Abstract: A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.

Abstract: Two printing-medium guide systems restrain the medium. One is in an area upstream (along the direction of medium advance) from the pen, and extending laterally across the width of the medium except in one or more regions that are laterally near the engagement of a print-medium advancing device. The other guide system is disposed laterally from the pen, and extends laterally across the medium only in one or more regions that are laterally near the engagement of the advancing device. Preferably a human-actuable control selects a print-medium width, and shifts at least one bifurcation of the second guide system. A tensioning system, longitudinally beyond the marking head from the medium advancing device, and generally aligned laterally with that device, tensions the medium away from the advancing device to hold the medium taut at the pen. Preferably the advancing and tensioning devices are very closely spaced upstream and downstream, respectively, from the pen operating zone.

Abstract: In a printer for forming an image by means of main scanning as a reciprocating operation of a recording head and sub-scanning as an operation for feeding a recording medium, an image recording position is automatically and accurately corrected in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction. To achieve this, a reference image extending in the sub-scanning direction is first formed at a first predetermined position on the recording medium during a forward operation of the recording head, while particular images are formed at second predetermined positions on the recording medium during the reciprocating main-scanning operations of the recording head, the first predetermined position being different from that of the second predetermined positions.

Abstract: A calibration technique, for a printer having a plurality of different color ink printheads, which includes printing and scanning a test pattern. The test pattern is printed by each printhead printing a plurality of swaths having a length and distanced apart from each other. An optical sensor is used to scan the printed test pattern. Calibration is performed for each head by reading the swath length and the relative spacing of the swath and comparing the length to the spacing. This comparison is used to find the directional error for each head.

Abstract: A recording control method and a recording apparatus in which high accuracy in the position of a discharged liquid droplet is obtained irrespective of changes in the temperature of a recording head are provided. In a liquid discharging method in which a bubble is generated by supplying ink (a liquid) with thermal energy, and the generated bubble is caused to communicate with the atmospheric air, by controlling a driving signal so that a discharging state in which a part of the ink to be discharged falls even if the temperature of the recording head changes, the direction of ink discharge can be stabilized.

Abstract: In a correction processing that corrects a color deviation caused by output characteristic variations among print heads of a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus prints a test pattern that allows accurate detection of the color deviation by a visual check. More specifically, each of the patches in the test pattern is made up of two areas placed adjacent to each other. One of the two areas (upper area) is used as a test area for detecting the degree of the color deviation. Of the gradation values of C, M and Y, which make up the patch print data, the gradation values of C and M are changed among the patches making up the test pattern. The other area is used as a reference area printed with an achromatic color that represents a reference gradation value for the deviation detection. The gradation values of C, M, Y and K are determined so that a spatial frequency of dots formed in the reference area of each patch is close to the spatial frequency of the associated test area.

Abstract: In an area to be recorded with a black ink and a color ink superposed, when an area recorded by the same main-scanning and an area recorded by the other main-scanning mixedly exist, band unevenness occurs. It is an object of the present invention to suppress the band unevenness without reducing a recording speed. Therefore, upon certain main-scanning, it is determined whether image data to be recorded with a cyan ink exists in an area C in FIG. 2 or not. When it is determined that the image data exists, recording by a discharging orifice array for black is not performed in the area C in the main-scanning. When it is determined that no image data exists, recording for the area C is performed in the main-scanning by the discharging orifice array for black.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge comprises an ink jet head unit for discharging the ink, and an ink tank unit having an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head unit. The ink tank unit has a partition portion for partitioning between an ink storing portion for storing the ink to be supplied to the ink jet head unit and a negative pressure generating member receiving portion having a negative pressure generating member. The ink supply port is provided on the negative pressure generating member receiving portion. The partition portion has an ink communicating portion at an end portion of the partitioning portion on the side of the negative pressure generating member receiving portion where the ink supply port is provided, and makes contiguous the ink storing portion and the negative pressure generating member receiving portion in a movement direction of the ink tank unit when discharging the ink.

Abstract: A system provides an optimum energy pulse to a resistive heating element in an ink jet print head. The optimum energy pulse provides an optimal energy density at a surface of the heating element to cause optimal nucleation of ink adjacent the surface of the heating element. The system includes storing in memory values related to heating element dimensions, heating element electrical characteristics, and ink characteristics. Also stored in memory are expressions that provide mathematical relationships between the heating element dimensional values, the heating element electrical values, the ink characteristics, and the amplitude and duration of the optimum energy pulse. The system also includes retrieving from memory the stored values and expressions, and determining, based on the expressions, the amplitude and duration of the optimum energy pulse. The system further generates the optimum energy pulse based on the determined amplitude and duration, and provides the optimum energy pulse to the heating element.

Abstract: An ink jet recording system for recording using a recording head which discharges heated ink onto a recording medium through discharge ports includes temperature detection of ink discharged through the discharge ports, position of the recording head so that a temperature of ink discharged through the discharge ports can be detected, detection of discharge or non-discharge of ink based on the temperature detection, variation of discharge of ink droplets, and control of the variation during discharge detection.

Abstract: A dry time sensor apparatus for an ink jet printer includes a light source emitting light onto a selected area of ink on a print medium such that the light reflects off of the selected area of ink. A reflective device receives the reflected light and reflects the light a second time back onto the selected area of ink such that the light is reflected a third time by the selected area of ink in a predetermined direction. The predetermined direction is substantially nonvarying over a range of angles of orientation of the print medium and a range of distances of the print medium from the light source. A reflected light detecting device receives the light reflected in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is disclosed in which a bubble is created in ink by thermal energy generated in response to a drive signal applied to a heater, and the ink is ejected onto a recording material by expansion of the bubble. The recording apparatus includes a driving device and a changing device. The driving device applies a plurality of driving signals to the heater for each ink droplet ejection. The driving signals include a first driving signal for increasing a temperature of the ink adjacent the heater without creating the bubble, and a second driving signal after the first drive signal for ejecting the ink. An interval is provided between the first and second drive signals. The changing device changes a width of the first drive signal to adjust an amount of ejected ink. The interval is not shorter than 2.6 microseconds and the second drive signal has a constant width.

Abstract: An ink cartridge including: an ink chamber for retaining liquid ink; a foam chamber maintained in fluid communication with the ink chamber through a communication hole. An ink supply port for supplying ink from a porous body accommodated in the foam chamber to a recording head is provided. The portion of the foam body confronting the ink supply port is compressed by the ink supply port. The ratio between the amount of ink initially charged in the ink chamber and that of ink absorbed in the porous body is in the range from 1:1 to 1:3. When a cartridge uses more than one color of ink for printing in color, a plurality of foam and ink cartridges are used. The cartridge is filled under reduced pressure while the interior of the cartridge is further evacuated before filling with ink.

Abstract: A system for inspecting nozzles jetting ink droplets for detecting clogging of nozzles in a printer. Different timings during different printing operations for conducting the inspection are preset with respect to at least two print modes among a plurality of print modes usable in the printer. Alternatively, different combinations of timings for conducting the inspection and inspection principles are preset with respect to at least two print modes among the plurality of print modes. When printing is performed according to a print mode selected from among the at least two print modes, the printer conducts the inspection at the timing and/or the inspection principle preset with respect to the selected print mode.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes an element substrate on whose surface a plurality of energy generation elements are arranged in parallel to generate electrical energy that is applied to eject a liquid, a top plate positioned facing the element substrate and defining a plurality of liquid flow paths that correspond to the energy generation elements and that communicate with discharge orifices from which liquid is ejected, one or more flow rate detection elements, which are provided for each of the liquid flow paths to detect the flow rate at which the liquid flows along each of the liquid flow paths, and an energy generation element controller for controlling the conditions under which the energy generation elements are driven, based on the results output by the flow rate detection elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink jet printer and a method of managing the ink quality of such a printer, wherein information on ink pressure P, temperature T, jet speed V, and the nominal ink characteristics (&rgr;n(T), &mgr;n(T)) is available. When the machine is started for the first time, the ink jet is varied at its nominal value and the resulting pressure is measured so as to determine the values a and b characteristic of the ink circuit, the characteristics of the utilized ink &rgr;(T), &mgr;(T), and the difference in level between the print head and the pressure transducer H. These values allow to set the desired pressure value and to take corrective action on ink quality.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for aligning multiple color ink jet printheads to provide ink droplet placement within about {fraction (1/600)} inch of desired droplet location. The method includes providing an ink jet printer containing a printhead carriage for retaining a black ink printhead and a multi-color ink printhead thereon. The black ink printhead contains a black ink pen and the color ink printhead preferably contains at least two pens for providing droplets of ink on a print media. A color pen is selected to provide reference vertical and horizontal alignment patterns rather than using a black pen as the reference color. This enables a smaller error for alignment than provided with conventional alignment patterns.

Abstract: An inkjet printer uses a printhead that passes repeatedly across a print medium in individual swaths. The printhead has individual nozzles that are fired repeatedly during each printhead swath to apply an ink pattern to the print medium. Before any given swath, the printer analyzes factors that might require a reduction in print density. Anticipated printhead temperature is one factor that might require a reduction in print density. The printer monitors the print density and a printhead temperature during each printhead swath. It then uses these values to calculate, prior to each new swath, a maximum permissible print density. If a reduction in print density is indicated, the printer temporarily reduces the printhead velocity relative to the page.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead includes a substrate. Nozzle chamber walls are arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber. An ejection actuator is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to eject ink from the nozzle chamber. The ejection actuator includes an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement. A refilling actuator is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted on by the ejection actuator, subsequent to the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber. The refill actuator includes an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making high resolution color prints using ink jet techniques. The method and apparatus of providing for precise control of the number of droplets of printing fluid which is deposited in a pixel on recording paper. The precise control is achieved by incremental control of the print pulse width or time duration. Further precision can be obtained by synchronizing droplet formation with for example, the leading edge of the print pulse. The number of droplets charged during the time duration of the print pulse are the number of droplets which impinge on the paper and at the pixel location. The number of droplets creates therefore a color density. Use of a plurality of nozzles and ink colors will permit the production of very high resolution and high quality color prints.