Abstract: Disclosed is an innovative, compact and light liquid flow path opening/closing device that is simply structured, that can be appropriately employed for controlling the flow of ink along the ink path of an ink-jet printer, and that operationally is reliable. According to the present invention, an electromagnetic driven liquid flow path opening/closing device comprises a highly permeable drive shaft, a spring for impelling the drive shaft in one direction, a bobbin case within which the drive shaft inside a cylindrical chamber is positioned, a coil wound around the outer face of the bobbin case, a pair of highly permeable cases in which the bobbin case around which the coil is wound is stored, and inlet and outlet joints, communicating with the cylindrical chamber of the bobbin case wherein the drive shaft is positioned, wherein the joints are opened by impelling the drive shaft to counter the urging force exerted by the spring.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid supply apparatus which is disposed in an ink outlet of a flexible ink storage bag, having no pressure for supplying an ink, or disposed midway in an ink supply path, for supplying the ink to an ink jet head, and which is small in size, little in power consumption and simple in mechanism. A liquid pressurizing supply apparatus is driven in response to an alternating or pulse electric signal, and comprises a high-permeability driving shaft, a spring for urging the driving shaft in one direction, a bobbin case in which the driving shaft is disposed in a cylindrical chamber, a winding coil wound around an outer peripheral surface of the bobbin case, a pair of high-permeability case members in which the bobbin case with the winding coil wound therearound is contained, and a containing recess portion is formed by a sheet metal drawing process, inlet and outlet joints connected to the cylindrical chamber of the bobbin case, and a ball check valve for preventing ink back-flow.

Abstract: In a print head which can be mounted in a printer and which has a first ejection portion to eject an ink and a second ejection portion to eject a print performance improving liquid to aggregate or make insoluble the ejected ink, the storage method effectively prevents the mixing of the ink and the print performance improving liquid if one or both of these liquids should leak before the print head is mounted in the printer. The seal member having an opening and adapted to seal the first and second ejection portions so that its opening is located between these ejection portions is removably bonded to the print head. This arrangement closes the ejection portions with the protective tape, preventing leakage of the ink and the print performance improving liquid.

Abstract: In a print head which can be mounted in a printer and which has a first ejection portion to eject an ink and a second ejection portion to eject a print performance improving liquid to aggregate or make insoluble the ejected ink, the storage method effectively prevents the mixing of the ink and the print performance improving liquid if one or both of these liquids should leak before the print head is mounted in the printer. The seal member having an opening and adapted to seal the first and second ejection portions so that its opening is located between these ejection portions is removably bonded to the print head. This arrangement closes the ejection portions with the protective tape, preventing leakage of the ink and the print performance improving liquid.

Abstract: Provided is an inexpensive vehicular communication apparatus capable of transferring image data containing a record of an accident to a safe, external location, the apparatus being usable in an ordinary automotive vehicle. The apparatus includes an image sensing device, a data storage device for storing image data that has been captured by the image sensing device, a sensor for sensing impact, a portable-terminal holding device in which a portable terminal is capable of being placed, and an operation controller which, if impact has been sensed by the sensor, is for notifying a prescribed party via the portable terminal unless the portable terminal is removed from the portable-terminal holding device within a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An ink consumption detection unit 60 includes the contact tape 84, whose one end is secured to the tank case 62 side and the other end to the flexible ink bag 68 side, and the contact electrode member 88 secured to the ink bag 68 side and placed in contact with the contact tape 84. As the ink in the ink bag 68 is consumed, the contact electrode member 88 is moved. When the contact electrode member 88 comes into contact with a plurality of contact electrodes 84EA, 84EB, 84EC representing ink consumptions in stages, the ink consumption detection unit 60 successively issues detection signals representing the ink consumptions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an innovative, compact and light liquid flow path opening/closing device that is simply structured, that can be appropriately employed for controlling the flow of ink along the ink path of an ink-jet printer, and that operationally is reliable. According to the present invention, an electromagnetic driven liquid flow path opening/closing device comprises a highly permeable drive shaft, a spring for impelling the drive shaft in one direction, a bobbin case within which the drive shaft inside a cylindrical chamber is positioned, a coil wound around the outer face of the bobbin case, a pair of highly permeable cases in which the bobbin case around which the coil is wound is stored, and inlet and outlet joints, communicating with the cylindrical chamber of the bobbin case wherein the drive shaft is positioned, wherein the joints are opened by impelling the drive shaft to counter the urging force exerted by the spring.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid supply apparatus which is disposed in an ink outlet of a flexible ink storage bag, having no pressure for supplying an ink, or disposed midway in an ink supply path, for supplying the ink to an ink jet head, and which is small in size, little in power consumption and simple in mechanism. A liquid pressurizing supply apparatus is driven in response to an alternating or pulse electric signal, and comprises a high-permeability driving shaft, a spring for urging the driving shaft in one direction, a bobbin case in which the driving shaft is disposed in a cylindrical chamber, a winding coil wound around an outer peripheral surface of the bobbin case, a pair of high-permeability case members in which the bobbin case with the winding coil wound therearound is contained, and a containing recess portion is formed by a sheet metal drawing process, inlet and outlet joints connected to the cylindrical chamber of the bobbin case, and a ball check valve for preventing ink back-flow.

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.