An ink absorber includes: a plurality of ink absorbent bodies that are elongated and absorb waste liquid of an ink ejected from a liquid ejecting head; and an accommodating container that accommodates the plurality of ink absorbent bodies, in which the plurality of ink absorbent bodies are arranged such that a longitudinal direction thereof extends vertically. Occupancy of the plurality of ink absorbent bodies in a region in which the ink absorbent bodies are arranged in the accommodating container is desirably 50% or more and 99% or less when the ink absorbent bodies are dry.

A method for implementing a transistor using multiple integrated probe tips is provided. The method comprises the steps of (1) providing a sample; (2) providing a microscope probe comprising a plurality of probe tips; (3) contacting a first outer probe tip of the plurality of probe tips to the sample, wherein he first outer probe tip is configured to act as a source terminal for a transistor; (4) contacting a second outer probe tip of the plurality of probe tips to the sample, wherein the second outer probe tip is configured to act as a drain terminal for the transistor; (5) using an inner probe tip of the plurality of probe tips as a gate terminal for the transistor; and (6) characterizing the sample with the plurality of probe tips.

The present invention relates to a protection device for ink-jet printheads, comprising: a tank confining a cavity adapted to contain a humidifying liquid and having a mouth designed to be associated with at least one nozzle of an ink-jet printhead; a seal disposed around the mouth and suitable to be put sealingly in engagement against the printhead and around the nozzle; a mechanism integrated into the tank, for opening or closing the mouth for selectively bringing the mouth into fluid communication with the cavity.

An ink jet recording apparatus includes a cap, a control unit, and a recording unit having nozzle arrays each including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink in an image recording operation. The cap receives ink preliminarily ejected from the recording unit. The control unit controls an ejection operation to eject ink in response to receiving a recording command to cause an amount of ink ejected from a first nozzle group in a first preliminary ejection executed prior to the recording operation of the image to be smaller than an amount of ink ejected from a second nozzle group different from the first nozzle group in a second preliminary ejection executed prior to the recording operation of the image in a case where the recording command includes an instruction for recording the image by using the second nozzle group without using the first nozzle group among the plurality of nozzles.

A cap for a printhead device including a main body that includes a side wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the top wall and the bottom wall in a facing relation to one another so that a printhead device is held between the top and bottom walls, a vent seal disposed within an opening in the top wall, a nozzle plate seal disposed within an opening in the bottom wall, and a nozzle plate seal retainer that holds the nozzle plate seal within the opening in the bottom wall.

A printing system includes a print bar, a plurality of printheads installed on the print bar and an auxiliary printhead moveable parallel to the print bar. A number of first nozzles of the auxiliary printhead substitute for a number of second nozzles of the printheads during a nozzle servicing operation performed on the second nozzles.

A single pass inkjet printer that utilizes a modular printing system with one or more self-contained printing modules, where each printing module is easy to remove and replace from a large printing machine, thus resulting in an overall system that is easy to service and maintain Each module is a self-contained printer including an ink supply, printhead drive electronics, and printhead assembly in order to provide one color or fluid of inkjet printing capability. Each module includes a precise three-point compliant self-aligning mount system to obtain accurate printhead positioning, and a unique integrated printhead tending system that includes a compact movable vacuum knife for cleaning the printheads, and a printhead capping station for sealing and protecting the printheads from the ambient environment when not in use.

An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance part, a head unit, a distance changing part, three blocks and three pins. The distance changing part moves the head unit between a printing position where a printing operation is performed and a retreat position separated away from the conveyance part farther than the printing position. The three blocks are provided in one of the conveyance part and the head unit at intervals in the conveyance direction and a width direction crossing the conveyance direction. The three pins are provided in the other of the conveyance part and the head unit at positions facing the three blocks. Each of the three blocks has a positioning groove having a pair of inclined surfaces. The pins come into two-point contact with the inclined surfaces of the blocks in a state where the head unit is positioned in the printing position.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a carriage (1), a liquid discharge head (300, 300C, 300K, 300M, 300Y, 300S, 300W) having a discharge port (P1, P2), a first driver (92), and a second driver (93). The carriage is movable along at least one of a first axis (X) and a second axis (Y) intersecting the first axis. The liquid discharge head is held by the carriage and discharges a liquid from the discharge port toward an object (100) in a direction along a third axis (Z) intersecting the first axis and the second axis. The first driver moves the carriage along the third axis. The second driver moves the liquid discharge head along the third axis relative to the carriage.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a discharge head including a discharge surface formed with a plurality of discharge openings from which a liquid is discharged, a cap configured to be detachably attached to the discharge head and form a holding space for a cleaning liquid such that the cleaning liquid contacts the discharge surface, a supply portion configured to connect to the cap and to supply the cleaning liquid to the holding space, and an outlet portion configured to connect to the cap and to drain the cleaning liquid from the holding space. The supply portion is formed at a position facing the discharge surface. The outlet portion is formed at a position outside the supply portion in an inside-outside direction of the discharge surface.