Abstract: An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head, includes fibrous material; an ink discharge port for discharging the ink to the ink jet head; a portion for containing the fibrous material at least adjacent the ink discharge port; wherein the fibrous material is deformed within a degree of elasticity, forming a plurality of intersections in different directions, and contained in the containing portion.

Abstract: A method of printing using an ink or meltable ink layer which comprises dyes, pigments or other colorants. Bonding and/or crosslinking of the colorants is provided by the reaction between compounds selected from each of two chemical groups. The first group comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen. The second group comprises compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen after a conversion process. Either the first group or the second group is present in the ink, and an image is printed with the ink onto a substrate. The substrate comprises either the first or second group, as appropriate, to set up a later reaction with the ink. The reaction is delayed until the image is subsequently transferred to another substrate or is permanently fixed on the substrate, by the presence of protecting or blocking agents, which are removed by the application of heat or other energy.

Abstract: A printing process and apparatus are described which employ radiation curable inks and provide high resolution print at high speeds by a two-stage process where the image is formed on an intermediate substrate and then transferred to the print medium. This allows both sides of the printed image to be exposed to radiant energy and also allows the printed image to be exposed to both heat and radiant energy before transfer to the print medium.

Abstract: A printing apparatus (1) has an ink-jet printer (2), a medium tray (4) for conveying a medium (3) to be printed by the printer (2), a medium feeding mechanism (5), and a medium retrieving mechanism (6). The printer (2) has an ink-jet printing head (21) and a tray conveyance mechanism for reciprocating the medium tray (4) along a predetermined conveyance path traversing the printing position of the printing head (21). A medium tray (4) carrying an unprinted medium (3) is placed on the medium feeding side of the printer (2), the medium tray (4) is conveyed past the printing position of the printing head (21), and the medium thereon is printed. The medium tray (4) is discharged to a medium tray discharge section (24). After removal of the medium (3), the medium tray (4) is returned to its original position. The medium tray (4) carrying the media (3) is reciprocated for repeated printing of the media (3).

Abstract: A liquid droplet forming method is used with an apparatus that includes a liquid jet recording head having a plurality of blocks of thermal elements, each of which blocks includes a plurality of the thermal elements arranged on a substrate at a pitch of at least ten thermal elements per millimeter, with each thermal element ejecting a liquid droplet from the head upon application thereto of a drive signal pulse. Each drive signal pulse comprises a multi-part signal that includes a first part that pre-heats the liquid to an extent that a droplet is not ejected followed by a second part which heats the pre-heated liquid to an extent that a bubble is formed and a liquid droplet is ejected from the head. The plural blocks of thermal elements are driven in accordance with the generated drive signal pulses in a time-division manner such that no two blocks are driven simultaneously.

Abstract: An ink jet recording system for performing recording by scanning a carriage having an ink jet recording cartridge, at least a part of which is removably mounted to said carriage, scans a carriage along a path that has a waiting position wherein access to the cartridge is inhibited and has a replacement position wherein the removably mounted part of the cartridge can be easily accessed, and in response to a cartridge replacement signal, moves the carriage to the replacement position. When the cartridge has been replaced, the carriage is returned to the waiting position.

Abstract: In an ink-jet printing apparatus employing an ejection failure detecting construction for optically detecting the number of ink droplets interrupting a light path, when a power source for an apparatus is turned on, a home position is detected. A carriage is shifted from this point at a constant speed, and ink ejection is performed sequentially within zones P1 to P2 where a photosensor is present. Then, among variations of output of the photosensor by sequential ink ejection, the number of steps S of a motor up to a timing where the maximum output Vmax is output. In a subsequent process for detecting ejection failure, ejection is performed at this position.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing plural liquid jet recording heads, each head having a substrate with ejection energy generating elements corresponding to liquid passages and a liquid supply groove for supplying liquid to the liquid passages, by preparing a base member on which the ejection energy generating elements are disposed corresponding to the substrates, forming in the base member by dicing a groove common to the plural substrates, and cutting the base member into the substrates such that each of substrates has the liquid supply groove, and the liquid supply groove of each of the substrates is a portion of the common groove.

Abstract: A manual printing device for printing on a recording medium when scanned over the recording medium in a print direction, the manual printing device comprising: an ink tank filled with ink; a recording unit in formed with an ink ejection aperture in fluid connection with the ink tank, the recording unit ejecting ink supplied from the ink tank through the ink ejection aperture onto the recording medium; and a recovery unit for applying pressure to the ink in the ink tank to eject ink from the ink ejection aperture.