A liquid ejection device includes: an ejecting unit configured to eject a liquid from a nozzle in a first direction; and a light source unit configured to emit light in a first optical path and a second optical path which are arranged such that the first optical path and the second optical path intersect on an extension line in the first direction from the nozzle. With the liquid ejection device having such a configuration, it becomes easy to eject the liquid at a position having a preferable interval with respect to an object.

A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head having an array of nozzles each configured to eject liquid, a storage, and a controller. The storage stores first data including distribution patterns and causes of an ejection failure and second data including causes of an ejection failure and maintenance manners. In a case where the nozzles include a failure nozzle, the controller determines a cause of a currently-occurring ejection failure based on the first data, perform maintenance in a first maintenance manner associated with the cause based on the second data. In a case where the currently-occurring ejection failure due to the cause has been recovered a predetermined number of times by maintenance in the first maintenance manner, the controller is configured to change the first maintenance manner associated with the cause to a second maintenance manner in the second data.

A printing apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a printing medium, a platen that includes a first support surface supporting the printing medium, a light-emitting unit configured to emit detection light toward a transport path of the printing medium, and a light-receiving unit provided adjacently to the light-emitting unit and configured to detect reflected light of the detection light, wherein a recessed portion is provided in the platen, the recessed portion including a primary reflection surface receiving the detection light and a secondary reflection surface receiving the detection light reflected by the primary reflection surface, and the first support surface and the secondary reflection surface overlap in an optical axis direction of the detection light.

A printing apparatus includes a transport unit configured to transport a printing medium, a platen that includes a first support surface supporting the printing medium, a light-emitting unit configured to emit detection light toward a transport path of the printing medium, and a light-receiving unit provided adjacently to the light-emitting unit and configured to detect reflected light of the detection light, wherein a recessed portion is provided in the platen, the recessed portion including a primary reflection surface receiving the detection light and a secondary reflection surface receiving the detection light reflected by the primary reflection surface, and the first support surface and the secondary reflection surface overlap in an optical axis direction of the detection light.

A method of operating a printer identifies image areas and image features in ink image content data that are likely to produce ink blur within an ink image. The ink image content data for these areas and features is modified to attenuate the appearance of ink blur. The image areas identified as being likely to produce ink blur are the trailing edge and the side edges of the ink image content data. The modification of the ink image content data for the features and predetermined areas improves the quality of the printed ink image.

A method of operating a printer identifies image areas and image features in ink image content data that are likely to produce ink blur within an ink image. The ink image content data for these areas and features is modified to attenuate the appearance of ink blur. The image areas identified as being likely to produce ink blur are the trailing edge and the side edges of the ink image content data. The modification of the ink image content data for the features and predetermined areas improves the quality of the printed ink image.

Provided is a recording medium having a test pattern recorded thereon, the test pattern being used for acquiring a landing deviation amount of a recording apparatus including a discharge unit configured to discharge a transparent ink, wherein when light is radiated to be incident on a surface of the recording medium at an incident angle of 45 degrees, and lightness of reflected light from the test pattern recorded with the transparent ink and lightness of reflected light from the recording medium are measured, with each of the lightness being measured at a position perpendicular to the surface, a difference in lightness between the reflected light from the test pattern and the reflected light from the recording medium is equal to or greater than a value predetermined, based on a type of the recording medium.

An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a gas cushion substrate support; a print assembly comprising a dispenser with an ejection surface facing the gas cushion substrate support; and a proximity sensor disposed in a surface of the gas cushion substrate support facing the ejection surface. A method is described that includes disposing a workpiece on a gas cushion support of an inkjet printer; supporting the workpiece on a gas cushion above a surface of the gas cushion support; detecting a distance of the workpiece from the surface of the gas cushion support; determining a difference between the distance and a target distance; comparing the difference to a tolerance; and adjusting the distance of the workpiece from the surface of the gas cushion support based on the comparison.

An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a gas cushion substrate support; a print assembly comprising a dispenser with an ejection surface facing the gas cushion substrate support; and a proximity sensor disposed in a surface of the gas cushion substrate support facing the ejection surface. A method is described that includes disposing a workpiece on a gas cushion support of an inkjet printer; supporting the workpiece on a gas cushion above a surface of the gas cushion support; detecting a distance of the workpiece from the surface of the gas cushion support; determining a difference between the distance and a target distance; comparing the difference to a tolerance; and adjusting the distance of the workpiece from the surface of the gas cushion support based on the comparison.

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.