Abstract: A hybrid imaging system is capable of using both ink jet technology and thermal dye transfer technology for producing images on a dye-receiving element of the type having a support and a polymeric dye image-receiving layer that contains an organic acid capable of reprotonating the deprotonated cationic dye from both ink jet ink and dye-donor ribbon. The imaging system includes a print path adapted to accept such a dye-receiving element, and a dye-receiving element transport mechanism adapted to advance a dye-receiving element along the print path. An ink jet imaging assemblage is located along the print path for selectively producing images on the dye-receiving element using ink jet inks having a dye dispersed in an aqueous ink, the dye being a deprotonated cationic dye which is capable of being reprotonated to a cationic dye having an N-H group which is part of a conjugated system.

Abstract: The present invention involves an ink jet recording method involving providing a movable carriage and a plurality of ink jet recording heads disposed on the carriage, each ink jet recording head having a number of ink discharge energy generating elements and a corresponding number of discharge ports for recording a recording region, and applying driving signals to at least a fraction of the ink discharge energy generating elements corresponding to a fraction of the plural number of the discharge ports. Additionally, at the start of recording the number of the recording heads which are used during recording of a particular region is increased, and then at the conclusion of recording the quantity of recording heads which are used during recording of the particular region are decreased. This particular region has a length relating to the feeding pitch of the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink transfer printing device in which ink transfer is driven by a viscosity change in ink. The ink transfer printing device includes an ink reservoir for retaining ink held under pressure. The ink reservoir is associated with an ink transfer surface which has a plurality of perforations. Under ambient conditions, the viscosity of the ink prevents flow of the ink through the perforations. The ink transfer printing device also includes a viscosity control unit for inducing a change in the viscosity of the ink near certain perforations thereby enabling a controlled amount of the ink near each of these certain perforations to flow through these certain perforations to an outer surface of the ink transfer surface. The ink which has flowed onto the outer surface can then be transferred to an intermediate surface or a printing media. A method for viscosity-driven ink transfer printing is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged so as to form an image on a recording medium, a device for causing the recording head to print a predetermined test pattern, an image density reading device for reading the density of the test pattern formed by the recording head, an uneven image density correction device for correcting conditions for driving the plurality of recording elements in accordance with the result of reading, so as to make even the density of the image, a recording stabilizing device for stabilizing a recording operation performed by the recording head, and a control device for operating the recording stabilizing device before the test pattern is printed and operating the test pattern printing device after the recording head has been stabilized by the recording stabilizing device.

Abstract: An ink-jet apparatus (10) and method provides high-resolution, high-speed printing by providing a transducer drive waveform (160) having a spectral energy distribution (170) that concentrates energy (172) around a frequency associated with a dominant (Helmholtz) ink drop ejection mode and that suppresses energy (174) at resonant frequencies associated with ink inlet (18) and ink outlet structures (24, 26, 28, 14) of the ink-jet head. Spectral energy distribution principles used to shape the transducer drive waveform can be used to enhance the jetting performance of many conventional ink-jet heads.

Abstract: A technique for controlling print quality in an inkjet printer by delivering synchronized heating, non-printing pulses and printing pulses to the ink firing resistors during print firing operations such as during the printing of a swath. A temperature of the printhead substrate is measured and compared against a reference temperature during printing operations. If the measured temperature is below the reference temperature, then the printhead substrate is heated during the printing operations to bring the substrate up to the reference temperature. The heating is done by delivering synchronized heating non-printing pulses and printing pulses to the ink firing resistors during selected print firing periods, wherein either the heating pulses or the printing pulses, but not both, occur during a selected print firing period. The heating pulses are logically OR-ed with the printing pulses to achieve the synchronization.

Abstract: In order to reduce particle clogging of ink firing chambers in an inkjet printer printhead, the barrier layer is configured to have a plurality of inner barrier islands, each associated with a respective one of the heater resistors, disposed between an ink firing chamber and the ink plenum, to form two ink feed channels. The two ink feed channels are designed to have a right angle turn to prevent particles from entering the ink firing chamber. A plurality of outer barrier islands, having a number equal to twice the number of inner barrier islands, are disposed between the inner barrier islands and the ink plenum, and are configured in lines parallel to the lines of heater resistors to prevent particles from reaching the ink feed channels.

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: An ink jet printhead has improved resistance to the corrosive effects of ink by coating the surface of a photo-imageable polymer with an ink resistant film. In one described embodiment, a thermal ink jet element is formed by bonding together a channel plate and a heater plate. Resistors and electrical connections are formed in the heater plate. A polyimide layer is formed so as to overlie the heater plate to protect the electrical elements while providing pit structure for the heater and for ink flow bypass. A tantalum film is formed on the surface of the polyimide layer to protect the layer from the effects of corrosive ink. In another embodiment, the ink resistant film is amorphous carbon or silicon nitride.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head includes an ink storage tank for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head, an ink path between the recording head and the ink storage tank, and an ink remain detector provided in the ink path. The ink remain detector has ink inflow and outflow ports and an ink chamber communicating therewith; at least a portion of a wall of the chamber is formed of a flexible film member. A separation of the flexible film member is detected by a detector means, responsive to a pressure decrease in the ink chamber. The flexible film member is biased so that it is not apart from the detector means. The displacement of the flexible film is limited so that the film is not displaced over a predetermined amount, and is limited when enough ink flows from the inflow port to the outflow port in the ink chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a recording apparatus; using an ink-jet recording head for discharging ink from an array of a plurality of orifices, including a drive unit for driving the recording head on the basis of a recording signal to cause a first orifice of the plurality of orifices to discharge ink at a first timing, and to cause a second orifice to discharge ink at a second timing, and a moving unit for moving the recording head and a recording medium relative to each other by an amount corresponding to a distance between the first and second orifices during a time interval between the first and second timings by the drive unit.

Abstract: To increase ink jet recording head responsivity and/or decrease recording head size, an ink jet recording apparatus is provided having plural liquid passages, each having an ejection outlet through which a droplet of liquid is ejected at the end of the liquid passage. Each of the passages is supplied with ink from only the other end. A common ink chamber contains the ink, and communicates with the liquid passages at different supply ports of the passages. Electrothermal transducer elements each have a planar heat generating element provided in each of the liquid passages, the electrothermal transducers being supplied with electric signals to produce a change in state of the ink involving the formation of a bubble in the liquid passage by thermal energy.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a liquid ejection portion having an ejection outlet for ejecting ink; and a recording head having a substrate on which are provided an electrothermal transducer for generating heat for the ejection of ink supplied to the ejection portion, at least one functional device electrically connected to the electrothermal transducer, and a laminate. The structure of at least a part of the laminate is identical with the structure of the functional devices and the laminate is useable as a reserve functional device. Such construction of the recording head makes it possible to change the function thereof easily, and, can be copied flexibly with change of design. A portion of the functional device can be formed in a U shape.

Abstract: A printer has a support shoe with an arcuate inner surface for receiving a light-sensitive recording media and a write head assembly to record onto media received on the inner surface of the support shoe. The printer includes a web cutting means at the exit end of the support shoe and means for applying vacuum sequentially (1) to a region of the arcuate inner surface furthest from the web cutting means, (2) to the center region of the arcuate inner surface, and (3) to a region of the arcuate inner surface closest to the web cutting means to thereby force media to wrap around the arcuate inner surface. The vacuum may be applied to a center region of the arcuate inner surface to remove slack in a media segment between the center region and the web cutting means.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided with plural recording units. A supplied original is discriminated by an original discriminating unit, and is recorded by a recording unit selected according to the result of the discrimination by the discriminating unit. The plural recording units are mutually different in the recording image magnification or in the recording method.

Abstract: A method for designing a second ink-jet cartridge characterized by a datum structure, an ink reservoir system and a printhead structure, given a first cartridge design, wherein the printhead structure of the two cartridges are different. The method uses a common datum structure and ink reservoir system for both the first and second cartridges, to save on development and tooling expenses. The cartridges differ in the shapes or configurations of the headland structures, the flexible interconnect circuits, the nozzle plates, the ink channels or the printhead substrates.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes a first liquid path, the end of which defines a discharge port through which ink is ejected, and a second liquid path having a discharge energy generating element for generating energy to be used for discharging the ink through the discharge port, the discharge energy generating element including a heat generating element for applying heat to discharge ink, the discharge energy generating element generating pressure when driven. The first liquid path is in fluid communication with the second fluid path in the vicinity of the discharge energy generating element, and the first and second liquid paths are substantially parallel to one another. A wall is disposed at least partially above the discharge energy generating element, this wall having a slanted surface which guides the pressure above the discharge energy generating element generated when the discharge energy generating element is driven into the first liquid path and toward the discharge port.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device having scanning means for scanning an ink jet recording head having plural arrays in a scanning direction, wherein each of the arrays has discharge ports such that each of the arrays discharges a different color ink, supplying means for supplying recording signals corresponding to a first recording area to plural of ink discharge energy generating elements, conveying means for conveying a recording medium relative to the recording head, and control means for controlling the ink jet recording head, the supplying means and conveying means so that when the control means operates in a first recording mode, a recording covering the first recording area is produced by one of the arrays during one scanning operation, and when the control means operates in a second recording mode a recording covering a second recording area which is smaller than the first recording area is produced by each of the arrays during one scanning operation.

Abstract: In a thermal ink-jet printhead, a set of heating elements are formed in the main surface of a semiconductor chip. Channels are formed within the semiconductor chip underneath each of the heating elements, thereby exposing two main sides of each heating element within each ejector. Because two main surfaces of the heating element are accessible to liquid ink in each ejector, efficiency and thermal characteristics of the printhead are improved.

Abstract: An .Iadd.acoustically soft .Iaddend.ink jet nozzle .?.assembly is produced from materials, such as.!. .Iadd.for continuous jets. The nozzle is a tubular member formed from .Iaddend.polyphenylene sulfide.?.. The resulting assembly is acoustically soft so that undesirable fluid and mechanical resonances are.!. (.Iadd.RYTON) which has a .Iaddend.substantially .?.attenuated.!. .Iadd.constant response over a transducer range of 10-100 KHz.Iaddend..