FARBSTRAHLDRUCKER UND FARBSTRAHLDRUCKVERFAHREN

Verfahren und Apparat zur automatischen Einstellung der Steuerspannung der Düsen in einem Tintenstrahldrucker

Automatic ink-jet jetting-axis adjustments in ink-jet printers.

In an ink jet recording apparatus of the continuous jet type the position of an ink jet jetting axis or nozzle axis is automatically adjusted to an optimum position by a deflecting electric field. When a carriage is at its home position, jetting of ink from nozzle (1) is started, and a microprocessor MPU changes over a changeover switch SW to a test signal generator side. The test signal generator TSG generates a test signal, which is the sum of an amplified recording signal and a bias potential outputted from a bias power source BS, and applies the test signal to a controlling electrode 3. The microprocessor MPU checks an output of a current detector CD (jet current) based on charged ink drops caught by a conductive drop catcher 8 to discriminate the positional relationship between an ink jet jetting axis and a knife edge 5. The microprocessor MPU then changes the bias potential of the bias power source BS in accordance with a result of the discrimination. Consequently, the controlling ...

Real-time linefeed measurement of inkjet printer

Abstract REALTIME LINEFEED MEASUREMENT OF INKJET PRINTER 5 Disclosed is a method (400) of determining line feed error in an image forming apparatus (101) for printing an image, said image forming apparatus (101) comprising a print head (210 having a head sensor (560) configured to sense information from the image printed on a print medium (230), said method comprising the steps of printing (420) a first swath (611) of the image on the print medium, repositioning (440) the print head relative to the 10 print medium by at least one line feed distance, determining (450) a line feed error based upon information sensed from the printed first swath by the head sensor, and printing (420), using the determined line feed error, a second swath of the halftone image on the print medium. MnM nnIn,1 -I: 1I-A -- A) CQ)Qene 1 711 Start 400 Calculate print head section size A Print one swath rObtain vertical shift E linefeed 450 (See Fig. 9) Calculate linefeed r Calibrate linefeed Nos Page finished? Yes ...

INK CATCHER AND DROP CHARGE SENSING DEVICE

MULTIPULSING METHOD FOR OPERATING AN INK JET APPARATUS FOR PRINTING AT HIGH TRANSPORT SPEEDS

A method for both reducing the ligament length and satellite droplet problems associated with producing high velocity ink droplets from an ink jet head printing at relatively high ink jet head transport speeds, comprises driving the ink jet head with a composite waveform including independent and successive first, second, and third electrical pulses, each having an exponential leading edge and a step-like trailing edge, the pulses being constructed to have amplitudes, pulse widths, and dead times between pulses, for causing the ink jet head to eject three successive ink droplets, each of increased velocity relative to the preceding droplet, for causing the droplets to merge in flight to form a single or ultimate droplet having a predetermined velocity.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF PRINTED INK DROPLETS

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF PRINTED INK DROPLETS Each ink droplet printed on a recording surface, which has relative movement along a first axis with respect to ink droplet producing means, forms part of a character, and may be disposed in any granular position in a second direction, which is substantially orthogonal to the first axis, relative to a single predetermined position, which is the gutter stream position. Information concerning the location on the recording surface of each printed droplet relative to the single predetermined position in the second direction and to the prior printed droplet or a margin along the first axis is stored in a read only storage (ROS). The information concerning the location of the droplet in the second direction is a voltage applied to charging means with the magnitude of the voltage in conjunction with any induction created by prior adjacent droplets of the ink stream determining the deflection of the droplet. Synchronization ...

INK DROP COMPENSATION BASED ON DYNAMIC, PRINT-DATA BLOCKS

MULTIPULSING METHOD FOR OPERATING AN INK JET APPARATUS FOR PRINTING AT HIGH TRANSPORT SPEEDS

PROCEDE D'ECRITURE PAR JET D'ENCRE ET DISPOSITIF POUR SA MISE EN OEUVRE.

FLUESSIGKEITSSTRAHL-DRUCKER.

CHARGE DETECTION FOR INK JET PRINTERS

PERFECTIONNEMENTS AUX PROCEDES ET APPAREILS POUR LA COMPENSATION DE LA CHARGE DES GOUTTELETTES DANS UNE IMPRIMANTE A JET D'ENCRE PAR GOUTTELETTES

Invention concernant des appareils d'enregistrement Imprimante par jet de gouttelettes d'encre recevant dans leur course de projection libre une charge électrique de façon à obtenir une déviation réglant l'emplacement de rencontre sur un support d'enregistrement La grandeur de la charge appliquée à chaque gouttelette est extraite sous forme codée d'une mémoire programmable et convertie en signal de tension pour charger une gouttelette d'encre pendant sa génération. La mémoire emmagasinant l'information de la charge de gouttelette est reprogrammable suivant la dimension des caractères imprimés ou d'après d'autres besoins. Application à la réalisation de tels appareils facilement modifiables.

잉크 분사장치 분석방법

... 본 발명은 잉크 분사장치를 통해 분사되는 잉크 패턴을 통해 특정 조건의 파라메타 -기판과 노즐 사이의 거리, 상기 기판의 이동 속도, 상기 게이트 전극에 인가되는 전압, 상기 노즐의 외경, 기판의 물성 중 적어도 하나를 포함함- 분석하는 방법에 관한 것으로, 잉크 분사장치로부터 토출된 잉크의 패턴을 분석하여, 잉크 분사장치의 파라메타 조건을 신속하게 분석할 수 있다.

Method of ink jet printing and printer

An ink printing process employs per-nozzle droplet volume measurement and processing software that plans droplet combinations to reach specific aggregate ink fills per target region, guaranteeing compliance with minimum and maximum ink fills set by specification. In various embodiments, different droplet combinations are produced through different print head/substrate scan offsets, offsets between print heads, the use of different nozzle drive waveforms, and/or other techniques. Optionally, patterns of fill variation can be introduced so as to mitigate observable line effects in a finished display device. The disclosed techniques have many other possible applications.

Liquid jet printing apparatus using a raster of drops to effect printing

An ink jet array printer in which the printing voltage waveform applied to each raster of drops formed in each printing gun comprises at least two successive sets of voltage levels which each arrange the raster drops in a group in time order of drop formation for each set of voltage levels so that corresponding drops in each of the groups formed in the raster, if charged for printing, have similar differences of voltage level and have similarly spaced print locations in the line section of drops printed by the printing gun. First and second correction voltages are applied to the charging voltage levels, the first to correct for the influence of the preceding drop and the second for the electrostatic and aerodynamic drag forces of a small number of drops influencing the drop being corrected. The set of second correction voltages derived for any particular drop being used also for corresponding drops in the other group(s).

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE GLUES BY MEANS OF DIGITAL INKJET PRINT HEADS

A system and method for applying adhesive glues is provided using digital inkjet print heads for bonding at least one first element and one second element, wherein the system has a processing unit functionally connected to the digital inkjet print head which has a data set about the physical features of at least one of the elements to be bonded which are different in different areas, the processing unit being adapted for selecting the amount of adhesive glue per unit area and/or the type of adhesive glue to be deposited according to the data about the physical features such that the amount per unit area or the type of adhesive glue deposited on the surface is different on the surface of the at least one of the elements to be bonded.

Electrostatic ink jet printing apparatus and method

INK JET PRINTER

PURPOSE: To improve the accuracy of printing position in an ink jet printer of high picture element density, by providing a special electrode for controlling a prescribed printing position on the surface of recording paper. CONSTITUTION: An electric field generated by a bar electrode (-VB) acts to cause convergence to a printing position A on the surface of recording paper 6. Positively charged ink particles 2 fly toward the recording paper 6 and are appropriately deflected by deflecting electrodes 5. At that time, the particles 2 are affected by the electric field generated by the electrode 8 so that the particles are accelerated in the direction of the electric field and collide to the printing position A. Even if the flight loci of the ink particles 2 slightly deviate due to the disturbance of an electric field generated by the deflecting electrodes 5 or the like or the change in air resistance during the time from the ejection of the particles to their arrival at the surface of the ...

INK INJECTION ANGLE ADJUSTING DEVICE IN INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS

PURPOSE: To adjust an irregularity of ink injecting directions by a method wherein the charging electrodes the charging loads thereof would be varied in response to the locus of the ink injection are arranged under a special construction, while, a variation of the charging load is detected by sensing electrodes and compared with a reference voltage. CONSTITUTION: The ink drips from the ink injection head 1 are charged with the charging electrodes 5a, 5b, being deflected by deflection electrodes 7a, 7b and printed on a printing paper 9. Ink drips not required are recovered by a gutter 8, and applied to their reuse. Electrodes 5a, 5b are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the deflection electrodes 7a, 7b as well as under a shape, for example, a triangular shape having a variable electrode area in a direction in which the ink drips are deflected. A variation of charging load to be caused by an irregularity in ink inject- ing direction from the head 1 is sensed by a sensing electrode ...

FARBSTRAHL-AUFZEICHNUNGSEINRICHTUNG

INK JET PRINTER

Print head charge shield

A printer according to the present techniques includes a print head 10 having at least one nozzle for ejecting an ink drop and a sensing element 14 for detecting the ink drop. The print head 10 includes a charge shield 30 for imparting an electrical charge into the ink drop during ejection from the nozzle and for shielding electrical noise generated in the print head 10.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DROP STREAMS

... 1500908 Nozzles IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd 7 May 1975 [5 June 1974] 24889/74 Heading B2F [Also in Division B6] A stream of drops is produced by modulation of liquid issuing from a nozzle at a fundamental frequency together with a second frequency which is twice that of the fundamental frequency, the use of the second frequency being stated to suppress the formation of satellite drops. Apparatus to produce the stream comprises a housing 30 forming a chamber 31 having a nozzle 32 and an inlet 33. One wall of the chamber is formed by an impervious membrane 38 of rubber or plastics connected to a pressure loaded piezoelectric crystal 39 to which the modulating signal is applied. The modulation waveform may include higher harmonics and comprise square waves, pulses or saw tooth functions. A magneto-strictive device may alternatively replace the piezo-electric crystal. The invention may be used in the production of granular products e.g. coffee, dried milk and fertilisers, in crop spraying ...

Improvements in or relating to continuous inkjet printers

INK DROP PRINTER

... 1435856 Ink-drop printers INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP 17 Sept 1974 [27 Sept 1973] 40346/74 Heading G4H In an ink jet printer, an ink drop charging signal has values chosen to correct charge induction errors (incorrect charging of a drop due to the charges on adjacent previously charged drops) and flight interaction errors (due to electrostatic repulsion between drops and aerodynamic drag reduction). The flight correction is only performed if the subject drop is charged. A clock driven counter specifies the matrix scanning order of the drops to build up a character, adjacent drops never being printed adjacent to each other to maximize in-flight distance between successive drops to reduce interaction. Information signals (supplied to a shift register and specifying for each drop whether it is to be charged or not) and the counter produce the charging signal from circuitry which can take various forms (described) variously involving read-only stores, decoders, analogue gates (with ...

PROCEDURE AND ARRANGEMENT FOR THE INK SUPPLY SYSTEM OF AN INK JET PRINTER.

BIPOLAR INK JET METHOD AND APPARATUS

An improved ink jet marking architecture for enhancing ink droplet placing accuracy. The improved architecture combines a bipolar scanning arrangement with a drop interlace scheme. The preferred marking apparatus comprises an array of ink jet column generators which direct ink droplets to first a charging region and then through a deflection region. The droplets are charged either negatively or positively depending an a desired droplet trajectory; thus the bipolar designation. The deflection region has an electric field strength slightly less than the breakdown field strength of air for the environment in which the apparatus is to operate. The high field strength reduces the charge which must be applied to the droplets and therefore minimizes the drop to drop coulomb interaction. The interlace strategy causes sequential drops from a given generator to be printed in non-sequential locations on the paper. This strategy spreads out the ink droplets in space and results in a reduction of both ...

GUARD JETS IN MULTIPLE NOZZLE PRINTING

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING AERODYNAMIC RETARDATION OF DROPLET STREAMS IN A JET PRINTING SYSTEM A jet printing system which includes an array of N nozzles. The droplet streams emitted from at least the first and Nth nozzle are continuously guttered, and the droplet streams emitted from the other nozzles are one of selectively guttered or directed to a printing medium. Alternatively, the array may be comprised of N rows and M columns of nozzles. The droplet streams emitted from at least the first and Nth row, and the first through Mth column are continuously guttered, and the droplet streams emitted from the other nozzles are one of selectively guttered or directed to a printing medium. In each instance, the air flow created by the continuously guttered droplet streams reduces the aeorodynamic retardation of the other droplet streams, thereby reducing the misregistration of the droplets on the printing medium. In one embodiment, the guttered droplet streams comprise a non-marking liquid ...

INK DROP COMPENSATION BASED ON DYNAMIC, PRINT-DATA BLOCKS

INK DROP COMPENSATION BASED ON DYNAMIC, PRINT-DATA BLOCKS The invention relates to an ink jet printer and in particular to correcting the flight path of drops from the printer to reduce print position error on the print media. Compensation values can be stored and retrieved for use by the printer to correct the flight of a drop to the print media. The compensation values are based on the pattern of print data representing the drops in the ink stream with the drop being compensated. To reduce the number of variables that must be dealt with, one or more portions of the print data can be grouped into one or more blocks and each block treated as having a single effect on the drop being compensated. However, basing the compensation value on one predetermined treatment of print drops as having individual effects or as having individual effects in combination with one or more group effects on the drop being compensated does not produce the optimum print appearance for all combinations of print ...

NOZZLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INK JET PRINTING

A drive control system is disclosed which automatically maintains nozzle drive voltage within a proper range. The control system monitors the state of the "intermediate satellites" positioned between ink drops used for printing. When these satellites are neither forward nor backward merging, a first cardinal point designated C(L) is identified. A second cardinal point, C(H), is determined when the drop breakoff point stops decreasing, relative to said nozzle, with increasing nozzle drive voltage. From the two cardinal values, a desired operating range for a particular ink can be computed and the control system automatically set. The computed value is essentially independent of temperature.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARMONIC INK JET DROP GENERATION

GUARD JETS IN MULTIPLE NOZZLE PRINTING

INK DROP COUPLING CAPACITANCE COMPENSATION

Jet performance

Among other things, for ink jetting, a system includes a printhead including at least 25 jets and an imaging device to capture image information for all of the jets simultaneously, the captured image information being useful in analyzing a performance of each of the jets.

PROCESS AND DEVICE TO COMPENSATE FOR the INSTABILITY Of a SUCCESSION OF DROPLETS Of INK

Compensation apparatus for high speed dot printer

CHARGE DETECTION FOR INK JET PRINTERS

DEVICE Of IMPRESSION HAS JET Of INK IS COMPENSATION SPEED OF JET

L'invention concerne un procédé de compensation des effets liés aux variations de vitesses de gouttes d'encre (40) électriquement chargées d'un jet (4) provenant d'une tête d'impression d'une imprimante, les gouttes étant électriquement chargées par des électrodes (30) de charge, comportant : - la mesure de la vitesse du jet, en aval d'une zone de charge des gouttes, et le calcul d'une variation de cette vitesse mesurée, - la détermination, pour chaque goutte, d'une valeur de correction de tension à appliquer aux électrodes de charge, en fonction de ladite variation de vitesse mesurée.

JET PERFORMANCE

... 특히, 잉크 젯팅을 위해, 시스템은 적어도 25개의 제트들을 포함하는 프린트헤드와 제트들 전부에 대한 이미지 정보를 동시에 캡쳐하기 위한 이미징 디바이스를 포함하며, 캡쳐된 이미지 정보는 제트들 각각의 성능을 분석하는데 유용하다.

Método de formação elementos de imagem sobre um substrato

SETT ATT STYRA SATELLITDROPPSBILDNING VID EN FERGSTRALEUTRUSTNING OCH ANORDNING FOR TILLEMPNING AV SETTET

Methods of manufacturing electronic display devices employing nozzle-droplet combination techniques to deposit fluids in substrate locations within precise tolerances

An ink printing process employs per-nozzle droplet volume measurement and processing software that plans droplet combinations to reach specific aggregate ink fills per target region, guaranteeing compliance with minimum and maximum ink fills set by specification. In various embodiments, different droplet combinations are produced through different print head/substrate scan offsets, offsets between print heads, the use of different nozzle drive waveforms, and/or other techniques. Optionally, patterns of fill variation can be introduced so as to mitigate observable line effects in a finished display device. The disclosed techniques have many other possible applications.

INK JET PRINTER

PURPOSE: To obtain an ink jet printer capable of being manufactured inexpensively and with favorable productivity, by a method wherein recording errors due to positional errors in heads are corrected by controlling the timing of electrical signals for driving the heads. CONSTITUTION: When recording in a line on a recording paper P is completed, a platen 1 is rotated by a driving motor M1 to feed the paper P in a longitudinal direction, and then a carriage 3 with integrated recording heads 4A, 4B mounted thereon is moved by a driving motor M2 along guide rails 2A, 2B in the transverse direction of the paper P while performing recording. The heads 4A, 4B are moved at a fixed velocity, and electrical signals corresponding to each dots of images are impressed on each channel of the heads in accordance with timing pulses with a fixed pulse interval based on clock pulses, whereby characters or images are recorded on the paper P. In this case, the errors in recording due to positional errors in ...

Ink jet printer with deflection control

The speed of projected, charged ink droplets is measured and the ink pressure is controlled such that the ink speed corresponds to a particular reference speed. A collection device for collecting non-printing ink droplets is made of conductive metal, while a charge measuring circuit is connected to the collection device in order to generate a signal which indicates a change in potential corresponding to the impacting of a charged ink droplet on the collection device, the projection path of a charged ink droplet being measured. The pump pressure is varied as a function of the difference between the actual speed and the reference speed in such a way that the ink pressure or the speed is adjusted in an arithmetic progression, there being a reduction in the time required to allow the actual speed to converge with the reference speed.

KOMPENSATIONSSCHALTUNG FUER FLUESSIGKEITSSTRAHLDRUCKER

INK JET PRINTERS WITH INK DROP COMPENSATION AND METHOD OF INK DROP COMPENSATION

INK DROP PRINTING

... 1442798 Ink drop printers A B DICK CO 21 Dec 1973 [2 Jan 1973] 59519/73 Heading G4H In an ink-drop printer, a representation (e.g. digital) of the charge applied to an ink drop is stored and used to control the extent of amplification in amplifying means of the charge applied to the next drop, to compensate for the effect on the charging of the latter drop of the electrostatic field of the former drop. This amplification control is performed for each drop except those not charged since not used in printing.

Improvements in or relating to continuous inkjet printers

A method of calibrating a zero voltage level in a continuous inkjet printer comprises: measuring a voltage on a charge electrode at a time B, D when it is expected to be zero; comparing with zero volts and minimizing the difference between the measured voltage and ground. A continuous inkjet printer is also disclosed that includes control means to compare the voltage on a charge electrode with a reference voltage when the voltage on the charge electrode has been at a predetermined value for a predetermined time. The printer preferably compares voltages between prints A, E and phase tests C.

Improvements in or relating to continuous inkjet printers

INK JET PRINTER.

INK JET PRINTER AND OPERATING PROCEDURE

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF PRINTED INK DROPLETS

METHOD FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF AN INK JET BAR CODE PRINTER

BIPOLAR INK JET METHOD AND APPARATUS

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SATELLITES IN AN INK JET PRINTING SYSTEM

INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING METHOD USING THE SAME

To provide an inkjet recording apparatus capable of preventing ink splashes and contamination of recording heads and recording with high accuracy. The present invention is directed to an inkjet recording apparatus 100 which records on a transferred recording medium X by an inkjet scheme, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus 100 includes guide rolls R for guiding the recording medium X, the recording medium X negatively charged, recording units 1, 2, 3, and 4 formed of a plurality of recording heads 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a for spraying ink onto the recording medium X, and a conductive frame unit 11 for supporting the recording heads 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a, the recording heads 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a and the conductive frame unit 11 having a continuity relation and the recording heads 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a being grounded via the conductive frame unit 11.

Electromechanical converter for ink jet printing

Techniques for printing ink volume control to deposit fluids within precise tolerances

PRINTER HAS MANUFACTURE SIMPLIFIEE AND METHOD FOR REALIZATION

PROCESS AND TESTING DEVICE OF the SATELLITE DROPS IN an Ink jet printer Of INK

HEAD Of EMISSION OF JETS Of INK IN PARTICULAR FOR the Ink jet printer Of INK

IMPROVEMENTS WITH the PROCESSES AND APPARATUSES FOR the COMPENSATION OF the LOAD OF the DROPLETS IN an Ink jet printer Of INK BY DROPLETS

Ink drop printing machine - has modification unit varying drop electrostatic charge to counteract disturbances

INK DROP CHARGE COMPENSATION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INK DROP PRINTER

DEVICE Of IMPRESSION HAS JET Of INK HAS INJECTING AIR, INJECTOR Of AIR AND PRINT HEAD GREAT WIDTH ASSOCIATE

L'invention concerne un procédé de préparation d'impression de motifs clairs sur un fond sombre, sur une surface (S) en mouvement suivant une direction, à l'aide d'un ensemble de jets d'une tête d'impression, comportant, pour chaque jet de cet ensemble de jets : - l'estimation de la perturbation, sur la qualité d'impression de ce jet, qui résulte de l'absence d'impression par chacun d'une pluralité d'autres jets de ladite tête, - la détermination d'une correction du jet en fonction de l'estimation précédente, pour compenser ladite perturbation.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF JETS

L'invention concerne un procédé de détection de la présence d'un jet d'une tête d'impression multi-jets d'une imprimante à jets d'encre, comportant une pluralité de buses (4), au moins une 1ère et une 2ème électrodes de déviation (14a, 14b) de chaque jet, dans lequel : - ledit jet d'encre est produit par une des buses, à une fréquence fstim1, puis est chargé par une tension Vtht à une fréquence ftht, ftht n'étant pas un multiple ou sous multiple entier de fstim1, - un signal de charge du jet est détecté, au moins une composante spectrale de ce signal permettant de détecter la présence dudit jet.

PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR WRITING BY INK JET

Deflection control ink jet operation adjustment control

A deflection control type ink jet recording apparatus is capable of automatically removing a failure in ink ejection. A condition set control is performed to set a predetermined charging and deflection condition for ink drops. If the condition set control fails to predetermine the desired condition, ink ejection is interrupted and, after a predetermined period of time, a second condition set control is performed. The interruption time of ink ejection is predetermined to be shorter than a predetermined period of condition set controls which occur during a print control, thereby shortening the down time when the condition setting operation is not successful.

ADJUSTMENT METHOD OF RECORDING HEAD AND RECORDING APPARATUS

There is provided an adjustment method of a recording head which adjusts a landing position of an ink droplet in a printer including the print head, in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged and which performs printing by using the ink droplet to be ejected while relatively moving in a scanning direction (relative movement direction) with respect to a roll paper. The adjustment method of the recording head includes reading a pattern image by dots formed by the ejected ink droplets and calculating a tendency of a spatial positional relationship between each nozzle and a dot corresponding to each nozzle based on the read pattern image, and in which the landing position of the liquid droplet ejected from each nozzle 131 is adjusted based on the tendency calculated in the calculating the tendency of the spatial positional relationship.

DIRECTIVITY DETECTION DEVICE OF TRAJECTORIES OF DROPS ISSUING FROM LIQUID JET, ASSOCIATED ELECTROSTATIC SENSOR, PRINT HEAD AND CONTINUOUS INK JET PRINTER

Systems and methods for detection of the directivity of trajectories of charged drops issuing from a jet are disclosed. According to one aspect, an electrostatic sensor is disclosed which includes a flat functional surface. The electrostatic sensor is configured to function in a non-differential manner and has a geometric shape and arrangement that are substantially aligned relative to a nominal trajectory of drops. A trajectory of drops can be followed at the same time in a plane parallel to the flat surface of the sensor and in a plane perpendicular to the flat surface of the sensor. As a result, it can be verified whether a drop is present or remains in a predefined monitoring zone. According to another aspect, a method of controlling trajectories of drops in a print head having a continuous deflected jet, and a method of monitoring the effective recovery by the gutter of drops not intended for printing are disclosed.

METHOD FOR PRINTING A PLURALITY OF DROPS AT HIGH SPEED

A method for forming at least one plurality of printed dots on a surface, with help of at least one plurality of drops generated by a printhead of a continuous inkjet printer. The method comprises, for each plurality of printed dots: deciding, whether all drops of the at least one plurality of drops are protected from perturbations due to the air resistance or whether at least one drop of the at least one plurality of drops is not protected from the perturbations; generating and charging each drop of the at least one plurality of drops according to whether it is protected from the perturbations or not protected from the perturbations; and printing the at least one plurality of drops on the surface.

LIQUID DISCHARGE DETECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS AND INK-JET PRINTER APPARATUS

Continuous ink jet printhead

A continuous inkjet printing apparatus (10) is provided. The apparatus includes a printhead (20) having a two-dimensional nozzle array (46) with the two-dimensional nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles disposed such that a redundant nozzle pair (70) is formed. A drop forming mechanism (22) is positioned relative to the nozzles (40) and is operable in a first state to form drops having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form drops having a second volume travelling along the same path. A system (32) applies force (30) to the drops travelling along the path with the force being applied in a direction such that the drops having the first volume diverge from the path.

DETECTOR FOR INK DROP POSITION IN INK JET RECORDER

PURPOSE: To accurately detect the injecting direction of ink drops, in a charge amount-controlling ink jet recorder, by arranging a couple of slit plates provided with a plurality of slits located on both sides of an ink drop passage, and measuring a permeating light quantity at each slit. CONSTITUTION: An electric charge corresponding to typeprinting signal is applied to ink drops injected from a head 7 by a charge electrode 9. The ink drops are deflected by a desired rate with a deflection electrode 10 and stuck to a desired position on a recording sheet 11. In this recorder, a detection part 13 is located between the deflection electrode 10 and the recording sheet 11 (a mark 12 is a gutter). The detection part 13 is constructed by the first and second slit plates 14, 15, in which slits S1WS8 are formed at positions each corresponding to the upper or lower part of the standard route 16 of the ink drops O, and detector 19 which detects light from a light source 17 through an optical fiber ...

Verfahren zur Durchführung eines Druckprozesses in einer Inkjet-Druckmaschine

Verfahren zur Durchführung eines Druckprozesses in einer Inkjet-Druckmaschine (7) mit einer Farbraumtransformation zwischen einem Zielfarbraum und einem Prozessfarbraum durch einen Rechner (6), wobei für eine Kalibrierung der Inkjet-Druckmaschine (7) eine für den Druckprozess geeignete Testform im Prozessfarbraum mit druckprozessbedingten Beschränkungen im Farbauftrag gedruckt und farbmetrisch im Zielfarbraum vermessen wird, die so erzeugten Messwerte Stützstellen im gemessenen Zielfarbraum entsprechen, zwischen den Stützstellen interpoliert wird und somit weitere Stützstellen definiert werden und mittels der Stützstellen im Zielfarbraum und den aus der Testform bekannten Eingangswerten im Prozessfarbraum, welche den Stützstellen im Zielfarbraum entsprechen, die Farbraumtransformation durchgeführt wird, und welches dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass für die druckprozessbedingten Beschränkungen im Farbauftrag, sowie für die Eingangswerte im Prozessfarbraum direkt die physikalische Größe des ...

Kontinuierlicher Tintenstrahldruckkopf

Ink jet printer

In an ink jet printer with charge deflection, the size (height or width) of characters is set, when determining and controlling a deflection of charged ink droplets, with the highest degree of accuracy by changing the number of so-called guardian droplets. In conjunction with the setting by changing the number of guardian droplets, the expulsion device of an ink jet head and/or the position of an electrode which determines the deflection can be set. ...

COMPENSATION OF THE CROSS MODULATION BETWEEN THE CHANNELS OF AN INK JET PRINTER.

ELECTROSTATIC INK RADIATION PRINTING DEVICE AND PROCEDURE.

INK RADIATION PRINTING DEVICE AND PROCEDURE

LIQUID DELIVERY COLLECTION PROCEDURE AND DEVICE AND INK JET PRINTER DEVICE

SCALING AERODYNAMIC COMPENSATION IN AN INK JET PRINTER

SELECTIVE CHARGING MAGNITUDE COMPENSATION

CHARGE DETECTION FOR INK JET PRINTERS

METHOD FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF AN INK JET BAR CODE PRINTER

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARMONIC INK JET DROP GENERATION

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARMONIC INK JET DROP GENERATION Modulation of a continuous fluid jet stream by an electrically responsive transducer driven by a sine wave and a second harmonic of the sine wave of selected amplitude and phase to cause the stream to break into a stream of uniform satellite-free drops.

INK JET PRINTER

DEVICE OF DETECTION OF DIRECTIVITY OF TRAJECTORIES OF DROPS RESULTING FROM FLUID FLUSH, ELECTROSTATIC SENSOR, PRINT HEAD AND Ink jet printer Of INK CONTINUOUS DEVIATES ASSOCIATE

L'invention concerne la détection de la directivité de trajectoires de gouttes issues d'un jet et préalablement chargées. Selon l'invention, on définit un capteur électrostatique (750, 850, 950) à surface fonctionnelle plane, qui fonctionne en non différentiel et dont la forme géométrique et l'agencement sont précis par rapport à une trajectoire nominale de gouttes. Grâce à l'invention, on peut suivre une trajectoire de gouttes à la fois dans le plan parallèle à la surface plane du capteur et dans le plan perpendiculaire à la surface plane du capteur et ainsi, vérifier si elle est présente ou reste dans une zone de surveillance prédéfinie. L'invention s'applique au contrôle de trajectoires de gouttes dans une tête d'impression à jet continu dévié et plus particulièrement au contrôle de la récupération effective de gouttes non destinées à l'impression par la gouttière.

PRINTER HAS MANUFACTURE SIMPLIFIEE AND METHOD FOR REALIZATION

Imprimante à fabrication simplifiée et procédé de réalisation. Procédé de compensation des défauts mécaniques d'une imprimante à jet d'encre dans laquelle la viscosité de l'encre, la vitesse du jet, la distance de brisure du jet en gouttes et la phase sont asservis de façon indépendante pour garder des valeurs de consigne, procédé selon lequel on compare la position d'arrivée des gouttes à une position de référence, les défauts mécaniques étant compensés par action sur la charge électrique des gouttes. L'invention est également relative à une imprimante dotée notamment de moyens de contrôle et d'asservissement la rendant apte à exécuter les compensations selon le procédé. On simplifiera ainsi le montage mécanique de l'imprimante.

ELECTROMECHANICAL CONVERTER FOR INK JET PRINTING

Liquid droplet ejecting apparatus, liquid droplet ejecting method and computer readable medium storing a program

A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting module and a measurement section. The liquid ejecting module includes a pressure chamber that has a piezoelectric element and an ejecting nozzle, and a supply passage that supplies liquid into the pressure chamber, and the liquid ejecting module configured to eject, from the ejecting nozzles, liquid which is supplied to the pressure chamber through the supply passage. The measurement section measures an admittance or a phase difference between a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element and a current through the liquid ejecting module when the voltage is applied.

Ink jet recording apparatus and method for capturing satellite ink droplets and ink mist

An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by discharging ink onto a recording medium from a discharging port provided for a recording head comprises a first electrode and a second electrode arranged for attracting unwanted ink discharged from the discharging port, and a power source for applying voltages of opposite polarities to each other to the first electrode and second electrode. This makes it possible to efficiently remove unwanted droplets which are generated at the time of recording, so that more stable and reliable recording can be performed.

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. 110-. (canceled)11. A printing apparatus for printing using a printhead which discharges ink contained in an ink tank , comprising:detection means for detecting an ink remaining amount in the ink tank;storage means for storing information indicating that the apparatus has abnormally ended at a time of preceding power-off; andcontrol means for controlling a detection operation of said detection means in an initialization operation after power-on such that (i) in a case where the information is stored in said storage means, the detection operation is performed, and (ii) in a case where the information is not stored in said storage means, the detection operation is suppressed.12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said detection means optically detects the ink remaining amount in the ink tank.13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a cap which covers orifices of the printhead claim 11 ,wherein said control means controls to inhibit the detection operation of said detection means when said cap covers the printhead at the time of power-on.14. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the ink tank is detachable from the printing apparatus claim 11 , andsaid control means controls to inhibit the detection operation of said detection means when the ink tank has not been detached or attached between power-off and power-on.15. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the printhead is detachable from the ink tank ...

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. 1. A printing apparatus comprising:an image processing memory unit that stores image processing to be performed on image data in response to predetermined plural types of reference printing media;a spectral intensity measurement unit that measures spectral intensity as light intensity at predetermined plural types of measurement wavelengths by applying light to a printed medium before an image is printed thereon;an average spectral intensity memory unit that stores average spectral intensity obtained by measuring the spectral intensity at plural times and obtaining average values of the spectral intensity with respect to each measurement wavelength with respect to the plural types of reference printing media;a covariance information memory unit that stores covariance information obtained by measuring the spectral intensity at plural times and obtaining covariances of the spectral intensity among the plural measurement wavelengths with respect to the plural types of reference printing media;a Mahalanobis distance acquisition unit that acquires Mahalanobis distances between the printed medium and the plural types of reference printing media based on the spectral intensity, the average spectral intensity, and the covariance information;a medium type determination unit that determines a type of the printed medium from the plural reference printing media based on the Mahalanobis distances; andan image printing unit that performs the image processing stored in response to the determined reference printing medium on the image data and prints the image on the printed medium.2. The printing apparatus according ...

LIQUID EJECTION INSPECTION DEVICE AND LIQUID EJECTION INSPECTION METHOD

A liquid ejection device includes a head, a first sensor, a second sensor, a recovery unit, and a controller. The head is configured to eject liquid on a medium. The first sensor is configured to detect liquid ejection of the head by using a first principle. The second sensor is configured to detect the liquid ejection by using a second principle being different from the first principle. The recovery unit is configured to recover the liquid ejection of the head. The controller is configured to control the first sensor and the second sensor, and control the recovery unit based on a first detection result by the first sensor and a second detection result by the second detector. 1. A liquid ejection device , comprising:a head being configured to eject liquid on a medium,a first sensor being configured to detect liquid ejection of the head by using a first principle,a second sensor being configured to detect the liquid ejection by using a second principle being different from the first principlea recovery unit being configured to recover the liquid ejection of the head, anda controller being configured to control the first sensor and the second sensor, and control the recovery unit based on a first detection result by the first sensor and a second detection result by the second detector.2. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1 , whereinthe controller is configured to determine, on the basis of the first detection result, whether or not the second sensor starts detecting the liquid ejection.3. The liquid ejection device according to claim 2 , whereinthe controller is configured to determine, on the basis of the second detection result, whether or not the recovery unit starts recovering the liquid ejection, andthe controller is configured to determine, on the basis of the second detection result, whether or not the second sensor starts detecting the liquid ejection for a second time.4. The liquid ejection device according to claim 2 , whereinthe controller is ...

RECORDING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD

A recording device includes: a detection unit converting scattering light generated by intersection between light emitted from a light-emitting unit and an ink droplet discharged from each nozzle of a nozzle array, into an electric signal in a light-receiving unit; a first signal generation unit amplifying the electric signal to generate a first electric signal; a determination unit determining presence or absence of an ink droplet based on a second electric signal representing change of the first electric signal; a relation information generation unit generating relation information in which an amplification value corresponding to the first electric signal generated when an arbitrary nozzle of the nozzle array discharges an ink droplet and the arbitrary nozzle are associated with each other; and a control unit performing control to amplify the electric signal at an amplification value according to a corresponding nozzle based on the relation information. 1. A recording device including a nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles to discharge ink droplets , comprising:a detection unit including a pair of a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit and converting scattering light generated by intersection between light emitted from the light-emitting unit and an ink droplet discharged from each of the nozzles of the nozzle array, into an electric signal in the light-receiving unit;a first signal generation unit amplifying the electric signal converted by the light-receiving unit to generate a first electric signal;a second signal generation unit generating a second electric signal representing change of the first electric signal;a determination unit determining presence or absence of an ink droplet based on the second electric signal;a relation information generation unit generating relation information in which an amplification value corresponding to the first electric signal generated when an arbitrary nozzle of the nozzle array discharges an ink droplet ...

Real-time linefeed measurement of inkjet printer

Disclosed is a method of determining line feed error in an image forming apparatus for printing an image, said image forming apparatus comprising a print head having a head sensor configured to sense information from the image printed on a print medium, said method comprising the steps of printing a first swath of the image on the print medium, repositioning the print head relative to the print medium by at least one line feed distance, determining a line feed error based upon information sensed from the printed first swath by the head sensor, and printing, using the determined line feed error, a second swath of the halftone image on the print medium.

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. 1. A drop detector assembly comprising:an ejection element formed on a substrate to eject a fluid drop; anda light detector formed on the substrate to detect light scattered off of the fluid drop.2. A drop detector assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising a detector circuit formed on the substrate to provide a signal associated with the detected light claim 1 , the signal indicating a condition of the ejected fluid drop.3. A drop detector assembly as in claim 2 , further comprising a controller to control the ejection element claim 2 , determine the condition of the ejected fluid drop based on the signal claim 2 , and correlate the condition with the ejection element.4. A drop detector assembly as in claim 2 , wherein the signal is current and the detector circuit is configured to integrate the current and transform the current into voltage claim 2 , the drop detector assembly further comprising:a timing generator to control detector circuit integration time and transfer of the voltage to an analog to digital convertor (ADC) via an analog bus; andthe ADC to convert the voltage into a digital signal.5. A drop detector assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising a light source to project a light beam to scatter light off of the fluid drop.6. A drop detector assembly as in claim 5 , wherein the light detector is positioned between the drop ejection element and the light source.7. A method of detecting fluid drop ejections in a fluid ejection device comprising:ejecting a fluid drop from a nozzle formed in a transparent nozzle plate; anddetecting through the transparent nozzle plate, scattered light reflected off of the fluid drop.8. A ...

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DISCHARGE DEFECT, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM, AND PRINTING SYSTEM

A discharge defect of a nozzle in an apparatus that forms an image on a medium by discharging liquid from a liquid discharge head based on image data is accurately detected. A discharge defect of a nozzle is detected by comparing data (reference data) of a reference image with read data obtained by reading an output image. In this case, a mark for matching the read pixel and the nozzle position with each other is recorded on the medium, and the correspondence relationship is specified by reading the mark. In addition, data items that are converted to have the nozzle resolution by performing a filtering process corresponding to the human visual characteristics for both the data of the reference image and the data of the read image are compared with each other, thereby detecting a discharge defect of a nozzle. 1. A discharge defect detection method comprising:an image reading step of reading an image recorded on a medium to acquire read data of the image, the image being recorded on the medium by discharging liquid from a plurality of nozzles based on image data while moving a liquid discharge head having a nozzle row, in which the plurality of nozzles is aligned, and the medium relative to each other;a visual characteristic correction step of performing a filtering process corresponding to human visual characteristics for the read data acquired in the image reading step;a nozzle position matching step of specifying a correspondence relationship between a pixel position of the read data and a nozzle position in the liquid discharge head from a mark that is recorded in a margin outside an image region on the medium by a nozzle set in advance;a resolution conversion step of converting data, for which the filtering process has been performed in the visual characteristic correction step, into data having a nozzle resolution of the liquid discharge head using the correspondence relationship specified in the nozzle position matching step;a reference data generation step of ...

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.

Image recording apparatus, image processing apparatus, image recording method and image processing method, and recording medium

According to the present invention, recording density information indicating a recording density of a plurality of recording elements is acquired on the basis of a test chart for density measurement output to a recording medium after carrying out recording defect correction in respect of existing recording elements having a recording defect, recording elements which record in the periphery of a new recording element having a recording defect are extracted as correction hold recording elements on the basis of a test chart for recording defect detection output to the recording medium, predetermined density correction values are set in respect of the correction hold recording elements, density correction values calculated on the basis of the acquired recording density information are set in respect of recording elements other than the correction hold recording elements, and output image data is output to the recording medium on the basis of the set density correction values.

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. 1. A liquid ejecting head comprising:a head body configured to eject liquid;a flow path member including a liquid flow path for supplying the liquid to the head body; anda circuit substrate held by the flow path member and including a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature,wherein the flow path member includes a detection region, which has a thermal resistance lower than a thermal resistance of the remainder of the flow path member and which is provided in a part of a partition wall that partitions the liquid flow path, andwherein the circuit substrate is fixed to the flow path member in a state in which the temperature detection unit faces the detection region.2. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1 ,wherein the flow path member includes a retaining hole which communicates with the liquid flow path and which penetrates to a side of the circuit substrate,wherein the retaining hole is sealed by a sealing member having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the flow path member, andwherein a region in which the sealing member seals the retaining hole is the detection region.3. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1 , wherein the detection region is provided downstream of a filter chamber including a filter.4. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1 , wherein the ...

Inkjet printer and correction value acquisition method

In an inkjet printer, a pattern for density correction that indicates a constant density image is printed on printing paper with a head having a plurality of outlet rows, and pattern image data that indicates the pattern is acquired. A target outlet that ejects ink toward a linear region having a missing part in the pattern is detected, and a reference outlet that is included in the same outlet row as the target outlet and located close to the target outlet is specified. A density correction value of the target outlet among density correction values that are acquired based on a density profile of the pattern is replaced with a representative value of a density correction value of the reference outlet. Through this, even if an ink ejection failure occurs in any of the outlets, appropriate density correction values can be obtained for a plurality of outlets.

INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE RECORDING METHOD

According to the inkjet recording apparatus and the image recording method of the present invention, since the droplet volume of droplets ejected from ejection abnormality nozzles is limited to not greater than a prescribed upper limit value, and the droplet volume of droplets ejected from other normally functioning nozzles is corrected on the basis of correction values used for correction of non-uniformities in the image caused by ejection abnormality nozzles, then in even in cases where the interval between droplets ejected from adjacent nozzles which are adjacent to an ejection abnormality nozzle becomes larger due to landing interference, in particular, it is possible to perform image recording by using droplets m ejected from deflecting nozzles. As a result of this, the occurrence of non-uniformities (stripe non-uniformities) in the image can be suppressed. 1. An inkjet recording apparatus , comprising:a recording head having a plurality of nozzles which perform ejection of droplets;an abnormal nozzle detection device which detects an ejection abnormality nozzle displaying an ejection abnormality, of the plurality of nozzles;a storage device which stores a correction value which is used in correcting a non-uniformity in an image caused by the ejection abnormality nozzle;a droplet volume limiting device which limits a droplet volume of droplets ejected from the ejection abnormality nozzle detected by the abnormal nozzle detection device, to not greater than a prescribed upper limit value which is smaller than the droplet volume of the droplets ejected from other normally functioning nozzles apart from the ejection abnormality nozzle;a droplet volume correction device which corrects a droplet volume of the droplets ejected from normally functioning nozzles, on the basis of the correction value stored in the storage device; andan image recording device which records an image on a recording medium by depositing droplets ejected respectively from the ejection ...

IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD

In a stand-by state, when an instruction unit issues the printing instruction, a control unit is switched in a maintenance state, in the maintenance state, the control unit closes an air valve and operates a first pump, and when a sensor detects that the ink of a second tank is reduced by discharging the ink from a nozzle by the pressure of a second tank, the control unit opens the air valve to be switched in a printing state, and when a predetermined time elapses after an operation of the first pump before the sensor detects the reduction of the ink of the second tank, the control unit excludes the solidified ink from the nozzle, and in the printing state, the control unit is switched in the stand-by state when the ink is discharged from the nozzle of the head based on a printing instruction. 1. An image forming device , comprising:a first tank that accommodates ink;a first path that is connected to the first tank;a second tank that is connected to the first tank through the first path and accommodates the ink;a first pump that is in the first path and transports the ink accommodated in the first tank to the second tank;an air valve that is opened to release the second tank to the atmosphere and is closed to block the second tank from the atmosphere;a second path that is connected to the second tank;a head that is connected to the second tank through the second path, includes a nozzle, and discharges the ink from the nozzle;a maintenance mechanism that excludes solidified ink present in the nozzle from the nozzle;a sensor that is disposed in the second tank and detects the increase or decrease of the ink accommodated in the second tank;an instruction unit that issues a printing instruction; anda control unit that is switched in a stand-by state, a maintenance state, and a printing state,wherein in the stand-by state, when the instruction unit issues the printing instruction, the control unit is switched in the maintenance state,in the maintenance state, the control ...

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.

IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD

According to the image recording apparatus and method of the present invention, as a defective recording element is detected immediately before a correction value is generated, while a correction value is being generated, and before an image is recorded, management of the recording elements can be ensured than before. In particular, as the detection of a defective recording element is carried out immediately before a correction value is generated, a defective recording element becomes known at the time of generating the correction value, and the correction value can be generated in a state where the defective recording element is put in a non-ejecting state. Further, a defective recording element can be detected more reliably. Through this, generation of a non-uniform streak resulting from a defective recording element can be suppressed with a higher possibility than before. As a result, an image of higher quality than before can be formed. 1. An image recording apparatus , comprising:an image recording device that records an image on a recording medium with a recording head having a plurality of recording elements while moving the recording head and the recording medium relative to each other;a correction value generation device that acquires characteristic information indicative of recording characteristics of the plurality of recording elements to generate, based on the characteristic information, a correction value for correcting an output of recording elements that are included in the plurality of recording elements and are to be used to correct non-uniformity in the image resulting from the recording characteristics;a first defective recording element detection device that detects a defective recording element among the plurality of recording elements immediately before the correction value is generated by the correction value generation device;a second defective recording element detection device that carries out detection of the defective recording element ...

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. 1. An ink-jet printer for printing a substrate with graphic and/or functional inks the ink-jet printer comprising:a print head with ink-jet nozzles; andan optical device integrated in the print head to monitor the correct functioning of the ink-jet nozzles, the optical device illuminating drops ejected from the nozzles by means of light from a light source from a direction of the ink-jet nozzles through the print head by means of illumination signals which are either constant in time or changeable in time, the optical device comprising light sensitive sensors, a light-conducting element through which light reflected by the drop ejected from the nozzle during the flight of the drop is conducted backwards in the direction of the nozzles onto the light-sensitive sensors and an evaluation device to examine the correct form and the correct ejection of the drop, concluded from the specific timing of the sensor signal.2. An ink-jet printer in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the print head is a piezoceramic print head comprising light-conducting ceramic material comprising the light-conducting element claim 1 , whereby the light source and the light-sensitive sensors are arranged in such a way that the conduction of the light from the light source or from the conduction back of the light reflected by the drops ejected by the nozzles is effected through the light-conducting ceramic material.3. An ink-jet printer in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:the print head has ink channels which are limited by ribs, with the ribs being ...

Liquid Consuming Apparatus and Control Method for Liquid Consuming Apparatus

A printing apparatus includes a liquid receptacle, a head, a driving unit for the head, a detection unit that detects a remaining state of a liquid, and a control unit that controls the driving unit and, in the case where the liquid receptacle and the detection unit are in a predetermined positional relationship, determines whether or not there is liquid remaining in the liquid receptacle based on a detection signal from the detection unit. In the case where the control unit has determined that greater than or equal to a specified value of the liquid in the liquid receptacle has been consumed without the liquid receptacle and the detection unit arriving at the predetermined positional relationship, the control unit performs forced detection control that sets the liquid receptacle and the detection unit to the predetermined positional relationship and causes the detection unit to detect the remaining state of the liquid. 1. A liquid consuming apparatus comprising:a liquid receptacle that holds a liquid;a head that discharges the liquid supplied from the liquid receptacle;a driving unit that performs driving that moves the head;a detection unit that detects a remaining state of the liquid in the liquid receptacle when the liquid receptacle and the detection unit are in a predetermined positional relationship; anda control unit that controls the driving unit and that determines the remaining state of the liquid in the liquid receptacle based on a detection signal from the detection unit,wherein after the detect unit detects the remaining state of the liquid in the liquid receptacle, when the control unit determines that the liquid amount consumed from the liquid receptacle is greater than or equal to a specified amount without the detection unit again detecting the remaining state of the liquid in the liquid receptacle, then the control unit performs forced detection control that sets the liquid receptacle and the detection unit to the predetermined positional ...

DIRECTIVITY DETECTION DEVICE OF TRAJECTORIES OF DROPS ISSUING FROM LIQUID JET, ASSOCIATED ELECTROSTATIC SENSOR, PRINT HEAD AND CONTINUOUS INK JET PRINTER

Systems and methods for detection of the directivity of trajectories of charged drops issuing from a jet are disclosed. According to one aspect, an electrostatic sensor is disclosed which includes a flat functional surface. The electrostatic sensor is configured to function in a non-differential manner and has a geometric shape and arrangement that are substantially aligned relative to a nominal trajectory of drops. A trajectory of drops can be followed at the same time in a plane parallel to the flat surface of the sensor and in a plane perpendicular to the flat surface of the sensor. As a result, it can be verified whether a drop is present or remains in a predefined monitoring zone. According to another aspect, a method of controlling trajectories of drops in a print head having a continuous deflected jet, and a method of monitoring the effective recovery by the gutter of drops not intended for printing are disclose 1. A directivity detection device for detection of trajectories of drops issuing from a liquid jet , the drops being charged electrically , the device comprising: the upstream and downstream edges are substantially perpendicular to the direction of the nominal trajectory of the drops and are each cut into two segments by a straight line H which is the geometric projection of the nominal trajectory on the flat surface;', 'for each of the sides of the sensor delimited by the straight line H, the segment of the upstream edge and the segment of the downstream edge are of different lengths, the length of the longer segment being at least equal to the maximum permissible amplitude of the offset of trajectories to the side of the straight line H considered, relative to the nominal trajectory and the length of the shorter segment being at most equal to the maximum permissible amplitude of the offset of trajectories to the side of the straight line H considered, relative to the nominal trajectory;, 'an electrostatic sensor comprising an electrically sensitive ...

METHOD AND ASSEMBLY TO DETECT FLUID

An assembly includes an election chamber, an ejection member, and a capacitance detection unit. The ejection chamber holds a fluid. The ejection member is disposed in the ejection chamber to selectively receive a predetermined amount of power from a power supply line. The capacitance detection unit detects art amount of capacitance. 1. A method to identify a level of fluid of a printhead , the method comprising:receiving an electrical signal from at least one of power supply line and an ejection member when the printhead is in a non-firing state;determining a measured amount of capacitance using the electrical signal;comparing with a capacitance detection unit the measured amount of capacitance to a predetermined capacitance value to obtain a comparison result; andidentifying with the capacitance detection unit the level of fluid in the printhead based on the comparison result.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an audio notification indicating the level of fluid in the printhead.3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a visual notification indicating the level of fluid in the printhead.4. The method of claim 1 , further comprisingconnecting the power supply line to a plurality of ejection members; anddividing the measured amount of capacitance by a total number of the plurality of ejection members connected to the power supply line.5. An assembly comprising:an ejection chamber to hold a fluid;an ejection member disposed in the ejection chamber to selectively receive a predetermined amount of power from a power supply line and eject the fluid from the ejection chamber; anda capacitance detection unit connected to at least one of the power supply line and the ejection member to detect an amount of capacitance therefrom.6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the ejection member is a resistor.7. assembly of claim 5 , wherein the fluid is an ink.8. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the capacitance detection unit compares the ...

METHOD OF FORMING INK EJECTION ADJUSTMENT PATTERN, INK EJECTION ADJUSTMENT METHOD FOR INKJET HEAD AND INKJET PRINTER

An ejection adjustment pattern forming method of forming an ejection adjustment pattern on a print medium with an inkjet head, which has a plurality of nozzles, with moving the inkjet head in a predetermined scanning direction. The method forms a plurality of thickness measurement patterns respectively on a plurality of pattern forming areas defined on the print medium by causing the plurality of nozzles of the inkjet head to eject ink drops, and forms a plurality of judging patterns respectively on the plurality of pattern forming areas. The ejection conditions of the plurality of nozzles, when the plurality of thickness measurement patterns are formed, are the same among the plurality of pattern forming areas. Further, the ejection conditions of the plurality of nozzles when the first judging pattern is formed and when the second judging pattern is formed are the same among the plurality of pattern forming areas. 1. An ejection adjustment pattern forming method of forming an ejection adjustment pattern on a print medium with an inkjet head , which has a plurality of nozzles from which ink is ejected , with moving the inkjet head in a predetermined scanning direction , the method comprising:forming a plurality of thickness measurement patterns respectively in a plurality of pattern forming areas defined on the print medium by causing the plurality of nozzles of the inkjet head to eject ink drops;forming a plurality of judging patterns respectively in the plurality of pattern forming areas defined on the print medium, the plurality of judging patterns being used to judge closeness of conditions in terms of a gap between the inkjet head and the print medium with respect to an ideal condition representing an ideal gap between the inkjet head and the print medium when each of the plurality of thickness measurement patterns is formed,wherein, in the step of forming the thickness measurement patterns, ejection conditions of the plurality of nozzles, when the plurality of ...

System And Method For Measuring Fluid Drop Mass With Reference To Test Pattern Image Data

A method measures distances between two printed lines on a rotating image receiving member to identify fluid drop mass or fluid drop velocity changes in inkjet ejectors in an inkjet printing system. An initial distance between the two lines is measured at the start of the operational life of the system. During the operation of the printing system, the lines are reprinted and the distance between the two lines compared to the initial distance stored in association with the printheads that printed the lines. If the distance has changed by more than a predetermined amount, a printer parameter is adjusted.

METHOD OF INK APPLICATION ON SUBSTRATE

A method of ink application on a substrate having a plurality of reference marks includes a step of setting a plurality of divided areas on the substrate and measuring positions of the reference marks in each of the divided areas, a step of acquiring a deviation amount of a gravity center of a measured figure defined by the positions of the reference marks, a step of acquiring a corrected applied position by correcting a designed applied position on the basis of the deviation amount of the gravity center, and a step of applying ink onto the substrate according to the corrected applied position. 1. A method of ink application on a substrate having a plurality of reference marks , comprising:a reference-mark measuring step of setting a plurality of divided areas on the substrate by virtually dividing the substrate along a plurality of virtual lines connecting the plurality of reference marks and measuring positions of the plurality of reference marks in each of the divided areas;a gravity-center deviation-amount acquisition step of acquiring a deviation amount between a gravity center of a measured figure defined by the positions of the plurality of reference marks obtained in the reference-mark measuring step and a gravity center of a designed figure defined by positions of a plurality of designed reference marks by comparing the gravity center of the measured figure and the gravity center of the designed figure;an applied-position acquisition step of acquiring a corrected applied position by shifting and correcting a designed applied position on the basis of the deviation amount between the gravity centers; andan ink application step of applying ink onto the substrate by an on-demand printing method according to the corrected applied position.2. The method of ink application on the substrate according to claim 1 , wherein the applied-position acquisition step further obtains a change ratio of the measured figure and the designed figure by comparing the measured ...

LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND LIQUID EJECTING METHOD

A printer includes an apparatus main body and an image reading unit. The apparatus main body includes an opening in which at least a part of a stroke region of a carriage is exposed. An ink supply tube extending from an ink tank is routed through between the apparatus main body and the image reading unit, and inserted through the opening to supply ink to a liquid ejecting head. Although the image reading unit is unable to be closed because the tube runs on the upper face of the apparatus main body, a sensor is activated by inserting an insertion piece into a detection recess, so that a printing operation is permitted to be performed. 1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid onto a target;a casing in which a carriage having the liquid ejecting head mounted thereon is set to reciprocate, the casing including an opening in which at least a part of the stroke region of the carriage is exposed;an upper structure to be displaced with respect to the casing in a direction to open or close the opening;a liquid chamber containing the liquid and located outside the casing;a liquid supply tube extending from the liquid chamber through the opening, and through which the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head flows;a feed cassette unit composed of a portion of the casing protruding in a direction in which the target is discharged, and a feed cassette in which the target can be placed, the feed cassette being removably mounted in the protruding portion of the casing;an operation panel provided on a sloped surface of the casing, the sloped surface being located above the feed cassette unit and inclined such that a lower portion sticks out in the discharge direction with respect to an upper portion;a recess formed in the casing;a control unit that controls, according to a detector to be activated upon being pressed by an object inserted in the recess, the liquid ejecting head so as to perform a recording operation on the target ...

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). 1. An image forming apparatus that includes parallel recording heads divided into multiple blocks per predefined number of nozzles to eject droplets in different sizes , and forms an image by ejecting the droplets from the recording head on a recording medium ,the image forming apparatus comprising:a measurement unit to measure image density on the recording medium per in units of a divided block; anda correction unit to correct density characteristic of each recording head comprising a block whose density is the highest.2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the correction unit corrects density of the block whose density is the highest to density of the block whose density is the lowest and equalizes correction amount per recording head of each recording head comprising the block whose density is the highest.3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a complementing unit to complement print data for each recording head claim 1 ,wherein the complementing unit generates print data for one recording head to complement a dot deficit generated in accordance with a correction amount for another recording head.4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the recording heads are laid out in parallel so that nozzle rows are laid out to locate at the same position orthogonal to the direction of the nozzle row.5. The image projecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the recording heads are laid out in parallel staggered half a pitch in the direction of the nozzle row.6. A method of forming an image by laying ...

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. Also included is: generating at least one drop G1, charged by the charge means, at a second voltage (VG), followed by at least one drop G, charged by the charge means, at a third voltage (VG) lower than V; generating a second line of N2 drops, all charged by the charge means, at a same voltage V; and measuring, using an electrostatic sensor, the charge variation of a non-deflected jet of drops including at least the first line of drops and the second line of drops, separated by the drops G1 and G2, during the passage of the jet in front of the sensor. 1. A method for determining the quality of a break-off of an ink jet of a CU printing machine , method comprising:{'sub': '1', 'generating a first line of N1 drops, all charged by at least one charge electrode, at a same voltage V;'}{'sub': 1', '1', '2', '2', '1, 'then generating at least one drop G, charged by the at least one charge electrode, at a second voltage (VG), followed by at least one drop G, charged by the at least one charge electrode, at a third voltage (VG) lower than V;'}{'sub': '2', 'then generating a second line of N2 drops, all charged by the at least one charge electrode, at a same voltage V; and'}{'sub': 1', '2, 'measuring, via an electrostatic sensor, the charge variation of a jet of non-deflected drops including at least the first line of drops and the second line of drops, separated by the drops Gand G, during the passage of that jet in front of the sensor.'}2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising comparing the charge variation with a threshold value to determine whether a coalescence of the drop Gand the drop Goccurs upstream of the detector claim 1 , or downstream of the entry thereof.3. The method according to claim 1 , the drop Gand/or the drop ...

Graphic Printing Machine for a Card-Type Storage Medium, Method for Printing Said Storage Media and Storage Media

A graphic printing machine and method for a card-type storage medium employs a jet printing head and a controller to perform ink jet printing on the medium. The invention is useful for printing plastic or cardboard or paper cards. 1. A machine for graphic printing on at least one card medium , comprising: at least one ink-jet head; a computer-aided vision device having at least one video camera for dynamic discrimination between areas on a surface of the card medium in which printing is to be performed and areas in which printing is not to be performed; and means for controlling the head to implement ink-jet printing on the areas of the card medium in which printing is to be performed , in accordance with information provided by said video camera2. A machine according to claim 1 , wherein the card medium is made of plastic claim 1 , and the inks used are capable of being cross-linked by radiation.3. A machine according to claim 1 , wherein said card medium is made of cardboard or paper claim 1 , and the inks used are aqueous claim 1 , phase-change or solvent-based.4. A machine according to claim 1 , wherein the card medium comprises a storage card claim 1 , and said machine further includes a reader that reads information contained in the card claim 1 , and communicates this information to the control means.5. A machine according to claim 4 , wherein the information read by the reader comprises information to be printed on the storage card by means of the machine.6. A machine according to claim 1 , further including a support element for receiving a plurality of cards to be printed and transporting said cards past the head of the machine for continuous printing.7. A machine according to claim 6 , wherein the support element comprises a flat conveyor.8. A machine according to wherein the support element comprises a drum.9. A machine according to claim 6 , wherein the support element is perforated claim 6 , and includes a suction device to hold the cards while it is ...

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD

An image forming apparatus includes a discharge disabling unit configured to disable a discharge operation of a defective nozzle, which is in a defective discharge state, among a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge liquid droplets to a recording medium, when a value obtained by quantifying a degree of defective state of the defective nozzle is greater than a discharge disable threshold value; a complement unit configured to complement an image defect using two nozzles on either side of the defective nozzle of which discharge operation is disabled; and a threshold value change unit configured to change the discharge disable threshold value depending on a discharge order between the nozzles which complement the image defect and nozzles adjacent to the nozzles which complement the image defect. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising:a discharge disabling unit configured to disable a discharge operation of a defective nozzle, which is in a defective discharge state, among a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge liquid droplets to a recording medium, when a value obtained by quantifying a degree of defective state of the defective nozzle is greater than a discharge disable threshold value;a complement unit configured to complement an image defect using two nozzles on either side of the defective nozzle of which discharge operation is disabled; anda threshold value change unit configured to change the discharge disable threshold value depending on a discharge order between the nozzles which complement the image defect and nozzles adjacent to the nozzles which complement the image defect.2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:a quantification unit configured to detect the defective nozzle among the plurality of nozzles and to quantify the degree of defective state of the defective nozzle,wherein, when the two nozzles on either side of the defective nozzle both discharge the liquid droplets later than the nozzles adjacent ...

Printing Device, Discharge Test Device And Discharge Test Method

A printing device or discharge test device comprising a head that includes a nozzle discharging liquid to a medium, a temperature obtaining section that obtains a temperature related to the head, a missing-dot detecting section that detects whether or not the liquid is discharged from the nozzle, and a control section that controls the head and the missing-dot detecting section. When the temperature obtained is within a first temperature range, the head is configured to discharge the liquid to the medium and whether or not the liquid is discharged from the nozzle is detected. No such detection is made at other temperatures. When the temperature obtained is outside the first temperature range and within a second temperature range, the head is configured to discharge the liquid to the medium, and when the temperature obtained is outside the second temperature range, the liquid is not discharged to the medium. 1. A printing device comprising:(A) a head that includes a nozzle discharging liquid to a medium,(B) a temperature obtaining section that obtains a temperature related to the head,(C) a missing-dot detecting section that detects whether or not the liquid is discharged from the nozzle, and(D) a control section that controls the head and the missing-dot detecting section so that:(d1) when the temperature obtained by the temperature obtaining section is within a first temperature range, the head is configured to discharge the liquid to the medium and whether or not the liquid is discharged from the nozzle is detected,(d2) when the temperature obtained by the temperature obtaining section is outside the first temperature range and within a second temperature range, the head is configured to discharge the liquid to the medium and whether or not the liquid is discharged from the nozzle is not detected, and(d3) when the temperature obtained by the temperature obtaining section is outside the second temperature range, the liquid is not discharged to the medium and ...

FLUID EJECTING APPARATUS

A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a pair of guide rails that movably supports a carriage and an abnormal portion detecting sensor that has a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for receiving a light beam emitted from the light emitting portion, in which the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are mounted on the carriage via a sensor mounting member. 1. A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising:a transport portion that transports a recording medium;a support portion that supports the recording medium;a head that ejects a fluid onto the recording medium supported by the support portion;a carriage that holds the head and can move in a transport direction of the recording medium;a pair of carriage guide rails that supports the carriage such that the carriage can move in the transport direction of the recording medium; andan abnormal portion detecting sensor that has a light emitting portion which is disposed on one end side in a width direction of the recording medium, which is perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium, and a light receiving portion which is disposed on the other end side in the width direction such that a light beam emitted from the light emitting portion is received on the other end side, and detects an abnormal portion on the recording medium,wherein the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are mounted on the carriage via a sensor mounting member, andwherein the sensor mounting member is fixed to the carriage at a position close to the center of the carriage in the width direction, within an area specified by the pair of carriage guide rails.2. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 ,wherein the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are aligned and mounted on the single sensor mounting member, andwherein the sensor mounting member is fixed to the carriage at an intermediate position in an area between the light receiving portion and the light ...

FLUID LEVEL SENSOR AND RELATED METHODS

In an embodiment, a fluid level sensor includes a sensor plate and a current source. The fluid level sensor also includes an algorithm to bias the current source such that current applied to the sensor plate induces a maximum difference in response voltage between a dry sensor plate condition and a wet sensor plate condition. 122-. (canceled)23. A fluid level sensor comprising:a nozzle;a fluid channel;a sensor plate on a floor of the channel; anda sensor circuit to determine an ink level during a nozzle priming event that exposes the sensor plate to air drawn into the channel through the nozzle.24. A fluid level sensor as in claim 23 , the sensor circuit comprising:the sensor plate; anda current source coupled to the sensor plate to induce a voltage across the sensor plate.25. A fluid level sensor as in claim 24 , the sensor circuit further comprising:an input register; anda digital to analog converter (DAC) to receive an input code from the input register and provide a bias voltage to bias the current source.26. A sensor as in claim 25 , the sensor circuit further comprising an input sample and hold to sample the bias voltage from the DAC and apply the bias voltage to the current source.27. A sensor as in claim 26 , the sensor circuit further comprising a switch to short out the sensor plate in a closed position during biasing of the current source claim 26 , and to apply current from the current source to the sensor plate in an open position.28. A sensor as in claim 24 , the sensor circuit further comprising an output sample and hold to sample an analog response voltage at the sensor plate.29. A sensor as in claim 28 , the sensor circuit further comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) to convert the analog voltage response to a digital value.30. A sensor as in claim 29 , the sensor circuit further comprising:an output register to store the digital value.31. A sensor as in claim 25 , wherein the current source comprises three current producing transistors ...

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. 18-. (canceled)9. A recording apparatus comprising:an obtaining unit configured to obtain information about a defective recording element included in a plurality of recording elements provided in a recording head; anda control unit configured to perform either a first control that controls, based on the obtained information, the plurality of recording elements for recording images to be recorded using the defective recording element, by using other recording element which is not defective among the plurality of recording elements, or a second control that controls, based on the obtained information, the plurality of recording elements for recording images to be recorded using recording element group including the defective recording element and including at least two recording elements, by using other recording element group that includes at least two recording elements which are not defective.10. The recording apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the control unit performs the first control while recording image and performs the second control when the image is not recorded.11. The recording apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the second control has processing loads that are smaller than processing loads of the first control.12. The recording apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the information which is obtained by the obtaining unit is ...

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. 1. A drop detection method comprising:ejecting an ink drop that includes a fluorescent agent;illuminating said ink drop in flight with excitation light to excite the fluorescent agent;detecting fluorescence emitted by said drop in-flight having a longer wavelength than a wavelength of said excitation light; andprior to said detecting, filtering out light having a shorter wavelength than said fluorescent wavelength.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said ejecting comprises jetting a series of ink drops toward a drop receptacle.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the emitted fluorescence has a wavelength at least 40 nm longer than a wavelength of said excitation light.4. The method of claim 1 , comprising converting detected fluorescence to a corresponding electrical signal claim 1 , and determining a characteristic of said ink drop based on the electrical signal.5. The method of claim 4 , comprising determining an operational condition of an inkjet nozzle based on measured properties of one or more ink drops.6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said ejecting comprises ejecting a plurality of ink drops from a plurality of respective nozzles claim 1 , and said illuminating and detecting comprise sequentially scanning emitted fluorescence of ink drops-in-flight ejected from said respective nozzles.7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said ink comprises a carbon black colorant and said excitation light wavelength is in the ultraviolet claim 1 , visible claim 1 , near-infrared or infrared range ...

DROP VELOCITY ABERRANCY DETECTION

Examples associated with drop velocity aberrancy detection are disclosed. One example includes firing ink through nozzles of a print-head past sensors to identify drop velocities of the nozzles. A target drop velocity is selected based on the drop velocities of the nozzles. An aberrant nozzles is detected when a nozzle has a drop velocity that deviates from the target drop velocity by a selected threshold. The aberrant nozzle is deactivated, and a good nozzle that will travel over locations traversed by the aberrant nozzle is configured to print portions of a job that would have been printed by the aberrant nozzle. 1. A method , comprising:firing printing fluid through nozzles of a print head past respective sensors to identify drop velocities of nozzles;selecting a target drop velocity based on the drop velocities of the nozzles;detecting an aberrant nozzle whose drop velocity deviates from the target drop velocity by a selected threshold;deactivating the aberrant nozzle; andconfiguring a good nozzle that will travel over locations traversed by the aberrant nozzle to print portions of a job that would have been printed by the aberrant nozzle.2. The method of claim 1 , where the target drop velocity is a mean of the drop velocities of the nozzles.3. The method of claim 2 , where the selected threshold is selected based on the mean of the drop velocities and on a standard deviation of the drop velocities4. The method of claim 1 , where the drop velocity of the aberrant nozzle is one of claim 1 , greater than the target drop velocity plus the selected threshold claim 1 , and less than the target drop velocity minus the selected threshold.5. The method of where the nozzles includes nozzles that fire ink of a single color.6. The method of claim where the good nozzle has not been deactivated.7. The method of claim 1 , where the sensors are optical sensors that are also to detect when the nozzles have a zero drop velocity facilitate replacement of non-firing aberrant ...

DENSITY CORRECTION PROFILE GENERATION METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE

Density of each pixel is specified from a test pattern for measurement of density distribution, a density profile indicating distribution of the specified density for each pixel is acquired, and a pixel region including a “nozzle of interest” having a certain density difference or more from surrounding pixels and pixels on both sides thereof is extracted as a nozzle region of interest from the acquired density profile. Filters B to E, other than a filter A to be applied for density smoothing processing of pixels that do not belong to the nozzle region of interest, are applied for the density smoothing processing of the pixels in the nozzle region of interest, to generate a profile of a density correction value for eliminating a density difference between respective pixels based on the density profile after the smoothing processing. 1. A density correction profile generation method for generating a density correction profile that corrects density unevenness caused by recording characteristics of respective recording elements , in a printed image acquired from an image recorded on a recording medium by a recording head having a plurality of recording elements by a printing job input to an image forming device , the method comprising:acquiring a density profile indicating density of each pixel corresponding to each of the recording elements in an image on the recording medium based on the recording characteristics of the respective recording elements;extracting a pixel of interest having a certain density difference or more from surrounding pixels in the image on the recording medium based on the density profile; andfiltering by generating the density correction profile in which a function of a filter having a waveform with a narrower range of an application target pixel and a larger peak intensity is convoluted in the correction profile as a distance of a pixel from the pixel of interest becomes shorter, based on a correction profile defining density correction ...

LIQUID DROP EJECTION STATE DETECTION DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS

A liquid drop ejection state detection device includes a plurality of nozzle sequences configured to have a plurality of nozzles, a light-emitting element configured to emit a light beam incident on a liquid drop from each nozzle of each nozzle sequence, a light-receiving element provided at a position outside a beam diameter of the light beam and configured to receive scattered light from the liquid drop and detect an ejection state of the liquid drop based on an amount of the scattered light, a light-emitting element movement part configured to move the light-emitting element in a direction intersecting with a light axis of the light beam, and an adjustment part configured to adjust an amount of light of the light beam emitted from the light-emitting element. 1. A liquid drop ejection state detection device , comprising:a plurality of nozzle sequences configured to have a plurality of nozzles;a light-emitting element configured to emit a light beam incident on a liquid drop from each nozzle of each nozzle sequence;a light-receiving element provided at a position outside a beam diameter of the light beam and configured to receive scattered light from the liquid drop and detect an ejection state of the liquid drop based on an amount of the scattered light;a light-emitting element movement part configured to move the light-emitting element in a direction intersecting with a light axis of the light beam; andan adjustment part configured to adjust an amount of light of the light beam emitted from the light-emitting element.2. The liquid drop ejection state detection device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:a narrowing member configured to narrow the light beam emitted from the light-emitting element.3. The liquid drop ejection state detection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light beam is a convergent light beam.4. The liquid drop ejection state detection device as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising:a lens configured to transmit the light beam ...

Optical Measurement System for Real-Time Process Monitoring of Aerosol Jet Printing

Aerosol jet printing is a popular digital fabrication method for flexible and hybrid electronics, but it lacks sophisticated process control architectures that would enable more widespread adoption in manufacturing environments. An optical measurement system can be used to track the aerosol density upstream of the printhead. For example, the measured optical extinction combined with the aerosol flow rate, is directly related to deposition rate and accurately predicts functional properties, for example electrical resistance. This real-time system offers a compelling solution for process drift and batch-to-batch variability, a valuable tool for more fundamental studies of the process science, and a viable technology to support real-time control of aerosol jet printing. 1. An aerosol jet printer , comprising:an atomizer for atomization of ink droplets, thereby providing an aerosol stream of aerosolized ink droplets;an optical measurement system, comprising a light source, an optics cell having a region for interaction of light from the light source with the aerosol stream, and a light sensor for detecting the light scattered from or transmitted through the aerosol stream in the interaction region, thereby providing an optical measurement of the aerosol stream; anda printhead downstream from the optical measurement system for printing of the ink droplets on a substrate.2. The aerosol jet printer of claim 1 , further comprising a closed-loop controller that uses a process metric to control at least one process parameter in real time.3. The aerosol jet printer of claim 2 , wherein the process metric comprises the product of an aerosol flow rate and an optical extinction of the aerosol stream.4. The aerosol jet printer of claim 2 , wherein the at least one process parameter comprises an atomizer voltage claim 2 , duty cycle claim 2 , temperature claim 2 , cartridge fill level claim 2 , ink composition claim 2 , aerosol flow rate claim 2 , sheath gas flow rate claim 2 , or ...

DROP DETECTOR

A drop detector includes a printed circuit board (PCB) including a number of optical channels each formed by a light emitter and a light detector and a number of holes defined in the PCB over which the optical channels pass over and through which a number of ejected drops from a number of printheads pass through wherein each of the number of holes defined in PCB are sized to contour the shape of the number of the printheads. 1. A drop detector , comprising: a number of optical channels each formed by a light emitter and a light detector;', 'a number of holes defined in the PCB over which the optical channels pass over and through which a number of ejected drops from a number of printheads pass through;, 'a printed circuit board (PCB) comprisingwherein each of the number of holes defined in PCB are sized to contour the shape of the number of the printheads.2. The drop detector of claim 1 , wherein the number of optical channels is two for each of the number of holes defined in the PCB.3. The drop detector of claim 1 , wherein the drop detector further comprises a top cover comprising a number of top cover holes defined in the top cover and matching the number of holes defined in the PCB.4. The drop detector of claim 3 , wherein claim 3 , during operation of the drop detector claim 3 , the distance from the number of printheads to each of the optical channels is between 1 mm and 2 mm.5. The drop detector of claim 1 , wherein the distance from light emitter and light detector forming an optical channel is between 12 to 15 mm.6. The drop detector of claim 2 , wherein claim 2 , during operation of the drop detector claim 2 , a first optical channel of the two optical channels detects a drop of fluid ejected from a first nozzle while a second optical channel of the two optical channels detects a drop of fluid ejected from a nozzle located halfway between the first nozzle and a last nozzle in the printhead.7. A printing device comprising:a controller; and a printed circuit ...

SENSE MEASUREMENTS FOR FLUIDIC ACTUATORS

In some examples, a system includes a device support to receive a fluid dispensing device, and a controller to identify, based on data controlling activation of fluidic actuators, a fluidic actuator that is to be activated in a first activation cycle of a group of activation cycles that correspond to activation intervals of respective fluidic actuators of a group of fluidic actuators of the fluid dispensing device, the identified fluidic actuator being part of the group of fluidic actuators. To perform a sense measurement for the identified fluidic actuator, the controller suppresses activation of the identified fluidic actuator in the first activation cycle, and causes activation of the identified fluidic actuator in a sense measurement cycle different from the first activation cycle, the sense measurement cycle being part of the group of activation cycles. 1. A system comprising:a device support to receive a fluid dispensing device; and identify, based on data controlling activation of fluidic actuators, a fluidic actuator that is to be activated in a first activation cycle of a group of activation cycles that correspond to activation intervals of respective fluidic actuators of a group of fluidic actuators of the fluid dispensing device, the identified fluidic actuator being part of the group of fluidic actuators, and', suppress activation of the identified fluidic actuator in the first activation cycle, and', 'cause activation of the identified fluidic actuator in a sense measurement cycle different from the first activation cycle, the sense measurement cycle being part of the group of activation cycles., 'to perform a sense measurement for the identified fluidic actuator], 'a controller to2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data comprises image data that schedules activation of the identified fluidic actuator in the first activation cycle to perform a print operation.3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data controls activation of selected fluidic ...

FLUIDIC ACTUATOR ACTIVATIONS FOR SENSE MEASUREMENTS

In some examples, a fluid dispensing device includes a plurality of fluidic actuators, activate data storage elements, and sense measurement storage elements. The fluid dispensing device includes a decoder to detect, based on a first activate indicator of the activate indicators, that a first fluidic actuator is to be activated, detect, based on a first sense measurement indicator of the sense measurement indicators that a sense measurement is to be performed on the first fluidic actuator, and in response to detecting that the first fluidic actuator is to be activated and the sense measurement is to be performed on the first fluidic actuator, suppress activation of the first fluidic actuator at a first time, and activate the first fluidic actuator at a second time corresponding to a sense measurement interval to perform the sense measurement of the first fluidic actuator. 1. A fluid dispensing device comprising:a plurality of fluidic actuators;activate data storage elements to store respective activate indicators for controlling activation of respective fluidic actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuators;sense measurement storage elements to store respective sense measurement indicators for indicating whether the respective fluidic actuators are to be subject to a sense measurement; and detect, based on a first activate indicator of the activate indicators, that a first fluidic actuator is to be activated;', 'detect, based on a first sense measurement indicator of the sense measurement indicators that a sense measurement is to be performed on the first fluidic actuator; and', suppress activation of the first fluidic actuator at a first time, and', 'activate the first fluidic actuator at a second time corresponding to a sense measurement interval to perform the sense measurement of the first fluidic actuator., 'in response to detecting that the first fluidic actuator is to be activated and the sense measurement is to be performed on the first fluidic actuator], ' ...

System And Method For Optimized Application Of Release Agent In An Inkjet Printer With In-Line Coating

An inkjet printer and method therefore including a detector to monitor a quantity of release agent applied to a spreader drum. The inkjet printer includes a drum maintenance unit which applies the release agent to the spreader drum with a metering device, such as a metering blade, and determines a flow rate of unused release agent returned to a release agent sump. The determined flow rate of release agent provides a determination of the quantity of release agent applied to the spreader drum. Upon the determination that too much release agent has been applied based on the flow rate, an alert signal is generated indicating that the metering blade should be inspected and replaced if necessary. Monitoring the amount of release agent applied to the spreader drum in this way enables a more robust printing and in-line coating system. 1. A printing system comprising:a printhead configured to deposit phase change ink on a continuous web of recording media in response to image data;a spreading apparatus including a spreader drum and pressure roller defining a pressurized nip through which the continuous web moves, wherein the phase change ink deposited on the continuous web is fixed to the continuous web at the pressurized nip;a metering device disposed adjacent the spreader drum;a release agent apparatus including a reservoir configured to deliver a release agent along a supply path to the spreader drum, wherein the metering device is configured to apply a film of release agent on the spreader drum and to direct surplus release agent along a return path to the reservoir, the release agent apparatus including a flow rate detector disposed at the return path and configured to determine an excessive flow rate of the surplus release agent.2. The printing system of wherein the flow rate detector is configured to provide an excessive flow rate signal indicating an excessive quantity of release agent has been metered to the spreader drum with the metering device.3. The printing ...

System And Method For Monitoring The Application Of Release Agent In An Inkjet Printer

An inkjet printer and method therefore including a detector to monitor a quantity of release agent applied to a spreader drum. The inkjet printer includes a drum maintenance unit which applies the release agent to the spreader drum with a metering device, such as a metering blade, and determines a flow rate of unused or excess release agent returned to a release agent sump. The determined flow rate of release agent provides a determination of the quantity of release agent applied to the spreader drum. Upon the determination that too little release agent has been applied, at least one function of the inkjet printer is disabled to stop the flow of release agent and to facilitate maintenance if necessary. 1. A printing system comprising:a printhead configured to deposit phase change ink on a continuous web of recording media in response to image data;a spreading apparatus including a first roller and second roller defining a pressurized nip through which the continuous web moves, wherein the phase change ink deposited on the continuous web is fixed to the continuous web at the pressurized nip; anda release agent apparatus configured to deliver a release agent along a supply path to the first roller and to collect the release agent along a return path, the release agent apparatus including a flow rate detector disposed at the return path and configured to provide a flow rate signal indicative of the quantity of release agent delivered to the first roller.2. The printing system of further comprising a controller operatively connected to the flow rate detector and configured to receive the flow rate signal and to transmit an alert signal in response thereto indicative of an insufficient quantity of release agent delivered to the first roper.3. The printing system of wherein the controller is configured to determine the insufficient flow rate being determined according to at least one printer condition.4. The printing system of wherein the at least one printer condition ...

PRINTER FLUID IMPEDANCE SENSING IN A PRINTHEAD

In some examples, a printhead includes a firing chamber to receive printer fluid, an ejector positioned in the firing chamber to eject printer fluid droplets from the printhead, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the firing chamber. The printhead can further include an impedance sensor positioned in the firing chamber to contact printer fluid to measure impedance values of the printer fluid. The impedance sensor can be connectable to a controller to transmit impedance values of printer fluid to the controller. 1. A printhead comprising:a firing chamber to receive printer fluid;an ejector positioned in the firing chamber to eject printer fluid droplets from the printhead;a nozzle in fluid communication with the firing chamber, wherein the nozzle is to direct printer fluid droplets ejected from the printhead; andan impedance sensor positioned in the firing chamber to contact printer fluid to measure impedance values of the printer fluid, wherein the impedance sensor is connectable to a controller to transmit impedance values of printer fluid to the controller.2. The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the impedance sensor is to measure impedance values correlated to determine a state of a drive bubble of the printer fluid.3. The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the impedance sensor is to measure impedance values correlated to determine a nucleation threshold state of a drive bubble of the printer fluid.4. The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the impedance sensor is to measure impedance values correlated to determining whether an effective drive bubble has been created by the ejector.5. The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the ejector is in the form of a thermal ink jet resistor to heat printer fluid droplets so as to eject printer fluid droplets from the printhead.6. The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the ejector is in the form of a piezoelectric actuator positioned in the firing chamber to eject printer fluid droplets from the printhead.7. The printhead of claim 1 , ...

MICROFLUIDIC FLOW SENSOR

An apparatus includes a microfluidic channel and a flow sensor along the microfluidic channel. The flow sensor includes a heat emitting resistor for connection to an electric current source, analytical parameter sensor and electronics. The heat emitting resistor has a resistance that varies in response to temperature. The electrical parameter sensor is to sense an electrical parameter of the heat emitting resistor that is based on the resistance of the heat emitting resistor. The electronics determine a flow based on the sensed electrical parameter. 1. An apparatus comprising:a microfluidic channel; and a heat emitting resistor for connection to an electric current source, the heat emitting resistor having a resistance that varies in response to temperature;', 'an electrical parameter sensor to sense an electrical parameter of the heat emitting resistor that is based on the resistance of the heat emitting resistor; and', 'electronics that determine a flow based on the sensed electrical parameter., 'a flow sensor along the microfluidic channel, the flow sensor comprising2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow sensor further comprises:a second heat emitting resistor having a resistance that varies in response to temperature; anda second sensor to sense an electrical parameter of the second heat emitting resistor that is based on the resistance of the second heat emitting resistor.3. The apparatus of further comprising:a substrate supporting the microfluidic channel and the flow sensor; anda fluid interaction component supported by the substrate to interact with fluid directed by the microfluidic channel.4. The apparatus of claim 3 , when the fluid interaction component is selected from a group of fluid interaction components consisting of: a microfluidic branch channel stemming from the microfluidic channel; a microfluidic pump; a microfluidic valve; a microfluidic multi-mixer; a drop ejector; a thermal inkjet resistor; and a nozzle.5. The apparatus of claim 1 ...

Drop ejection based flow sensor calibration

A droplet of fluid having a predetermined drop weight is ejected from a microfluidic channel. Electrical signals are received from a sensor in the microfluidic channel, wherein the electrical signals vary in response to the ejection of the droplet of fluid. The electrical signals of the sensor are calibrated to a rate of flow of fluid through the microfluidic channel based on a number of droplets ejected and the predetermined drop weight of each droplet.

HEATER AND INKJET PRINTER

A heater includes: a planar heat generator; a power supply circuit that controls supply of power to the planar heat generator; a plurality of temperature sensors that is provided on the planar heat generator and measures a temperature; and a hardware processor that controls the power supply circuit in a predetermined condition to maintain a temperature measured by at least one of the plurality of temperature sensors at a target value, wherein the planar heat generator includes: an insulator; and a heat generator disposed on the insulator, the heat generator includes each of a plurality of linear parts extending in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval P, and each of the plurality of temperature sensors is disposed along a direction orthogonal to an extending direction of each of the plurality of linear parts at a position mutually shifted by a predetermined distance D. 1. A heater comprising:a planar heat generator;a power supply circuit that controls supply of power to the planar heat generator;a plurality of temperature sensors that is provided on the planar heat generator and measures a temperature; anda hardware processor that controls the power supply circuit in a predetermined condition to maintain a temperature measured by at least one of the plurality of temperature sensors at a target value, wherein an insulator; and', 'a heat generator disposed on the insulator,, 'the planar heat generator includes 'each of a plurality of linear parts extending in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval P, and', 'the heat generator includes'}each of the plurality of temperature sensors is disposed along a direction orthogonal to an extending direction of each of the plurality of linear parts at a position mutually shifted by a predetermined distance D.2. The heater according to claim 1 , wherein when m is a natural number claim 1 , a relationship of D≠P×(m−1) is satisfied between the interval P and the distance D.3. The heater according to claim ...

METHOD FOR PRINTING USING SEQUENCE OF PRINTHEAD SEGMENTS

Image content is printed on a receiver medium using a continuous inkjet printer with a linear printhead. A plurality of segments of the linear printhead are designated at different cross-track positions. The linear printhead is translated relative to a receiver medium such that an initial segment of the linear printhead is aligned with a printing region on the receiver medium and the image content is printed using the initial segment of the linear printhead. When an image quality level of the printed image content is determined to fall below an acceptable level, the linear printhead is translated relative to the receiver medium such that a next segment of the linear printhead is aligned with the printing region and the image content using the next segment of the linear printhead. 1. A method for printing image content having a cross-track image width using a continuous inkjet printer with a linear printhead having an array of ink nozzles , comprising:a) designating a plurality of segments of the linear printhead at different cross-track positions, each segment of the linear printhead having a cross-track segment width at least as large as a cross-track image width of an image content to be printed;b) translating the linear printhead relative to a receiver medium using a translation mechanism to align an initial segment of the linear printhead with a region on the receiver medium where the image content is to be printed;c) printing the image content onto the receiver medium using the initial segment of the linear printhead;d) when an image quality level of the printed image content is determined to fall below an acceptable level translating the linear printhead relative to a receiver medium using the translation mechanism to align a next segment of the linear printhead with the region on the receiver medium where the image content is to be printed; ande) printing the image content onto the receiver medium using the next segment of the linear printhead.2. The method ...

A METHOD FOR IN-LINE TREATMENT OF A THREAD AND A SYSTEM THEREFORE COMPRISING A TREATMENT UNIT AND A CONTROL UNIT CONFIGURED TO DETERMINE IF A MAINTENANCE SEQUENCE IS NEEDED

A system for in-line treatment of thread for use with a thread consuming device is provided. The system includes a treatment unit including at least a first and a second print head each being configured to dispense one or more coating substances onto the at least one thread when activated; and a control unit configured to determine if a maintenance sequence is to be performed on at least the first print head, and if so schedule said maintenance sequence on at least the first print head. A method is further provided. 122-. (canceled)23. A system for in-line treatment of thread for use with a thread consuming device , comprising:a treatment unit comprising at least a first and a second print head each being configured to dispense one or more coating substances onto the at least one thread when activated; anda control unit configured to determine if a maintenance sequence is to be performed on at least the first print head, and if so, schedule said maintenance sequence on at least the first print head.24. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the control unit is configured to:receive the current operating speed of the thread consuming device, anddetermine if a maintenance sequence is to be performed at least based on said current operating speed.25. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:receive the thread consumption of the thread consuming device, anddetermine if a maintenance sequence is to be performed at least based on said thread consumption.26. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control one or more print heads to be arranged in an operation mode claim 23 , simultaneous as one or more print heads are arranged in a maintenance mode.27. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the control unit is further configured to determine if a maintenance sequence is to be performed at least based on a predetermined operating pattern.28. The system according to claim 23 , ...

Microfluidic Optical Fluid Sensor

Provided in one example is an apparatus, including a substrate supporting a microfluidic channel, a bubble jet inertial pump supported by the substrate adjacent the microfluidic channel to pump fluid through the microfluidic channel and an optical sensor on a first side of the microfluidic channel. A light emitter on a second side of the microfluidic channel is to pass light across the microfluidic channel to the optical sensor. 1. An apparatus comprising:a substrate;a microfluidic channel supported by the substrate;a bubble jet inertial pump supported by the substrate and adjacent the microfluidic channel to selectively pump fluid through the microfluidic channel;an optical sensor supported by the substrate adjacent and on a first side of the microfluidic channel; anda light emitter on a second side of the microfluidic channel to pass light across the microfluidic channel to the optical sensor.2. The apparatus of further comprising:a second microfluidic channel supported by the substrate.3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the light emitter is to concurrently pass light across the microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel.4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the optical sensor is adjacent the second microfluidic channel to receive light emitted by the light emitter that has passed across the second microfluidic channel.5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second microfluidic channel branches off of the first microfluidic channel and wherein the apparatus further comprises:a second optical sensor supported by the substrate adjacent the second microfluidic channel; anda second bubble jet inertial pump supported by the substrate and adjacent the second channel to selectively pump fluid through the second microfluidic channel.6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the light emitter concurrently directs light across the microfluidic channel and the second microfluidic channel.7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein adjacent sides of the first ...

LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a piezoelectric element, a nozzle that ejects a liquid in association with the driving of the piezoelectric element, a driving signal generation unit that generates a driving signal for driving a plurality of the piezoelectric elements, and a residual vibration detection unit that detects residual vibration generated by the driving of the piezoelectric element. The driving signal includes an ejection pulse for ejecting a liquid, a first vibration damping pulse that suppresses residual vibration generated by the ejection pulse, a second vibration damping pulse which is a pulse different from the first vibration damping pulse and suppresses residual vibration generated by the ejection pulse, and an inspection pulse for detecting the residual vibration signal. 1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:a piezoelectric element;a cavity which is filled with a liquid inside and has internal pressure increasing or decreasing by displacement of the piezoelectric element;a nozzle that communicates with the cavity and ejects the liquid as droplets by the increase or decrease in internal pressure of the cavity;a driving signal generation unit that generates a driving signal for displacing the piezoelectric element; anda residual vibration detection unit that detects a residual vibration signal generated in the piezoelectric element, on the basis of a variation in internal pressure of the cavity which occurs by applying the driving signal to the piezoelectric element,wherein the driving signal includes:an ejection pulse for ejecting a liquid;a first vibration damping pulse that suppresses residual vibration generated by the ejection pulse;a second vibration damping pulse which is different from the first vibration damping pulse and suppresses residual vibration generated by the ejection pulse; andan inspection pulse for detecting the residual vibration signal.2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a potential ...

LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first piezoelectric element, a first nozzle that ejects a liquid in association with the driving of the first piezoelectric element, a second piezoelectric element, a second nozzle that ejects a liquid in association with the driving of the second piezoelectric element, a driving signal generation unit that generates a driving signal for driving a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a residual vibration detection unit that detects residual vibration generated by the driving of the piezoelectric element. The first nozzle is adjacent to the second nozzle. 1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:a first piezoelectric element;a first cavity which is filled with a liquid inside and has internal pressure increasing or decreasing by displacement of the first piezoelectric element;a first nozzle that communicates with the first cavity and ejects the liquid as droplets by the increase or decrease in internal pressure of the first cavity;a second piezoelectric element;a second cavity which is filled with a liquid inside and has internal pressure increasing or decreasing by displacement of the second piezoelectric element;a second nozzle that communicates with the second cavity and ejects the liquid as droplets by the increase or decrease in internal pressure of the second cavity;a driving signal generation unit that generates a driving signal for displacing the first piezoelectric element or the second piezoelectric element; anda residual vibration detection unit that detects a first residual vibration signal generated in the first piezoelectric element, on the basis of a variation in internal pressure of the first cavity which occurs by applying the driving signal to the first piezoelectric element and the second piezoelectric element,wherein the first nozzle is adjacent to the second nozzle.2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second nozzle is each of nozzles located on both sides of the first ...

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. 1. An ejection inspection method comprising: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; andconducting 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,wherein 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 in the void cells exist in a thickness direction and a horizontal direction in planar view of the ink absorption layer.2. The ejection inspection method according to claim 1 , whereinthe reflected light or the transmitted light from the recording medium is electrically recognized by an image ...

COMPENSATION METHOD AND DEVICE FOR NOZZLE IN INKJET PRINTER AND INKJET PRINTER

A compensation method includes determining position information of an abnormal nozzle of an inkjet head; acquiring printing parameters, determining first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle, and based on the position information of the abnormal nozzle and the printing parameters, determining position information of a compensation nozzle for compensating the first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle; and based on the printing parameters, acquiring second data of the compensation nozzle in a normal printing state which includes ink out data and ink holding data, determining an address of the ink holding data, and generating compensation data by writing the first data into the address of the ink holding data. A compensation device includes: an abnormal nozzle position determination module; a compensation nozzle position determination module; and a compensation data generation module. An inkjet printer includes: a controlling unit, an inkjet head unit, and a nozzle compensation unit. 1. A compensation method for nozzle abnormality of an inkjet printer , comprising steps of:determining position information of an abnormal nozzle in an inkjet head;acquiring printing parameters, determining first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle, and based on the position information of the abnormal nozzle and the printing parameters, determining position information of a compensation nozzle for compensating the first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle; andacquiring second data of the compensation nozzle in a normal printing state based on the printing parameters which comprise ink out data and ink holding data, determining an address of the ink holding data, and generating compensation data by writing the first data into the address of the ink holding data.2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the printing parameters comprise a relative displacement between a printing medium and the inkjet head claim 1 , the number of the nozzle claim 1 , and printing ...

Printer

A printer includes an ink tank, a print head that performs printing by using ink in the ink tank, a light source that emits light into the ink tank, a sensor that detects light incident from an ink tank side in a period during which the light source emits light and outputs pixel data, and a processing section that determines an ink amount based on an output of the sensor. A pitch of a plurality of lenses is k times a pixel pitch of the sensor, k being an integer of 2 or more, and the processing section detects the ink amount based on a sum of outputs of k continuous pixels.

Method of detecting discharge abnormality in nozzles of inkjet recording device and inkjet recording device

In the check pattern of a check chart, among a plurality of ink discharge nozzles, a predetermined number of ink discharge nozzles in a main scanning direction are set to one block, and in each of the blocks, a plurality of check lines which are recorded by the one block and which are extended along a subscanning direction are drawn such that each time the check lines proceed a predetermined length in the subscanning direction, the check lines are sequentially shifted line by line in the main scanning direction. In the line detection step, a detection range is sequentially moved by the one block in the main scanning direction, whether or not the check line is present is detected and based on the position of the detected check line within the one block in the main scanning direction, the moved position of the subsequent block is corrected.

SIDEBAND SIGNAL FOR FLUID EJECTION

In example implementations, a fluid ejection system is provided. The fluid ejection system includes a plurality of fluid ejection devices, a sensor and a feedback system. The plurality of fluid ejection devices can distribute fluid onto a media. The sensor may analyze a line of an image formed by the fluid on the media. The feedback system can determine a respective amount of time delay for each one of the plurality of fluid ejection devices based on the line of the image on the media that is analyzed by the sensor. The respective amount of time delay is inserted into at least one sideband signal to provide a correct alignment of the fluid ejection devices when printing a subsequent line of the image on the media. 1. A fluid ejection system , comprising:a plurality of fluid ejection devices to distribute fluid onto a media;a sensor to analyze a line of an image formed by the fluid on the media; anda feedback system to determine a respective amount of time delay for each one of the plurality of fluid ejection devices based on the line of the image on the media that is analyzed by the sensor, wherein the respective amount of time delay is inserted into at least one sideband signal to provide a correct alignment of the fluid ejection devices when printing a subsequent line of the image on the media.2. The fluid ejection system of claim 1 , comprising:a first timing system associated with a first one of the plurality of fluid ejection devices that is in communication with the feedback system to receive the respective amount of time delay for each one of the plurality of fluid ejection devices that is determined.3. The fluid ejection system of claim 2 , comprising:a plurality of timing systems associated with a remaining ones of the plurality of fluid ejection devices and in communication with the first timing system to receive the respective amount of time delay from the first timing system.4. The fluid ejection system of claim 3 , wherein the first timing system is in ...

HOUSING WITH CURVED SURFACE

Examples disclosed herein relate to a housing with a curved surface. In examples, the housing may receive a light source and a detector to detect a droplet passing through a light path between the detector and the light source. The housing may have a curved surface to align the detector and the light source within the housing. 1. A system , comprising:a housing to receive a light source and a detector to detect a droplet passing through a light path between the detector and the light source; anda curved surface of the housing to align the detector and the light source within the housing.2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the curved surface has a varying radius along a center line.3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the curved surface is complementary to an external surface of the light source or the detector so that a portion of the light source or the detector is coupled to the curved surface.4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is an injection molded plastic.5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).6. The system of claim 1 , comprising an ejector to eject the droplet.7. A device claim 1 , comprising:an ejector to eject a droplet towards a substrate;a light source;a photo-detector to detect a shadow formed by the droplet passing through a light path between the detector and the light source; anda curved surface to guide the light source and the photo-detector into alignment.8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the curved surface has a varying radius along a center line.9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the curved surface is to be complementary to an external surface of the light source or the photo-detector so that a portion of the light source or the photo-detector is coupled to the curved surface.10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the curved surface is in contact with the light source or the photo-detector.11. The device of claim 7 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).12. The device of ...

CALIBRATION OF A SENSOR

In one example of the disclosure, an uncalibrated sensor may be calibrated. Calibrated sensor data is obtained. The data relates to an amount of light transmitted through an ink solution of a first colour as a function of ink concentration. An amount of light transmitted through an ink solution of the first colour is measured, using the uncalibrated sensor, at a plurality of ink concentrations. A calibration factor relating the light transmission of the calibrated sensor for the first colour and the light transmission of the uncalibrated sensor for the first colour is determined, using a processor, based on the obtained data and the measurements. 1. A method for calibrating an uncalibrated sensor , the method comprising:obtaining calibrated sensor data, the data relating to an amount of light transmitted through an ink solution of a first colour as a function of ink concentration;measuring, using the uncalibrated sensor, at a plurality of ink concentrations, an amount of light transmitted through an ink solution of the first colour; anddetermining, using a processor, based on the obtained data and the measurements, a calibration factor relating the light transmission of the calibrated sensor for the first colour and the light transmission of the uncalibrated sensor for the first colour.2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:storing the calibration factor in a storage medium associated with the uncalibrated sensor.3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:applying the calibration factor to data acquired using the uncalibrated sensor.4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:determining a relationship between a concentration of ink in an ink solution of the first colour and a concentration of ink in an ink solution of the second colour that result in the same amount of light being transmitted.5. A method according to claim 4 , further comprising:applying the determined relationship to data acquired using the uncalibrated sensor.6 ...

SYSTEM FOR DETECTING INOPERATIVE INKJETS IN PRINTHEADS EJECTING CLEAR INK USING THERMAL SUBSTRATES

An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing. The apparatus operates the printhead or printheads in the printer to form test pattern on a thermal substrate. The heat of the materials used to form the test pattern increase the optical density of the areas where the materials land. The area where the test pattern is formed is imaged and the image data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets. 1. A printer comprising:a printhead configured with a plurality of inkjets to eject material;a supply of thermal substrate having a surface that is coated with a heat sensitive dye that increases in optical density in response to heat contained within the material ejected from the printhead onto the thermal substrate, the optical density increase occurring with reference to a known function of optical density per unit of heat energy input to the heat sensitive dye on the thermal substrate;an optical sensor configured to generate electrical signals corresponding to optical densities at a plurality of locations on the thermal substrate;an actuator operatively connected to the optical sensor to move the optical sensor to a position opposite the thermal substrate onto which material has been ejected; anda controller operatively connected to the actuator, the optical sensor, and the printhead, the controller being configured to operate the printhead to eject a predetermined number of material drops from each inkjet onto the surface of the thermal substrate having the thermal sensitive dye to enable the predetermined number of material drops to form a test dot for each inkjet that ejected material onto the thermal substrate and increase the optical density at each location in the plurality of locations on the thermal substrate at which each test dot was formed, to operate the actuator to move the optical sensor to a position opposite the thermal substrate, and to identify inoperative inkjets in the printhead with reference to the data received from the optical sensor ...

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. 1. A method , comprising:energizing a piezoelectric drive element of an ejector to induce a pressure wave in an ink-finable ejection chamber of the ejector, an intensity of the induced pressure wave being below a threshold value necessary to produce ejection of a normal sized ink drop by the ejector;sensing a fluidic pressure response to the induced pressure wave and generating an electrical signal based on the sensing; andanalyzing one or more characteristics of the electrical signal to determine ejection performance of the ejector.2. The method of wherein the ink jet head is a high resolution/multiple nozzle ink jet head.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein sensing the fluidic pressure response comprises self-sensing using the piezoelectric drive element.4. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing characteristics of the signal comprises detecting at least one of ink viscosity claim 1 , nozzle blockage claim 1 , insufficient ink supply to the ejection chamber claim 1 , gas bubbles in the ejection chamber and ink supply channels claim 1 , and wetting of the front face of the ink jet nozzle.5. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the characteristics of the signal comprises analyzing the signal in at least one of time domain and frequency domain.6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristics comprise at least one of time domain comparison to a known ...

INKJET RECORDING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING INKJET RECORDING DEVICE

An inkjet recording device and a method for controlling an inkjet recording device are provided. A heating device that heats the ink to be supplied to a nozzle immediately ahead of the nozzle, a thermometer that detects a temperature of the ink inside the heating device or after heating, a viscometer that detects a viscosity of the ink in a main ink container are provided. The heating device is driven using a detection value of the thermometer to control the temperature of the ink such that the viscosity reaches an ink viscosity which enables normal printing, and when the viscosity of the ink is out of a range which enables printing, the solvent or the replenishment ink is supplied to the main ink container using a detection value of the viscometer such that the viscosity reaches the range which enables normal printing. 1. An inkjet recording device comprising:a nozzle that atomizes an ink to eject ink particles;a charging electrode that charges the ink particles, which have been ejected from the nozzle, to correspond to a printing character;a deflection electrode that deflects the charged ink particles which have passed through the charging electrode;a gutter that captures a non-charged ink;an ink supply path that supplies the ink in a main ink container to the nozzle;an ink recovery path that recovers the non-charged ink, which has been captured by the gutter, to the main ink container;a solvent replenishment unit that supplies a solvent to the main ink container; anda control unit that controls an entirety of the device,wherein a heating device that is installed between the ink supply path and the nozzle to heat the ink,a thermometer that detects an ink temperature of the ink heated by the heating device, anda viscometer that detects a viscosity of the ink in the main ink container are provided, andthe control unit controls the heating device based on the temperature detected by the thermometer such that the temperature reaches a set temperature set in a range of ...

INKJET PRINTING DEVICE, INK EJECTING METHOD, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING DISPLAY DEVICE

An inkjet printing device includes an ink reservoir that stores ink containing particles, an inkjet head part that receives the ink from the ink reservoir and ejects the ink onto a target substrate and a driver for rotating the ink reservoir. 1. An inkjet printing device comprising:an ink reservoir that stores an ink that contains particles;an inkjet head part that receives the ink from the ink reservoir and ejects the ink onto a target substrate; anda driver that rotates the ink reservoir.2. The inkjet printing device of claim 1 , whereinthe driver rotates the ink reservoir with respect to a rotation axis, andthe rotation axis is a driving shaft of the driver on a reference plane that is perpendicular or tilted with respect to a direction of gravity acting on the ink of the ink reservoir.3. The inkjet printing device of claim 2 , wherein:the ink reservoir includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, andthe reference plane is disposed at an equal distance from the first surface and the second surface.4. The inkjet printing device of claim 3 , wherein the ink reservoir includes:a first outlet disposed in the first surface of the ink reservoir; anda second outlet disposed in the second surface of the ink reservoir.5. The inkjet printing device of claim 4 , further comprising a first pipe and a second pipe claim 4 , whereinthe first outlet is connected to the inkjet head part through the first pipe, andthe second outlet is connected to the inkjet head part through the second pipe.6. The inkjet printing device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet blocks a movement of the ink toward the inkjet head part.7. The inkjet printing device of claim 5 , further comprising:a valve connected to the first pipe and the second pipe; anda third pipe connected to the valve and the inkjet head part,wherein the valve blocks the connection to at least one of the first pipe, the second pipe, and the third pipe.8. The ...

Collapsible container and sensor

An example printhead assembly includes a housing, nozzles and a collapsible container within the housing to supply ink to the nozzles. The collapsible container includes a top wall, a bottom wall, first and second side walls that form an interior and a spring assembly within the interior. The first flexible wall includes a first amount of excess material. The second flexible wall includes a second amount of excess material less than the first amount of excess material such that motion of the first flexible wall of the collapsible container is constrained against movement to a lesser extent as compared to the second flexible wall. The first flexible wall faces the sensor. A sensor assembly is coupled to the housing and includes a sensor to provide a sensor signal indicating the amount of ink within the collapsible container.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY IMAGES WITH AQUEOUS INKS IN A PRINTER

A printer includes at least a first printhead and a second printhead, each of which is operatively connected to a source of aqueous ink having a color that is different than the color of aqueous ink connected to the other printhead. A first source of infrared (IR) radiation is positioned between the first and second printheads and a second source of IR radiation follows the first and second printheads. The first source of IR radiation is tuned to heat color pigment particles in the aqueous ink connected to the first printhead only and the second source of IR radiation is tuned to heat color pigment particles in the aqueous ink connected to the second printhead only. 1. A printer comprising:a first printhead operatively connected to a source of aqueous ink having a first color, the first printhead being configured to eject the aqueous ink having the first color onto a substrate as the substrate passes the first printhead in a process direction; anda first source of infrared (IR) radiation following the first printhead in the process direction, the first source of IR radiation being tuned to heat color pigment particles in the aqueous ink having the first color.2. The printer of further comprising:a second printhead operatively connected to a source of aqueous ink having a second color that is different than the first color, the second printhead following the first source of IR radiation in the process direction and being configured to eject the aqueous ink having the second color onto the substrate after the substrate has passed the first printhead and the first source of IR radiation; anda second source of IR radiation following the second printhead in the process direction, the second source of IR radiation being tuned to heat color pigment particles in the aqueous ink having the second color and not heat color pigment particles in the aqueous ink having the first color.3. The printer of further comprising:a third printhead operatively connected to a source of ...

Strain Sensor Printing

A method for printing a strain sensor on a component using an aerosol ink, the method including depositing the aerosol ink on the component using a print head, the aerosol ink comprising chromium containing particles, and monitoring a printing environment parameter associated with printing environment conditions to confirm the printing environment parameter is within a predetermined environmental range of a printing environment parameter baseline value while depositing the aerosol ink on the component using the print head, the printing environment parameter baseline value a predetermined preferred printing environment parameter value within the predetermined environmental range, the monitoring including monitoring an atmospheric composition of the printing environment. 1. A method for printing a strain sensor on a component using an aerosol ink , the method comprising:depositing the aerosol ink on the component using a print head, the aerosol ink comprising chromium containing particles; andmonitoring a printing environment parameter associated with printing environment conditions to confirm the printing environment parameter is within a predetermined environmental range of a printing environment parameter baseline value while depositing the aerosol ink on the component using the print head, the printing environment parameter baseline value a predetermined preferred printing environment parameter value within the predetermined environmental range, the monitoring including monitoring an atmospheric composition of the printing environment.2. The method of claim 1 , further including monitoring a temperature of the component to confirm the temperature within a predetermined temperature range of a baseline temperature value.3. The method of claim 2 , wherein monitoring the temperature of the component includes controlling the temperature of the component while depositing the aerosol ink on the component using the print head.4. The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing ...

Inkjet Printer

The controller is configured to: drive a color ink ejection head and a functional ink ejection head to print test images on a sheet in a plurality of types of test patterns between which a positional relationship of a dot of a color ink and a dot of a functional ink to be formed on the sheet is varied; determine an overlapping degree of the dot of the color ink and the dot of the functional ink in the respective printed test images on a basis of a color attribute of the respective printed test images; and control the functional ink ejection head in printing on a basis of a control content corresponding to at least one test pattern selected of the plurality of types of the test patterns on a basis of the determined overlapping degrees. 1. An inkjet printer comprising:a color ink ejection head including a color ink nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles arranged at a pitch along a main scanning direction and configured to eject a color ink to a sheet transferred in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction;a functional ink ejection head including a functional ink nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles arranged at the pitch along the main scanning direction and configured to eject a colorless-transparent functional ink to the sheet transferred in the sub-scanning direction; anda controller configured to control the color ink ejection head and the functional ink ejection head, drive the color ink ejection head and the functional ink ejection head to print test images on the sheet in a plurality of types of test patterns between which a positional relationship of a dot of the color ink and a dot of the functional ink to be formed on the sheet is varied,', 'determine an overlapping degree of the dot of the color ink and the dot of the functional ink in the respective printed test images on a basis of a color attribute of the respective printed test images,', 'select at least one test pattern of the plurality of types of the test patterns ...

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.

Charge Control Type Ink Jet Printer and Printing Method

The visibility of a printing object using a photo-curable ink is improved. A charge control type ink jet printer includes a nozzle which continuously forms ink droplets, a charging electrode which charges each of the ink droplets, a deflection electrode which deflects the charged ink droplet, and a print head which discharges the deflected ink droplet to print the droplet onto a printed substrate. The print head has a UV light source. The UV light source has a focusing member which focuses UV light onto at least part of a flying path of the ink droplet between the print head and the printed substrate and onto a landed region of the printed substrate, and a light emission source.

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. 1. 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 , comprising:a reading unit including a light emitting unit which irradiates a light onto the recording medium and a light receiving unit which receives a reflected light from the recording medium;a sensitivity adjusting unit which adjusts a sensitivity of the light receiving unit such that an output of the light receiving unit falls within a predetermined range before the test pattern is formed;a relative movement unit which relatively moves the recording medium or the reading unit at an equal speed;a first correction unit which detects a position of the test pattern by applying a position determining process on detection data of the reflected light received from a scanning position of the light by the light receiving unit while the reading unit moves relative to the recording medium after the test pattern is formed;a second correction unit which detects the position of the test pattern by applying the position determining process on the test pattern after an amplitude of an interval period of the test pattern is aligned to be generally constant, the amplitude appearing the detection data of the reflected light received from the ...

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. 1. A driver apparatus , comprising: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 the movement of the moveable unit for a given distance or more in a driving direction when the moveable unit is driven under control of the drive control unit; andan abnormality detector to determine occurrence of abnormality when the determination unit determines that the moveable unit does not move for the given distance or more.2. The driver apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the movement detector does not detect the movement of the moveable unit for the given distance or more in the driving direction of the moveable unit within the given time claim 1 , the drive control unit instructs the drive unit to drive the moveable unit in a direction opposite to the driving direction.3. The driver apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the movement detector does not detect the movement of the moveable unit for the given distance or more in the driving direction of the moveable unit within the given time claim 1 , the drive control unit instructs the drive unit ...

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.

COMPENSATION METHOD AND DEVICE FOR NOZZLE ABNORMALITY, AND PRINTER

A compensation method and a device for nozzle abnormality, and a printer are provided. The method includes determining position information of an abnormal nozzle of an inkjet head (S); acquiring printing parameters, determining first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle, and based on the position information of the abnormal nozzle and the printing parameters, determining position information of a compensation nozzle for compensating the first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle (S); and based on the printing parameters, acquiring second data of the compensation nozzle in a normal printing state which includes ink out data and ink holding data, determining an address of the ink holding data, and generating compensation data by writing the first data into the address of the ink holding data (S). 1. A compensation method for nozzle abnormality , comprising steps of:determining position information of an abnormal nozzle in an inkjet head;acquiring printing parameters, determining first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle, and based on the position information of the abnormal nozzle and the printing parameters, determining position information of a compensation nozzle for compensating the first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle; andacquiring second data of the compensation nozzle in a normal printing state based on the printing parameters which comprise ink out data and ink holding data, determining an address of the ink holding data, and generating compensation data by writing the first data into the address of the ink holding data.2. The compensation method as defined in claim 1 , wherein acquiring the printing parameters claim 1 , determining the first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle claim 1 , and based on the position information of the abnormal nozzle and the printing parameters claim 1 , determining the position information of the compensation nozzle for compensating the first data corresponding to the abnormal nozzle comprises ...

System And Method For Imaging And Evaluating Coating On An Imaging Surface In An Aqueous Inkjet Printer

An inkjet printer is configured to apply a coating material to an imaging surface before an ink image is formed on the surface. At least one optical sensor generates image data of the coating on the imaging surface and identifies a thickness of the coating material. Components of the coating material applicator can be adjusted to keep the thickness of the coating material within a predetermined range. 1. A printer comprising:at least one printhead configured to eject liquid ink;a rotating member being positioned to rotate in front of the at least one printhead to enable the at least one printhead to eject liquid ink and form an ink image on a surface of the rotating member;a coating applicator positioned with reference to the rotating member to apply a coating material to the surface of the rotating member before the ink image is formed on the surface of the rotating member by the at least one printhead;at least one optical sensor configured to generate image data of the surface of the rotating member; anda controller operatively connected to the at least one optical sensor, the controller being configured to receive from the at least one optical sensor image data of the surface of the rotating member, identify a thickness of the coating on the surface of the rotating member with reference to the optical sensor image data, and adjust operation of the coating applicator in response to the thickness not being within a predetermined range.2. The printer of claim 1 , the at least one optical sensor further comprising:a light source configured to direct light of a predetermined wavelength towards the surface of the rotating member; andthe controller being further configured to identify the thickness of the coating on the surface of the rotating member by comparing the optical sensor image data to data stored in a memory operatively connected to the controller that correlates a plurality of coating thicknesses to optical sensor image data obtained in empirical testing.3. ...

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INOPERATIVE INKJET DETECTION IN A PRINTER OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS

A three dimensional printer is configured to move at least one printhead from an area where the printhead is forming an object to a position opposite a shaft. The at least one printhead is operated to eject material onto the shaft and the shaft is rotated to enable a light sensor to generate signals indicative of a height of material at a plurality of positions on the shaft. The signals are compared to an expected height of material at each position to identify inoperative inkjets in the at least one printhead. 1. A three dimensional printer comprising:at least one printhead having a plurality of inkjets configured to eject material;a shaft configured to rotate selectively;at least one light source;at least one light sensor; anda controller operatively connected to the at least one printhead, the shaft, the at least one light source and the at least one light sensor, the controller being configured to operate a first group of the inkjets in the at least one printhead to eject material onto the shaft, to rotate the shaft to a position that enables the material on the shaft to be between the at least one light source and the at least one light sensor to enable the at least one sensor to generate signals indicative of a height of material at a plurality of positions on the shaft, and to compare the signals generated by the at least one light sensor to an expected height value to identify inoperative inkjets in the at least one printhead.2. The three dimensional printer of further comprising:a wiper; andthe controller is operatively connected to the wiper, the controller being further configured to move the wiper to remove the material ejected onto the shaft from the shaft.3. The three dimensional printer of claim 2 , the controller being further configured:to operate a second group of inkjets in the at least one printhead to eject material onto the shaft after the controller has rotated the shaft to the position that enables the at least one light sensor to generate ...

INK JET RECORDING APPARATUS

An ink jet recording apparatus including an ink tank for storing an ink, a flow path member communicating with the ink tank and a recording head for ejecting the ink supplied from the ink tank through the flow path member, wherein the apparatus further includes a light detection unit which applies light to at least one of the ink in the ink tank and the ink in the flow path member and detects the intensity of back-scattered light of the applied light, and an image density correction unit which corrects the density of an image to be recorded on the basis of the intensity of the back-scattered light which has been detected by the light detection unit. 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink tank for storing an ink , a flow path member communicating with the ink tank and a recording head for ejecting the ink supplied from the ink tank through the flow path member , wherein the apparatus further comprisesa light detection unit which applies light to at least one of the ink in the ink tank and the ink in the flow path member and detects the intensity of back-scattered light of the applied light, andan image density correction unit which corrects the density of an image to be recorded on the basis of the intensity of the back-scattered light which has been detected by the light detection unit.2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 , which further comprises an ink concentration calculation unit which calculates an ink concentration on the basis of the intensity of the back-scattered light which has been detected by the light detection unit claim 1 , wherein the density of the image to be recorded is corrected in the image density correction unit by using the ink concentration calculated in the ink concentration calculation unit.3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein data that correlates the intensity of the back-scattered light with the ink concentration is prepared in advance in the ink concentration calculation unit ...

NOZZLE EJECTION AMOUNT CORRECTING METHOD, FUNCTIONAL LIQUID EJECTING METHOD, AND ORGANIC EL DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD

A nozzle ejection amount correcting method includes: a first signal correction for performing first signal correction by calculating correction amounts of the plurality of driving signals from a difference C between a predetermined amount B in a case of ejecting liquid droplets from the selected nozzles to the ejecting regions in the main scanning performed a plurality of times and the predetermined amount A that is set in advance; a second signal correction for performing second signal correction by calculating correction amounts of the plurality of driving signals before the correction corresponding to the main scanning in the later stage from a difference E between a predetermined amount D in a case of ejecting the liquid droplets to the ejecting regions and the predetermined amount A by using the plurality of driving signals, by which the first signal correction is performed, in the main scanning in the former stage. 1. A nozzle ejection amount correcting method in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged to face a target of ejection where ejecting regions are formed , one of a plurality of driving signals is supplied to actuators of selected nozzles among the plurality of nozzles while main scanning is performed a plurality of times for relatively moving the plurality of nozzles and the target of ejection , and ejection amounts of liquid droplets when a predetermined amount A of functional liquid set in advance is ejected as the liquid droplets onto the ejecting regions are corrected for the plurality of nozzles , the method comprising:performing first signal correction by calculating correction amounts of the plurality of driving signals from a difference C between a predetermined amount B in a case of ejecting the liquid droplets from the selected nozzles to the ejecting regions in the main scanning performed a plurality of times and the predetermined amount A, by using the plurality of driving signals;performing second signal correction by calculating ...

LIQUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS

A liquid discharge apparatus includes an apparatus body, a liquid discharge head configured to discharge a liquid and be removably attached to the apparatus body, and a temperature detection device configured to detect a temperature of the liquid discharge head. The temperature detection device includes a temperature detector disposed in the apparatus body and configured to be in line contact with the liquid discharge head. 1. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:an apparatus body;a liquid discharge head configured to discharge a liquid and be removably attached to the apparatus body; anda temperature detection device configured to detect a temperature of the liquid discharge head, the temperature detection device including a temperature detector disposed in the apparatus body and configured to be in line contact with the liquid discharge head.2. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,wherein a detection face of the temperature detector is to contact a ridgeline of the liquid discharge head, to detect the temperature of the liquid discharge head.3. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 2 ,wherein the ridgeline is on a liquid discharge side of the liquid discharge head.4. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a heat conductive sheet disposed on the detection face of the temperature detector claim 2 , the heat conductive sheet greater in size than the detection face.5. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 4 ,wherein the apparatus body includes a head holder configured to hold the liquid discharge head, andwherein the heat conductive sheet is supported by the detection face and the head holder.6. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 5 ,wherein the head holder includes an upstream inner wall face and a downstream inner wall face disposed downstream from the upstream inner wall face in a mounting direction of the liquid discharge head, the downstream inner wall face recessed from ...

PRINTER AND IMAGING MATERIAL DETECTING DEVICE THEREOF

A printer includes a container, a detecting unit and a management unit. The container is used for accommodating an imaging material, where the imaging material is a liquid material or a powdery material. The detecting unit is disposed on a surface of the container. The management unit is coupled to the detecting unit. The detecting unit detects a capacitance value to determine a remaining capacity of the container. When the remaining capacity is higher or lower than a threshold, the detecting unit transmits a trigger signal to the management unit. When the management unit receives the trigger signal, the management unit generates a notification. 1. A printer , comprising:a container, for accommodating an imaging material, wherein the imaging material is a powdery material or a liquid material;a detecting unit, disposed on a surface of the container; anda management unit, coupled to the detecting unit,wherein, the detecting unit detects a capacitance value to determine a remaining capacity of the container, when the remaining capacity is lower or higher than a threshold, the detecting unit transmits a trigger signal to the management unit; andwhen the management unit receives the trigger signal, the management unit generates a notification.2. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting unit comprises:a sensing processing unit;a sensor, coupled to the sensing processing unit and disposed on an outer surface of the container, the sensor, after a charging process of the sensing processing unit, detecting the imaging material to obtain a detection capacitance value,wherein the sensing processing unit obtains the detection capacitance value from the sensor, the sensing processing unit further generates the capacitance value according to a comparison result of the detection capacitance value and a reference capacitance value, and determines the remaining capacity of the container according to the capacitance value.3. The printer according to claim 2 , wherein ...

Inkjet Printer with Dual Function Alignment Sensor for Determining Ink Drying Time

An inkjet printer for determining drying time of a print swath of ink deposited on a sheet of media by use of a dual function alignment sensor operable in a first mode to provide an output response corresponding to an amount of bi-directional misalignment of dot placement by the plurality of nozzles sensed from scanning a printed alignment test pattern, and in a second mode to provide an output response corresponding to an amount of specular reflection received from the print swath of the printed image with the output response in the second mode being used to determine if the printed image is sufficiently dry to be moved. 1. An inkjet printer for printing an image on a sheet of media comprising:at least one printhead having a plurality of nozzles for depositing ink onto a surface of the sheet of media being processed in the inkjet printer to form a print swath across a portion of a width of the sheet of media in a subscan direction;an alignment sensor coupled to the at least one printhead for scanning the print swath formed on the surface of the sheet of media with the at least one printhead, the alignment sensor providing in a first mode an output response corresponding to an amount of bi-directional misalignment of dot placement by the plurality of nozzles sensed from scanning a printed alignment test pattern and in a second mode providing an output response corresponding to an amount of specular reflection received from the print swath of the printed image; and control the operation of the at least one printhead to effect printing of the image on the sheet of media as it moves past the at least one printhead in a media feed direction; and', 'process the output signal of the alignment sensor from scanning of the print swath to determine if the printed image can be moved without smearing, 'a controller in operative communication with each of the at least one printhead and the alignment sensor, the controller being configured to2. The inkjet printer of wherein the ...

PRINT GAP COMPENSATION

In an ink jet printer (), where there is relative movement between a print carriage () and a print table () to print on to a substrate mounted on the table (), the gradient of the print table at each position of the print carriage () is used to produce a compensated position of the print carriage (), and printing data is sent to the print head according to the compensated position instead of the actual position. This delays or advances the release of ink, to compensate for the difference in the time taken for the ink to reach a substrate mounted on the print table () when the print gap between print heads and print table () is not constant. 1. A method of providing a working measure of the topography of a work surface comprising storing at least a first and second representations of the topography corresponding respectively to first and second conditions , and obtaining the values of at least one parameter associated with each of the first and second conditions , and providing the working measure based on a working value of the parameter and the stored representations of the topography.2. The method as claimed in comprising providing the working measure to a control system for an ink jet printer comprising at least one print head and using the working measure to control the timing of the release of ink from the print head.3. The method as claimed in wherein the ink jet printer comprises a plurality of print heads and wherein the timing of the release of ink from each print head is controlled individually.4. The method as claimed in wherein the work surface comprises a print substrate or a substrate support.5. The method as claimed in wherein the working measure of the topography of the work surface comprises a measure of a print gap between the work surface and a print head.6. The method as claimed in wherein the working measure of the topography comprises a measure of a variation in height over a two-dimensional area.7. The method as claimed in further comprising ...

METHOD FOR OPERATING A CIJ PRINTER WITH OPTICAL MONITORING OF PRINTING QUALITY, CIJ PRINTER WITH OPTICAL MONITORING OF PRINTING QUALITY, AND METHOD FOR TEACHING-IN A CIJ PRINTER WITH OPTICAL MONITORING OF PRINTING QUALITY

Provided are a method for operating a CIJ printer with an optical monitoring means () having the steps of generating a bitmap () of the printed image to be printed, sequential controlling of charge electrodes () and/or deflection electrodes () of the CIJ printer, in order to generate dots or groups of dots of the bitmap () by applying ink droplets () to a substrate () to be printed and thus to sequentially apply a real printed image () to the substrate (), capturing the real printed image () applied to the substrate () with the optical monitoring means (), and automated comparing of the bitmap () of the desired printed image and of the real printed image () which has been applied to the substrate () and has been captured with the optical monitoring means (), wherein the bitmap () of the desired printed image and the real image applied to the substrate () are automatically compared either on the basis of rows or columns of the bitmap () or on the basis of components of rows or columns of the bitmap (), a CIJ printer for carrying out such a method and a method for teaching-in an optical monitoring means () of such a CIJ printer. Inkjet printers are a widely used class of printers. A family of this class that is particularly suitable for industrial applications and has therefore achieved a high degree of popularity in this field are the so-called continuous inkjet printers (CIJ printers).A continuous inkjet printer prints with an ink that contains a variable amount of solvent. Accordingly, there is a mixing tank where solvents from a solvent tank and the concentrated ink from an ink tank are mixed together to obtain the ink used for printing. When the term “ink” is used below, it means the liquid used for printing; the term “concentrated ink” is used for the liquid provided in the ink tank.From the mixing tank, the ink is supplied under pressure to a nozzle on the print head, where the droplets required for the actual printing process are produced from the ink jet ...

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCUMULATING EXCESS INK IN A STATIONARY RECEPTACLE IN IMAGING DEVICES THAT FORM IMAGES ON INTERMEDIATE IMAGING SURFACES

A mechanism enables inkjets in a printhead to be operated to eject ink in an effort to replace ink exposed to ambient conditions with ink from within the printhead. The mechanism includes a controller configured to operate an intermediate imaging member to rotate to align a plurality of apertures with inkjets on a printhead. The inkjets are operated to eject ink through the plurality of apertures and ink from within the printhead replaces the ejected ink without impacting the formation of subsequent ink images. 1. A printer comprising:at least one printhead configured with a plurality of inkjets to eject ink drops;at least one support member positioned opposite the at least one printhead;a substrate configured for rotation about the support member to enable the substrate to pass by the at least one printhead in a process direction, the substrate including a first area in which ink drops ejected from the at least one printhead form a first ink image on the substrate for transfer to media and a second area having a plurality of apertures configured to enable ink drops ejected from the at least one printhead to pass through the substrate, the second area extending across a width of the substrate in a cross-process direction and along a portion of the substrate in the process direction to interrupt the first area;a stationary receptacle positioned on a side of the substrate that is opposite a side of the substrate facing the at least one printhead, the stationary receptacle also extends across the substrate in a cross-process direction and is configured to accumulate ink drops ejected by the at least one printhead that passed through apertures in the plurality of apertures in the substrate; anda controller operatively connected to the at least one printhead, the controller being configured to operate inkjets within the at least one printhead that have not ejected at least one ink drop within a predetermined time period to eject ink drops only from the inkjets in the at ...

INK BUILDUP SENSOR ARRANGEMENT

A continuous ink jet print head (), including: an ink droplet generator () configured to emit an ink droplet () along an undeflected droplet flight path (); a charge electrode () configured to impart a charge to the ink droplet; deflector plates (A, B) adjacent the undeflected droplet flight path, downstream from the charge electrode, and configured to deflect the ink droplet to a deflected droplet flight path that lies within a range of deflected flight paths bounded by at least deflected droplet flight path and a most deflected droplet flight path; a gutter () configured to receive an ink droplet traveling along the undeflected droplet flight path; and an ink buildup sensor () configured to detect an accumulation of ink () relative to a droplet flight path disposed within the range of deflected flight paths. 1. A continuous ink jet print head , comprising:an ink droplet generator configured to emit ink droplets along a droplet flight path;a charge electrode configured to impart a charge to at least some of the ink droplets;at least one deflector plate adjacent the droplet flight path, downstream from the charge electrode, and configured to deflect at least some of the ink droplets to a deflected droplet flight path;a gutter configured to receive ink droplets not intended for printing; andan ink buildup sensor configured to detect an accumulation of ink on a print head surface.2. The continuous ink jet print head of claim 1 , wherein the ink buildup sensor comprises a light detector and a light emitter claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and the light detector are configured such that the accumulation of ink reduces an amount of emitted light that is detected by the light detector.3. The continuous ink jet print head of claim 2 , wherein the ink buildup sensor is configured to detect the accumulation of ink on an internal surface of the print head that is downstream of the deflector plates and external to an interior of the gutter.4. The continuous ink jet print ...

Fluid property sensor

A fluid property sensor may comprising an integrated circuit (IC) including a fluid level sensor, and/or a pressure sensor; and an external interface electrically coupled to a proximal end of the EC, wherein the pressure sensor may be configured to measure a flexure of the fluid property sensor.

MODIFYING FIRING PARAMETERS FOR PRINTHEADS

In some examples, a controller receives impedance sensor values from an impedance sensor in a printhead, determines whether the impedance sensor values correlate to a production of an effective drive bubble for the printhead, and issues a command to modify a firing parameter for a fluid ejector of the printhead based on the impedance sensor values. 1. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that upon execution cause a controller to:receive impedance sensor values from an impedance sensor in a printhead;determine whether the impedance sensor values correlate to a production of an effective drive bubble for the printhead; andissue a command to modify a firing parameter fora fluid ejector of the printhead based on the impedance sensor values.2. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the firing parameter is selected from among a firing power claim 1 , a firing voltage claim 1 , a firing pulse width claim 1 , and a firing pulse timing.3. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions upon execution cause the controller to:trigger a printhead servicing operation for the printhead based on the impedance sensor values.4. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions upon execution cause the controller to:in response to determining from the impedance sensor values that the effective drive bubble was not produced, issue the command to modify the firing parameter for the fluid ejector for producing the effective drive bubble.5. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions upon execution cause the controller to:identify, based on the impedance sensor values, various stages of drive bubble formation throughout a firing event.6. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions upon execution cause the controller to:determine, based on the impedance ...

EJECTION VOLUME CORRECTION METHOD FOR INKJET HEAD, EJECTION VOLUME CORRECTION APPARATUS

An aspect of the present invention provides an ejection volume correction method for an inkjet head, including: an arranging step of ejecting functional ink as ink droplets from nozzles of an inkjet head so as to discretely arrange the ink droplets on a front surface of a substrate; a contacting step of filling the functional ink in between a mold and the substrate by causing the mold to contact the ink droplets arranged on the front surface of the substrate; a curing step of curing the filled functional ink so as to generate a functional film ; a separating step of separating the mold from the functional film; a measuring step of measuring a thickness of the functional film; and a correcting step of correcting an ejection volume from the nozzles based on the measured thickness. 1. An ejection volume correction method for an inkjet head , comprising:an arranging step of ejecting functional ink as ink droplets from nozzles of an inkjet head so as to discretely arrange the ink droplets on a front surface of a substrate;a contacting step of filling the functional ink in between a mold and the substrate by causing the mold to contact the ink droplets arranged on the front surface of the substrate;a curing step of curing the filled functional ink so as to generate a functional film;a separating step of separating the mold from the functional film;a measuring step of measuring a thickness of the functional film; anda correcting step of correcting an ejection volume from the nozzles based on the measured thickness.2. The ejection volume correction method for an inkjet head as defined in claim 1 ,wherein, in the arranging step, the ink droplets are arranged by changing the ejection volume from the nozzles in each of prescribed regions on the front surface of the substrate, andthe thickness of the functional film is measured in each of the regions in the measuring step.3. The ejection volume correction method for an inkjet head as defined in claim 2 ,wherein a surface of the ...

PRINTER

Provided is a printer including a conveying unit conveying a continuous sheet in accordance with an input print instruction, a plurality of sensors detecting a mark serving as a reference for positioning a print area on the continuous sheet, wherein the plurality of sensors adopt marks different from each other as detection targets, a printing unit printing on a print area of the continuous sheet, a storage unit storing priority information about a sensor to be used preferentially among the plurality of sensors, and a control unit controlling the conveying unit so that the print area is positioned at a print position of the printing unit on the basis of the priority information and a detection result indicating whether each of the plurality of sensors has detected the mark or not during conveying of the continuous sheet while the priority information is stored in advance. 1. A printer comprising:a conveying unit conveying a continuous sheet in accordance with an input print instruction;a plurality of sensors detecting a mark serving as a reference for positioning a print area on the continuous sheet, wherein the plurality of sensors adopt marks different from each other as detection targets;a printing unit printing on a print area of the continuous sheet;a storage unit storing priority information about a sensor to be used preferentially among the plurality of sensors; anda control unit controlling the conveying unit so that the print area is positioned at a print position of the printing unit, on the basis of the priority information and a detection result indicating whether each of the plurality of sensors has detected the mark or not during conveying of the continuous sheet, while the priority information is stored in advance.2. The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the storage unit is a ROM claim 1 , and stores the priority information since the printer is manufactured.3. The printer according to claim 2 , wherein the priority information is set only for ...

NOZZLE CHARACTERISTICS

Examples include a fluid ejection device. The fluid ejection device comprises a fluid ejection die and a control engine. The fluid ejection die comprises nozzles to eject fluid drops and a temperature sensors disposed on the die to sense temperatures associated with nozzles. The control engine determines at least one nozzle characteristic of at least one respective nozzle based at least in part on a temperature change associated with the at least one respective nozzle corresponding to at least one ejection event. 1. A fluid ejection device comprising:a fluid ejection die comprising a plurality of nozzles to eject fluid drops, the fluid ejection die further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors disposed thereon to sense temperatures associated with nozzles of the plurality of nozzles; anda control engine to determine at least one nozzle characteristic for at least one respective nozzle of the plurality of nozzles based at least in part on a temperature change associated with the at least one respective nozzle corresponding to at least one ejection event.2. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the control engine to determine the at least one nozzle characteristic for the at least one respective nozzle comprises:the control engine to determine a respective volume of fluid ejected for the at least one ejection event based at least in part on the temperature change, andwherein the control engine is to determine the at least one nozzle characteristic for the at least one respective nozzle based at least in part on the respective volume of fluid ejected for the at least one ejection event.3. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein each respective nozzle of the plurality includes a respective thermal fluid ejector.4. The fluid ejection device of claim 1 , wherein the control engine is further to:control the fluid ejection die to eject drops of fluid for a set of ejection events for a servicing operation,wherein the at least one ejection event ...

SENSOR POSITIONING SYSTEM

A sensor positioning system including a moveable sensor holder having a following surface, the sensor holder configured to hold an optical sensor at a selected distance from the following surface, a biasing system configured to bias the following surface against a surface of a sheet of print medium, and a drive system configured to move the sensor holder across the sheet of print medium with the following surface biased against and sliding on the surface of the sheet of print medium to maintain the optical sensor at substantially the selected distance from the surface of the sheet of print medium. 1. A sensor positioning system comprising:a moveable sensor holder having a following surface, the sensor holder configured to hold an optical sensor at a selected distance from the following surface;a biasing system configured to bias the following surface against a surface of a sheet of print medium; anda drive system configured to move the sensor holder across the sheet of print medium with the following surface biased against and sliding on the surface of the sheet of print medium to maintain the optical sensor at substantially the selected distance from the surface of the sheet of print medium.2. The sensor positioning system of claim 1 , wherein the biasing system includes:a pivot about which the sensor holder is configured to rotate, anda spring which provides a rotational force to the sensor holder about the pivot and biases the following surface against the surface of the print medium.3. The sensor positioning system of claim 1 , wherein the biasing system includes:a four-bar linkage coupled to the sensor holder, the four-bar linkage enabling movement of the sensor holder only in directions substantially perpendicular to the surface of the sheet of print medium; anda biasing mechanism that biases the four-bar linkage toward the surface of the print medium such that the following surface of the sensor holder is biased against the surface of the print medium.4. The ...

Control of light-emitting diodes and sensors

A densitometer includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and at least one sensor. The LEDs are activated one at a time in a sequential, repeatable order. Photonic energy from each LED is reflected off an entity and is incident upon the sensor(s). Circuitry samples or acquires signaling from the sensor(s) in accordance with the respective LED activations. Signaling from the densitometer can be used in controlling ink-jetting printers or other apparatus.

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. 1. An apparatus for estimating ink mass usage in a printing system comprising:a memory in which image pixels are stored;an ink usage measurement generator configured to generate an ink usage measurement for an image pixel stored in the memory with reference to the image pixel and to a predetermined number of image pixels previously ejected by an inkjet that ejects the image pixel for which the ink usage measurement is being generated, and to identify a total ink usage measurement for a printhead with reference to the ink usage measurements generated for each inkjet in the printhead, the ink usage measurement generator having a pattern converter that identifies a pattern for the image pixel and the predetermined number of previously ejected image pixels and that generates an estimated ejected ink mass with reference to each pattern identified by the pattern converter; anda controller that is configured to identify a cost for a print job with reference to the total ink usage measurement accumulated for the printhead.2. (canceled)3. The apparatus of wherein the image pixels correspond to activated and non-activated inkjets operated to form an image with the printing system.4. An apparatus for estimating ink mass usage in a printing system comprising:a memory in which image pixels that correspond to a low resolution image of an image to be printed by the printing system are stored;an ink usage measurement generator configured to generate an ink usage measurement for an image pixel stored in the ...

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. 1. A printer system , comprising:a handling system to move print media;a print medium detection sensor to produce a response indicative of an object; anda processor coupled to the handling system and to the print medium detection sensor to perform a two-point calibration of the sensor;wherein a first point of the two-point calibration comprises a first response from the sensor, and a second point of the two-point calibration comprises a second response from the sensor.2. The printer system of wherein the first response results from the presence of a first object and a second response results from the presence of a second object.3. The printer system of wherein the second object comprises the print medium claim 2 , and the first object comprises a reference surface having higher reflectivity than the print medium.4. The printer system of wherein based on the first and second responses claim 2 , the processor is selectively to adjust a characteristic associated the sensor.5. The printer system of wherein the characteristic adjusted by the processor is a magnitude of a sensor response.6. The printer system of wherein the processor is to compare a response from the sensor against a threshold value to detect the presence of the print medium in the handling system;wherein the characteristic adjusted by the processor is the threshold value.7. The printer system of wherein the sensor comprises an optical emitter and an optical detector; andwherein the characteristic adjusted by the processor is a variable power level ...

LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a printing portion and a control portion. The printing portion executes a printing operation including ejecting a liquid from a nozzle onto a medium. The control portion executes an initial operation upon supply of power and executes the printing operation in accordance with a print instruction. The initial operation and the printing operation include a common printing operation that is common to the initial operation and the printing operation. When the control portion does not receive the print instruction during execution of the initial operation, the control portion executes the initial operation including the common printing operation. When the control portion receives the print instruction during execution of the initial operation, the control portion omits the common printing operation from the initial operation. 1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:a printing portion that executes a printing operation including ejecting a liquid from a nozzle onto a medium; anda control portion that executes an initial operation upon supply of power and executes the printing operation in accordance with a print instruction, whereinthe initial operation and the printing operation include a common printing operation that is common to the initial operation and the printing operation,when the control portion does not receive the print instruction during execution of the initial operation, the control portion executes the initial operation including the common printing operation, andwhen the control portion receives the print instruction during execution of the initial operation, the control portion omits the common printing operation from the initial operation.2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , whereinthe control portion executes a power-off operation and then cuts off the power,the initial operation and the power-off operation include a common power-off operation that is common to the initial operation and the power ...

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

An image forming apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a plurality of nozzles discharging liquid droplets; a discharge failure detection unit detecting a defective nozzle of the liquid discharge head, the defective nozzle having a discharge failure; and a notification unit giving, when the defective nozzle is detected during image formation, a notification of the possibility of the generation of an image failure at least one of during and after the image formation. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising:a liquid discharge head including a plurality of nozzles discharging liquid droplets;a discharge failure detection unit configured to detect a defective nozzle of the liquid discharge head, the defective nozzle having a discharge failure; anda notification unit configured to, when the defective nozzle is detected during image formation, give a notification of the possibility of the generation of an image failure at least one of during and after the image formation.2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,wherein, even when the defective nozzle is detected during the image formation, a print operation is continued without being stopped due to the existence of the defective nozzle.3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,wherein, during the print operation, the discharge failure detection unit is configured to repeatedly detect the defective nozzle.4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:a control unit configured to, when the discharge failure detection unit detects the discharge failure during the print state, repeatedly perform a flushing operation that discharges liquid droplets which do not contribute to the image formation.5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:a determination unit configured to determine whether the defective nozzle is used for the image formation,wherein the notification unit is configured to, when the determination unit determines that ...

Cross-nozzle abnormality detection in drop detector signals

In an example, a print apparatus includes a printhead carriage to receive a printhead comprising a print agent ejection nozzle, a drop detector to acquire a signal indicative of variations in a parameter detected by the drop detector over a period of drop detection; a memory to store nozzle location information of the nozzles; and processing circuitry comprising a correlation module to correlate the drop detector signal with the nozzle location information wherein the processing circuitry comprises an abnormality detection module to determine, based on an output of the correlation module, a cross-nozzle abnormality that affects a subset of nozzles.

TESTING FOR WIPING PRE-TREATMENT OF PRINT MEDIA

There is disclosed a non-transitory machine-readable medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor and comprising instructions to: control print apparatus to print a test pattern on a test region of a print medium ; receive test data relating to the test pattern printed on the print medium from a sensor ; analyse the test data with reference to baseline data to determine if the test pattern satisfies a print quality criterion; output an instruction to operate the print apparatus in a first mode, in which a pre-printing treatment is not applied to the print medium, in response to determining that the test pattern satisfies the print quality criterion, the pre-printing treatment comprising wiping a printing surface of the print medium with a wiper element ; and output an instruction to operate the print apparatus in a second mode, in which the pre-printing treatment is applied to the print medium , in response to determining that the test pattern satisfies the print quality criterion. 1. A non-transitory machine-readable medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor and comprising instructions to:control a print apparatus to print a test pattern on a test region of a print medium;receive test data relating to the test pattern printed on the print medium from a sensor;analyse the test data with reference to baseline data to determine if the test pattern satisfies a print quality criterion;output an instruction to operate the print apparatus in a first mode, in which a pre-printing treatment is not applied to the print medium, in response to determining that the test pattern satisfies the print quality criterion, the pre-printing treatment comprising wiping a printing surface of the print medium with a wiper element; andoutput an instruction to operate the print apparatus in a second mode, in which the pre-printing treatment is applied to the print medium, in response to determining that the test pattern satisfies the print quality criterion.2. ...

METHOD AND PRINTER FOR INCREASING THE PRINT QUALITY OF A PRINTER

A method to increase the print quality of a printer can include determining sensor data corresponding to a print image printed by a print head of the at least one print head of the printer onto the recording medium; determining, based on the sensor data, undulation information corresponding to unevenness of the recording medium, a distance between the one or more nozzles of the print head of the printer and the recording medium varying due to the unevenness; and printing, based on the undulation information, a subsequent print image with the print head of the printer. The printer can include at least one print head including one or more nozzles that are configured to fire ink droplets onto a recording medium to generate a print image on the recording medium. 1. A method to increase the print quality of a printer having at least one print head including one or more nozzles that are configured to fire ink droplets onto a recording medium to generate a print image on the recording medium , the method comprising:determining sensor data corresponding to a print image printed by a print head of the at least one print head of the printer onto the recording medium;determining, based on the sensor data, undulation information corresponding to unevenness of the recording medium, a distance between the one or more nozzles of the print head of the printer and the recording medium varying due to the unevenness; andprinting, based on the undulation information, a subsequent print image with the print head of the printer.2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:the printer is configured to move the recording medium and the print head of the printer relative to one another in a transport direction;the printer is configured to print image points of a column of the print image along the transport direction with a nozzle of the one or more nozzles of the print head;the sensor data is indicative of positions of the image points of the column on the recording medium; andthe ...

Landing position measuring apparatus and landing position measuring method

There are provided a landing position measuring apparatus and a landing position measuring method capable of achieving normal evaluation or inspection without any erroneous recognition of a printed pattern. For this purpose, black pixels within a limitation area are regarded as ink ejected from one ejection port, followed by processing.

System And Method To Detect Ink Drop Directionality Degradation And Perform Remedial Measures To Prevent Failing Inkjets In Printheads

A directionality detector is configured for use in an inkjet printer to attenuate the effects of ink drying in the nozzles of a printhead during printing operations. The directionality detector includes an optical sensor that generates image data of a test pattern formed on media by the printer, a diffuser that emits humidified air toward the media before the media is printed, and a controller operatively connected to the optical sensor and diffuser. The controller is configured compare the image data of the test pattern to stored image data of the test pattern printed at a previous time and determine whether any difference between the two images is greater than a predetermined threshold. The controller then operates the diffuser to direct humidified air toward the media passing the diffuser using the differences between the stored image data of the test pattern and the image data of the test pattern.

Method and device for detecting the presence of jets

The invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of a jet from a multi-jet print head of an inkjet printer comprising a plurality of nozzles ( 4 ), at least one 1 st and one 2nd deviation electrode ( 14 a, 14 b ) for each jet, in which: the inkjet is produced by one of the nozzles, at a frequency and is then charged by a voltage V THT at a frequency f THT , f THT not being an integer multiple or sub-multiple of f stim1 ; a jet charge signal is detected, derived from sampling, at frequency f stim1 , of the voltage at frequency f THT , at least one spectral component of this signal being used to detect the presence of the jet.

FLUID LEVEL SENSOR AND RELATED METHODS

In an embodiment, a fluid level sensor includes a sensor plate and a current source. The fluid level sensor also includes an algorithm to bias the current source such that current applied to the sensor plate induces a maximum difference in response voltage between a dry sensor plate condition and a wet sensor plate condition. 1. A fluid cartridge comprising:a nozzle;a fluid channel;a sensor plate on a floor of the channel;a current source coupled to the sensor plate to induce a voltage response across the sensor plate;a sensor circuit to determine the voltage response of the sensor plate to the current source; the voltage response indicating to what extent the sensor plate is in contact with fluid and with air; andan electronic controller to determine a bias for the current source such that the induced voltage response across the sensor plate has a maximum variation between wet and dry sensor plate conditions;wherein the electronic controller is to output a signal indicative of a fluid level based on the voltage response of the sensor plate.2. The fluid cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a register operated by the electronic controller claim 1 , the register to provide input to a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) and Sample & Hold Circuit to provide a bias to the current source.3. The fluid cartridge of claim 2 , further comprising a measurement module of the electronic controller to initiate a fluid measurement cycle during which the measurement module controls the sensor circuit through a state machine.4. The fluid cartridge of claim 3 , the state machine to initiate a priming event claim 3 , provide a delay period claim 3 , and claim 3 , after the delay period claim 3 , operate a switch to apply current from the current source to the sensor plate to induce the voltage response across the sensor plate.5. The fluid cartridge of claim 4 , the state machine further to provide a second delay period claim 4 , after which claim 4 , the state machine is to control ...