Abstract: A container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge is provided with the main body of a container for storing an ink jet cartridge having a recording head unit, and an ink tank unit containing ink to be supplied to the recording head unit, a lid element for covering the inlet and outlet of the main body of the container for storing or removing the ink jet cartridge, an elastic cap member provided in the main body of the container for covering the recording head unit. This container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge comprises a rib arranged on the inner wall surface of the lid element for exerting pressure on the recording head unit of the ink jet cartridge to press it to the elastic cap member; and a recess arranged on the inner wall surface of the main body of the container in a position corresponding to the location where the elastic cap member is arranged.

Abstract: A wiping mechanism for wiping an ink ejection side surface of an ink jet head for effecting recording by ejection of ink through ejection outlets includes a wiper for wiping the ejection side surface; and control mechanism for controlling operation of the wiper member in accordance with arrival of a carriage carrying the ink jet head and moving in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes: a piezoelectric vibrator including a piezoelectric element having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed each other, a first and a second electrode formed on the first and the second principal surface, and conductive protrusions made of a metal material or a ceramic material and formed by a thermal spraying process; and a holding body for holding the piezoelectric vibrator via the conductive protrusions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus comprising a sheet stacking means for stacking a plurality of sheets, a sheet supply means for feeding out the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, a separation means for separating the sheets one by one by abutting the sheets against the separation means to cause elastic angular change in the sheet thereby to ride the sheet over the separation means, and a guide means having a guide surface for guiding the sheet separated by the separation means toward a downstream side, and wherein the sheet stacking means is provided at its downstream end with a projection which protrudes toward downstream sides of the separation means and of the guide surface of the guide means.

Abstract: A container including a lid contains an ink jet cartridge, with the lid permitting removal of the cartridge when opened. The cartridge has a head portion with a discharge opening therein. The container includes an ink absorbing member spaced apart from and facing the discharge opening.

Abstract: In a serial recording apparatus having three recording modes, i.e., normal, high-quality, and high-speed recording modes, sheet feed control satisfying requirements in these modes is performed. More specifically, high-speed sheet feed control is performed in the normal or high-speed recording mode, and low-noise sheet feed control with improved precision is performed in the high-quality recording mode, although the speed is low. The apparatus can include a sheet feeder, a designator, a selector and a controller. The sheet feeder feeds a recording sheet relative to a recording head. The designator designates one of the recording modes. The selector selects one of a plurality of patterns for driving the sheet feeder in accordance with the designated recording mode. The controller controls a moving speed of the sheet feeder in accordance with the selected pattern for driving the sheet feeder.

Abstract: A container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge is provided with the main body of a container for storing an ink jet cartridge having a recording head unit, and an ink tank unit containing ink to be supplied to the recording head unit, a lid element for covering the inlet and outlet of the main body of the container for storing or removing the ink jet cartridge, an elastic cap member provided in the main body of the container for covering the recording head unit. This container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge comprises a rib arranged on the inner wall surface of the lid element for exerting pressure on the recording head unit of the ink jet cartridge to press it to the elastic cap member; and a recess arranged on the inner wall surface of the main body of the container in a position corresponding to the location where the elastic cap member is arranged.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus has a sheet supporting unit for supporting a plurality of sheets, a sheet supply device for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet supporting unit, and a separator which can be elastically flexed to change an inclination angle thereof when the separator is urged by a sheet fed out by the sheet supply device for separating the sheet which rides over the separator from the other sheets. The separator is disposed in an inclined condition so that a tip end of an abutment surface, against which the sheets are to be urged and over which the sheet rides, of the separator before flexed is inclined with respect to a normal plane perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction by a predetermined angle toward the sheet supporting unit.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus has a separation member which is elastically flexible to change an angle thereof when the separation member is urged by a sheet fed out by a sheet supply unit, thereby separating the sheet which rides over the separation member from the other sheets, and a load releasing device for removing a load from the separation member to permit the separation member to return to its original state after the sheet is separated by the separation member and a guide for guiding the sheet separated by the separation member in the state where the separated sheet is not contacted with the separation member.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a head for forming an image on a recording medium or for reading an image formed on a recording medium; a supporting member for holding the head; a first unit for electrical connection provided for the head; a second unit for electrical connection provided for the supporting member, which can be electrically connected to the first unit for electrical connection; and a member for deelectrifying static electricity, which is provided for the supporting member in the vicinity of the second unit for electrical connection. This deelectrifying member prevents static electricity from flowing into the signal lines provided for the second unit for electrical connection when the supporting member is actuated to hold the head.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus is provided having a pressure plate for supporting sheets on a sheet supporting surface, a pick-up roller for feeding out the sheets supported by the pressure plate, a plate member for separating the sheets fed out by the pick-up roller one by one, and a separation pad provided on the sheet supporting surface of the pressure plate opposite the pick-up roller. The separation pad protrudes from the sheet supporting surface toward the sheets to contact frictionally the lower surface of the bottom-most sheet supported by the pressure plate. The separation pad has an upper surface which is higher at a portion opposing the pick-up roller than a portion downstream thereof, in a sheet feeding direction, relative to the sheet supporting surface of the pressure plate, to urge an end of a sheet fed out by the pick-up roller toward the pressure plate.

Abstract: An ink refilling system includes an ink jet recording apparatus, in which a cartridge with an ink containing portion can be installed. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a driver for driving a conveyer for conveying a recording medium, and a first transmitter for transmitting the driving force from the driver out of the ink jet recording apparatus. Also provided is an ink filling apparatus for filling the ink into the cartridge, the ink filling apparatus including: an ink storing portion for storing the ink to be filled into the cartridge; a connector for injecting the ink from the ink storing portion to the cartridge; a pressure-feeding device for pressure-feeding the ink through the connector; and a second transmitter for transmitting the driving force to drive the pressure-feeding device. The driving force from the driver of the ink jet recording apparatus is transmitted to the pressure-feeding device through the first and second driving force transmitters.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a carriage for causing a recording head provided with discharge ports for discharging ink to travel by mounting the recording head on the carriage, a wiping member for wiping the discharge port surface of the recording head having the discharge ports arranged therefor, and holding means for rotatively holding the wiping member in the traveling direction of the carriage at the time of the discharge port surface being wiped by means of the wiping member. With this arrangement, ink adhering to the leading end of the wiping member is prevented from flying and spreading to stain the recording area of a recording material, thus keeping the quality of printed images thereon.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and an ink cartridge for use in this apparatus are disclosed. The recording apparatus has a transport unit for transporting the recording medium, a recording unit having a carriage portion on which a recording head capable of discharging an ink supplied from an ink containing portion to effect recording is mounted, and a recovery unit capable of restoring the function of discharging the ink through the discharge port. The transport unit, the recording unit and the recovery unit are independently separable from each other. Ink passages for communication between the ink containing portion and the recording head can be disconnected while being shut off in each unit. The ink cartridge has a casing, a plurality of ink containers disposed in the casing, and positioning members formed on the ink containers. The ink containers are positioned by engaging the positioning members with each other.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet supply apparatus with a sheet support for supporting sheets, a sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet support, and a separating unit against which the sheet fed by the sheet supply roller abuts to cause elastic angular displacement of the sheet and adapted to permit the separation of the sheet when the sheet rides over the separating unit. The separating unit is formed from a thin plated-shaped member which includes at least one aperture or one notch.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus according to the present invention has a pawl separator for separating sheets one by one by regulating the tip ends and upper surfaces of tip end portions of the sheets, which pawl separator can be retarded from a sheet regulating position when it is urged by the sheet with a predetermined force. With this arrangement, sheets having small resiliency such as plain sheets are separated one by one by successively riding over the pawl separator, and sheets having great resiliency such as post cards and envelopes urge the pawl separator to a retracted position to pass through the pawl separator and are separated one by one by of another separation.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having an image reading operation capable of performing image reading by an image reading device for converting image information into electrical signals, and an image recording operation by a recording device for forming an image onto a recording medium is disclosed. The recording apparatus comprises a mounting unit capable of mounting both the image reading device and the recording device, a sensor for sensing which one of the image reading device and the recording device is mounted on the mounting unit, a quality preserving section for preserving the image quality in the recording operation, and a controller for controlling the reading operation by the image reading device, the recording operation by the recording device, and the quality preserving operations. The controller disenables the quality preserving operations by the quality preserving section, when the result sensed by the sensor indicates that the image reading device is mounted on the mounting unit.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus includes a sheet supporting device for supporting sheets, a sheet supply for positively contacting the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device and for feeding out the sheet, a release mechanism for releasing contact between the sheet supply and the sheet, a separation device for separating the sheets fed by the sheet supply one by one, a pair of convey rotary devices for conveying the separated sheet, and a controller.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a vibrating body 3 and a moving body 11 supported by a supporting component 7. A rounded lower end of the supporting component is supported in a tapered dent of a supporting base 10, and therefore when a side pressure is applied, it inclines to the supporting base so as to keep the contact between the vibrating body and moving body stable. As a result, a stable motor rotation is always obtained regardless of side pressure. A lead wire 8 is held between a metal elastic element 1 and supporting component, and is pressed against the elastic element. Hence, the lead wire, through contact with the elastic element, is electrically coupled to the common electrode on the upper surface of a piezoelectric element without soldering and without use of conductive resin.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus, the size and the weight of the apparatus and the number of components are reduced, accumulated tolerance is reduced due to the decrease in the number of components, and the sheet feeding/discharging property, the conveying property, the adjustability of the distance between recording means and a sheet member, and the assembling capability of the apparatus are improved. The apparatus includes a first roller for conveying the sheet member toward a supporting surface, a second roller for grasping the sheet member together with the first roller, a third roller for discharging the sheet member from the supporting surface, and a fourth roller for grasping the sheet member together with the third roller. The apparatus also includes a first case including a carriage, the first roller and the third roller, and a second case including a platen, the second roller and the fourth roller.