Lexmark International, Inc.

Funai Electric Company Ltd.

Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (jp)

Stephen Todd Olson

Lucas David Barkley

Ajay Kanubhai Suthar

Ashok Murthy

Richard B Watkins

Jeanne Marie Saldanha-Singh

Rita Sharma

Rolfe Frank Kruckas

Jan Rose Heeg

Michael Craig Leemhuis

Bruce David Gibson

Sam Norasak

John Wayne Gassett

David Golman King

Bruce Anthony DeBoard

James Philip Harden

Colin G Maher

Bernard L Wilzbach

Shingo Setono

Earl G Edwards

Armando V Flores

Daniel L Huber

Joe William Woods

J Glenn Edelen

Joe Williams Woods

An imaging apparatus includes a print engine having a printhead that generates ink drops, and a printhead carrier that carries the printhead in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction. A controller determines an initial print direction based on ink drop information obtained by printing patches in the first direction and in the second direction, wherein the ink drop information includes a respective chromatic value of each of the patches. The controller is operatively coupled to the print engine to print an image based on the initial print direction.

Imaging apparatus and method for reducing banding

A vapor delivery device having a reservoir for containing an amount of fluid. An ejector receives the fluid, and a controller fires the ejector to express a given dosage of the fluid through a number of nozzles in the ejector into an airstream at a firing frequency and for a firing duration. As the amount of the fluid within the reservoir decreases, the controller also at least one of reduces the firing frequency of the ejector, increases the number of nozzles, and increases the firing duration.

Vapor delivery device

An imaging apparatus includes a print engine having a printhead that generates ink drops, and a printhead carrier that carries the printhead in a first direction and in a second direction. A controller determines an initial print direction based on ink drop information obtained by printing patches in the first direction and in the second direction. The controller is operatively coupled to the print engine to print an image based on the initial print direction.

A method of operating an ink jet printer with an included printer controller, where the ink jet printer prints using a replaceable print head that includes a nozzle plate and an ink reservoir. The printer controller tracks a usage of ink from the ink reservoir and a number of completed nozzle plate wiping operations. The print controller determines, prior to initiating each nozzle plate wiping operation, whether to initiate an inter-layer spitting operation instead of the nozzle plate wiping operation. The printer controller initiates the determined one of the wiping operation and the spitting operation.

Adaptive print head maintenance

Methods for ejecting fluids having a viscosity ranging from about 20 mPa-sec to about 100 mPa-sec at 22&#xb0; C. from a micro-fluid ejection head. The methods include the steps of applying a heat signal to the ejection head for a first period of time to heat the ejection head to a first temperature that is about 20&#xb0; C. above a steady state fluid ejection temperature for continuous or intermittent fluid ejection from the ejection head; and subsequently, applying a firing signal to ejection heaters on the ejection head during which fluid ejection from the ejection head occurs.

Methods for jetting high viscosity fluids

A method for reducing horizontal banding in a printed image printed with an inkjet print engine includes printing on a print media sheet a first test patch with a first inkjet printhead being moved by the printhead carrier in a first print direction; printing on a print media sheet a second test patch with the first inkjet printhead being moved by the printhead carrier in a second print direction; determining a first characteristic of the first test patch; determining a second characteristic of the second test patch; comparing the first characteristic of the first test patch with the second characteristic of the second test patch; and selecting, based on the comparing, an initial print direction of the first inkjet printhead for a first printing pass that reduces horizontal banding in generating the printed image.

A method for automatic removal of a sealant member from a nozzle plate that includes applying a sealant member to a surface of the nozzle plate, attaching the sealant member with a pull tab, one end of the pull tab being attached to a maintenance sled of a maintenance mechanism at a first position, the maintenance sled moves from a first position to a second position thereby removing the sealant member at a 180 degree angle and with a speed of about 10 mm/sec.

Touch-free nozzle sealant removal

A method of determining unidirectional print direction for optimal quality on an ink jet printer capable of bidirectional printing includes printing a first plurality of indicators on a recordable medium, wherein the first plurality of indicators are printed in a first direction; printing a second plurality of indicators on the recordable medium, wherein the second plurality of indicators are printed in a second direction opposite the first direction; and determining an optimum print direction from the printed indicators; and setting in the printer the optimum print direction for unidirectional printing.

Methods for determining unidirectional print direction for improved print quality

Methods for determining unidirectional print direction for improved quality

A method that provides printhead swath height measurement and compensation includes the steps of establishing a nominal printhead swath height to be associated with printheads of a particular type; printing a swath using a first printhead of the particular type; measuring a printhead swath height of the first printhead; determining a difference between the measured printhead swath height of the first printhead and the nominal printhead swath height; generating a printhead swath height correction value based on the difference; and storing the printhead swath height correction value in a printhead memory associated with the first printhead.

Printhead swath height measurement and compensation for ink jet printing

A paper or transparency receiving toner to be fixed by heat has an ionomeric resin on its outer surface. For universal application, the outer layer is a blend of non-ionomeric resin, such as styrene acrylate copolymer, and an ionomer, which permits the material of the toner to molecularly intermingle with the blend during heat fixing. Irradiation raises the melting point of the ionomeric resin to prevent delamination. The resulting printing is strongly bonded to the substrate and is of excellent quality.

Heat fixing paper or sheet

A printer (1) and portable stations (2 and 3) when located side-by-side form a guide (1a, 2a, and 3a) for paper sheets sent out by printer 1. The paper is moved upward into U-shaped guide 1a by pinch rollers (6 and 7) and then moved laterally by pinch rollers (8 and 9) in guide 1a. Similar rollers are in guides 2a and 3a to direct the paper to the selected station and then downward.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Stephen Todd Olson