Abstract: An ink delivery system for an ink jet printing system having a printhead for ejecting droplets of ink, the printhead receiving ink at a controlled pressure, the controlled pressure having a specified pressure range that assures stable printhead operation which includes a replaceable ink supply removeably mounted in an ink supply station, and a controllable valve. The valve inlet is in fluid communication with the replaceable ink supply. An accumulator in fluid communication with the valve outlet and the printhead has a sensor coupled to the accumulator to sense the state of the accumulator. A controller electrically coupled to the sensor and electrically coupled to the controllable valve opens and closes the valve in response to the state of the accumulator.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording method is disclosed, which comprises the step of jetting a water-based ink on a recording sheet, the recording sheet comprising a support and provided thereon, an ink receiving layer containing a binder, an anionic fluorine-containing surfactant and a cationic fluorine-containing surfactant, wherein the content ratio of the anionic fluorine-containing surfactant to the cationic fluorine-containing surfactant is 1:10 to 10:1 in terms of mole ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ink jet printing process using an ink jet printing cloth wherein the ink-jet printing cloth is composed mainly of polyester fibers, wherein the cloth has a water content of 1 to 101%, and comprises polyester yarn having an average thickness of 20 to 100 deniers composed of polyester fibers having an average thickness of 1 to 10 deniers.

Abstract: A sealed ink jet assembly which is removable from an ink jet apparatus includes an ink jet head which has an ejection outlet found at a first surface of the ink jet head, an energy generating element for generating energy to eject ink through the ejection outlet, and an electric contact portion for supplying an electric signal from the ink jet apparatus to the energy generating element by mounting the electric contact portion to the ink jet apparatus. The electric contact portion is provided on the surface of the ink jet head which differs from the first surface, and an integral sealing member covers both the ink ejection outlet and the electric contact portion. The integral sealing member is removed when the assembly is mounted onto the ink jet apparatus.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus such as an ink jet type recording apparatus, there are provided a recording unit for performing a recording operation on a recording material in response to a recording signal, the recording unit having a power supply for supplying power to drive the same, and a feeding unit for automatically feeding the recording material to the recording unit. This feeding unit is detachably connected to the recording unit. The recording apparatus further comprises a power supply apparatus installed on the feeding unit, capable of supplying power to the recording unit under such a condition that the feeding unit is connected to the recording unit. The recording unit can be made compact and lightweight. The recording unit is solely operable as a portable recording unit.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet print head with an orifice plate for defining numerous of orifice apertures and numerous strain relief elements. Each strain relief element is a closed slit between abutting and separable portions of the plate, such that a stress applied to the plate across the strain relief element will tend to open the slot, or cause the edges to move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate, or otherwise provide a thin cross section that deforms more easily, thereby limiting strain in other portions of the plate.

Abstract: A process of forming an overcoat on a printed image to provide improved stability comprising:a) applying an image layer on a substrate using a liquid ink to form an imaged element;b) either charging the imaged element to a given polarity or applying a voltage across the surface of the element which is attracted to a conductive surface behind the element;c) applying colorless, charged particles to the element which causes them to be electrostatically attracted to the surface of the image layer; andd) heat-fusing the particles to obtain a protective overcoat over the entire surface of the image layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink passage having surface which has a film comprising a fine particle of an inorganic oxide having a hydrophilic group. The surface of the ink passage according to the present invention has a high hydrophilicity and can rapidly remove bubbles formed within the ink passage. The recording head according to the present invention need not conduct filling of a liquid in the course of transportation and can be transported in an empty state.

Abstract: During the recording where a liquid dye 22 supplied through a dye passage 27 is supplied to a vaporizing means 17 due to the capillarity of many small columns 21 within a vessel formed by coupling of a glass base 14 and a Teflon protection plate 290, the liquid dye in the vaporizing means is vaporized by irradiation of the laser beam L and the vaporized dye is transmitted to a photographic paper 50 passing a vaporization hole (aperture) 23 for the purpose of recording. The protection plate 290 has a critical surface tension against the liquid dye which is smaller than a surface tension of the liquid dye.Since the critical surface tension of the protection plate 290 is set smaller than a surface tension of the liquid dye, wettability of the liquid dye against the internal wall surface of the vaporizing hole 23 is low and the liquid dye left unvaporized at the vaporizing hole 17 at the time of recording is never deposited on the internal wall surface of the vaporizing hole.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ink-jet printing process using an ink-jet printing cloth wherein the ink-jet printing cloth is composed mainly of nylon fibers, wherein the cloth has a water content of 10 to 110%, and comprises nylon yarn having an average thickness of 20 to 100 deniers composed of nylon fibers having an average thickness of 1 to 10 deniers.

Abstract: A method and assembly varies the image density of ink from a plurality of ink jet nozzles to provide substantially uniform ink density. Electronically and automatically the electrical power consumption of an ink jet device having an electrical heater is measured (typically by measuring the current draw), and in response to that measurement, if necessary, pulse or voltage supplied to the heater or heaters of each of the ink jet devices is automatically adjusted. More electrical power is supplied if greater image density is required for a particular ink jet device, and less electrical power if lower image density is desired. During typical operation all pulse widths are reset to default settings, the signal received is calibrated, a pattern generator is signalled to provided test data, the present peak electrical current consumed by each nozzle heater is sampled, and the pulse width for each nozzle heater is set based upon the current sample.

Abstract: An ink container includes an ink discharging portion for discharging ink; an air vent; first liquid absorbing material for absorbing the ink therein; and a second ink absorbing material, disposed between the air vent and the first absorbing material, for absorbing the ink. The first and second absorbing materials at least partly contact each other.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer cartridge having a center reservoir chamber and two side reservoir chambers for holding inks of three different colors is provided with ink flow pathways of special configuration for connecting the reservoir chambers to exit ports at the print element. The ink flow pathways are provided with ridges extending along substantially their entire lengths so that air bubbles cannot completely block ink flow through the pathways. The ink flow pathways are disposed such that they have a vertical component of direction over their entire length and the pathways connecting the side reservoir chambers to exit ports include duct portions disposed at compound angles relative to the axes of the cartridge so that air bubbles, because of their buoyancy, will naturally tend to drift upwardly through the inclined ducts toward the reservoir chambers during normal usage, or drift toward the exit openings when the cartridge is inverted for priming.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet recording method record using different kinds of ink each having the same series color and a different density. The jet recording apparatus includes a converting unit for converting an input image density signal into an output image density signal, a binary unit for converting the output image density signal into binary data, an inverting unit for inverting the binary data, and a distributing unit for distributing the binary data inverted and binary data to be inverted to drive data for an ink discharge unit and drive data for another ink discharge unit. Density unevenness and texture which arise from an image process, particularly a binary process, can be prevented. Different kinds of ink, each of which has the same series color and a different density, are respectively scanned so as not to overlap on the same pixel.

Abstract: A system for ink jet printing of messages on articles being fed forward one after another in a predetermined path. A terminal includes a keyboard for entering message data representative of the messages. A controller interconnected with the terminal processes the message data received from the terminal and stores the message data for the messages. The controller has an output port for providing serial output data in a bit map format representative of the messages. A plurality of ink jet printheads are serially connected and positioned adjacent the path of the articles to print the messages on the articles in response to the serial output data. A single cable connects the output port of the controller to the first printhead for providing the output data to the first printhead. A separate cable interconnects each printhead to its next succeeding printhead for serially providing the data to the remaining printheads so that the printheads are connected in a daisy chain configuration.

Abstract: Nozzles in an ink jet printhead nozzle plate are laser formed into the nozzle plate at a spacing differing from that of the corresponding ink heating elements by a function of the thermal expansion characteristics whereby heating of the nozzle plate to activate a heat set adhesive for securing the nozzle plate to the heating element substrate expands the nozzle plate thereby aligning the nozzle axes with the corresponding heating elements.

Abstract: A apparatus for removing air from an ink-jet print cartridge by collecting the air in a predetermined area and drawing off the air from the air collection area using a conduit. The conduit is mounted within the housing of the ink jet print cartridge wherein a plenum is coupled with the air collection area.

Abstract: A three-color ink-jet cartridge has a conduit connecting an ink reservoir to a print head orifice. The conduit includes a standpipe which has a pair of internal longitudinal grooves to permit ink to flow past a trapped bubble in the standpipe thereby preventing ink leakage through the orifices when pressure changes cause the trapped bubble to expand. The conduit also includes a tube from the standpipe to the print head. Disposed longitudinally along the tube is a rib which enables capillary flow of ink around a bubble in the tube to prevent depriming of the print head.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic ink is formed by a dispersion of ferromagnetic particles mixed with an ink base. Drops of the ink are ejected from an inkjet printhead to print characters or markings onto a print media sheet. To resist clogging printhead nozzles, the dispersed ferromagnetic particles have an average diameter equal to or less than approximately 1/10 of the average nozzle diameter. A magnetic field is applied to the ejected ink drops during printing to direct, or more specifically bias, the ink drops toward the print media. The magnetic "biasing" force aids in maintaining drop shape along the ejection path, and in reducing bounce. As a result, edge roughness and spray are decreased so as to improve print quality. In alternative embodiments, the magnetic field source is formed by a permanent magnet or electromagnet. Such a field source is integral to or adjacent to a printer platen. The field source is located adjacent to the printhead and in several embodiments extends along the scan path of the printhead.

Abstract: An office machine having a pair of printers includes a machine frame and a first printer mounted on the frame. A sheet transport assembly is mounted on the frame for moving sheets past the first printer along a sheet path. A second printer includes a printer cartridge having a cartridge frame and a thermal ink jet print head secured to the cartridge frame. An ink supply container is selectively secured to the cartridge frame so that it communicates with the ink jet print head. The ink supply container can be selectively removed from the cartridge frame. A carriage is mounted on the office machine frame so that the carriage can move in relation to the sheet path. The printer cartridge is removably mounted on the carriage. The carriage enables the printer cartridge to be selectively brought to a desired location in relation to the sheet path to allow the printer cartridge to print on a sheet travelling therepast.