An object of the present invention is to improve throughput of continuous printing in an image printing apparatus having a cutting device that needs to be returned to a standby position for a next cutting operation. One embodiment of the present invention is an image printing apparatus having a printing unit, a conveyance unit capable of conveying a printing medium in a conveyance direction or in a returning direction opposite to the conveyance direction; and a cutting unit provided at a cutting position on a downstream side in the conveyance direction of the printing unit and configured to cut the printing medium by moving in a first direction and return to a cutting standby position for a next cutting operation by moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

In a case where a predetermined sheet size is selected by a user from a plurality of sheet sizes displayed on a display, an image larger than the predetermined size is printed. In a case where a sheet size is input by the user in an input screen displayed on the display, an image having a size corresponding to the input sheet size is printed.

A printing apparatus includes a carriage that moves in a direction crossing the conveyance direction of a print sheet, and a sheet edge detection sensor disposed on the carriage and having an LED and a phototransistor. The printing apparatus adjusts at least one of an LED driving circuit and an amplification circuit such that an output from the amplification circuit when LED emits light to a predetermined position on the print sheet is at a predetermined level. Also, after this adjustment but before detection of a sheet edge by the sheet edge detection sensor, the printing apparatus controls an extra-printing amount by which printing extends off the sheet edge based on an output from the amplification circuit.

A method of printing on a printable medium is disclosed. The method of printing may use a print head having a plurality of nozzles. The printable medium may have a leading edge and a defined zone adjacent to the leading edge. The print head may deposit print agent onto the printable medium via the plurality of nozzles during successive printing passes. The method may comprise printing outside, and not within, the defined zone on the printable medium using a first subset of nozzles of the plurality of nozzles. The method may further comprise printing within, and not outside, the defined zone on the printable medium using a second subset of nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

An image forming apparatus includes an image reading portion, a reduction processing portion, a data processing portion, and a print processing portion. The image reading portion reads image data of a print target sheet. The reduction processing portion reduces external shape data included in the image data based on a predetermined ratio. The data processing portion executes a blank forming process to form a blank area in the print target data by using the external shape data that has been reduced by the reduction processing portion, and executes an obfuscation process to obfuscate a border of the print target area. The print processing portion causes the image forming portion to form an image on the print target sheet based on the print target data that has been subjected to the processes executed by the data processing portion.

A conveyance unit of an image printing apparatus includes a conveyance member configured to nip and convey the print medium and disposed upstream of the print head in the conveyance direction but does not include a conveyance member configured to nip and convey the print medium and disposed downstream of the print head in the conveyance direction. In a case where a trailing edge margin length indicated by the trailing edge margin information is shorter than a first length, a control unit of the image printing apparatus controls the print head and the conveyance unit such that at least one scan of the print head for printing the image is performed after a trailing edge of the print medium in the conveyance direction passes by the conveyance member disposed upstream of the print head.

An ink jet card printer includes a card transport and a print unit. The card transport includes a first belt, a first motor configured to drive the first belt to feed a card along a processing axis, a second belt, and a second motor configured to drive the second belt to feed a card along the processing axis. The print unit includes an ink jet print head and a gantry. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation simultaneously on a card supported in a print position on the first belt and on a card supported in a print position on the second belt. The gantry is configured to move the ink jet print head along a fast scan axis that is parallel to the processing axis and a slow scan axis that is perpendicular to the processing axis.

An ejection apparatus includes a platen for supporting a recording medium, an absorber provided in the platen for absorbing liquid, an ejection unit for ejecting a plurality of types of ink including a first liquid containing a component to be deposited when the first liquid is ejected onto the absorber, and a second liquid different from the first liquid for suppressing deposition of the first liquid, a detection unit for detecting a state of a predetermined region of the absorber, and a control unit for controlling the detection unit to detect the state, and controlling the ejection unit to eject the second liquid to the predetermined region based on a result of the detection. When the first liquid is ejected to the predetermined region, the second liquid is ejected to the predetermined region after the ejection of the first liquid is finished, without using the result of the detection.

This disclosure provides a solution to the problem of metal printing where the printer leaves an undesired “border” or “margin” around the edge, as the printer sensors detect the edge of the metal plate and stop printing before reaching the edge. The system and method disclosed herein comprises a metal plate removably associated with a carrier, where the carrier is larger than the metal plate such that the metal plate is positioned entirely within the perimeter of the carrier. The metal plate has a special receptive coating that allows ink from an inkjet printer to adhere to the metal plate without running. The carrier has an external coating that mimics the metal plate such that the sensors of the printer do not detect any “edge” of the metal plate and print over, onto the carrier. This creates a borderless final printed picture.

Described herein is a printing template for use during an aqueous inkjet printing process in which ink is transferred onto a printable layer. The printing template includes a printable layer having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a shaped perimeter, the first side defining a printable surface. The printing template further includes a carrier layer sized and configured to entirely encompass the shaped perimeter of the printable layer. The carrier layer includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes an adhesive coating causing the first side of the carrier layer securely associated with the second side of the printable layer during the printing process, and is thereafter allowing removal of the carrier layer from the printable layer after completion of the printing process. Further, a predefined number of parts in a desired shape are die cut through the printable layer up until the carrier layer.