Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a discharge orifice configured to eject liquid; a device configured to generate energy for use in ejecting liquid; a pressure chamber partitioned by a wall, the pressure chamber accommodating the device and communicating with the discharge orifice; and a channel configured to supply liquid to the pressure chamber, wherein the discharge orifice has first and second protrusions protruding from the edge of the discharge orifice toward the central portion in an extending direction of the channel along the center line of the channel, and the interval between the base of the first protrusion and the base of the second protrusion in the extending direction of the channel is larger than the maximum interval between the edges of the discharge orifice in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head is configured including an element substrate and a flow path forming substrate which are joined. The element substrate includes a plurality of energy generating elements (electrothermal conversion elements) configured to generate thermal energy, and a supply port configured to supply liquid. The flow path forming substrate includes a plurality of discharging ports, a bubble generating chamber formed so as to include an energy generating element, and a supply path which connects the bubble generating chamber and the supply port. The upstream side of the discharging port in the direction of liquid flowing from the supply path to the bubble generating chamber, as viewed from a planar view, is formed in a semicircular shape, and the downstream side is formed in a semi-polygonal shape.

Abstract: This invention suppresses the occurrence of ejection failures caused by air bubbles generated inside a liquid ejection head. A liquid ejection head includes an element substrate and a support member. The element substrate includes a ejection orifice row, and a supply port. The support member includes a first flow path for supplying a liquid from a liquid supply source to the supply port. The first flow path includes a plurality of channels. At least one of the plurality of channels has a shape in which a cross section that intersects with a flow direction Y of the liquid increases from an upstream side to a downstream side with respect to the direction in which the liquid is supplied.

Abstract: This invention is a manufacturing method of a liquid discharge head that includes a substrate having a plurality of discharge energy generating elements that generate energy that is utilized for discharging a liquid, and a discharge port forming member that constitutes a discharge port group including a plurality of discharge ports that discharge the liquid and flow paths that communicate with the discharge port group. The manufacturing method includes (1) disposing a photosensitive resin as material of the discharge port forming member on or above the substrate, and (2) forming an exposure pattern of the discharge port group using ultraviolet light in the photosensitive resin. In the aforementioned (2), the discharge port group is divided in a longitudinal direction and exposed, and the exposures are respectively performed so that regions in which there is a high degree of telecentricity face each other.

Abstract: An embodiment of this invention is directed to preventing a decrease in the number of media printable with ink in an ink tank owing to an increase in waste ink in aging processing, and an increase in aging processing time. According to the embodiment, aging processing is executed as follows in a printing apparatus in which a printhead including a plurality of nozzles and a nozzle array formed from these nozzles and discharge ink is reciprocally scanned in a direction different from the direction of the nozzle array, and an image is printed by forward printing and backward printing. The aging processing is performed by changing the count at which the aging processing is performed, between nozzles at the edge side portion of the nozzle array and nozzles at the center side portion of the nozzle array.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a substrate that carries thereon a plurality of ejection energy generating elements arranged in rows to generate energy necessary for ejecting liquid and an ejection port plate that is laid on the substrate and has a plurality of ejection ports formed therein and arranged vis-a-vis the respective ejection energy generating elements. The ejection port plate has a groove, or an oblong recess, formed on the surface thereof where the plurality of ejection ports are formed such that the groove surrounds the region where the ejection ports are formed and has a corrugated inner lateral surface and a flat outer lateral surface arranged oppositely relative to the inner lateral surface.

Abstract: A process for producing a chip in which plural ejection orifice arrays are arranged including conducting reduction projection exposure plural times to a wafer having a substrate and a photosensitive resin layer formed thereon while relatively moving positions of the wafer and a reticle to form ejection orifice array patterns in the resin layer, developing the patterns to form ejection orifice arrays in the resin layer, and dividing the wafer to form plural chips in which the plural ejection orifice arrays are arranged. The exposure is conducted once to form in the resin layer a first ejection orifice array pattern corresponding to partial ejection orifice arrays in an arranging direction thereof in one chip, a second ejection orifice array pattern corresponding to all ejection orifice arrays in one chip and a third ejection orifice array pattern corresponding to partial ejection orifice arrays in an arranging direction thereof in one chip.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a liquid ejection head includes a step of performing a first exposure to form a first ejection orifice row and a step of performing a second exposure to form a second ejection orifice row in which ejection orifices are arranged in a row with ejection orifices that form the first ejection orifice row through a connection portion. In an ejection orifice row formed by the first and the second ejection orifice rows, regarding the distances between the centers of ejection orifices in an arrangement direction of the ejection orifices on opening surfaces of the ejection orifices, the ejection orifices are formed so that a distance between the centers of two ejection orifices adjacent to each other with the connection portion in between is longer than a distance between the centers of two ejection orifices adjacent to each other without the connection portion in between.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquid ejection head by providing, in one chip, a liquid ejection head having a portion for ejection in which an ejection orifice array is arranged and a side portion having no ejection orifice array, these portions being provided with a member of a photosensitive material, arranging the chip on a common substrate in such a chip array that these two portions are alternately arranged, and separating each chip from the substrate, the process including the steps of relatively moving a reticle of an aligner along the chip array for a photosensitive material on the substrate to expose each chip, and developing the material to obtain the member. A first reticle for forming the portion for ejection and a second reticle for forming only the side portion are used. The exposure includes a first and a second exposure treatment respectively by the first and second reticles.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquid ejection head by providing, in one chip, a liquid ejection head having a portion for ejection in which an ejection orifice array is arranged and a side portion having no ejection orifice array, these portions being provided with a member of a photosensitive material, arranging the chip on a common substrate in such a chip array that these two portions are alternately arranged, and separating each chip from the substrate, the process including the steps of relatively moving a reticle of an aligner along the chip array for a photosensitive material on the substrate to expose each chip, and developing the material to obtain the member. A first reticle for forming the portion for ejection and a second reticle for forming only the side portion are used. The exposure includes a first and a second exposure treatment respectively by the first and second reticles.

Abstract: A process for producing a chip in which plural ejection orifice arrays are arranged including conducting reduction projection exposure plural times to a wafer having a substrate and a photosensitive resin layer formed thereon while relatively moving positions of the wafer and a reticle to form ejection orifice array patterns in the resin layer, developing the patterns to form ejection orifice arrays in the resin layer, and dividing the wafer to form plural chips in which the plural ejection orifice arrays are arranged. The exposure is conducted once to form in the resin layer a first ejection orifice array pattern corresponding to partial ejection orifice arrays in an arranging direction thereof in one chip, a second ejection orifice array pattern corresponding to all ejection orifice arrays in one chip and a third ejection orifice array pattern corresponding to partial ejection orifice arrays in an arranging direction thereof in one chip.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head is configured including an element substrate and a flow path forming substrate which are joined. The element substrate includes a plurality of energy generating elements (electrothermal conversion elements) configured to generate thermal energy, and a supply port configured to supply liquid. The flow path forming substrate includes a plurality of discharging ports, a bubble generating chamber formed so as to include an energy generating element, and a supply path which connects the bubble generating chamber and the supply port. The upstream side of the discharging port in the direction of liquid flowing from the supply path to the bubble generating chamber, as viewed from a planar view, is formed in a semicircular shape, and the downstream side is formed in a semi-polygonal shape.

Abstract: An ink to be applied to a recording head having a common liquid chamber, pressure chambers developing pressure applied to the liquid, individual channels through which the liquid is introduced into the pressure chambers from the common liquid chamber, and a group of nozzles which communicate with the pressure chambers and eject the liquid, where first nozzles having short individual channels and second nozzles having long ones are alternately arranged at arrangement intervals of less than 30 ?m along one side or sides of the common liquid chamber, contains an aqueous medium, a surfactant and a coloring material. The aqueous medium consists of water and a water-soluble organic compound containing at least one alkanediol and has a surface tension of from 40 mN/m or more to less than 60 mN/m in an environment of temperature 25° C. and humidity 50%.

Abstract: An embodiment of this invention is directed to preventing a decrease in the number of media printable with ink in an ink tank owing to an increase in waste ink in aging processing, and an increase in aging processing time. According to the embodiment, aging processing is executed as follows in a printing apparatus in which a printhead including a plurality of nozzles and a nozzle array formed from these nozzles and discharge ink is reciprocally scanned in a direction different from the direction of the nozzle array, and an image is printed by forward printing and backward printing. The aging processing is performed by changing the count at which the aging processing is performed, between nozzles at the edge side portion of the nozzle array and nozzles at the center side portion of the nozzle array.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head is constructed by providing a recording element substrate on a supporting member. The recording element substrate has at least one thermal energy generating element and a liquid supply port for supplying liquid to the element. The supporting member has three or more supply flow paths running therethrough. Two or more beams are formed in each of the supply flow paths. The gap between the beams formed in each of the end supply flow paths is greater than the gap between the beams formed in an inside supply from path.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes first and second element substrates including: a discharge port array; energy generating elements; and electric contacts electrically connected to the energy generating elements and including first and second electric contacts disposed linearly along one end and the other end. The first and second element substrates are configured such that a distance between the gravity center of the first electric contact and that of a discharge port provided at an end of the discharge port array on the first electric contacts side is different from a distance between the gravity center of the second electric contact and that of a discharge port provided at an end of the discharge port array on the second electric contacts side. The first electric contacts of the first element substrate and the second electric contacts of the second element substrates are disposed linearly, and vice versa.

Abstract: An ink to be applied to a recording head having a common liquid chamber, pressure chambers developing pressure applied to the liquid, individual channels through which the liquid is introduced into the pressure chambers from the common liquid chamber, and a group of nozzles which communicate with the pressure chambers and eject the liquid, where first nozzles having short individual channels and second nozzles having long ones are alternately arranged at arrangement intervals of less than 30 ?m along one side or sides of the common liquid chamber, contains an aqueous medium, a surfactant and a coloring material. The aqueous medium consists of water and a water-soluble organic compound containing at least one alkanediol and has a surface tension of from 40 mN/m or more to less than 60 mN/m in an environment of temperature 25° C. and humidity 50%.

Abstract: The liquid ejecting head includes a printing element board having a plurality of printing elements for producing energy used to eject liquid, a contact board having a contact terminal for electrically connecting to a liquid ejection printing apparatus, and a functional element, a plurality of lands which are provided on the face of the contact board where the functional element is mounted, and to which terminals of the functional element are connected, a wiring member that connects the printing element board to the contact board, a first terminal and a second terminal disposed on one edge of the contact board, a first wiring connecting the contact terminal to the first terminal, a second wiring connecting at least one of the plurality of lands to the second terminal, and insulating resin that covers the edge face of the second terminal positioned on the one edge of the contact board.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a substrate including an element that generates energy to discharge liquid and a liquid supply port; a flow path forming member on the substrate which forms a space therebetween with the substrate and has a discharge port therein, the space constituting a pressure chamber, and a flow path causing the pressure chamber and the liquid supply port to communicate; an interlayer provided between the substrate and the flow path forming member; and a protection layer including metal for protection, wherein the interlayer is disposed so as to avoid a first region corresponding to the element, a second region corresponding to a region of the flow path on a pressure chamber side, and a portion corresponding to a boundary between the first region and the second region, and wherein at least apart of the portion is covered with the protection layer.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a substrate that carries thereon a plurality of ejection energy generating elements arranged in rows to generate energy necessary for ejecting liquid and an ejection port plate that is laid on the substrate and has a plurality of ejection ports formed therein and arranged vis-a-vis the respective ejection energy generating elements. The ejection port plate has a groove, or an oblong recess, formed on the surface thereof where the plurality of ejection ports are formed such that the groove surrounds the region where the ejection ports are formed and has a corrugated inner lateral surface and a flat outer lateral surface arranged oppositely relative to the inner lateral surface.