Abstract: In a structure of an ink tank having a deformable sheet that constitutes the tank and a spring for imparting a negative pressure, unstableness of the negative pressure attributable to the deformation of the sheet as a result of ink consumption is prevented. For this purpose, a plate-like member is joined to a top section of the sheet formed in a convex shape, and the spring for generating the negative pressure in the tank is mounted to the same member. This makes it possible to maintain a high volume ratio of the ink tank and to achieve stableness of the negative pressure by adequately regulating the deformation of the sheet when the sheet is displaced in the direction of retracting toward the interior of the tank as a result of a reduction of the amount of ink in the tank.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head substrate used for a liquid discharge head is adapted to discharge liquid by applying discharge energy to the liquid. The substrate is a semiconductor substrate including an energy conversion element for converting electric energy into the discharge energy and a function element made of a ferroelectric material.

Abstract: In the printing apparatus, the printing region, the paper-conveying roller region and the ink (printing agent) region are arranged on a straight line generally parallel to the plane containing the printing region. Thereby, it is possible to accommodate the increase in the printing region or the ink (printing agent) region in an area on the straight line. Accordingly, the reduction of the running cost is realized by a printing agent container of a large capacity, while enabling the high-speed printing by ensuring the large printing region surface in the thin and small-sized printing apparatus.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink tank package that allows an ink tank to be unloaded and unsealed without a user's worrying about spattering of the ink. The ink tank package according to the present invention includes an ink tank and a package. The package includes a container containing therein the ink tank and a lid. The lid includes a first unsealing portion and a second unsealing portion that are mutually bendably connected. Part of a sealing member for sealing an opening in the ink tank is coupled to the first unsealing portion.

Abstract: An ink supplying system for supplying ink to a recording head of a recording apparatus. The ink supplying system includes an ink tank for containing the ink and an ink supplying unit, connected to the ink tank via communication paths, for supplying the ink from the ink tank to the recording head. The ink in the ink tank is introduced into the ink supplying unit through at least one of the communication paths, and gas in the ink supplying unit is transported into the ink tank through at least a different one of the communication paths. At least one of the ink tank and the ink supplying unit has storage means for storing information regarding the amount of ink in the ink supplying system.

Abstract: An ink supply system in which gas is promptly and smoothly discharged without having a complex structure. The ink supply system includes a hermetically-sealed structure communicating with a liquid-using section, a liquid accommodating section having a liquid storage adapted to store liquid, the liquid accomodating section including a negative pressure generation means, and a plurality of communication paths, including first and second communication paths, that facilitates communication between the liquid chamber and the liquid accommodating section. Each of the first and second communication paths includes a liquid chamber side opening extending into the liquid chamber and a liquid accommodating section side opening extending into the liquid accommodating section.

Abstract: A recording head comprises a plurality of recording elements for performing recording; a driving circuit for driving the plurality of recording elements; and a predetermined voltage generating circuit for generating a predetermined voltage to be applied to the plurality of recording elements from voltage supplied from outside. With the head thus structured, a desired voltage is generated in the interior of the head by use of the predetermined voltage generating circuit for performing recording, thus making it possible to prevent the voltage drop which may take place if the voltage is supplied from outside through a cable, as well as to prevent the durability of the heat generating elements from being damaged due to noises. It also becomes possible to set the voltage to be applied to the recording elements at an optimal value corresponding to the discharge voltage, hence stabilizing ink discharges efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention prevents liquid leakage regardless of the using conditions and the reserving atmosphere and stabilizes a negative pressure regardless of the degree of liquid consumption, by having a one-way valve in the liquid container that supplies liquid to an external device, maintaining the negative pressure formed in the liquid supplying passage positioned in the downstream of a position where liquid or gas is supplied by the one-way valve. The liquid container has a deformable, movable unit at least a part of which is made of a flexible material. A space other than the liquid supply unit forms a substantially sealed space in which liquid is retained. The container is capable of supplying the liquid to the outside. Such container has a one-way valve that passes liquid or gas from the liquid container to the outside or from the outside to the liquid container.

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: In a liquid discharge detection method and apparatus which detect a liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head, an electrode is placed at a position where the liquid discharged from the liquid discharge head comes into contact with the electrode while being in contact with the head. When a liquid is discharged, and the head is connected to the electrode through the liquid, the circuit becomes a closed circuit. A voltage generated between the two ends of a resistor r is obtained from a current i flowing in the closed circuit. When this voltage becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage, liquid discharge can be detected.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head having a liquid flow path, a discharge energy generating device in the liquid flow path, a discharge port communicating with the liquid flow path, and a movable member facing the discharge energy generating device. The movable member is formed by a photolithographic technique, and a right-angled part and an acute-angled part of an edge of the movable member are removed so as to make a surface of the edge of the movable member curved. The curved surface of the movable member serves to reduce concentration of the stress on the movable member that occurs due to displacement of the movable member resulting from pressure of a bubble generated to discharge ink. Removal of the right-angled and acute-angled parts may be performed by soaking the movable member in an etching solution after formation of the movable member.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head is provided with discharge ports for discharging liquid, liquid flow paths communicated with the discharge ports for supplying liquid to the discharge ports, a substrate having heat generating members for creating bubbles in the liquid, and movable members facing the heat generating members and being arranged in the liquid flow paths. The movable members have a free end on the discharge port side with a specific gap with respect to the heat generating members. The movable member is fixed to the substrate above the heat generating member on the substrate.

Abstract: In an ink storing container, movable members are properly constructed by molding sheet material into a convex form and are properly welded to a frame. The ink storing container is provided with an air passage section in which an ink meniscus is formed correspondingly to pressure relative to the atmosphere and through which the interior of an ink storing space is in communication with the atmosphere via an air path having a predetermined length. Thus, when negative pressure in the storing space increases, an air is introduced into the space via the air passage section. On the other hand, when the gas in the ink storing section expands to push the ink in the storing space, the ink can be kept in the path. As a result, the interior of the ink storing space is maintained at appropriate negative pressure for ink supply.

Abstract: There is disclosed a solid semiconductor element which very efficiently detects information about a liquid and bidirectionally exchanges the information with the outside. The solid semiconductor element is disposed in a liquid container, and includes at least energy converting unit, information acquiring unit, and information communicating unit. The energy converting unit converts an electromotive force from the outside to a power, and operates the information acquiring unit and information communicating unit. The information acquiring unit acquires the information about the liquid in which the solid semiconductor element is disposed from the liquid, and the information communicating unit transmits the information acquired by the information acquiring unit to the outside.

Abstract: To provide a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge apparatus, a valve protection method of the liquid discharge head, and a maintenance device.

Abstract: In a configuration having an ink containing portion which is deformable at least in a part thereof, a spring for generating a required negative pressure in the container by exerting a force that expands the deformable part, and an air introducing section for allowing air to be introduced in accordance with an increase in the negative pressure in the container to keep the negative pressure in an adequate range, a one-way valve is used to prevent leakage of ink from a sealed containing space containing ink to the outside and to allow introduction of air into the containing space from the outside. As a result, there is provided an ink tank from which no ink leaks out through the air introducing section thereof in any ambience for use or storage and which can maintain stable negative pressure characteristics regardless of the phase of the consumption of the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printer head having a plurality of print elements for effecting recording on a recording medium on the basis of printer information inputted from outside, comprising an interface circuit for converting input of the printer information corresponding to communication interface standard for high speed data transferring into data processable in the print head and for outputting the converted data, and in which the recording on the recording medium is effected by the print elements in accordance with the printer information outputted from the interface circuit. A printer apparatus having such a printer head is also provided.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head comprises first and second substrates which are to be mutually adjoined to form plural liquid paths respectively communicating with plural discharge apertures. The first substrate is provided with energy conversion elements, for converting electrical energy into energy for discharging liquid in the liquid paths, respectively corresponding to the liquid paths. The second substrate is provided with detection elements, for detecting a state of the liquid in said liquid paths, respectively corresponding to the liquid paths, and amplification means for respectively amplifying outputs of said detection elements.

Abstract: In a configuration having an ink containing portion which is deformable at least in a part thereof, a spring for generating a required negative pressure in the container by exerting a force that expands the deformable part, and an air introducing section for allowing air to be introduced in accordance with an increase in the negative pressure in the container to keep the negative pressure in an adequate range, a one-way valve is used to prevent leakage of ink from a sealed containing space containing ink to the outside and to allow introduction of air into the containing space from the outside. As a result, there is provided an ink tank from which no ink leaks out through the air introducing section thereof in any ambience for use or storage and which can maintain stable negative pressure characteristics regardless of the phase of the consumption of the liquid.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head has a heat generating member in which there is a bubbling region involved in the generation of the bubble. A center of the width of the heat generating member and a center of the width of an effective bubbling region with respect to a flow direction of the liquid are identical. The conditions of the bubble generation region are given as follows: the width of the effective bubbling region≦a width of the bubble generation region<the width of the heat generating member.