Abstract: An ink ejecting device includes ink channels intercommunicating with slits and air channels intercommunicating with another slits. The ink channels and the air channels have a narrow shape with a rectangular cross-section, and all of the ink channels are filled with ink and the air channels are filled with air. An LSI chip applies a voltage V to a pattern conducting to metal electrodes positioned in air channels located at both sides of an ink channel from which the ink is to be ejected and connects the other patterns connected to metal electrodes in other air channels not adjacent the ejecting ink channel and a pattern conducting to the metal electrodes of the non-ejecting ink channels to a ground line. Therefore, the ink ejecting device of the above structure requires no insulation between ink and electrodes as the working electrodes do not contact the ink.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are disclosed for aligning the operation of the ink jet printhead cartridges of a multiple printhead ink jet swath printer that includes a print carriage that is movable along a horizontal carriage scan axis, (b) first and second ink jet printhead cartridges supported by the movable carriage for printing onto a print media that is selectively movable along a vertical media scan axis, and (c) an optical sensor supported by the movable carriage.

Abstract: A recovery device is equipped with a tube pump which performs suction or pressurization by utilizing deformation of a tube applicable to a liquid jet recording apparatus. The recovery device comprises a mechanism which acts on a tube between the acting portion side acting on the discharge portion of the liquid jet recording head of the aforesaid tube pump and the aforesaid tube pump to effect communication and closing between the acting portion side and tube pump.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus having a flexible aperture electrode body, a toner carrier roller, a toner case, and an electrically conductive opposing electrode. The aperture electrode selectively allows toners supplied by the toner carrier roller to pass through the aperture. An image receiving sheet is backed by the opposing electrode, and the toner passing through the aperture electrode is attracted onto the sheet. The aperture electrode body has both ends fixed to an attachment member. The toner case provides a pair of ribs in contact with the aperture electrode body so as to increase tension thereto.

Abstract: An ink-ejecting device includes an actuator plate formed of piezoelectric material having ferroelectric properties, and a base plate formed of conductive material. After both plates are joined, plural grooves and partition walls for separating the grooves from one another are formed. First electrodes for applying a driving voltage are formed at respective size surfaces of the first grooves so as to extend from open portions of the grooves to middle portions thereof. The first electrodes are individually and independently connected to a controller. Further, second electrodes are formed on entire inner surfaces of respective second grooves, and all the second electrodes are connected to the controller through the base plate. According to an alternative embodiment, the ink-ejecting device further includes an intermediate plate formed of insulation material. After the three plates are joined, plural grooves and partition walls for separating the grooves from one another are formed.

Abstract: An ink jet head has an ink head main body that is constituted of a substrate, spacers that are formed on one side of the substrate, and a roof plate that is joined to the substrate through the spacers. One or more ink passages are independently formed between the substrate and the roof plate. Rows of piezoelectric devices, each of which is made of a plurality of piezoelectric devices aligned along each ink passage, are formed through the respective ink passages. Ac voltages whose phases are different from each other by 90 degrees are applied to the respective piezoelectric devices. Progressive waves, which are excited by the rows of piezoelectric devices, allow ink to move through the ink passage and to be sprayed.

Abstract: An ink ejecting apparatus is composed of a piezoelectric ceramics plate, a cover plate, and a nozzle plate. The piezoelectric ceramics plate is provided with a plurality of grooves. The cover plate is composed of a front plate and a rear plate. The rear plate is provided with a plurality of ink inlet holes and a manifold. The cover plate is bonded to the piezoelectric ceramics plate to define a plurality of ink chambers communicating with the manifold through the ink inlet holes and a plurality of air chambers that do not communicate with the manifold.

Abstract: An actuator is made from a piezoelectric ceramic substrate and an alumina ceramic substrate. The alumina ceramic substrate is made from a material with a dielectric constant that is lower than the piezoelectric material from which the piezoelectric ceramic substrate is made. Using a diamond cutter blade, the actuator is formed with channel groove portions cut in the piezoelectric ceramic substrate, and sloping groove portions and shallow groove portions cut in the alumina ceramic substrate. Metal electrodes are vapor deposited at the inner surface of the shallow groove portions, on the side walls and a portion of the floor of the sloping groove portions, and on the side walls of the channel groove portions. Ink is ejected by deforming the side walls at the channel groove portions, which are made the piezoelectric ceramic substrate. Because the capacitance of the sloping groove portions and the shallow groove portions is small, only a small amount of energy need be inputted to eject ink droplets.

Abstract: An actuator including a ceramic substrate and at least one piezeoelectric/electrostrictive element formed on the substrate is disclosed. The ceramic substrate includes a spacer plate having at least one window which provides at least one pressure chamber, each window being substantially closed by a closure plate and a connecting plate. The spacer plate, closure plate and connecting plate are formed from respective ceramic green sheets which are laminated on each other and fired into an integral ceramic structure as the ceramic substrate. The connecting plate has at least one slit which corresponds to each pressure chamber. Each piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is disposed on a portion of the closure plate defining the corresponding pressure chamber, so as to change a pressure of the corresponding pressure chamber. Also disposed is an ink jet print head using the actuator as described above.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording head whose nozzles and ink flow channels can readily be formed and thus mass produced and which uses inexpensive glass and plastic plates. A combination of an oscillating plate 2 and an intermediate film 3, and that of an intermediate nozzle film 5 and a terminal nozzle plate 6 are each joined together by bonding adhesives, whereas a combination of an intermediate film 3 and a cavity plate 4, and that of the cavity plate 4 and the intermediate nozzle film 5 are each joined together by thermal fusion bonding. As the melt temperatures 190.degree. C. of an intermediate film 3 of polysulfone and the intermediate nozzle film 5 are lower than the thermal deformation temperature 200.degree. C. of the cavity plate 4 of polyetherimide, the pressurizing chambers 4d and flow channels 4c of the cavity plate 4 are made free from thermal deformation.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand ink-jet printing head provided with an array of a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged at regular intervals and fixed at their one ends to a base, the other ends of the respective piezoelectric elements being free ends which are disposed in opposition to nozzle respective apertures, the piezoelectric elements being formed by cutting, at predetermined width, a piezoelectric plate obtained by firing a lamination of paste-like piezoelectric material and conductive material stacked alternately in layers. Since each piezoelectric element is composed of a thin piezoelectric plate interposed between electrodes, if a voltage of only about 30 V, which is sufficient to drive the thin piezoelectric plate, is applied across the electrodes, it is possible to largely flex the whole of the piezoelectric element. By this transformation, ink between the top end of the piezoelectric element and the nozzle aperture is discharged to the outside as an ink drop.