Described is an assembly of a guiding structure and a print head carriage, the print head carriage comprising a base carriage controllably movable relative to the guiding structure along a first horizontal axis, the print head carriage comprising a sub-carriage controllably movable relative to the base carriage along a second horizontal axis. The print head carriage comprises an intermediate carriage controllably movable relative to the base carriage along a vertical axis, the sub-carriage mounted on the intermediate carriage for moving together with the intermediate carriage relative to the base carriage, the sub-carriage controllably movable relative to the intermediate carriage along the second horizontal axis.

A printing apparatus has an array of printing elements, a unit for conveying a print medium in a direction intersecting with the array direction, a unit for setting the conveying speed, a unit for adjusting a print position of the print head in the array direction, a unit for adjusting an inclination of a print position of the print head with respect to the conveying direction and for dividing the array of the printing elements into blocks and shift image data in the conveying direction in each divided block, and a unit for changing the division positions of the blocks to positions shifted by an equal amount in a direction opposite to the adjustment in the array direction. A printing control apparatus acquires a maximum concurrent drive number in the printing elements based on image data. The conveying speed is set based on the maximum concurrent drive number.

A printing apparatus has an array of printing elements, a unit for conveying a print medium in a direction intersecting with the array direction, a unit for setting the conveying speed, a unit for adjusting a print position of the print head in the array direction, a unit for adjusting an inclination of a print position of the print head with respect to the conveying direction and for dividing the array of the printing elements into blocks and shift image data in the conveying direction in each divided block, and a unit for changing the division positions of the blocks to positions shifted by an equal amount in a direction opposite to the adjustment in the array direction. A printing control apparatus acquires a maximum concurrent drive number in the printing elements based on image data. The conveying speed is set based on the maximum concurrent drive number.

Example methods for the maintenance of printheads are provided, the printheads comprising a reservoir containing a printing fluid with particles in suspension, and a nozzle plate. Example methods may comprise capping the nozzle plate of the printhead, and rotating the capped printhead. Example maintenance devices for printheads are also provided, comprising a support with a socket to attach a printhead to the support, a drive unit to rotate the support about a rotation axis, and a control unit connected to the drive unit to perform a predetermined rotation cycle.

Example methods for the maintenance of printheads are provided, the printheads comprising a reservoir containing a printing fluid with particles in suspension, and a nozzle plate. Example methods may comprise capping the nozzle plate of the printhead, and rotating the capped printhead. Example maintenance devices for printheads are also provided, comprising a support with a socket to attach a printhead to the support, a drive unit to rotate the support about a rotation axis, and a control unit connected to the drive unit to perform a predetermined rotation cycle.

Disclosed is a printing apparatus. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing apparatus includes a nozzle for ejecting ink, a driving device for moving the nozzle, an imaging device for capturing an image displaying an ink printing process, and an automatic positioning controller for automatically setting a position of the nozzle based on the image captured by the imaging device while moving the nozzle by means of the driving device.

An ink pressure modulation method is presented in a direct-to-shape printing system for applying images on the exterior of an axially symmetrical media object that has a contoured, varying exterior surface, such as occurs on curved wine bottles and sports equipment like bats. The method varies ink pressures based on the movement positions of each print head as they move over the surface of the media object. A movement-based formula is presented to allow for continuous updating of pressures in ink tank manifolds to allow independent changes in pressure to each inkjet print head during printing.

An inkjet print head assembly and a method of using the assembly is disclosed for applying images on the exterior of an axially symmetrical media object that has a varying exterior surface, such as occurs on curved wine bottles and sports equipment like bats. The printing assembly includes a backing plate, a pair of independently extendable extension columns, and a print head on a platform depending downward from said columns. The assembly is supported by the frame of the printer and a movable carriage moves the media object from a loading area into a printing area near the printing assemblies where the assemblies may apply ink to the exterior of the media object. Each print head is movable in 3-dimensions such that as the media object moves under each head the print head tilts to match to local slope of the contoured surface underneath the ink jetting nozzles.

An automatic transaction machine (ATM) prints on both sides of a document having a first side and a second side. A printer rotates about a printer axis allowing the printer to move between a first positon and a second position. A transport moves a document adjacent the printer in the first position. While in the first position the printer is configured to print on a first side of the document as the document passes the printer on the transport. A document spool with a spool axis receives the document from the transport and at least partially rotates the document so the first side of the document is facing toward the spool axis. The printer rotates about the printer axis to the second position to print on the second side of the document that is facing outward away from the spool axis.

An automatic transaction machine (ATM) prints on both sides of a document having a first side and a second side. A printer rotates about a printer axis allowing the printer to move between a first positon and a second position. A transport moves a document adjacent the printer in the first position. While in the first position the printer is configured to print on a first side of the document as the document passes the printer on the transport. A document spool with a spool axis receives the document from the transport and at least partially rotates the document so the first side of the document is facing toward the spool axis. The printer rotates about the printer axis to the second position to print on the second side of the document that is facing outward away from the spool axis.