Abstract: An ink jet printhead including a thin film substructure including an elongated gold trace having openings formed therein. An ink barrier layer is disposed on the thin film substructure in contact with the gold trace and the regions exposed by the openings in the elongated gold trace. The openings are configured to provide for reliable adhesion between the ink barrier layer and the regions exposed by the openings in the elongated gold trace.

Abstract: An ink jet printer head includes a substrate having a heat resisting body, an ink chamber barrier installed on the substrate so as to form a side wall of an ink chamber filled with ink introduced through an ink channel, and a nozzle plate having a nozzle hole communicating with the ink chamber and installed on the ink chamber barrier, and an ink separating wall protruding from a periphery of the nozzle hole towards the substrate located on the ink channel to interrupt a flow of the ink is provided in the nozzle plate. The backflow of the ink into the interior of the ink channel and an ink tail generated in the nozzle and a satellite droplet are reduced by using the ink separating wall, thereby improving printing efficiency and printing quality.

Abstract: An ink-jet print head preventing thermal accumulation on a nozzle plate includes a substrate, a channel formed in the substrate to supply ink, a nozzle plate connected to the substrate and including a nozzle corresponding to the channel, a heat element formed in the nozzle plate to surround the nozzle, a thermal conduction layer formed on an upper side of the heat element formed between the thermal conduction layer and the heat element, and a thermal shunt spaced-apart from the heat element by a predetermined distance not to overlap the heat element in a direction parallel to the nozzle plate and connecting the thermal conduction layer to the substrate. Redundant heat generated from the heat element is not accumulated on a membrane of the nozzle plate but is rapidly absorbed into an inorganic thermal conduction layer formed in the membrane and is transferred to the bulk silicon substrate through a metallic thermal bridge, such as the thermal shunt.

Abstract: A high quality printing of images such as photographs, designs, and the like, is effected without using special paper. The following is provided: a supply mechanism for supplying a recording medium; means for applying a surface modified for coating the surface modifier on the surface modification area, which is the area to be modified of the recording medium supplied with the aforementioned means for supplying; and means for drying for drying the surface modification area coated on the aforementioned surface modification area. An area can be printed on the surface modification area with high quality. As such, high quality printing is made possible with regular paper, without using special paper, as before.

Abstract: A method for determining a printhead misalignment of a printer. One step includes printing a printhead alignment test pattern including spaced-apart images at least partially aligned substantially along a printhead scan axis. A sensor is moved along the printhead scan axis at a known speed over the plurality of images. Sampled data points are obtained from the sensor at a known sampling rate. Another step includes determining the locations along the printhead scan axis of the edges of the images using the sampled data points, the known speed of the sensor, and the known sampling rate. An additional step includes calculating the printhead misalignment from the determined locations of the edges of the images.

Abstract: By using an ink jet recording head including an ink supply port for supplying an ink, a plurality of ink paths communicating with the ink supply port, a plurality of electro thermal converting elements arranged in an almost straight line along the longitudinal direction of the ink supply port which are disposed respectively in the plurality of ink paths and generate thermal energies utilized for discharging the ink, and a plurality of discharge ports for discharging the ink which communicate with the plurality of ink paths, respectively and are disposed by respectively facing the plurality of electro thermal converting elements, a recording is performed by disperse-driving the plurality of electro thermal converting elements.

Abstract: A replaceable ink container for providing ink to a printhead of a printing system. The ink container has a housing that includes and ink reservoir for containing a supply of ink, and an ink level sensor for sensing a low ink condition in the ink reservoir. The ink reservoir includes a capillary ink storage member. The ink level sensor includes resistance probes that are in fluid communication with the supply of ink, but are free from contact with the capillary ink storage member. The resistance probes are mounted to the housing by way of sensor ports that extend through the housing and prevent contact between the capillary ink storage member and the probes. The resistance probes protrude slightly from an exterior surface of the housing to define electrical contacts for engaging corresponding electrical contacts of the printing system. A change in electrical resistance measured across the resistance probes indicates a low ink condition in the ink reservoir.

Abstract: A printhead including a printhead substrate having at least one opening for providing a fluid path through the substrate and a thin film membrane formed on a second surface of the substrate. The thin film membrane includes a plurality of fluid feed holes, each fluid feed hole is located over the opening in the substrate. The thin film membrane, which extends over the opening, also has a plurality of fluid ejection elements and a plurality of conductive leads to the fluid ejection elements. All portions of the fluid ejection elements and conductive leads overlie the substrate.

Abstract: A liquid detection method and a liquid discharging device to detect whether or not a liquid can be supplied in a state in which a liquid channel from a tank for accommodating the liquid to each discharging port of a recording head is not disconnected by a bubble. A detection-signal input terminal is provided at a position where it contacts the liquid. A detection terminal is provided at a position where it does not electrically contact the liquid and is isolated from the liquid within the tank via a lower wall of the tank, made of an insulating plastic material, and the air. An electrical signal is input from a recording apparatus to the detection-signal input terminal via a connection terminal. The input electrical signal is transmitted through the ink within the recording head, the liquid channel within a joint, and the liquid within the tank.

Abstract: A method and means for automatic alignment of ink-jet printheads includes fitting measuring constructs to actual print data acquired form a print made using a given, predetermined, test pattern data set. Specific test patterns for use in automated alignment of ink-jet printheads are suited to providing a variety of printhead alignment information in a compact format. The test pattern data set incorporates techniques for avoiding carriage-induced dynamic errors during automated alignment of ink-jet printheads.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet head, an ink discharge from the head is executed to maintain and recover the discharge performance thereof. A cap is located opposite to the ink jet head when the maintaining and recovering ink discharge is performed, and receives the discharged ink. A waste ink tank receives ink exhausted from the cap. An ink pump transports ink received by the cap to the waste ink tank by performing idle suction. The number of times the idle suction is performed is variable, and is controlled by a control unit. The idle suction includes idle suction for recovery suction and idle suction for idle discharge. The idle suction for recovery suction is characterized as suction of ink when the cap caps the ink jet head, and the idle suction for idle discharge is characterized as suction of ink when the cap is communicated with atmosphere. The number of times of the idle suction is less for the idle suction for idle discharge than for the idle suction for recovery suction.

Abstract: Service of a container depleted of a consumable resource is facilitated in a device holding a plurality of containers for consumable resources. One of the plurality of containers for consumable resources is depleting of consumable resources. The container depleted of the consumable resource is discovered. The depleted container is discovered by either realizing the container has a low level of the consumable resource or is empty of the consumable resource. The amount of consumable resource in each container is discovered either by measuring the remaining consumable resource or by tracking indicia of the remaining consumable resource. In response to discovering the depleted container, the depleted container is moved into a service position. Optionally, an access to the depleted container is opened and the depleted container is ejected.

Abstract: An improved matching networks for matching the impedance of a source of variable frequency oscillating energy to a variable load is described. The described matching network includes variable capacitances that can be changed to maintain an impedance match between a source and a load despite rapid changes in the frequency output by the source and rapid changes in load impedance.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet recording device. In order to produce images superior in characteristics such as water resistance and color reproducibility regardless of the type of recording paper 41 and in order to allow selection between a mode of high image-quality recording operation and a mode of high-speed recording operation, the ink jet recording device comprises an ink jet head having a first nozzle 2i for ejection of droplets of pigment ink containing a pigment as a coloring agent and a second nozzle 2j for ejection of droplets of dye ink containing a dye as a coloring agent, wherein the maximum amount of ejection of a droplet of the dye ink that is fired from the second nozzle is set lower than the maximum amount of ejection of a droplet of the pigment ink that is fired from the first nozzle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for servicing a printer which has a processor and a display includes a component having circuitry for communicating a status of the component, where the processor, coupled to the component, further includes second circuitry for determining a service requirement for the component in response to analyzing the status of the component. Also included is an indicator, observable by a user performing the service at least when the display is not observable by the user, for indicating the service requirement to the user. The indicator may be included with the particular component, and may be a visual and/or an audible indicator.

Abstract: A solid ink loader for feeding solid ink sticks in a phase change ink jet printer, which includes a first feed channel having a first insertion end and a first melt end for receiving ink sticks and at least one key plate for covering the at least one feed channel. The at least one key plate includes a first plate portion having a first insertion opening for admitting the solid ink sticks into the at least one feed channel, and a first plurality of viewing areas between the insertion opening and the melt end of the at least one channel.

Abstract: Detection of whether or not liquid or a liquid droplet (ink) has passed is realized without contacting the passing liquid or liquid droplet, by providing a radiated-wave detector, arranged near the liquid or liquid droplet, for detecting an infrared ray radiated from the passing liquid or liquid droplet, and a detector for detecting variation of an output value of the radiated-wave detector. Furthermore, the variation of an output value detected by the detector is integrated to obtain the variation amount of the output values, thereby obtaining the amount of liquid or liquid droplet (ink) passed. With the use of the foregoing configuration, further provided is an ink-jet printing apparatus which can accurately determine whether or not ink has been discharged by a printhead and which can measure the amount of ink discharged without contacting the ink, and an ink detection method for the ink-jet printing apparatus.

Abstract: In a method of driving a plurality of ink jet heads, each ink jet head comprises a plurality of ink chambers that are each provided with an ink nozzle. The ink nozzles of each of the ink jet heads are divided into N sets each including every N-th ink nozzle, where N is an integer of two or more, and the N sets of the ink nozzles are arranged in parallel longitudinal rows in a staggered arrangement. The respective ink nozzles in corresponding rows of the ink jet heads are spaced apart from each other by a distance equal to an integral multiple of a pitch of the rows of the ink nozzles in each of the ink jet heads in a sub-scanning direction in which a recording medium is moved, and the ink nozzles eject ink as the ink nozzles move relative to the recording medium in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink end detector for detecting when ink in each of the cartridges mounted on the carriage is exhausted, and a cover detector for detecting whether the cover member attached to the casing body of the apparatus is open. And when the ink end detector detects that the ink has been exhausted and the cover detector detects that the cover member is open, a carriage driver is driven and moves the carriage and positioned it at an opening formed in the casing body for the exchange of ink cartridges. Therefore, the operability for the exchange of ink cartridges when the ink has been exhausted can be improved.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fluid ejection device comprises a substrate having a first surface, and a fluid slot in the first surface. The device further comprises a fluid ejector formed over the first surface of the substrate, and a chamber layer formed over the first surface of the substrate. The chamber layer defines a chamber about the fluid ejector, wherein fluid flows from the fluid slot towards the to be ejected therefrom. The chamber layer has a discontinuity, wherein the discontinuity is positioned over the fluid slot.