Abstract: To propose an ink-jet recording apparatus having a small-sized compact driving mechanism for driving an ink suction pump, an elastic blade for wiping a recording head, and a locking arm for locking a carriage. An ink suction pump 8, a locking arm for locking a carriage, and an elastic blade for wiping a recording head are driven by a driving mechanism for common use. The driving mechanism transmits the torque of a single motor via a driving gear to the ink suction pump. Moreover, the driving mechanism also converts the rotary motion into the locking movement of the elastic blade via a rotary cam plate frictionally engaging with the driving gear and further converts the locking movement of the elastic blade to the locking movement of the locking arm. The ink-jet recording apparatus can be made small-sized and compact by driving each driven portion using the driving mechanism for common use.

Abstract: An ink jet printer capable of performing an appropriate initialization process when power is turned on again when a cleaning process is in progress when the power is suddenly interrupted by a power failure or disconnection of the power cord. The present invention comprises a maintenance unit for an ink jet head; a memory 103; a power interruption detector 105 for detecting interruption of power supply to the printer; a storage controller 100 for storing a current operating status of the maintenance unit to the memory 103 when the power interruption detector 105 detects interruption of the power supply; and an initialization controller 100 for reading the maintenance unit operating status stored to the memory 103 when printer power is turned on, and performing different initialization operations according to the operating status.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus with a carriage lock mechanism is provided with a timer for counting a waiting time at a home position when detecting the return of a carriage to the home position HP. When this waiting time has reached or exceeded a reference time, a carriage lock mechanism is driven to lock the carriage. A time (reference time) taken while the carriage is returned to the home position and is then locked can be set and/or changed to be an optimum time according to the configuration of use of the recording apparatus through a reference time setting part.

Abstract: A software management system for processing, maintaining improved reliability, a software delivered on a wide-area network. A center server 1 includes a script 12 describing the operation of the application 11, and a fault countermeasure means 13 for coping with the occurrence of a fault. A local server 3 includes a network-directed language execution environment 31, a remote management means 32 for downloading or deleting the application, a script interpretation means 33, and a highly reliable means 34 for recording event data that occur while the application is being executed, for managing the data when the fault has occurred, and for executing the restoration processing.

Abstract: An ink jet printer reliably prevents printing defects resulting from bubbles remaining in the ink path after ink priming. An ink suction mechanism of the ink jet printer performs a post-priming head recovery process for suctioning ink from the nozzles when an hour passes after the ink priming process. This process suctions a large volume of ink from the ink nozzles, and can thus reliably expel bubbles from the ink path. By performing this process at a sufficiently long specific period of time after ink priming, enough time has elapsed for bubbles that are formed by the ink path filter during ink priming and collect in offsets in the ink path to grow to a size where the bubbles protrude from the offset into the ink path. Bubbles that are thus freed into the ink path can therefore be reliably expelled from the nozzles. Printing defects resulting from bubbles left by ink priming can thus be reliably prevented.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus with a carriage lock mechanism is provided with a timer for counting a waiting time at a home position when detecting the return of a carriage to the home position HP. When this waiting time has reached or exceeded a reference time, a carriage lock mechanism is driven to lock the carriage. A time (reference time) taken while the carriage is returned to the home position and is then locked can be set and/or changed to be an optimum time according to the configuration of use of the recording apparatus through a reference time setting part.

Abstract: The invention features a method and apparatus for an ink jet recording apparatus in which a carriage lock is provided. When a return of the carriage to the home position HP is detected, the waiting time at the home position HP is counted. When this waiting time has reached a predetermined time, a carriage lock is engaged. When the carriage lock is engaged immediately after the carriage returns to the home position HP, the frequency of the carriage lock is reduced, thus enhancing its durability. Further, there is no need of disengaging the carriage lock at a restart of the printing, thus improving responsiveness at the restart of the printing.

Abstract: An ink jet printer reliably prevents printing defects resulting from bubbles remaining in the ink path after ink priming. An ink suction mechanism of the ink jet printer performs a post-priming head recovery process for suctioning ink from the nozzles when an hour passes after the ink priming process. This process suctions a large volume of ink from the ink nozzles, and can thus reliably expel bubbles from the ink path. By performing this process at a sufficiently long specific period of time after ink priming, enough time has elapsed for bubbles that are formed by the ink path filter during ink priming and collect in offsets in the ink path to grow to a size where the bubbles protrude from the offset into the ink path. Bubbles that are thus freed into the ink path can therefore be reliably expelled from the nozzles. Printing defects resulting from bubbles left by ink priming can thus be reliably prevented.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head has a first wiping member for wiping a nozzle surface of an ink-jet head and a second wiping member for wiping the first wiping member, and a lever driving mechanism for moving the first wiping member between a retracted position located away from the nozzle surface and a wiping position for wiping the nozzle surface. The second wiping member is formed of an elastic body and is arranged within a moving path of the first wiping member, so that it contacts with the first wiping member for only a limited period, whereby reducing in wear of these wiping members.

Abstract: To propose an ink-jet recording apparatus having a small-sized compact driving mechanism for driving an ink suction pump, an elastic blade for wiping a recording head, and a locking arm for locking a carriage. An ink suction pump 8, a locking arm for locking a carriage, and an elastic blade for wiping a recording head are driven by a driving mechanism for common use. The driving mechanism transmits the torque of a single motor via a driving gear to the ink suction pump. Moreover, the driving mechanism also converts the rotary motion into the locking movement of the elastic blade via a rotary cam plate frictionally engaging with the driving gear and further converts the locking movement of the elastic blade to the locking movement of the locking arm. The ink-jet recording apparatus can be made small-sized and compact by driving each driven portion using the driving mechanism for common use.

Abstract: An ink cartridge 2 with a waste ink absorbing function includes a division room 70 formed in the interior portion of a cartridge case 30 for storing a waste ink absorbing member 20, and a plastic film 60 forming at least part of the division room 70. By cutting or peeling off the plastic film 60, the waste ink absorbing member 20 stored within can be replaced, which simplifies the replacement of the waste ink absorbing member 20. After replacement, the plastic film 60 may be mounted onto the cartridge case 30. Use of the plastic film is economical when compared with a structure in which a plastic plate is mounted onto a cartridge case. Also, the ink cartridge 2 can be reduced in size and weight as a whole.

Abstract: The invention features a method and apparatus for an ink jet recording apparatus in which a carriage lock is provided. When a return of the carriage to the home position HP is detected, the waiting time at the home position HP is counted. When this waiting time has reached a predetermined time, a carriage lock is engaged. When the carriage lock is engaged immediately after the carriage returns to the home position HP, the frequency of the carriage lock is reduced, thus enhancing its durability. Further, there is no need of disengaging the carriage lock at a restart of the printing, thus improving responsiveness at the restart of the printing.

Abstract: An ink cartridge employable for an ink jet type recording apparatus includes a case (4) having a front plate (4a) with at least one position determining hole (4h/4g) formed therein. An ink bag (1) containing a supply of ink is received in the case (4) in a manner such that the position determining hole (4h/4g) allows the insertion of a position determining shaft (16/17) projecting from an inner end of a cartridge holder (90) through the position determining hole (4h/4g) to guide and properly locate the ink cartridge (80) relative to the cartridge holder (90) without establishing communication between the ink bag (1) and the position determining shaft (16/17).

Abstract: To propose an ink-jet recording apparatus having a small-sized compact driving mechanism for driving an ink suction pump, an elastic blade for wiping a recording head, and a locking arm for locking a carriage. An ink suction pump 8, a locking arm for locking a carriage, and an elastic blade for wiping a recording head are driven by a driving mechanism for common use. The driving mechanism transmits the torque of a single motor via a driving gear to the ink suction pump. Moreover, the driving mechanism also converts the rotary motion into the locking movement of the elastic blade via a rotary cam plate frictionally engaging with the driving gear and further converts the locking movement of the elastic blade to the locking movement of the locking arm. The ink-jet recording apparatus can be made small-sized and compact by driving each driven portion using the driving mechanism for common use.

Abstract: A pump 15 disposed in an ink-jet recording device has flexible tube 103 and guide member 106 whereon a prescribed part of the tube is mounted. Roller 105, of which there is at least one and which pressurizes and deforms tube 103, is supported by lever 107 such that it pressurizes the tube when it rotates in the forward direction and releases the pressure on the tube when it rotates in the reverse direction. This lever 107 is urged by spring 108 in the direction that presses the roller against the tube.

Abstract: A connection unit for an inkjet head whereby an ink supply passage is formed by bonding an inkjet head component to a case member such that ink ejection problems do not occur, ink does not leak, reliability is high, and manufacturing is simple. A bonding channel 218e encircling an ink supply opening 218h is provided between the bonding surfaces of the head component 210 and head case 218. Adhesive is then injected from an adhesive injection opening 218d to fill the bonding channel to an vent hole 218f.

Abstract: A pump 15 disposed in an ink-jet recording device has flexible tube 103 and guide member 106 whereon a prescribed part of the tube is mounted. Roller 105, of which there is at least one and which pressurizes and deforms tube 103, is supported by lever 107 such that it pressurizes the tube when it rotates in the forward direction and releases the pressure on the tube when it rotates in the reverse direction. This lever 107 is urged by spring 108 in the direction that presses the roller against the tube.

Abstract: To provide a highly reliable and easy-to-manufacture ink jet head connection unit, in which ink supply paths are formed by gluing a substrate on which head component is formed to other components, that is free of ink ejection failure and ink leakage. A head component and case component 240 equipped with opening 241 on the bottom of which supply port 257 for supplying ink to head component 210 and concave area 243 to be filled with an adhesive are formed, are provided. Space 248 to be filled with an adhesive for joining head component 210 and case component 240 when case component 240 and head component 210 are coupled, is formed inside the joined case.

Abstract: To provide a highly reliable and easy-to-manufacture ink jet head connection unit, in which ink supply paths are formed by gluing a substrate on which head component is formed to other components, that is free of ink ejection failure and ink leakage. A head component and case component 240 equipped with opening 241 on the bottom of which supply port 257 for supplying ink to head component 210 and concave area 243 to be filled with an adhesive are formed, are provided. Space 248 to be filled with an adhesive for joining head component 210 and case component 240 when case component 240 and head component 210 are coupled, is formed inside the joined case.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and printer whereby air bubbles in the ink supply path are easily expelled even where a stagnation point or flow boundary is formed within the ink jet recording apparatus in which air bubbles tend to collect inside the ink supply path. Even when the air bubbles are not completely expelled, occlusion of the ink supply path by an air bubble is also prevented. In particular, the ink jet recording apparatus includes a capillary member which defines plural capillary paths disposed within the ink supply path upstream of the stagnation point or flow boundary occurring at the connection of the recording head to ink supply tube. These capillary paths are separated a distance away from the flow boundary and included angled walls and cross sections to enable fractionation of larger, potentially ink occluding bubbles.