A printing apparatus includes a body, a print head, a mover, a stand and a sensor. The body has an opening that faces a printing target during printing. The print head is provided in the body and performs the printing on the printing target. The mover is provided in the body and moves the print head to a first position and a second position. The first position corresponds to the opening, and the second position is different from the first position. The stand is detachable from the body. The sensor at least senses that a distance between the body and the stand is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance. The mover moves the print head from the second position to the first position in response to the sensor sensing that the distance between the body and the stand is equal to or shorter than the predetermined distance.

A printing apparatus includes a body, a print head, a mover, a stand and a sensor. The body has an opening that faces a printing target during printing. The print head is provided in the body and performs the printing on the printing target. The mover is provided in the body and moves the print head to a first position and a second position. The first position corresponds to the opening, and the second position is different from the first position. The stand is detachable from the body. The sensor at least senses that a distance between the body and the stand is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance. The mover moves the print head from the second position to the first position in response to the sensor sensing that the distance between the body and the stand is equal to or shorter than the predetermined distance.

Provided is an ink jet printing method including: subjecting a printing medium to corona discharge treatment; and applying an ink containing an anionic pigment to a surface of the printing medium subjected to the corona discharge treatment, wherein the corona discharge treatment has a discharge quantity of 3,400 W.Math.min/m.sup.2 or more.

Provided is an ink jet printing method including: subjecting a printing medium to corona discharge treatment; and applying an ink containing an anionic pigment to a surface of the printing medium subjected to the corona discharge treatment, wherein the corona discharge treatment has a discharge quantity of 3,400 W.Math.min/m.sup.2 or more.

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate. The printer comprises a stepper motor having an output shaft coupled to the printhead, the stepper motor being arranged to vary the position of the printhead relative to a printing surface against which printing is carried out, and to control the pressure exerted by the printhead on the printing surface. The printer further comprises a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor. The printer further comprises a controller arranged to generate control signals for the stepper motor so as to cause a predetermined torque to be generated by the stepper motor; said control signals being at least partially based upon an output of said sensor.

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate. The printer comprises a stepper motor having an output shaft coupled to the printhead, the stepper motor being arranged to vary the position of the printhead relative to a printing surface against which printing is carried out, and to control the pressure exerted by the printhead on the printing surface. The printer further comprises a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor. The printer further comprises a controller arranged to generate control signals for the stepper motor so as to cause a predetermined torque to be generated by the stepper motor; said control signals being at least partially based upon an output of said sensor.

A method of operating a continuous inkjet printer (1). The printer comprise a printhead. The printhead comprises a droplet generator (16) comprising a printing nozzle (17) for ejecting an ink jet for printing, at least one electrode (22, 23) for steering the inkjet, and a gutter (18) having an ink receiving orifice (24) for receiving parts of the ink jet which are not used for printing. The method comprises performing a cleaning operation. Said cleaning operation comprises: ejecting a solvent jet from the printing nozzle towards the gutter; and causing at least a portion of the solvent jet to contact at least a part of the gutter (18) surrounding the orifice (24) for cleaning said part of the gutter surrounding the orifice.

A method of operating a continuous inkjet printer (1). The printer comprise a printhead. The printhead comprises a droplet generator (16) comprising a printing nozzle (17) for ejecting an ink jet for printing, at least one electrode (22, 23) for steering the inkjet, and a gutter (18) having an ink receiving orifice (24) for receiving parts of the ink jet which are not used for printing. The method comprises performing a cleaning operation. Said cleaning operation comprises: ejecting a solvent jet from the printing nozzle towards the gutter; and causing at least a portion of the solvent jet to contact at least a part of the gutter (18) surrounding the orifice (24) for cleaning said part of the gutter surrounding the orifice.

The current at a deflection electrode 23, 25 of an electrostatic deflection continuous inkjet printer 127 is monitored. If the current reaches a level higher than normal for a clean print head but below the current required to trigger an automatic shutdown, a warning is generated. The warning indicates that an automatic shutdown is likely to follow unless the print head is cleaned. This allows the operator to shut the printer down in a planned manner for cleaning. The warning may be provided at the printer 127 or it may be provided by an external system 121, 129 which allows personnel who are not at the printer to be alerted. The monitoring may be done by the printer or information about the deflection electrode current may be provided to an external system 121, 129 that performs the monitoring.

The current at a deflection electrode 23, 25 of an electrostatic deflection continuous inkjet printer 127 is monitored. If the current reaches a level higher than normal for a clean print head but below the current required to trigger an automatic shutdown, a warning is generated. The warning indicates that an automatic shutdown is likely to follow unless the print head is cleaned. This allows the operator to shut the printer down in a planned manner for cleaning. The warning may be provided at the printer 127 or it may be provided by an external system 121, 129 which allows personnel who are not at the printer to be alerted. The monitoring may be done by the printer or information about the deflection electrode current may be provided to an external system 121, 129 that performs the monitoring.