Abstract: An image corresponding to a single sheet of recording paper is divided into three decomposed images each having the substantially same expansion as that of the image, and one of the decomposed images is recorded on the recording paper while a drum is rotated and the recording head is continuously moved at a distance corresponding to a width of the recording head. Subsequently, other decomposed images are successively recorded on the recording paper. Thus, recording of the respective decomposed image is performed at a predetermined time interval kept between two continuous recordings. The foregoing time interval can be used as a time required for ink permeation into the recording medium.

Abstract: A method of printing in which, when an image is divided to be printed into a plurality of lines, the feeding amount of a printing medium is equalized in each line for eliminating a feeding error of the printing medium to print a high-quality image. The image to be printed in a top line of the printing medium is formed into a printable image by ink ejection ports located at an upstream side with respect to a printing medium feeding direction of a print head, and a width of the image printed in the top line is an adjusting width for unifying the width of image printed in other lines to a specified width according to the print head.

Abstract: A method for discharging ink from a discharge port using a liquid jet recording head having the discharge port for discharging liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port, a liquid discharge heat generating element provided in the liquid flow path to apply thermal energy for discharging the liquid to the liquid with bubble generation and a fluid resistance element provided upstream of the liquid discharge heat generating element in the liquid flow path. A bubble generating region is used as the fluid resistance element and a movable member is provided facing the bubble generating region and having a free end, the movable member being shiftable upon bubble generation at the region. The method includes the step of generating a bubble by driving the liquid discharge heat generating element and generating the bubble and shifting the movable member by the fluid resistance element. Also discloses are a liquid discharge head, head cartridge, and recording apparatus which perform the method.

Abstract: A preliminary ejection sensor of an ink jet recording apparatus includes a vibration plate adapted to vibrate on receipt of an ink droplet ejected from an ejection port on a recording head in order to detect the vibration of the vibration plate depending on variation of a gap between a core and the vibration plate, whereby it can be checked whether ink is ejected from the recording head or not. In addition, the preliminary ejection sensor can check the present ink ejecting state of the recording head. Thus, in contrast with a conventional sensing system wherein ink ejection is sensed by an optical sensor on one side surface of the recording head, the structure of the ink jet recording apparatus can be simplified.

Abstract: A liquid jet recording method using thermal energy to eject liquid from a liquid passage through an ejection outlet, the liquid passage being provided with a heat generating resistor, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: S1≧S2/3, and S2≧S3/3 where S1 is an area of the heat generating resistor, and S2 is a projected area, onto a surface having the heat generating resistor, of the liquid passage between the ejection outlet and the heat generating resistor; wherein a bubble created by the heat generating resistor communicates with ambience when the liquid is ejected.

Abstract: An apparatus for leaving space between paper and a head of an ink-jet printer includes a plurality of paper insertion angle change ribs located in front of a paper guide for controlling the paper raised. The paper guide is mounted at the front side of a deflector guide of the head. Therefore, the angle of the paper inserted to the head is changed, as the place where the paper curls up is changed. As a result, maximum space between the paper and the head is attained. The head is not contacted with the paper, and thus is not stained with ink on the paper so that there is the improvement of reliability of products.

Abstract: A recovery device is described for use with a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus. The recording head is mounted on a carriage which can reciprocate. The recovery device includes a cap for capping an ink discharge portion of the recording head when not in use, and a wiper for wiping out the ink discharge portion with a movement of the carriage. The wiper is disposed outside the cap relative to the recording area. The recording head does not pass through an area occupied by the wiper when the recording head performs a predischarge with respect to the cap during recording.

Abstract: When the vicinity of discharge ports of the recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus is wiped for cleaning, ink is prevented from splashing in order to avoid any spoilage in the interior of a recording apparatus due to ink stains resulting from ink splashing. The apparatus is provided with a wiping blade which is shifted to abut upon or retract from a discharge port surface of the recording head. The recording head is moved so that a relative speed is generated between the wiping blade and the recording head when the wiping blade abuts upon the recording head to clean the discharge port surface thereof. The wiping blade is retracted from the recording head in a direction parting from the recording head while there is a relative speed between the recording head and the wiping blade; the wiping blade is retracted from the recording head while the wiping blade is allowed to rotate.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of suppressing inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet and method of assembling the apparatus. The imaging apparatus comprises a print head transducer including a pair of sidewalls defining a chamber therebetween, the channel having an ink body disposed therein. The transducer is capable of inducing a first pressure wave in the ink body in order to eject an intended ink droplet. A waveform generator is connected to the transducer for supplying a voltage waveform to the transducer, so that the transducer induces pressure waves in the ink body to eject the ink droplet. However, the first pressure wave has a reflected portion formed by the first pressure wave reflecting from the sidewalls. The reflected portion is sufficient to inadvertently eject unintended satellite ink droplets following ejection of the intended ink droplet. To avoid formation of satellite ink droplets, a sensor is in fluid communication with the ink body for sensing the reflected portion.

Abstract: A method and a device for sensing the quantity of remaining ink of an ink-jet printer, the device including a memory for storing printing data from a computer, a jetting device for outputting a printed output corresponding to the printing data in the memory through an inkjetting motion, a scanning device for scanning in wider scanning width than an inkjetting width by movement in the same course, forward or returning direction, as the jetting device, the jetting device and the scanning device using the same driving unit, a picture memory for storing picture or scanning data identified through the scanning device, and a CPU for sensing the quantity of remaining ink by comparing the printing data in the print data memory with the scanning data in the picture memory.

Abstract: A method for making an inkjet printhead nozzle plate from a composite strip containing a nozzle layer and an adhesive layer is disclosed. The adhesive layer is coated with a polymeric sacrificial layer prior to laser ablating the flow features in the composite strip. A method is also provided form improving adhesion between the adhesive layer and the sacrificial layer. Once the composite strip containing the sacrificial layer is prepared, the coated composite strip is then laser ablated to form flow features in the strip in order to form the nozzle plates. After forming the flow features, the sacrificial layer is removed individual inkjet printhead nozzle plate are separated from the composite strip by singulating the nozzle plates with a laser.

Abstract: An automatic labeler system for demarcating objects is disclosed. The system includes a device, such as for dispersing an optically responsive material onto the surface of each object. The material changes color in response to focused energy. The focused energy is provided by a device for optically demarcating the material by controllably directing focused energy, such as a laser, onto the optically responsive material. The system also includes a scanning device for scanning the surfaces of the objects with energy to determine the topology of the surfaces. The automatic labeler system is particularly useful in labeling stacked materials, such as individual boards in bundled lumber.

Abstract: A method of producing, on a physical medium, a gradient tonal representation of an image and a printhead for producing the same. An input image is divided into first and second regions. First, continuously variable intensity level, continuous tone and second, discretely variable intensity level, half-tone portions of the representation which respectively correspond to the first and second regions of the image are then printed by depositing selected quantities of ink on the first and second portions of the physical medium such that each pixel thereof has an ink intensity level corresponding to the image intensity level for the corresponding one of the pixels of the first region of the image.

Abstract: In the sheet conveying apparatus, convey force of a convey device is changed according to the load applied to a recording sheet in order to constantly convey the recording sheet reliably. A rotary sheet discharge body has convex and concave portions in order to reliably discharge the recording sheet regardless of resistance applied to the recording sheet. Highly frictional material is provided only around the end portions of the rotary sheet discharge body in order to reduce the manufacturing cost and improve the facility of assembly.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing a recording operation on recording paper includes a recording head for performing the recording operation on the recording paper, a carriage which carries the recording head, and is movable along a convey path of the recording paper, a conveying unit for conveying the recording paper, a drive source, and a lock pawl which is arranged along a moving path of the carriage and can transmit a drive force from the drive source to the conveying unit in accordance with movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A plurality of recording heads capable of ejecting inks of different colors is reciprocated relative to a recording material to print ink dots on the recording material while effecting main scanning in the forward and the backward pass thereof. A plurality of thinning patterns produced by preparing m.times.n unit picture element groups and arraying these unit groups in such a manner that the groups avoid mutually adjoining and assume a mutually complementary relation is used to effect a plurality of rounds of main scanning in the forward and the backward pass over an area which can be printed by one round of main scanning, record a thinned image, and complete the recording of an image. The array of picture element groups in the thinning patterns is determined so that the groups may mutually adjoin relative to the direction of main scanning.

Abstract: An ink container that includes a collapsible ink reservoir having first a side and a second side that are opposing, a first spiral conductive coil attached to the first side, a second spiral conductive coil attached to the second side, stiffeners disposed over the first and second coils, and a pressure vessel for pressurizing the outside of the ink reservoir.

Abstract: A solid-state actuator includes an actuator main body, an electrode, and an insulating film. The actuator main body deforms in response to reception of a voltage. The electrode is made of a conductive material and is formed on a surface of the actuator main body to apply the voltage. The insulating film is formed on a surface of the electrode.

Abstract: The accumulator system includes minute pump and transducer mechanisms carried on the pen for regulating changes in the back pressure of the pen reservoir. One pump inflates a bag that is carried inside the reservoir. Another pump deflates the bag. The pumps are selectively controlled, in response to pressure changes detected by the transducer mechanism.

Abstract: Ink which contains surfactant in the amount of not exceeding the critical micelle concentration in the ink but exceeding the critical micelle concentration in purified water, is filled into a cartridge, comprising a first chamber which encloses a negative pressure producing material, and a second chamber in communication with said first chamber only through a narrow passage Then, said ink is supplied to ink jet head and printed.