Abstract: A packaging structure of the present invention is provided for an ink tank having an ink supply port and an atmosphere communicating port. It has a seal member for sealing the ink supply port, a seal member for sealing the atmosphere communicating port, and an integrated covering member for integrally covering the ink tank having at least these seal members. A partial breakage of the covering member leads to open the atmosphere communicating port at first. Thus, the combination of the packaging structure and the ink tank is constructed so as to open the atmosphere communicating port at first with reliability. It is functionally required at the time of pulling out the ink tank from the package and also at the time of physical distribution without causing an ink leakage, regardless of the shape of the ink tank.

Abstract: An output apparatus which produces the print output by saving in a first memory print data input via a two-way interface, and converting the print data into the print out information, comprising a second memory different from the first memory for saving the print data with a print ID number added which is input via the interface, a retrieving unit for retrieving corresponding print data of the second memory based on a print ID number input from the outside, and an output unit for outputting the retrieved print data converted into the print out information.

Abstract: A liquid jet recording method using thermal energy to eject liquid from a liquid passage through an ejection outlet, the liquid passage being provided with a heat generating resistor, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: S1≧S2/3, and S2≧S3/3 where S1 is an area of the heat generating resistor, and S2 is a projected area, onto a surface having the heat generating resistor, of the liquid passage between the ejection outlet and the heat generating resistor; wherein a bubble created by the heat generating resistor communicates with ambience when the liquid is ejected.

Abstract: A liquid storing container employable for an ink jet recording apparatus includes a housing, a storing area containing a porous ink absorbing member, a valve mechanism, a filter in contact with the porous member, and a stopper. The liquid storing container is detachably connected to an ink jet recording head, where the valve mechanism allows an outflow of ink to the ink jet head through the joint portion when connected to an ink feed pipe, and closes the joint portion when disconnected from the ink feed pipe.

Abstract: A liquid jet recording method includes applying thermal energy to liquid in a liquid passage to produce film boiling of the liquid to produce a bubble; permitting the bubble to communicate with ambience; wherein the liquid passage is not blocked in the communicating step.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus, used with an exchangeable ink jet cartridge having an ink jet head and an ink container, includes a cap, a sucking device and a controller. When the cap caps the ejection orifices of the recording head, the sucking device sucks ink from the ejection orifices. The controller controls the operation of the cap and sucking device. After a sucking operation is performed, the cap is held away from the ejection orifices for a predetermined duration of time; the capping and sucking operations are then repeated.

Abstract: A container for containing liquid to be ejected. The container includes a negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber for accommodating a negative pressure producing member. The negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber is provided with an air vent for fluid communication with ambience and a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid to a liquid ejecting head having ejection outlets. The container also includes a liquid containing chamber which is substantially hermetically sealed except for a fluid communication path through which the liquid containing chamber is in fluid communication with the negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber. A partition is provided for separating the negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber and the liquid containing chamber. The partition is provided with an ambience introduction path for introducing the ambience into the liquid containing chamber from the negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber.

Abstract: In a jet recording method, a recording material is placed in a path defined by a nozzle leading to an ejection outlet, and then heated by actuating a heater disposed within the nozzle to generate a bubble within the recording material, thus ejecting a droplet of the recording material out of the ejection outlet under the action of the bubble to be attached onto recording paper. As improvement, the recording material is pre-heated by actuating the heater before the heating for generating the bubble, and the generated bubble is caused to communicate with ambience. As a result, the ejection of the recording material droplet is stabilized without causing splash or mist.

Abstract: A recording head includes a liquid ejecting outlet, a liquid passage communicating with the ejection outlet, and a heat generating resistor for supplying heat to the liquid in a heat acting portion in the liquid to create a bubble in the liquid passage to eject the liquid through the ejection outlet. A cross-sectional area of the liquid passage increases from the heat acting zone toward the ejection outlet, and this improves performance while also improving head durability.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus has an ink container which has a plurality of defined chambers for containing ink and a detecting device which detects the residual ink quantity in the chambers. The detecting device has photosensors fixed in the recording apparatus which can detect the residual ink quantity in the chambers optically based on an amount of light passing through the chambers. As the ink container moves with a printhead carried by a carriage, the photosensors detect the residual ink quantities in the chambers one after another, whereby a simple detecting device for an ink container having multiple ink chambers can be provided.

Abstract: A facing surface of a clutch piston is previously moved to a position just before it abuts against an inner surface of a torque converter cover, or a position in which it extremely slightly abuts against the inner surface of the torque converter cover by outputting an initial engage pressure YMIN set in accordance with a vehicle speed and the like only for a predetermined time TMPS prior to the start of engagement of a lockup clutch. When the engagement of the lockup clutch is started, the engage pressure is gradually increased. When the engage pressure approaches a target pressure set in accordance with the target speed ratio, a feedback control of the engage pressure is carried out such that the actual speed ratio of the torque converter is converged to the target speed ratio. Thus, when the lockup clutch of the torque converter is brought into an engaged state, the responsiveness can be enhanced while preventing the generation of a shock.

Abstract: A liquid container for containing liquid includes a plurality of defined chambers, a liquid supply port for supplying the liquid from the container, the supply port being formed in one of the chambers, an air vent formed in the one of the chambers, and a porous liquid supply material only through which the chambers communicate.

Abstract: A liquid storing container, having a liquid feed portion for supplying liquid to a liquid injection recording apparatus, includes a rectangular receiving case for a porous member, and a filter that compresses the porous member. The liquid storing container provides for controlled feeding of liquid through a contact portion where the filter compresses the porous member, and a proper balance of air and liquid is achieved by symmetrical surfaces located within the receiving case.

Abstract: In a torque damper including damper springs accommodated in a channel defined around an outer periphery of a transmitting member with guide sheets sandwiched therebetween, notches are provided in an outer peripheral wall of the channel. Radially outward directed positioning claws on the guide sheets are engaged in the notches and urged axially by radially outward directed retaining claws on guide plates which are secured to a transmitting member to cover outer surfaces of the damper springs in the channel. Thus, the circumferential and axial movements of the guide sheets can be inhibited to prevent vibration of the guide sheets and wearing of the channel.

Abstract: An inexpensive ink feeding container which enables to adequately generate negative pressure and maintain it without any necessity for using a porous absorbing material, a spring or the like, and moreover, can adapt to an environment. The ink supply container includes an ink supply passage extending to a recording head section, a volume variable negative pressure regulating chamber which is disposed on the bottom of a box-like casing, is communicated with atmosphere and makes it possible to regulate a negative pressure corresponding to the feeding of ink, and an atmosphere communication hole disposed outside of the negative pressure regulating chamber and in the vicinity of the bottom.

Abstract: An ink container includes a cylindrical member having a closed end and an opposite open end; and a flexible member covering the open end of the cylindrical member to define an ink containing portion. The flexible member has a bottom portion and a bent portion that is movable along an internal surface of the cylindrical member with consumption of the ink therein, wherein the bottom portion is less easily deformable than the bent portion and movement of the bent portion is irreversible.

Abstract: A liquid storing container employable for an ink jet recording apparatus includes a housing, a porous ink absorbing member received in the housing, and a first filter coming in contact with the ink absorbing member. The liquid storing container is detachably connected to an ink jet recording head having a second filter disposed in a liquid flow path thereof. The liquid storing container is constructed such that the volume between the first filter and the second filter, a size of each filter, a condition for compressively receiving the ink absorbing member in the housing, and an inner structure of the liquid storing container satisfactorily coincide with predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A liquid storing container employable for an ink jet recording apparatus includes a housing, a porous ink absorbing member received in the housing, and a first filter coming in contact with the ink absorbing member. The liquid storing container is detachably connected to an ink jet recording head having a second filter disposed in a liquid flow path thereof. The liquid storing container is constructed such that the volume between the first filter and the second filter, a size of each filter, a condition for compressively receiving the ink absorbing member in the housing, and an inner structure of the liquid storing container satisfactorily coincide with predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording and correction method, in which a thermal transfer ink layer is placed in contact with a transfer-receiving medium and is heated by heat generating elements of a thermal head in a pattern corresponding to a recording signal, is improved by preheating the ink layer. The ink layer, which is characterized by a transfer initiation temperature, is preheated by the thermal head which is heated by a preheating means. When a region of the ink layer is then further heated by the heat generating elements, the temperature of that region has a maximum and a minimum both within a range extending from the transfer initiation temperature to about 40.degree. C. higher than the transfer initiation temperature. Since the maximum and minimum temperatures are within a suppressed temperature range, an erroneous image can be more easily peeled off the transfer-receiving medium.

Abstract: An ink container which contains ink to be supplied to a recording head comprises a housing constituting the outer housing of the ink container; a shiftable member arranged in the housing to contain ink and at the same time, being shiftable as the ink is consumed; and a guide member provided with an ink supply outlet to supply ink to a recording head from the inside of the shiftable member which contains the ink, and an ink guide outlet arranged at the end of the guide member which is extended to the end portion on the side opposite to the end side where the ink supply outlet is provided for guiding the ink from the inside of the shiftable member. With the structure thus arranged, it is intended to implement an ink container suitable for a small-sized ink jet printer or the like, which has a high application efficiency for a quality printing without any possibility of ink leakage irrespective of the posture in which it is used.