Abstract: Since the large amount nozzle arrays are disposed at first columns and the small amount nozzle arrays are disposed at second columns on both sides of the shifting directions along the main scan direction, the deflection of the ink droplet caused by the first air flows is totally reduced.

Abstract: To drive an inkjet printhead having an array of printing elements, where the first and second printing elements which discharge relatively different amounts of ink are arranged on the same array in a predetermined direction, print data for the first or second printing element is serially inputted, the inputted print data is sequentially stored, the stored print data is latched, a selection signal indicative of which of the first or second printing element is to be driven is inputted, a driving signal indicative of a driving period is inputted, and respective printing elements are driven in accordance with the latched print data, the selection signal, and the driving signal. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the cost of the printhead having plural types of printing elements, which discharge relatively different amounts of ink, and possible to easily control driving of the printhead.

Abstract: A liquid ejection recording head for effecting recording by ejecting first liquid and second liquid which is a different kind of liquid through different ejection outlets, while bi-directionally scanning a recording material in a scanning direction includes a group of first ejection outlet arrays each of which has a plurality of ejection outlets at predetermined intervals arranged in a direction different from the scanning direction, wherein corresponding ejection outlets in the respective ejection arrays are aligned in the scanning direction; a group, disposed adjacent the group of the first ejection outlet arrays, of second ejection outlet arrays arranged in a manner similar to the first ejection outlet array group; wherein the first ejection outlet arrays include a first ejection outlet array for ejecting the first liquid and a second ejection outlet array for ejecting the second liquid; wherein the second ejection outlet arrays include a third ejection outlet array for ejecting the first liquid and a four

Abstract: A liquid discharge head substrate has improved protection performance of protective films for protecting heaters while effective bubble-forming regions are being secured. The protective films for protecting a plurality of heating elements provided on a substrate are formed using a platinum group element and are separately provided for the respective heating elements.

Abstract: To drive an inkjet printhead having an array of printing elements, where the first and second printing elements which discharge relatively different amounts of ink are arranged on the same array in a predetermined direction, print data for the first or second printing element is serially inputted, the inputted print data is sequentially stored, the stored print data is latched, a selection signal indicative of which of the first or second printing element is to be driven is inputted, a driving signal indicative of a driving period is inputted, and respective printing elements are driven in accordance with the latched print data, the selection signal, and the driving signal. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the cost of the printhead having plural types of printing elements, which discharge relatively different amounts of ink, and possible to easily control driving of the printhead.

Abstract: A base member for an ink jet head in which a heat accumulation layer, a heat generating member generating heat energy used to discharge ink, and protection film for protecting the heat generating member are formed in succession on a substrate, characterized in that the heat resistance value of a portion of the heat accumulation layer which is under the heat generating member is two times or greater and less than five times as great as the heat resistance value of a portion of the protection film which is on the heat generating member.

Abstract: A head is provided with a driving signal line having a driving terminal for receiving a driving signal sent from an apparatus to the head, and an identification terminal. The driving signal line is electrically connected to the identification terminal. With the use of the driving signal line and the identification terminal, the head is identified.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording head from which a small ink droplet and a large ink droplet can be discharged, a common liquid chamber is connected to discharge ports via ink flow paths and pressure chambers, and ink droplets are discharged from the discharge ports by utilizing thermal energy of heaters. Widths of the ink flow paths are narrower than widths of the pressure chambers so that the ink flow paths act as restriction portions. If it is assumed that a sectional area of the small liquid droplet ink flow path is SS, a sectional area of the small liquid droplet pressure chamber is SRS, a sectional area of the large liquid droplet ink flow path is SL and a sectional area of the large liquid droplet pressure chamber is SRL, a relationship SS/SRS<SL/SRL is established.

Abstract: With an ink-jet recording head comprising multiple nozzle rows, for discharging ink of different colors, arrayed in approximately a straight line in approximately the same direction as the transporting direction of a recording medium, the positioning spacing of the nozzle rows of each of the colors is set so as to be greater than the length of the nozzle rows for discharging ink of each of the colors. This prevents bleeding on the recording medium and mixing of colors on the recording head in cases of printing at high speeds with in-line type recording heads, in an arrangement with simple modifications.

Abstract: Since the large amount nozzle arrays are disposed at first columns and the small amount nozzle arrays are disposed at second columns on both sides of the shifting directions along the main scan direction, the deflection of the ink droplet caused by the first air flows is totally reduced.

Abstract: To drive an inkjet printhead having an array of printing elements, where the first and second printing elements which discharge relatively different amounts of ink are arranged on the same array in a predetermined direction, print data for the first or second printing element is serially inputted, the inputted print data is sequentially stored, the stored print data is latched, a selection signal indicative of which of the first or second printing element is to be driven is inputted, a driving signal indicative of a driving period is inputted, and respective printing elements are driven in accordance with the latched print data, the selection signal, and the driving signal. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the cost of the printhead having plural types of printing elements, which discharge relatively different amounts of ink, and possible to easily control driving of the printhead.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes a substrate provided with heat generating members for generating a bubble in ink on a surface of the substrate, a plurality of discharge ports for discharging the ink, the ports opposed to the surface of the substrate, and a plurality of ink flow passages communicating with the plurality of discharge ports to feed the ink. A plurality of the heat generating members is provided in each of the ink flow passages, and the discharge port is arranged on an extension line extending from a center of a pressure generating area composed of the plurality of heat generating members toward the surface of the substrate in a normal direction. Moreover, a distance dhc between centers of each of two heat generating members arranged most apart from each other among the plurality of heat generating members is set to be larger than a diameter do of an aperture of the discharge port.

Abstract: A method for producing an ink jet recording head having a plurality of recording element substrates each including a recording element for generating energy to be used for ink discharge and an electrode portion connected to the recording element, a wiring substrate provided with an electrode terminal to be electrically connected with the electrode portion of the plural recording element substrates and adapted to transmit an electrical pulse for ink discharge to the recording element, and an element substrate support member for supporting the plural recording element substrates, comprises a step of causing the plural recording element substrates to be supported on the element substrate support member, and a step of thereafter executing metal—metal bonding between the electrode portion of the plural recording element substrates and the electrode terminal of the wiring substrate.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head is provided with one heat generating member in each of ink flow paths, and the discharge port thereof is arranged on the extended line extending in the normal direction from the center of the main surface of the heat generating member to the surface of the substrate. Then, on the surface of the substrate, non-bubbling area is provided on the center within the projected area having the discharge port projected thereon. Bubble brought to the boil by the heat generating member pushes out ink from the discharge port by the pressure exerted by the bubble, while being communicated with the outside. With the structure thus arranged, it is made possible to enhance the precision of discharge direction of the liquid droplet discharged from the discharge port.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head that is capable of avoiding damages due to cavitation of an electrothermal converting element and thus extending its life is provided. The ink jet recording head comprises a plurality of ink discharge ports for discharging ink; a plurality of electrothermal converting elements provided to be associated with each of the ink discharge ports, respectively, for bubbling and discharging the ink; a plurality of pressure chambers for containing the electrothermal converting elements and providing spaces for heating and bubbling the ink; a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to the plurality of pressure chambers; and a plurality of ink flow paths for communicating the pressure chambers with the common liquid chamber. The ink flow paths are arranged such that central lines in a direction of ink supply to the pressure chambers are positioned offset from central lines of the electrothermal converting elements in the same direction.

Abstract: An ink jet head according to the present invention comprises multiple discharge ports for discharging ink, multiple ink flow paths for communicating with the discharge ports, and heat generating elements for generating bubble in ink filling the ink flow paths. Two heat generating elements are arranged in each ink flow path, and the discharge ports are arranged along a line that is extended, from the center of a pressure generation region formed by the two heat generating elements, in the normal direction relative to the surface of the substrate. The pitch for the arrangement of the heat generating elements is equal to or greater than 600 dpi, and the interval dhn between a partition wall defining the ink flow path and the heat generating element adjacent to the partition wall is equal to or smaller than 4 &mgr;m.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording head according to the present invention in which a small ink droplet and a large ink droplet can be discharged, a common liquid chamber is connected to discharge ports via ink flow paths and pressure chambers, and ink droplets are discharged from the discharge ports by utilizing thermal energy of heaters. Widths of the ink flow paths are narrower than widths of the pressure chambers so that the ink flow paths act as restriction portions. When it is assumed that a sectional area of the small liquid droplet ink flow path is SS, a sectional area of the small liquid droplet pressure chamber is SRS, a sectional area of the large liquid droplet ink flow path is SL and a sectional area of the large liquid droplet pressure chamber is SRL, a relationship SS/SRS<SL/SRL is established. According to the present invention, with this arrangement, even in the nozzle for discharging the small ink droplet, loss is reduced and energy efficiency can be enhanced.

Abstract: A liquid ejection method includes a step of preparing a liquid ejection head including an electrothermal transducer element for generating thermal energy contributable to ejection of liquid, an ejection outlet for ejecting the liquid, the ejection outlet being provided at a position opposed to the electrothermal transducer element, and a liquid flow path in fluid communication with the ejection outlet to supply the liquid to the ejection outlet and having the electrothermal transducer element on its bottom side; and a step of applying the thermal energy to the liquid to cause the liquid to undergo a change of state and thus to create a bubble. The liquid is ejected through the ejection outlet by the pressure of the bubble. The bubble is first in communication with ambience during reduction of the volume of the bubble after the bubble reaches a maximum volume.

Abstract: A head is provided with a driving signal line having a driving terminal for receiving a driving signal sent from an apparatus to the head, and an identification terminal. The driving signal line is electrically connected to the identification terminal. With the use of the driving signal line and the identification terminal, the head is identified.

Abstract: A liquid ejection recording head includes a plurality of arrays of ejection outlets for ejecting the same liquid; common chambers, provided for respective arrays of the ejection outlets, for supplying the liquid to the arrays of the ejection outlets, respectively; a liquid inlet for receiving the liquid from outside of the liquid recording head; a common passage in fluid communication with the liquid inlet; and branched passages branched from the common passage and in fluid communication with the common chambers, respectively, wherein the branched passages have liquid supply properties which are equivalent to each other.