of the transparent sheet. A method for controlling a printing apparatus includes receiving a setting of the test print, and performing control to print the image as a mirror image on a second side of the transparent sheet if the setting of the test print is not received, and performing control to feed an alternative sheet instead of the transparent sheet to print the image as a normal image on a first side of the alternative sheet if the setting of the test print is received. | 11-05-2015 |
20150314623 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING PIXEL DROPOUT - A technique is described for determining pixel dropout in a printhead that has a plurality of print elements arrayed along an axis. In the technique, a dataset of integrated intensity values, in the printing direction on a substrate, of a captured image is generated and used to determine if pixel dropout has or may have occurred. | 11-05-2015 |
20150343792 | Authenticating a Replaceable Printer Component - A replaceable printer component includes a first memory device and a communication link. The first memory device is configured to store a first secret. The communication link is configured to communicatively link the first memory device to a printer controller when the replaceable printer component is installed in a printing system. The printing system comprises a second memory device storing a second secret. The second memory device is communicatively linked to the printer controller. The printer controller is configured to determine an authenticity of the replaceable printer component based on the first secret and the second secret. | 12-03-2015 |
20150343820 | METHOD FOR MEASURING AMOUNT OF POSITIONAL DEVIATION AND IMAGE-RECORDING DEVICE - Dot patterns are recorded on a recording medium at intervals determined in advance in a second direction using first and second head modules while relatively moving a recording head and the recording medium in the second direction. The dot patterns are optically read, and a density profile representing change in density in the second direction of a read image of the dot patterns is calculated. A repetition period of a waveform corresponding to each dot pattern in the density profile is calculated, and data of the density profile is integrated and averaged in each repetition period to calculate an integrated density profile. A peak position of a waveform corresponding to each dot pattern in the integrated density profile is obtained, and the amount of positional deviation is calculated based on each peak position. | 12-03-2015 |
20150352849 | CARTRIDGE ACCOMMODATING APPARATUS - A cartridge accommodating apparatus includes: a cartridge accommodating section accommodating a cartridge which includes a liquid accommodating section, a liquid lead-out channel, a first blocking member blocking a first portion of the liquid lead-out channel, and a second blocking member blocking a second portion between the first portion and the liquid accommodating section; a hollow tube introducing liquid in the liquid lead-out channel into inside of the hollow tube; a moving mechanism moving the hollow tube between a first position at which a tip portion of the hollow tube is located outside the liquid lead-out channel and a second position at which the tip portion of the hollow tube has entered inside the liquid lead-out channel; a driving source; a driving force transmitting mechanism transmitting driving force of the driving source to the moving mechanism; and a driving source controller controlling driving speed of the driving source. | 12-10-2015 |
20150360492 | NOZZLE CALIBRATION - An apparatus and method for use in generating calibration parameters for an inkjet nozzle are disclosed. The method comprises obtaining data defining how calibration parameters associated with a nozzle change as the number of ink drops ejected from a nozzle increases, determining a number of ink drops ejected from the nozzle, and adjusting calibration parameters for the nozzle based on the determined number of ink drops ejected from the nozzle and the obtained data defining how calibration parameters associated with a nozzle change as the number of ink drops ejected from a nozzle increases. | 12-17-2015 |
20150367662 | METHODS OF PRINTING CALIBRATION PATTERNS, CALIBRATION METHODS, AND PRINTERS - A calibration-pattern printing method in a page-wide array printer having an array of print nozzles extending in a transverse direction of the printer comprises printing a respective calibration pattern portion on a substrate by at least one first portion of the nozzle array, changing the relative position of the nozzle array and substrate in the transverse direction then printing a respective further calibration pattern portion on the substrate by the at least one first portion of the nozzle array so that a given first nozzle-array portion prints a calibration pattern portion and further calibration pattern portion that are at least partially aligned with each other in the longitudinal direction and join up in the transverse direction to form an enlarged calibration pattern portion. | 12-24-2015 |
20150375550 | CROSS-PROCESS DIRECTION UNIFORMITY FOR WIDE FORMAT PRINTERS - Methods and systems print test patterns in different test pattern areas on print media using a printer to produce a printed item. The printer has a printing width in a cross-process direction, and each of the test pattern areas is in a different cross-process location of the printing width. The test pattern areas are distributed across the entire printing width, and each of the test pattern areas partially overlaps at least one other test pattern area in the cross-process direction. Next, these methods and systems individually scan the sections of the printed item using a scanner that has a scanning width that is less than the printing width. This produces individual scans of the test pattern areas. The widths of the test pattern areas are equal to or less than the scanning width. Then, these methods and systems can calibrate cross-process characteristics of the printer based on the scans. | 12-31-2015 |
20160001581 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The present invention provides a technique that simplifies operations for making appropriate print settings. Accordingly, a terminal apparatus serving as an information processing apparatus according to the present invention acquires, from a printing apparatus, information indicating the sheet type and size of the sheets set in each paper feed tray. Then, the terminal apparatus determines whether the acquired information includes a sheet type that matches a sheet type suitable for an attribute of information selected by a user as a print target. If it is determined that the information includes a sheet type that matches the suitable sheet type, the terminal apparatus generates print data including information designating a paper feed tray containing sheets of the matching sheet type, and transmits the generated print data to the printing apparatus. | 01-07-2016 |
20160001582 | DETERMINING A COLOR OF A COLOR PATCH - A measured distance is received from a distance sensor, where the measured distance is indicative of a distance between a color sensor and a substrate. Using the measured distance, a location of a given projection of projections of a substrate support is determined. A color of a color patch on the substrate at the determined location of the given projection is determined. | 01-07-2016 |
20160023465 | LIQUID DROPLET DISCHARGE HEAD, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME, AND METHOD OF INSPECTING LIQUID DROPLET DISCHARGE HEAD - A liquid droplet discharge head includes a nozzle substrate; nozzles, disposed on the nozzle substrate, to discharge a liquid; a pressurized liquid chamber that communicates with the nozzles; a diaphragm forming one wall of the pressurized liquid chamber; an electromechanical transducer element for discharging, disposed on an element mount surface of the diaphragm opposite a side facing the pressurized liquid chamber; and a retainer substrate laminated to the element mount surface of the diaphragm with an adhesive. The subject head is configured to discharge a liquid inside the pressurized liquid chamber from the nozzles while the diaphragm is displaced by a drive voltage applied to the electromechanical transducer element for discharging, and the liquid droplet discharge head further comprising an electromechanical transducer element for inspection that does not perform discharging, disposed on the element mount surface of the diaphragm, to which a voltage is applied so that the diaphragm displaces. | 01-28-2016 |
20160031247 | IMAGE RECORDING DEVICE - An image recording device includes a maintenance mechanism that conducts maintenance of recording head and a maintenance mechanism control unit that makes the maintenance mechanism conduct the maintenance at termination or start of one of process-target jobs for which cumulative number of sheets of the media that received printing processes by the recording head after immediately previous maintenance will reach lower limit of the cumulative number of sheets, which represents earliest start timing of the maintenance, and will not reach an upper limit of the cumulative number of sheets, which represents latest start timing of the maintenance, during printing process, and makes the maintenance mechanism conduct the maintenance before start of printing of a process-target job when priority on image quality, which requires high quality printing, is set in the process-target job and the cumulative number of sheets reaches the lower limit during a printing process of the process-target job. | 02-04-2016 |
20160031248 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD ANDMEDIUM - A judgment reference data having a resolution lower than a nozzle resolution in a nozzle arranging direction is generated based on input image data. The judgment reference data and read data acquired by reading a printed image are compared to judge whether the printed image has color unevenness or not. | 02-04-2016 |
20160031250 | MEDIUM IDENTIFICATION DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF IDENTIFYING MEDIUM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A medium identification device identifies a type of a recording medium used for image formation. The medium identification device includes: a two-dimensional image sensor that captures an image of the recording medium; and an identifying unit that obtains a glossiness evaluation value indicating glossiness of the recording medium, a surface roughness evaluation value indicating surface roughness of the recording medium, and a coloring evaluation value indicating coloring of the recording medium, using image data of a specular reflection region reflecting specular reflection light from the recording medium and image data of a diffused reflection region reflecting diffused reflection light from the recording medium, the regions being in the image of the recording medium, and identifies the type of the recording medium by combining determination using the glossiness evaluation value, determination using the surface roughness evaluation value, and determination using the coloring evaluation value. | 02-04-2016 |
20160031251 | RECORDING APPARATUS - When an inkjet printer ejects ink onto a recording medium on a go path and on a return path of a carriage, if ink cannot be ejected onto the same position on the go path and on the return path, image quality becomes poor. Test patterns with shifted ejection timing are hitherto recorded on the recording medium, and appropriate timing is input as a correction value. There is also an inkjet printer which automatically reads a test pattern, but the test pattern is recorded without consideration of a state of a head, and thus, accuracy is low. Therefore, a test pattern having a long period and a test pattern having a short period are recorded, and densities of the test patterns are read by a sensor. An extremum candidate is determined from the test pattern having a long period, and rough adjustment is made first. Then, in a region around the extremum, an extremum is determined from the test pattern having a short period. An extremum corresponding to a period to which the extrema of the two test patterns belong is set as a correction value. By determining ejection timing of the recording head using the correction value, an image in which dot deviation between the go path and the return path is inhibited can be recorded. | 02-04-2016 |
20160039200 | LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD SUBSTRATE, LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD, AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A liquid discharge head substrate is provided. The liquid discharge head substrate includes a discharge unit including a discharge element configured to generate energy for discharging a liquid from an orifice and a discharge control circuit configured to control the discharge element, and a first voltage generation circuit configured to supply, to the discharge control circuit, a first driving voltage for driving the discharge control circuit. The discharge unit includes a first node having a voltage correlated with a voltage to be supplied to the discharge element. The first voltage generation circuit controls the first driving voltage based on a comparison result of the voltage of the first node and a first reference voltage supplied from outside of the liquid discharge head substrate. | 02-11-2016 |
20160052315 | CONTROL DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A control unit includes a moving unit that causes a recording unit to move in a reciprocating manner, a detection unit that detects a movement error of the moving unit, a control unit that controls the moving unit such that the recording unit is caused to move in a second direction if the movement error is detected while the recording unit is caused to move in a first direction, a notification unit that issues error notification according to a result of movement of the moving unit, and an execution unit that executes an operation for identifying a cause of the movement error of the moving unit in a case where the moving unit has been able to move in the second direction by the controlling of the control unit, wherein the notification unit issues error notification according to an execution result of the operation by the execution unit. | 02-25-2016 |
20160052317 | DOUBLE-SIDED PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A gripping region is set at each of first and second ends of paper that is a medium. A region of a first surface excluding the gripping region is set as a first surface printable region. A first image printing region for printing a first image and a first test image printing region for printing a first test image are set in the first surface printable region. A region of a second surface excluding the gripping region is set as a second surface printable region. A second image printing region for printing a second image and a second test image printing region for printing a second test image are set in the second surface printable region. The first and second test image printing regions are set in the same region of the first and second surfaces. | 02-25-2016 |
20160052318 | PRINTER CALIBRATION - Techniques related to printer calibration are disclosed herein. In an example, an actual measurement of a colorimetric parameter is performed by measuring the colorimetric parameter on a printed calibration pattern. The colorimetric parameter is associated with an ink drop number. The calibration pattern is printed with selected printing conditions. An ink drop number variation is determined from a reference measurement and the actual measurement of the colorimetric parameter. The reference measurement is a measurement of a colorimetric parameter. The reference measurement corresponds to a measurement of the colorimetric parameter on a calibration pattern printed with the selected printing conditions. An actual linearization is generated by validating a set of pre-defined linearizations with the determined ink drop number variation. Other examples of printer calibration are disclosed. | 02-25-2016 |
20160059599 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD - In an image recording method of an image recording apparatus provided with an inspection unit which inspects the presence/absence of abnormality in each recording element of a print head at regular intervals, the recording element determined to have abnormality by inspection in the inspection unit is disabled during a determination period set in advance. If the disabled recording element is determined to have no abnormality by inspection immediately after the recording element is disabled, recovers the recording element to be enabled. If the disabled recording element is determined to have abnormality again by inspection within a prescribed frequency N from inspection immediately after the recording element is disabled, the recording element is continuously disabled during the determination period. In cases where the recording element is disabled, the use of the disabled recording element is prohibited, image defect due to the use-prohibited recording element is complemented, and an image is recorded. | 03-03-2016 |
20160059601 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - When a power supply mode is an AC power mode, if a correction value which is read out from a non-volatile memory is a second correction value α2 corresponding to a battery mode, a first correction value α1 is calculated according to an equation α1=α2×K2 using the second correction value α2, and bidirectional printing is performed by controlling an ejection timing of a print head based on the first correction value α1. Meanwhile, when a power supply mode is the battery mode, if the correction value is the first correction value α1 corresponding to the AC power mode, the second correction value α2 is calculated according to an equation α2=α1×K1 using the first correction value α1, and bidirectional printing is performed by controlling the ejection timing of the print head based on the second correction value α2. | 03-03-2016 |
20160075157 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, SENSOR MOUNTING JIG FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING SENSOR FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transmission-type photosensor including a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part, disposed on opposite sides of a media conveyance path; a sensor retainer to retain the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part; a suspended needle indicator including one end portion freely rotatably disposed on the sensor retainer at a position higher than the photosensor, and an indicator disposed on another end thereof; and an angle viewer with scale marks that mark an angle of an optical axis of the photosensor from a vertical direction. The photosensor is disposed with the optical axis thereof is angled within a predetermined adjusted angle relative to the media conveyance path. | 03-17-2016 |
20160075158 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR FORMING TEST PATTERN, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid droplets; and a pattern forming unit configured to form a test pattern used for positional deviation adjustment including a first pattern serving as a reference pattern and a second pattern serving as an adjustment pattern. The first pattern and the second pattern each are a linear pattern that is parallel to a nozzle arrangement direction and has a disconnected portion. The disconnected portion of the first pattern and the disconnected portion of the second pattern are shifted from each other in the nozzle arrangement direction. | 03-17-2016 |
20160086059 | CALIBRATION TARGET - A calibration target is disclosed. The calibration target is created such that a color patch is sensitive to drop weight changes. | 03-24-2016 |
20160101638 | TEST IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM AND METHOD, AND ABNORMAL RECORDING ELEMENT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - The test image is formed in accordance with input data in which a plurality of recording elements selected every N (an integer of 1 or more) pieces in a projected recording element group is indicated as a first recording element and a recording element that is not selected as the first recording element is indicated as a second recording element, the input data allowing: a first-stage pattern to be formed in a recording area of the second recording element in accordance with a second input gradation value; a recording position in the second direction to be sequentially changed; and the first recording element and the second recording element to be sequentially switched to form a second-stage pattern to an (N+1)-th-stage pattern. | 04-14-2016 |
20160103632 | METHOD FOR DEFECT DETECTION IN A PRINTING SYSTEM AND PRINTING SYSTEM - The present invention provides an apparatus ( | 04-14-2016 |
20160107467 | PRINTER, METHOD OF PRINTING, AND NON-TRANSITORY RECORDING MEDIUM - A printer including an optical moving amount calculator, an angle calculator, and a moving amount corrector is provided. The optical moving amount calculator calculates a moving amount of the printer or an object to be irradiated after a movement thereof, based on a difference in image data generated before and after the movement. The image data is generated by emitting light to the print medium or the object and receiving light reflected therefrom. The angle calculator calculates a deviation angle of an installation angle of the optical moving amount calculator installed in the printer, based on a calibration moving amount of the printer or the object after a calibration movement thereof that is a parallel translation. The moving amount corrector corrects the moving amount of the printer after the movement thereof, based on the calculated deviation angle of the optical moving amount calculator. | 04-21-2016 |
20160114607 | TEST CHART-FORMING METHOD, DEVICE AND NON-TRANSITORY RECORDING MEDIUM, TEST CHART, AND IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD - A test chart-forming method, device and a non-transitory recording medium as well as a test chart and an image correction method are provided. By acquiring the image data corresponding to an image and performing an evaluation prior to the regular output of the image, quantitative evaluation of at least one of robustness with respect to streaking and the intensity of streaking is performed. On the basis of the results of the quantitative evaluation, at least one of a specified site of low robustness and a specified site of high intensity is extracted from the image region. On the basis of the color and position of each extracted specified site, the color scheme and layout of at least one test image on a test chart is determined. | 04-28-2016 |
20160121635 | INKJET PRINTER - An inkjet printer includes a determination unit, a maintenance setting value decision unit, and a controller. The determination unit determines whether or not an ink cartridge has passed the recommended time limit, based on the manufacturing date or the start-of-use date, the normal consumption period of the ink cartridge, and the elapsed period from the manufacturing date or the start-of-use date of the ink cartridge. The maintenance setting value decision unit reads the cycle and the strength of a maintenance operation for each type of ink from the memory, in a case where the determination unit determines that the recommended time limit has passed, and selects and decides the shortest cycle and the strongest strength, as maintenance setting values. The controller causes a pressure regulator and a pressure regulating drive unit to execute a purge operation, based on the determined maintenance setting values. | 05-05-2016 |
20160129714 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY RECORDING MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head to discharge ink to a recording medium to form an image thereon, an optical sensor to output a signal in response to intensity of reflection of light emitted to the direction of discharging the ink, a carriage that carries the recording head and the optical sensor, and a control unit to detect the position of the recording medium based on the signal output by the optical sensor and control the recording head to discharge the ink only onto the position of the recording medium, wherein the control unit acquires a value according to the signal output by the optical sensor in response to the movement of the carriage and detects the position of the recording medium when a predetermined relation between the value and a threshold continues at least for a predetermined interval in the movement of the carriage. | 05-12-2016 |
20160129715 | Method and Apparatus for Print Control - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for use in a printing device, comprising outputting a test chart comprising a plurality of printed regions at respective ink densities, receiving an indication of a selected ink density, and determining one or more resources of the printing device according to the selected ink density to control one or more ink limits and a colour separation of the printing device. | 05-12-2016 |
20160136983 | METHOD FOR COMPENSATING FOR FAILED PRINTING NOZZLES IN INKJET PRINTING SYSTEMS - A method for compensating failed printing nozzles in inkjet printing machines using a control computer, includes printing a test form for a material combination, evaluating the print and creating a look-up table having compensation probabilities for local surface density, detecting a failed nozzle, reading the size of the intended droplet to be compensated at the failed nozzle, calculating local surface density at the failed nozzle, reading a compensation probability from the table with the calculated local surface density, calculating a pseudo-random number for adjacent pixels right and left of the pixel to be compensated, increasing the droplet size for adjacent pixels if the pseudo-random number therefor is lower than the compensation probability from the table, calculating adjacent droplet sizes for all intended droplets at the failed nozzle and using the changed droplet sizes in printing data. The print job is carried out with changed printing data. | 05-19-2016 |
20160144631 | LIQUID DISCHARGING SUBSTRATE, PRINTHEAD, AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A liquid discharging substrate on which a plurality of discharging elements are arrayed, comprising a driving portion configured to drive the plurality of discharging elements, a detecting portion including a metal pattern arranged via an insulating member on a corner region of the substrate, and configured to detect damage to the corner region when the metal pattern breaks, and a controlling portion configured to stop the driving portion when the detecting portion detects that the corner region has been damaged. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144634 | PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A printing system includes a media transport device to move a medium at a speed ranging from about 15.24 mpm to about 609.6 mpm. The system includes an ink applicator to apply ink on the medium, and a treatment applicator to apply a treatment composition (including liquid vehicle, polyvalent metal salt fixing agent, and latex resin having an acid number less than 20) before or after the ink is applied, to form a printed-on medium. The system further includes a heating system programmed to: i) dry the printed-on medium at a predetermined temperature for a reduced dwell time (from about 1 second to about 40 seconds); and ii) leave residual moisture in the printed-on medium for a predetermined time after the reduced dwell time. The residual moisture is at a level that is higher than an initial moisture content of the medium prior to treatment composition and ink application. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144643 | PRINTING DEVICE - A printing device includes an image recording portion which records an image on a sheet, an image defect detection unit which detects the sheet on which image defects occur, a setting unit by which a sorting number of copies of the sheets is set, a first stamper unit which attaches ink to a leading end edge of the sheet on which the image defects occur, and a second stamper unit which is disposed so as to be arranged with the first stamper unit in a sheet width direction and attaches ink to the leading end edge of the sheet corresponding to the sorting number of copies. | 05-26-2016 |
20160167413 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM | 06-16-2016 |
20160176197 | PRINTING APPARATUS | 06-23-2016 |
20160176212 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING ON AN OBJECT HAVING A CURVED SURFACE | 06-23-2016 |
20160200125 | APPLIED VOLTAGE SETTING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND INK JET PRINTER | 07-14-2016 |
20160375703 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM THEREFOR - A sheet processing apparatus including a controller configured to move a carriage from an initial position to such a position that an optical sensor traverses one of two side edges of a sheet in a scanning direction, in a direction along the scanning direction, in response to the sheet reaching a position opposed to the optical sensor, adjust a light emitting quantity of the optical sensor while the carriage is being moved, within a period from when the carriage begins to move from the initial position to when the optical sensor traverses the one side edge, calculate a position of the one side edge traversed by the optical sensor after the adjustment, based on detection values, corresponding to the light receiving quantity, output from the optical sensor after the adjustment, and identify edge positions of the two side edges based on the calculated position of the one side edge. | 12-29-2016 |
20160375709 | PRINTHEAD CAMERA BRACKET - A printer system includes a print head, the print head oriented with a first end at a height above a substrate. A support arm extends laterally with respect to the print head. A camera is disposed on the support arm a fixed height above the substrate, such that the camera can be adjusted laterally with respect to the print head. The camera is disposed at an angle with respect to vertical to the substrate. A product detect mechanism is disposed laterally on the support arm with respect to the print head. A controller is in communication with the camera and the product detect mechanism, wherein the system is configured so that the camera can verify the printing of an image on the substrate. | 12-29-2016 |
20170232771 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM THEREFOR | 08-17-2017 |
20180022129 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING ON AN OBJECT HAVING A CURVED SURFACE | 01-25-2018 |
20190143679 | TESTING FOR WIPING PRE-TREATMENT OF PRINT MEDIA | 05-16-2019 |
20190143711 | PRINTER CALIBRATION TECHNIQUES | 05-16-2019 |