Abstract: A boiler-equipped absorption heat pump unit in which a regenerator, a boiler, and other high-temperature devices are separated from an evaporator, an absorber, and other low-temperature devices are separated by an insulated dividing wall. The dividing wall reduces heat loss by impeding the transfer of heat from the high-temperature devices to the low-temperature devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an ink jet head, having a pressure chamber, a flow path and a nozzle, which ejects ink in the pressure chamber through the nozzle, a first tank connected to the flow path, a supply unit which supplies ink in the first tank to the pressure chamber through the flow path, a second tank connected to the flow path, a discharge unit which moves ink in the pressure chamber to the second tank through the flow path, and a control section which activates the supply unit and the discharge unit so that ink in the pressure chamber is discharged to the second tank by the discharge unit, ink in the first tank is charged to the pressure chamber by the supply unit and the liquid surface of ink supplied to the pressure chamber is projected from the nozzle.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet device includes: an ink circulating device configured to communicate with an inkjet head to form an ink circulating system; an arithmetic unit configured to calculate, on the basis of pressure detected from the ink circulating system, pressure in an ink discharge port section according to an arithmetic expression set in advance; a pressure determining unit configured to determine, with proper nozzle pressure in the ink discharge port not discharging ink set as a reference value, whether a value calculated by the arithmetic unit is positive pressure or negative pressure with respect to the reference value; and a negative pressure regulator configured to communicate with the ink circulating system and perform, if the pressure determining unit determines that the value is the positive pressure, an ink reducing operation in the ink circulating system and increase a negative pressure value on the ink discharge port.

Abstract: A coupling structure for an absorption refrigeration circuit includes a gasket held between two coupling members. The gasket has a protruding part that elastically deforms when clamped between adjoining faces of the two coupling members.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet device includes: an ink circulating device configured to communicate with an inkjet head to form an ink circulating system; an arithmetic unit configured to calculate, on the basis of pressure detected from the ink circulating system, pressure in an ink discharge port section according to an arithmetic expression set in advance; a pressure determining unit configured to determine, with proper nozzle pressure in the ink discharge port not discharging ink set as a reference value, whether a value calculated by the arithmetic unit is positive pressure or negative pressure with respect to the reference value; and a negative pressure regulator configured to communicate with the ink circulating system and perform, if the pressure determining unit determines that the value is the positive pressure, an ink reducing operation in the ink circulating system and increase a negative pressure value on the ink discharge port.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an ink jet head, having a pressure chamber, a flow path and a nozzle, which ejects ink in the pressure chamber through the nozzle, a first tank connected to the flow path, a supply unit which supplies ink in the first tank to the pressure chamber through the flow path, a second tank connected to the flow path, a discharge unit which moves ink in the pressure chamber to the second tank through the flow path, and a control section which activates the supply unit and the discharge unit so that ink in the pressure chamber is discharged to the second tank by the discharge unit, ink in the first tank is charged to the pressure chamber by the supply unit and the liquid surface of ink supplied to the pressure chamber is projected from the nozzle.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet device includes: an ink circulating device configured to communicate with an inkjet head to form an ink circulating system; an arithmetic unit configured to calculate, on the basis of pressure detected from the ink circulating system, pressure in an ink discharge port section according to an arithmetic expression set in advance; a pressure determining unit configured to determine, with proper nozzle pressure in the ink discharge port not discharging ink set as a reference value, whether a value calculated by the arithmetic unit is positive pressure or negative pressure with respect to the reference value; and a negative pressure regulator configured to communicate with the ink circulating system and perform, if the pressure determining unit determines that the value is the positive pressure, an ink reducing operation in the ink circulating system and increase a negative pressure value on the ink discharge port.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet device includes: an ink circulating device configured to communicate with an inkjet head to form an ink circulating system; an arithmetic unit configured to calculate, on the basis of pressure detected from the ink circulating system, pressure in an ink discharge port section according to an arithmetic expression set in advance; a pressure determining unit configured to determine, with proper nozzle pressure in the ink discharge port not discharging ink set as a reference value, whether a value calculated by the arithmetic unit is positive pressure or negative pressure with respect to the reference value; and a negative pressure regulator configured to communicate with the ink circulating system and perform, if the pressure determining unit determines that the value is the positive pressure, an ink reducing operation in the ink circulating system and increase a negative pressure value on the ink discharge port.

Abstract: A boiler-equipped absorption heat pump unit (10) having reduced heat loss is disclosed. A regenerator (23), a boiler (14), and other high-temperature devices, as well as an evaporator (11), an absorber (12), and other low-temperature devices are separated from each other by a dividing wall (62). The dividing wall impedes the transfer of heat from the high-temperature devices to the low-temperature devices, and heat loss is reduced.

Abstract: An inexpensively manufactured coupling structure (21) for an absorption refrigeration circuit includes a gasket (27) held between two coupling members (23, 26). The gasket has a protruding part (32) that elastically de-forms when clamped between adjoining faces (22, 25) of the two coupling members.

Abstract: In such a manner that ink in each of a plurality of pressure chambers for holding the ink therein is brought to a positive pressure state of being ejected from respective nozzles respectively communicating with the respective chambers to the outside of each of the pressure chambers, a cleaning member abutted against a nozzle plate formed with a plurality of nozzles is moved along the nozzles in a state in which pressure is applied to all of the pressure chambers, to thereby extrude foreign particles outside the pressure chambers by the ink ejected from the respective nozzles to the outside of the pressure chambers, thereby making it possible to recover the ink, whereby the occurrence of a delivery failure due to the foreign particles around the nozzles being absorbed into the pressure chambers, can be prevented, and the foreign particles contained in the ink can be purged without consuming much ink needlessly.

Abstract: An ink jet head cleaning apparatus is provided which includes a wiping unit which performs a wiping operation for a nozzle surface of an ink jet head and a suction unit which performs a sucking operation for the nozzle surface. An operation OFF condition of the wiping unit and an operation OFF condition of the suction unit is detected, and the wiping unit and the suction unit are actuated selectively in accordance with the operation OFF condition thus detected. If an elapsed time after the wiping operation is longer than a first predetermined time, the wiping unit is actuated, and if an elapsed time after the sucking operation is longer than a second predetermined time, the suction unit is actuated. The first predetermined time is longer than the second predetermined time.

Abstract: An ink jet head cleaning apparatus is provided which includes a wiping unit which performs a wiping operation for a nozzle surface of an ink jet head and a suction unit which performs a sucking operation for the nozzle surface. An operation OFF condition of the wiping unit and an operation OFF condition of the suction unit is detected, and the wiping unit and the suction unit are actuated selectively in accordance with the operation OFF condition thus detected. If an elapsed time after the wiping operation is longer than a first predetermined time, the wiping unit is actuated, and if an elapsed time after the sucking operation is longer than a second predetermined time, the suction unit is actuated. The first predetermined time is longer than the second predetermined time.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for allowing a wipe member formed of an elastic material to abut against a nozzle plate in which a plurality nozzles communicating with a pressure chamber for holding ink therein are arranged, moving the wipe member along the nozzle plate to remove ink and foreign particles remaining in the nozzle plate, and switching the position of abutment of the wipe member against the nozzle plate, whereby satisfactory sweeping capability of the wipe member can be maintained without providing a wipe member cleaning mechanism and performing the work of replacing of the wipe member with another.

Abstract: In an ink jet head cleaning apparatus according to the present invention there are provided a wiping unit which performs a wiping operation for a nozzle surface of an ink jet head and a suction unit which performs a sucking operation for the nozzle surface, and an operation OFF condition of the ink jet head, the wiping unit or the suction unit is detected, then the wiping unit and the suction unit are actuated selectively in accordance with the operation OFF condition thus detected. With this construction, the operation frequency of the suction unit necessary for keeping the nozzle surface of the ink jet head in good condition can be kept low and hence it is possible to reduce the consumption of energy. Besides, it is possible to diminish the operation frequency of the wiping unit which causes wear or damage of the nozzle surface and it is possible to attain a long life of the ink jet head.

Abstract: An ink jet head cleaning apparatus of the present invention comprises a flexible contact member and a driving unit. The flexible contact member is mounted in a position where its top end comes into contact with a nozzle face of an ink jet head having the nozzle face provided with outlets for discharging ink in a form of droplets, and is movable along the nozzle face. On the other hand, the driving unit functions to correlatively move the ink jet head and the contact member. The top end of the contact member is divided into a plurality of sections in a direction orthogonal to the direction of its movement. Thus, a foreign substance holding on the nozzle face can be removed completely from the nozzle face by means of the wipe blade. Furthermore, the growth of the foreign substance can be restrained. It is therefore possible to prevent deterioration of ink discharge stability and straight discharge of ink.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for allowing a wipe member formed of an elastic material to abut against a nozzle plate in which a plurality nozzles communicating with a pressure chamber for holding ink therein are arranged, moving the wipe member along the nozzle plate to remove ink and foreign particles remaining in the nozzle plate, and switching the position of abutment of the wipe member against the nozzle plate, whereby satisfactory sweeping capability of the wipe member can be maintained without providing a wipe member cleaning mechanism and performing the work of replacing of the wipe member with another.

Abstract: In such a manner that ink in each of a plurality of pressure chambers for holding the ink therein is brought to a positive pressure state of being ejected from respective nozzles respectively communicating with the respective chambers to the outside of each of the pressure chambers, a cleaning member abutted against a nozzle plate formed with a plurality of nozzles is moved along the nozzles in a state in which pressure is applied to all of the pressure chambers, to thereby extrude foreign particles outside the pressure chambers by the ink ejected from the respective nozzles to the outside of the pressure chambers, thereby making it possible to recover the ink, whereby the occurrence of a delivery failure due to the foreign particles around the nozzles being absorbed into the pressure chambers, can be prevented, and the foreign particles contained in the ink can be purged without consuming much ink needlessly.

Abstract: An image reader of the present invention can be switched between a flatbed mode for obtaining a image light by directing an illuminating light with an object to be read kept still at a predetermined position of a transparent glass while moving an illuminating unit along the transparent glass when the object to be read includes a color image, and a sheet-through mode for obtaining an image light by directing an illuminating light to the object to be read being conveyed through a reading window when the object to be read includes only a monochrome image.

Abstract: There is here disclosed a manual paper feeder attached to an image forming apparatus including at least an image data receiving portion and an image forming device, and the manual paper feeder comprises a manual feed unit for supplying a paper sheet by mounting the paper sheet by a user; and a paper sheet release unit including at least a paper feed roller for carrying the paper sheets mounted in the manual feed unit; a frictional separation member for carrying the paper sheets by the frictional force while holding the manually supplied paper sheets between the frictional separation member itself and the paper feed roller; and a frictional force variable mechanism for changing the frictional force for holding the paper sheet between the paper feed roller and the frictional separation member.