A method for detecting printing nozzle errors in an inkjet printing machine provides a high degree of robustness in the detection of errors by printing a nozzle test pattern in the inkjet printing machine. The test pattern is then digitalized by using a camera and transmitted to a computer for evaluation. There, the recorded test pattern is investigated by using methods of digital image processing, such as a Fourier analysis, and evaluated in the frequency range with regard to specific anticipated printing nozzle errors. Specific printing nozzle errors can be detected especially on the basis of amplitude, phase and variance errors in the signal in the frequency range. Moreover, by using the phase error, it is possible to evaluate whether the two print heads are disposed in an incorrect adjustment position relative to one another by calculating displacements of the phase error in transition regions of two print heads.

In a printing apparatus, an indefinite area in which slits are not formed is configured in a portion of a linear encoder scale in a rotation direction, and an adjustment unit, adjusts the timing of discharge from a printhead with respect to a first printing area out of a plurality of printing areas on a rotating member, without using a detection result of a first encoder sensor, based on a detection result of a second encoder sensor, the first encoder sensor being provided at a position corresponding to the indefinite area during a discharge of printing material with respect to the first printing, and the second encoder sensor being provided at a position that does not correspond to the indefinite area during the discharge of the printing material with respect to the first printing area.

A method is provided for printing onto a décor paper and/or foil that may be suitable for being used in decorative panels. The method may involve providing a printable substrate. A pattern may be printed on the printable substrate by ejecting droplets of ink by means of at least one inkjet printing head that may include one or more nozzles. After a first predetermined time period, the printing operation may be interrupted for a second predetermined time period and/or a controlling frequency of the printhead may be changed for a second predetermined time period.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image with a coloring material on a recording medium includes a region specifier that specifies a region that becomes a margin when the image is formed on the recording medium; and a pattern image generator that generates image data of a pattern image to be formed in the region based on a size of the region and a type of the coloring material.

A nozzle surface wiping device capable of using a plurality of types of wiping members in a state where discharge deterioration is suppressed regarding the respective wiping members is provided. In the nozzle surface wiping device that wipes a nozzle surface of a liquid discharge head with a wiping member to which a cleaning liquid is applied, information on cleaning liquid application conditions for applying respective saturated liquid amounts of the cleaning liquid to a plurality of types of wiping members, respectively, according to the types of the respective wiping members is held in advance. The type of a wiping member to be used for the wiping of the nozzle surface of the liquid discharge head is specified, and a saturated liquid amount of the cleaning liquid is applied to the wiping member according to the determined cleaning liquid application conditions corresponding to the type of the specified wiping member.

In an ink jet recording device in which a paper supporting part is constituted by a first support and a second support having a comb teeth structure, a region where paper is supported by only the first support is defined as a first region, a region where the paper is supported by only the second support is defined as a second region, and a region where the paper is supported by the first support and the second support is defined as a third region. Charts including a plurality of grayscales for the respective regions are drawn. The respective drawn charts are read by an image reader. Correction values of density unevenness are obtained for the respective regions on the basis of the reading results. Density data of an image are corrected for the respective regions on the basis of the correction values of the density unevenness for the respective regions.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharger, a discharge receptacle, and circuitry. The liquid discharger includes a nozzle configured to discharge liquid. The discharge receptacle is configured to receive the liquid discharged from the liquid discharger. The circuitry is configured to control a flushing operation of the liquid discharger. The circuitry is configured to cause the liquid discharger to perform flushing to the discharge receptacle and a sheet to which the liquid is applied, with a first flushing amount and a second flushing amount different from the first flushing amount, respectively.

A cleaning liquid supplying apparatus includes a first storage section, a pressure-accumulating second storage section, a plurality of cleaning liquid ejecting sections, a liquid sending section, a plurality of individual flow channel opening/closing sections, and a control section. The first storage section stores cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid ejecting sections are connected to the second storage section via a plurality of individual flow channels having upstream ends located at positions where the upstream ends are open to a liquid reservoir when a predetermined amount of the cleaning liquid is stored in the second storage section. The liquid sending section is provided midway along a first flow channel and sends the cleaning liquid in the first storage section to the second storage section. The individual flow channel opening/closing sections open/close the respective individual flow channels. The control section controls the liquid sending section so that a pressure in an air reservoir becomes a predetermined pressure.

A method for printing on sheets in an inkjet process using nozzles includes transporting the sheets on a drum. When the nozzles are actuated by a computer, banding defects are compensated for and the computer factors in or takes into consideration thermal properties of the drum as it actuates the nozzles.

Provided is a maintenance device that performs maintenance of a recording head with a nozzle face on which an opening of a nozzle for ink discharge is provided. The maintenance device includes a scraper that scrapes ink that adheres to the nozzle face, and an ink receiver that receives ejected ink that is ejected through the nozzle and scraped ink that is scraped off by the scraper. The ink receiver includes a first face and a second face that are each inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. The ink receiver receives the ejected ink at least on the first face of the first face and the second face, and receives the scraped ink on the second face. A flowability of ink on the second face is greater than a flowability of ink on the second face.