Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening and performing printing by ejecting an ink from the ink-jet head, timings of bubble forming are mutually shifted at respective heaters of the plurality of heaters upon application of respective pulses to the plurality of heaters and based on information relating to an ink temperature of the ink-jet head. The ejection amount can be controlled by forming bubbles in the ink to eject the ink through the ink ejection opening.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing thin film transistor array substrate for a liquid crystal display device-includes:—(a) forming a first metal thin film layer on a insulating substrate and forming a gate wiring and a gate electrode by a first photolithography. (b) forming a gate insulating film layer, a semiconductor film layer, an ohmic contact film layer and a second metal thin film layer, and forming the thin film transistor by a second photolithography, (c) forming an interlayer insulating film, and forming a pixel contact hole, a first contact hole and a second contact hole by a third photolithography, and (d) forming a transparent conductive film, and forming a pixel electrode by a fourth photolithography. The first metal thin film has a two-layered structure comprising a first layer made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and a second layer located on said first layer, and the second metal thin film is formed of an alloy mainly containing molybdenum.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to detect whether or not a conveying path is in a state capable of discharging a recording medium, having a recorded image thereon, outside of the apparatus, so as to prevent generation of a jam in conveyance and discharge of the recording medium. A state of covering a discharge port by a cover member is detected, and image recording on a recording medium is executed only when the recording medium can be conveyed and discharged. Non-execution of recording is indicated to an operator, and execution of recording is resumed when the cover member is moved to a state not obstructing conveyance and discharge of the recording medium.

Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening, appropriate preliminary ejection is performed per each ejection amount mode set by heater to be used among a plurality of heaters. Depending upon set printing mode (step S9), printing is performed in one of large, medium and small ejection amount modes (steps S10, S12, S14). For example, after printing is performed for a predetermined amount by the small ejection amount mode (step S10), the preliminary ejection during printing, is performed in the medium ejection amount mode which is greater in ejection amount than the small ejection amount mode. By this, the interval of preliminary ejection during printing can be set longer to prevent lowering of throughput due to preliminary printing operation.

Abstract: The present invention allows a buffer portion to sufficiently restrain the vibration of ink in a print head. To achieve this, the buffer portion is disposed close to a channel between a common chamber and an ejection opening and is filled with at least one bubble, and then excess of the at least one bubble is removed through the ejection opening.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of TFT array substrate of an LCD includes step A of forming gate wiring and a gate electrode by subjecting a first metal thin film to a photolithography process; step B of forming semiconductor active film by subjecting a gate insulating film to photolithograhy; step C of forming a source wiring, and source and drain electrodes by subjecting a second metal thin film to a photolithography; step D of forming an interlayer insulating film, thereafter forming a contact hole by subjecting the interlayer insulating film to photolithography; and step E of forming a pixel electrode by subjecting a transparent conductive film to photolithography where the second metal thin film is composed of an alloy containing Mo as a main component. The step B and C are replaced by a step of forming a gate insulating film and a second metal thin film, thereafter forming a TFT by a photolithography.

Abstract: A liquid discharging method is disclosed for a liquid discharge head which includes a discharge port constituting the portion for discharging liquid, an energy generating element generating the energy for discharging liquid, and liquid flow paths communicating with the discharge port and equipped with the energy generating element, which forms a plurality of droplets by discharging the liquid from the discharge port by the energy of the energy generating element, and which performs recording by shooting the plurality of droplets onto a recording medium. Herein, the plurality of dots is formed of a main droplet which flies at the start; and a droplet formed by coalescing, after capturing, a plurality of satellite droplets which is discharged as a result of the discharge action of the main droplet, before the satellite droplets have been shot onto the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention is designed to make uniform frequencies with which individual recording elements of a multihead are used in a recording apparatus for performing gray scale recording by controlling a number of dots recorded in a unit area. A gray scale pattern used to display gray scale is a pattern in which a plurality of blocks each comprising a dot concentration type gray scale pattern having a size smaller than that of the gray scale pattern is dispersed. The maximum difference between numbers of times the recording elements in the range of the gray scale pattern are used can be restricted within twice, and individual nozzles can be used uniformly. Consequently, imbalance of changes in the recording elements with time, caused by the differences between the frequencies with which the recording elements are used, can be restricted, thus restricting irregularities on an image.

Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening, appropriate preliminary ejection is performed per each ejection amount mode set by heater to be used among a plurality of heaters. Depending upon set printing mode (step S9), printing is performed in one of large, medium and small ejection amount modes (steps S10, S12, S14). For example, after printing is performed for a predetermined amount by the small ejection amount mode (step S10), the preliminary ejection during printing, is performed in the medium ejection amount mode which is greater in ejection amount than the small ejection amount mode. By this, the interval of preliminary ejection during printing can be set longer to prevent lowering of throughput due to preliminary printing operations.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus uses a recording head having discharge ports to discharge ink, and records by discharging ink from the recording head while enabling said recording head to travel in the direction of main scan. This apparatus comprises a recording head which is provided integrally with a plurality of recording units having a plurality of discharge port arrays for discharging ink of different colors, respectively, and then, the plurality of recording units are arranged in the direction of main scan to discharge ink of different densities, respectively. With the structure thus arranged, the recording in all the colors is not executed at a time thus making it possible to obtain an excellent image with a lesser deterioration of image due to ink blur and the like.

Abstract: This ink jet recording apparatus makes it possible to reduce the requisite number of times that preliminary ejection is performed for the purpose of ejection recovery through suction, which must be effected to such a degree as to make color mixing on the recording paper sufficiently inconspicuous. With a plurality of recording heads using inks of different lightnesses, ejection recovery is performed successively on the recording heads in accordance with the descending order of ink lightness. In addition, the number of preliminary ejections after ejection recovery to be performed on the next recording head is also controlled, thereby attaining a still greater effect. In a method aspect, the present invention includes an initial discharge step for discharging ink from a recording head, interrupting the discharge of ink for an appropriate period set in accordance with the ink lightness, and discharging ink again from the discharge ports of the recording head after the interruption.

Abstract: Disclosed is a color ink jet recording method including the step of recording a desired color image on a recording medium on the basis of recording data using a black ink and a plurality of color inks each being different from the black ink in permeating characteristics against the recording medium. In this method, the surface tension is 40 dyn/cm or less for each of the inks; and the blotting factor against plain paper is 2.5 or less for the black ink, and it is in the range of from 2.5 to 3.5 for each of the color inks. Alternatively, the surface tension is 40 dyn/cm or less for each of the inks; and the permeating rate against plain paper is one second or more for the black ink, and it is less than one second for each of the color inks.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to detect whether or not a conveying path is in a state capable of discharging a recording medium, having a recorded image thereon, outside of the apparatus, so as to prevent generation of a jam in conveyance and discharge of the recording medium. A state of covering a discharge port by a cover member is detected, and image recording on a recording medium is executed only when the recording medium can be conveyed and discharged. Non-execution of recording is indicated to an operator, and execution of recording is resumed when the cover member is moved to a state not obstructing conveyance and discharge of the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording method includes the steps of ejecting ink onto a recording material on the basis of image data; and ejecting record quality improving liquid to improve a record quality of the ink ejected onto the recording material; wherein one of the ink ejecting step and the liquid ejecting step is carried out after the other; the liquid ejecting step ejects the liquid to a part of an ink-ejection-area on the recording material to provide liquid-ejection-area and non-liquid-ejection-area.

Abstract: A reactive color ink that contains a metal ion and exhibits mutual reactivity with a blank ink is applied in an area including a print area, which has been formed by applying the blank ink on a recording medium, and an area surrounding the print area, a distance between an edge of the print area and an outer edge of the surrounding area being up to four pixels. This ink application is performed so that a value at least equal to 0.01 is obtained from a calculation where a metal ion concentration % by weight in the reactive color ink applied in the area including the print area and the surrounding area is multiplied by a print duty % of the reactive color ink applied in the area including the print area and the surrounding area.

Abstract: The present invention allows buffer chamber to sufficiently restrain the vibration of ink in a print head. To achieve this, buffer portion that effectively restrain the vibration of the ink at close to a channel between a common chamber and an ejection opening is filled with bubble, and then excess bubble is removed through the ejection opening.

Abstract: A liquid discharging method is disclosed for a liquid discharge head which includes a discharge port constituting the portion for discharging liquid, an energy generating element generating the energy for discharging liquid, and liquid flow paths communicating with the discharge port and equipped with the energy generating element, which forms a plurality of droplets by discharging the liquid from the discharge port by the energy of the energy generating element, and which performs recording by shooting the plurality of droplets onto a recording medium. Herein, the plurality of dots is formed of a main droplet which flies at the start; and a droplet formed by coalescing, after capturing, a plurality of satellite droplets which is discharged as a result of the discharge action of the main droplet, before the satellite droplets have been shot onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A liquid container for containing printing liquid for supplying to a recording head for an ink jet recording apparatus, the container includes a first chamber containing a negative pressure producing material and having a printing liquid supply port connectable to a recording head for allowing printing liquid to be supplied to the recording head and an air vent for allowing ambient air to enter the container, and a second chamber which provides a printing liquid reservoir for the first chamber and is substantially closed apart from a communication port communicating with the first chamber to allow the printing liquid to flow into the first chamber and to allow air to be introduced into the second chamber from the first chamber. The second chamber comprises a replaceable printing liquid chamber.

Abstract: A reactive color ink that contains a metal ion and exhibits mutual reactivity with a black ink is applied in an area including a print area, which has been formed by applying the black ink on a recording medium, and an area surrounding the print area, a distance between an edge of the print area and an outer edge of the surrounding area being up to four pixels. This ink application is performed so that a value at least equal to 0.01 is obtained from a calculation where (a metal ion concentration (% by weight) in the reactive color ink applied in the area including the print area and the surrounding area) is multiplied by (a print duty (%) of the reactive color ink applied in the area including the print area and the surrounding area).

Abstract: An ink containing apparatus for containing ink includes a negative pressure producing material; a first container for containing the negative pressure producing material, the first container having an air vent and a supply port for supplying the ink out; a second container for containing ink; a communication part for communication between bottom portions of the first and second containers; and ribs for introducing ambient air adjacent the air vent for introducing air into the communication part.