Abstract: An ink jet printhead assembly for ink jet printing apparatus and a method for the manufacture thereof. The piezoelectrically operable ink jet printhead assembly has two arrays of driving channels aligned with a single orifice array in which each orifice connects through a fluid channel to a single driving channel.

Abstract: A nozzle plate free from stray fly and defective jetting is achieved by a method which has a first step of putting a photosensitive resin film 5 in pressure contact with a back surface of a nozzle plate 1. A part of the photosensitive resin film 5 is caused to step into a nozzle 4 by controlling the viscosity thereof by changing temperature. Then, the thus processed photosensitive resin film 5 is hardened by injecting ultraviolet rays thereto. Next, a front surface 2 of the nozzle plate 1 is subjected to a eutectoid plating 6 process. By regulating a step coverage d of a part of the eutectoid plating 6 into the nozzle 4 by the hardened photosensitive resin film 5, a-nozzle plate having consistent nozzles, each being free from stray fly and defective jetting can be formed.

Abstract: A printhead having reduced spray includes orifi from which ink is expelled by an ink ejector. The orifi employ an aperture at the outer surface of the orifice plate having two orthogonal dimensions with one dimension having a greater magnitude than the other. The aperture is further defined by two non-intersecting edges spaced apart at one point by a distance of the smaller of the two dimensions and spaced apart at all other points by a distance greater than the smaller dimension such that the orifi are hourglass shaped.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method prints an image on a printing medium by ejecting ink and printabilty improvement liquid containing a substance for improving printablity of the ink to the printing medium. At this time, ejection of the ink and ejection of the printability improvement liquid onto the printing medium are achieved such that the position where the printability improvement liquid is applied and the position where the ink is applied are different from each other, but partially overlap when the ejected printability improvement liquid comes into contact with the ejected ink on the printing medium.

Abstract: A method for producing a clear, vivid and water-fast printed image on a substrate. An ink is used which contains a sublimable dye diffusion thermal transfer coloring agent. The substrate includes a backing layer and an ink absorbent layer on the backing layer. The backing layer is designed to receive the coloring agent therein after sublimation of the coloring agent. The ink is initially delivered to the ink-absorbent layer. The substrate is then heated to cause sublimation of the coloring agent and diffusion of the sublimed coloring agent into the backing layer. Pressure may also be applied during the heating process. In addition, the ink can be retained within an ink cartridge in a printer unit, with the cartridge having at least one ink ejector. Heating of the substrate may then be accomplished by a heating member in the printer unit which contacts the substrate.

Abstract: A printing device according to the present invention assures stable mixing and ejecting operations without provision of complicated mechanisms such as valves. The printing device includes an ejecting nozzle with a first discharge opening and a metering nozzle with a, second discharge opening, which are provided separately from each other to feed two kinds of fluids through the first and second discharge openings, respectively. The two kinds of fluids are mixed together to form a fluid mixture to be ejected toward a recording medium. A minimum distance d between the first and second discharge openings of the metering and ejecting nozzles is in the range of 0.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.5.sqroot. (S1) where S1 stands for an opening area of the first discharge opening of the ejecting nozzle.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method capable of providing an image having a good quality is disclosed. In the ink jet recording method, a reaction solution and an ink composition are used to conduct printing on a recording medium. The reaction solution comprises a polyvalent metal salt, and an ink composition comprises a pigment and a resin emulsion.

Abstract: An optical information medium comprises an optically transparent substrate and a protective layer formed on the substrate for protecting a record portion so that information which is optically readable by means of a laser beam can be recorded. A hydrophilic film is formed at a side opposite to a side through which reproduction light of the optically transparent substrate is passed. The film has a hydrophilic surface on which an aqueous printing ink is fixable. Printing is possible on the hydrophilic surface by use of an ink jet printer. A method for printing on the hydrophilic surface is also described.

Abstract: A latent image is formed by applying a colorless liquid that makes colorants of ink insoluble to a predetermined area of a print material. The latent image is made visible by applying ink to only the predetermined area of the print material to cause reaction between the ink and the colorless liquid to make the colorants of the ink insoluble and thereby fix the colorants in the print material. Another method of making a latent image visible involves applying ink to the entire surface of the print material and washing the print material with water to remove unfixed ink.

Abstract: A communication apparatus having a recording device operable in a first recording mode for effecting a multi- or full-color recording in response to image signals received and a second recording mode for effecting monochromatic recording in accordance with image signals received; a discriminator for discriminating that the operation in one of the first and second recording modes becomes incapable, and a device for notifying a result of discrimination by said discriminating means to the image signal sending station which sends the image signals to be recorded.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for ink jet printing use a print head including a first nozzle group for discharging a first ink, a second nozzle group for discharging a second ink and a third nozzle group for discharging a printability improving solution. The third nozzle group is displaced between the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group. The first nozzle group discharges the first ink on the printing medium based on image data to form an image, the third nozzle group discharges the printability improving solution on the image formed on the printing medium by means of another step, and the second nozzle group discharges the second ink on the image formed on the printing medium. The printability improving solution has higher penetrability into the printing medium compared to the ink.The method and apparatus can attain a clear colored, high density image without color mixing, which has high water resistance on plain paper, with a low running cost.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an endless belt conveying a sheet and a drive roller and driven roller supporting the endless belt. A brake is provided for the driven roller and the drive roller is driven by a drive unit which is controlled so as to repeat driving status and stopping status thereof mutually and to make the brake work when the driving unit is at the stopping status.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing device capable of high-resolution reproduction of documentary images and ensuring satisfactory productivity. Specifically, the invention provides a printing device which ejects only ink or a printing device which mixes/ejects ink and diluent, both of which has at least the periphery of the nozzle member on the side upon which the nozzle opens its mouth made of polybenzimidazole or polyimide.

Abstract: An ink jet printing head that, based on the face shooter principle, contains a nozzle row arranged in the z-direction in the surface of a plate, allowing an ink jet to be ejected in the y-direction, a membrane plate arranged on a first chamber plate carrying the ink chambers, and paths for delivering and actuators for expelling ink from each chamber. The ink jet printing head also has a second chamber plate in a different level from the first chamber plate. The chambers of the second chamber plate are arranged offset in the x- and z-directions relative to the chambers of the first chamber plate. The overlap of chambers of neighboring levels becomes minimal as a result.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is described in which ink is prevented from spreading on paper by application of an electric field between an inkjet printhead and the paper.

Abstract: An anti-outgassing ink composition and method for using the same. The ink composition consists of an ink vehicle, a coloring agent, and an anti-outgassing additive. The additive prevents the outgassing of dissolved gases from the ink composition (e.g. in the form of gas bubbles) at temperatures generated within thermal printers (about 25-80.degree. C.). The additive accomplishes this goal by increasing the solubility of the gas in the ink composition. As a result, the continuous and uninterrupted flow of ink from the ink delivery system is achieved. A preferred additive consists of ethoxylated glycerol. The additive is used in an amount sufficient to control bubble formation. A typical ink composition will contain about 2-12% by weight additive. Use of the ink composition provides numerous benefits which are achieved without physical modifications to the printing hardware.

Abstract: A preheater is placed between a supply tray station and a print zone of an ink printer. Power to the preheater is varied so that the preheater is heated to a fist relatively high temperature during the time that the recording medium is advanced from the supply station to the print zone. When the recording medium enters the print zone, the medium is moved at a slower indexing speed, and the power to the preheater is reduced to a second level. The result is a more uniform application of preheat to the recording medium.

Abstract: A high-durability printhead and method for making the same. A substrate is provided which includes an ink ejector system and a barrier layer. An orifice plate having a bottom surface made of an elemental noble metal [e.g. gold, platinum, and/or palladium] is affixed to the barrier layer using an adhesive produced by combining a mercapto oxysilane polymer and a trialkoxy silane coupling agent. To accomplish affixation, a mercapto trialkoxy silane is applied to the bottom surface of the orifice plate, followed by treatment of the plate with water to yield the mercapto oxysilane polymer. The mercapto oxysilane polymer may also be formed before delivery to the plate. The coupling agent is then applied to the polymer, thereby producing the adhesive. The orifice plate is then attached to the barrier layer using this adhesive. As a result, a unique printhead is produced having improved structural integrity.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording head (10) includes a first head member (16a) in which a first nozzle (30) is formed, and a second head member (16b) in which a second nozzle (30) is formed. The first and second head members (16a,16b) are made of materials having different repellent characteristics against ink material. Even if the first and second nozzle have the same size, ink droplets ejected from the first and second nozzles (30) have respective diameters. This enables the ink-jet head (10) to eject ink droplets having various sizes to print a highly graded halftone image.

Abstract: An ink jet printing device is disclosed in which a bore providing a nozzle for the ejection of droplets of ink is closed by a pin to prevent ejection of ink. The pin is movable into a retracted position in which the pin is withdrawn from the bore to permit ejection of droplets of ink from an ink chamber in communication with said bore. The pin is connected to a piston movable within a chamber. A spring acts on the piston to urge the pin into the bore. Withdrawal of the pin from the bore is effected by pressure of ink acting, against the spring force, on the piston. Ink is supplied selectively under pressure to the ink chamber from an ink supply. Alternatively the piston may be moved by selective application of positive and negative gaseous pressure in the chamber.