Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a recording head which is constructed as a line head by arranging a plurality of head components along the direction of arrangement of recording elements and in which an amount of a gap of the recording elements at each of the joints between each pair of the head components located adjacent to each other along the direction of arrangement of the recording elements is detected to achieve recording of a high-quality image free from a stripe shape nonuniformity, a blank defect, a color nonuniformity, and the like. To achieve this object, the recording head has a head portion for recording an image on a recording medium, and a sensor portion for reading the image recorded on the recording medium by the head portion. In the head portion, a plurality of head components each formed by arranging recording elements for recording an image on the recording medium are arranged along the direction of arrangement of the recording elements.

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 thermal monitoring system determines whether a fluid ejecting nozzle is healthy and operating in a thermal fluid ejection system to eject precise amounts of fluid in response to a firing signal. If not, a nozzle recovery routine is preformed to remove any nozzle blockages, with different routines being preformed to address the type of blockage encountered. If recovery is not possible, or if the nozzle failure is detected “on-the-fly” during a normal fluid application routine, a substitute healthy nozzle is engaged without interrupting the job. Nozzle health is determined by monitoring the temperature change of the nozzle following application of the firing signal. In one embodiment, an inkjet printing mechanism uses a thermal inkjet printhead to eject an inkjet ink as the fluid. A method of monitoring the health of a fluid ejection nozzle is also provided.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a discharge port for discharging liquid, a liquid flow path communicating therewith and provided with a heat generating member for generating bubbles by heating the liquid, and a common liquid chamber for retaining the liquid to be supplied to the liquid flow path. A narrowed portion is provided in the liquid flow path between the common liquid chamber and the heat generating member. Between the narrowed portion and the heat generating member, a displaceable plate type movable member is provided. The movable member stands up from the surface of the liquid flow path having the heat generating member, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the liquid supplying direction. A first gap is provided between the narrowed portion and the movable member, and a second gap is provided between a free end of the movable member and a ceiling of the liquid flow path.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system that includes an ink tank, an ink containing foam volume in the ink tank, and an ink level indicator having a wire mesh capillary element in contact with the ink containing foam volume and a fluid impermeable, light transmissive window in a wall of the ink tank adjacent the wire mesh.

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: Determining inkjet printer pen turn-on voltages is disclosed. An inkjet printer has a number of pens, and a number of sets of nozzles in each pen. Each set of nozzles of a pen is fired at each of a number of voltages, to obtain a voltage-value curve for each set of nozzles. A nozzle turn-on voltage for each set of nozzles is determined based on a maximum slope of its voltage-value curve. The turn-on voltage for each pen is determined based on the nozzle turn-on voltages of the voltage-value curves for its sets of nozzles.

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: A printhead assembly includes a pair of matched printheads, each printhead including a plurality of inkjet nozzles constructed using microelectromechanical techniques. The printheads are matched so that no paired nozzles of the pair of printheads are both defective. Encoded data relating to a defect list is associated with the printheads, the defect list providing data relating to which nozzle of each pair of matched nozzles of the pair of printheads is to be used.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: A firmware sensoring system and method includes a driving and control portion for rotating a cam shaft to actuate various maintenance operations of a maintenance station. In various exemplary embodiments, the driving and control portion includes a sensor wheel that rotates with the cam shaft. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensor wheel has an optical window formed therein. The optical window may be aligned with an optical relay in both an extreme clockwise position of the cam shaft and an extreme counterclockwise position of the cam shaft. Depending on whether the optical window is aligned with the optical relay or not, the optical relay is in either a closed-circuit condition or an open-circuit condition. The condition of the optical relay is communicated to or sensed by a controller that rotates the cam shaft.

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: An ink-jet printing apparatus, an ink-supplying apparatus, and a method for supplying ink are configured so that a mode of ink supply is changed to another mode, for example the mode of supplying ink to an ink tank is changed to another in accordance with a fact that a next page is intended to be printed or not, when an ink tank that requires the supply of ink is detected, with the result that the printing speed is increased.

Abstract: A low-cost printing apparatus and printing control method through which the absence or presence of an ink tank and ink can be determined accurately regardless of the surrounding environment. The printing apparatus obtains the difference between a first signal, which is obtained from light received by a light-receiving element (16) in a case where a light reflecting surface (41) and an optical prism (42) are irradiated with light, and a second signal, which is obtained from light received by the light-receiving element (16) in a case where the light reflecting surface (41) and optical prism (42) are not irradiated with light, compares the difference with a predetermined threshold value and determines whether or not ink is present and/or whether or not the ink tank is present, based upon the result of the comparison.

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.