Abstract: A recording apparatus including an ink tank and a recording head having a flow path forming portion that has an ejection orifice plate having plural ink ejection orifices and a liquid chamber provided for each orifice to supply ink to the orifices, and an energy generating element for ejecting ink in the chamber. A surface layer of the flow path forming portion opposes to the outside of the plate. An opening is provided opposing to the orifices in the surface layer. An ink reservoir is provided between the plate and the opening. A circulation flow path communicating with the ink reservoir is provided. The area of the opening is larger than that of the orifice. Both ends of the circulation flow path are respectively connected to inlet and outlet portions connected to the circulation flow path. The inlet and outlet portions and liquid chamber are connected to the ink tank.

Abstract: A compact and highly reliable recording head enabling precise detection of temperature information for each nozzle and rapid as well as highly accurate detection of nozzles with a discharge defect can be achieved. An electrothermal transducing member is provided on a substrate to generate heat energy for discharging liquid from a discharge port. A temperature detecting circuit includes a temperature detecting element for measuring a temperature of the transducing member. The temperature detection circuit includes a constant current circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, and a switching element.

Abstract: A recording head includes electrothermal transducers associated with temperature sensing elements. A method for driving the recording head includes supplying driving energy to the electrothermal transducer, and evaluating a temperature change in a temperature fall interval, occurring after supplying of driving energy to the electrothermal transducer, based on temperature information acquired from the temperature sensing element. The method further includes changing a setting value of the driving energy supplied to the electrothermal transducer, determining an energy value for driving the electrothermal transducer based on the evaluated temperature change and an energy value supplied to the electrothermal conversion element, and recording data on a recording medium by driving the electrothermal transducer according to the determined energy value.

Abstract: A recording head includes electrothermal transducers associated with temperature sensing elements. A method for driving the recording head includes supplying driving energy to the electrothermal transducer, and evaluating a temperature change in a temperature fall interval, occurring after supplying of driving energy to the electrothermal transducer, based on temperature information acquired from the temperature sensing element. The method further includes changing a setting value of the driving energy supplied to the electrothermal transducer, determining an energy value for driving the electrothermal transducer based on the evaluated temperature change and an energy value supplied to the electrothermal conversion element, and recording data on a recording medium by driving the electrothermal transducer according to the determined energy value.

Abstract: In order to provide a compact and highly reliable recording head enabling precise detection of temperature information on each nozzle and rapid as well as highly accurate detection on nozzles with a discharge defect, a liquid discharge head including a liquid discharge head with a plurality of electrothermal transducing members provided on a substrate to generate heat energy for discharging liquid from a discharge port includes a temperature detecting element formed immediately under each of the plurality of electrothermal transducing members to sandwich insulating film and a temperature detecting circuit for detecting temperature information from each of the temperature detecting elements.

Abstract: A compact and highly reliable recording head enabling precise detection of temperature information for each nozzle and rapid as well as highly accurate detection of nozzles with a discharge defect can be achieved. An electrothermal transducing member is provided on a substrate to generate heat energy for discharging liquid from a discharge port. A temperature detecting circuit includes a temperature detecting element for measuring a temperature of the transducing member. The temperature detection circuit includes a constant current circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, and a switching element.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and ink discharge failure detection method capable of precisely detecting temperature information corresponding to each nozzle are provided. Temperatures of respective electrothermal transducers (heaters) are measured on the basis of outputs from a plurality of sensors corresponding to the respective heaters. The temperatures of the heaters at a predetermined timing during a printing operation are predicted on the basis of the temperature change profiles of the respective heaters that are generated by energizing the heaters. A plurality of thresholds corresponding to nozzle states are generated on the basis of the predicted temperatures and the driving conditions of an inkjet printhead, and it is controlled to execute temperature measurement at the predetermined timing. A temperature measured under the control is compared with the respective generated thresholds, and the nozzle state is identified on the basis of the comparison results.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording head that has a driving circuit performing driving by dividing a plurality of heaters into a plurality of blocks and supplying electric current on a block-by-block basis based on recording data; a constant current source applying a common bias current to each temperature sensor group obtained by dividing temperature sensors disposed in correspondence to each heater of a plurality of heaters into blocks; a voltage output circuit having a switching element that turns electric current supply to the temperature sensors of the selected temperature sensor group ON and OFF, and obtaining a voltage generated at both terminals of the selected temperature sensor by supplying an electric current to the temperature sensor; and an amplifier circuit amplifying the detection voltages.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and ink discharge failure detection method capable of precisely detecting temperature information corresponding to each nozzle are provided. Temperatures of respective electrothermal transducers (heaters) are measured on the basis of outputs from a plurality of sensors corresponding to the respective heaters. The temperatures of the heaters at a predetermined timing during a printing operation are predicted on the basis of the temperature change profiles of the respective heaters that are generated by energizing the heaters. A plurality of thresholds corresponding to nozzle states are generated on the basis of the predicted temperatures and the driving conditions of an inkjet printhead, and it is controlled to execute temperature measurement at the predetermined timing. A temperature measured under the control is compared with the respective generated thresholds, and the nozzle state is identified on the basis of the comparison results.

Abstract: A recording head is provided that detects temperature information corresponding to a plurality of electro-thermal transducers. The recording head includes a driving circuit that performs driving by dividing a plurality of heaters into a plurality of blocks and supplies electric current on a block-by-block basis based on recording data. A constant current source applies a common bias current to each temperature sensor group obtained by dividing temperature sensors disposed in correspondence to each heater of a plurality of heaters into blocks. A voltage output circuit is further included having a switching element turns an electric current supply to the temperature sensors of the selected temperature sensor group ON and OFF, and of which obtains a voltage generated at both terminals of the selected temperature sensor by supplying an electric current to the temperature sensor; and an amplifier circuit amplifying the detection voltages.

Abstract: In order to provide a compact and highly reliable recording head enabling precise detection of temperature information on each nozzle and rapid as well as highly accurate detection on nozzles with a discharge defect, a liquid discharge head including a liquid discharge head with a plurality of electrothermal transducing members provided on a substrate to generate heat energy for discharging liquid from a discharge port includes a temperature detecting element formed immediately under each of the plurality of electrothermal transducing members to sandwich insulating film and a temperature detecting circuit for detecting temperature information from each of the temperature detecting elements.

Abstract: A compact and highly reliable recording head enabling precise detection of temperature information for each nozzle and rapid as well as highly accurate detection of nozzles with a discharge defect can be achieved. A plurality of electrothermal transducing members is provided on a substrate to generate heat energy for discharging liquid from discharge ports. A temperature detecting element formed immediately under each electrothermal transducing member to sandwich an insulating film and a temperature detecting circuit for detecting temperature information from each temperature detecting element are also provided.

Abstract: An ink jet print head is provided which can print a high-quality image with no density variation-caused lines at high speed and which can be manufactured at low cost and with ease. For this purpose, the print head of this invention has a plurality of nozzle groups each having at least one nozzle array arranged in a predetermined array direction Y crossing a relative motion direction X. A distance in the relative motion direction between the nozzles in each nozzle group adjoining each other in the array direction Y is set almost equal to a distance in the relative motion direction between the nozzle groups adjoining each other in the array direction Y.

Abstract: A recording head includes electrothermal transducers associated with temperature sensing elements. A method for driving the recording head includes supplying driving energy to the electrothermal transducer, and evaluating a temperature change in a temperature fall interval, occurring after supplying of driving energy to the electrothermal transducer, based on temperature information acquired from the temperature sensing element. The method further includes changing a setting value of the driving energy supplied to the electrothermal transducer, determining an energy value for driving the electrothermal transducer based on the evaluated temperature change and an energy value supplied to the electrothermal conversion element, and recording data on a recording medium by driving the electrothermal transducer according to the determined energy value.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording head that discharges ink by applying thermal energy produced in response to driving a heater to ink, a change in temperature occurring when the heater is driven is measured by a temperature sensor disposed directly below the heater. A discharge state for each nozzle can be determined by determination as to whether an inflection point is present in a curve representing the change in temperature occurring after the driving for discharging ink.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and ink discharge failure detection method capable of precisely detecting temperature information corresponding to each nozzle are provided. Temperatures of respective electrothermal transducers (heaters) are measured on the basis of outputs from a plurality of sensors corresponding to the respective heaters. The temperatures of the heaters at a predetermined timing during a printing operation are predicted on the basis of the temperature change profiles of the respective heaters that are generated by energizing the heaters. A plurality of thresholds corresponding to nozzle states are generated on the basis of the predicted temperatures and the driving conditions of an inkjet printhead, and it is controlled to execute temperature measurement at the predetermined timing. A temperature measured under the control is compared with the respective generated thresholds, and the nozzle state is identified on the basis of the comparison results.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording head that has a driving circuit performing driving by dividing a plurality of heaters into a plurality of blocks and supplying electric current on a block-by-block basis based on recording data; a constant current source applying a common bias current to each temperature sensor group obtained by dividing temperature sensors disposed in correspondence to each heater of a plurality of heaters into blocks; a voltage output circuit having a switching element that turns electric current supply to the temperature sensors of the selected temperature sensor group ON and OFF, and obtaining a voltage generated at both terminals of the selected temperature sensor by supplying an electric current to the temperature sensor; and an amplifier circuit amplifying the detection voltages.

Abstract: In order to provide a compact and highly reliable recording head enabling precise detection of temperature information on each nozzle and rapid as well as highly accurate detection on nozzles with a discharge defect, a liquid discharge head including a liquid discharge head with a plurality of electrothermal transducing members provided on a substrate to generate heat energy for discharging liquid from a discharge port includes a temperature detecting element formed immediately under each of the plurality of electrothermal transducing members to sandwich insulating film and a temperature detecting circuit for detecting temperature information from each of the temperature detecting elements.

Abstract: This invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus of a low cost construction having a plurality of print head units arranged at equal intervals and capable of forming a high quality image at high speed. A plurality of print head units each having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles are arranged side by side in the scan direction. An ink volume applied to a unit area of a print medium by at least the print head unit situated most upstream in the scan direction is set greater than those applied by the other print head units.

Abstract: An ink jet print head is provided which can print a high-quality image with no density variation-caused lines at high speed and which can be manufactured at low cost and with ease. For this purpose, the print head of this invention has a plurality of nozzle groups each having at least one nozzle array arranged in a predetermined array direction Y crossing a relative motion direction X. A distance in the relative motion direction between the nozzles in each nozzle group adjoining each other in the array direction Y is set almost equal to a distance in the relative motion direction between the nozzle groups adjoining each other in the array direction Y.