Abstract: A recording apparatus and method of controlling the apparatus includes a recording head for ejecting liquid ink for recording by heat energization, a temperature change rate detecting device for detecting the temperature change rate of the recording head in a normal state, a storage device for storing the temperature change rate information, a determining device for determining the average ejection duty cycle from recording data, an obtaining device for obtaining information relating the temperature change rate in the normal state to the average ejection duty cycle, and a discriminating device for discriminating an abnormality of the recording head determined by the information relating the temperature change rate in the normal state to the average ejection duty cycle, and the temperature change rate detected by the temperature change rate detecting device.

Abstract: Liquid is discharged at a high frequency in a consecutive manner with a liquid discharge head having a movable member. A bubble formed for discharge a first discharged droplet grows large into a discharge port side by the movable substantially closing a common liquid chamber side in a bubble forming procedure, and disappears fast at the common liquid chamber side by the movable member releasing the common liquid chamber side of a flow path in a bubble disappearance procedure, and reaches a state to remain at the discharge port side of a heat-generating body. Under this state, since the bubble disappears at the common liquid chamber side, a constant liquid is refilled to reach the discharge port side, and the bubble does not yet completely disappear, a meniscus is disposed comparatively closer to a liquid discharge face. Under the circumstances, if discharge of a second discharged droplet is arranged to start from this state, the liquid can be discharged well at a short interval in a consecutive manner.

Abstract: Provided is a recording head substrate on which are mounted energy generating elements that contribute to the formation of images by a recording head, and on which both light-receiving elements and light-emitting elements, or at least, light-receiving elements are mounted. In addition, provided is a recording head substrate on which are mounted energy generating elements that contribute to the formation of images by a recording head, and on which are mounted a plurality of head position detecting elements for detecting the position of the recording head.

Abstract: Provided is a recording head substrate on which are mounted energy generating elements that contribute to the formation of images by a recording head, and on which both light-receiving elements and light-emitting elements, or at least, light-receiving elements are mounted. In addition, provided is a recording head substrate on which are mounted energy generating elements that contribute to the formation of images by a recording head, and on which are mounted a plurality of head position detecting elements for detecting the position of the recording head.

Abstract: A liquid discharging method which employs a liquid discharging head consisting of a liquid discharging port, a bubble generating region where the bubble generates in the liquid and a movable member that can move between a first position and a second position which is located at a point farther from the bubble generating region compared with the first position, wherein the movable member moves from the first position to the second position by the pressure of the bubble generated by the bubble generating energy in the bubble generating region, and at the same time the bubble expands farther toward the downstream direction compared with the upstream direction by the displacement of the movable member in order to discharge the liquid out of the liquid discharging port by the liquid discharging energy applied to such liquid.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head comprises a discharging port for discharging liquid, a liquid flow path communicated with said discharging port, a bubble generating region for causing the liquid to generate a bubble and a movable member having provided thereon a free end disposed facing to said bubble generating region, and on the downstream of said liquid flow path directed toward said discharging port. At least when said movable member is in stationary state, a side of said liquid flow path corresponding to said bubble generating region is substantially composed of all with a wall face and common communicating space for commonly communicating said liquid flow path with a neighboring liquid flow path is provided in the upward of a movable section of said movable member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid discharge head that comprises: a heat generator that generates a thermal energy for generating a bubble in a liquid; a discharge part as a portion to discharge the liquid; a flow path communicating with the discharge part and having a bubble generation region in which the bubble is generated; a movable member having a free end and is displaced with the growth of the bubble; and a restricting portion to define a displacement amount of the movable member, in which the flow path is formed by joining a substantially flat substrate provided with the heat generator the movable member and a top plate opposing to the substrate and including the restricting portion, and the liquid is discharged from the discharge part by an energy during generation of the bubble, in which the clearance between at least one sidewall of the flow path and the side edge portion of the restricting portion is larger than the clearance between the sidewall and the side edge portion of the movable member.

Abstract: An ink-jet ink cartridge having an ink containing portion for containing the ink to be supplied to an ink-jet head, and a lid for covering the ink containing portion, characterized in that a wall of the ink containing portion and one face of the lid are welded together owing to frictional heat by vibration.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a discharge port for discharging liquid, a liquid passage communicated with the discharge port, a bubble generating area for generating a bubble in the liquid in the liquid passage, the bubble generating area including a heater for heating the liquid in the liquid passage, and a movable member disposed in a confronting relation to the bubble generating area in the liquid passage and adapted to be shifted by pressure caused by generating the bubble at the bubble generating area to direct the pressure toward the discharge port and to be returned to its initial position by negative pressure due to contraction of the bubble, and wherein resistance of the movable member against the liquid in the liquid passage when it is shifted is smaller than that when it is returned.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a pair of substrates mutually fixed in lamination, a plurality of liquid flow paths arranged on the bonded faces of the substrates, the leading end of the plural liquid flow paths being communicated with a plurality of discharge ports, a plurality of heat generating members arranged on at least one of the substrates corresponding to each of the liquid flow paths and a movable member having in the liquid flow path the free end thereof on the discharge port side, and a region between the heat generating member and the movable member, where liquid exists. In the liquid discharge head, a bubble is created by enabling thermal energy generated by the heat generating members to act upon the liquid, and the bubble is controlled by the movable member to discharge liquid in the liquid flow paths from the discharge ports to the outside.

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: A sealing method for an ink container having a front side, a rear side, a bottom side, an upper side and two lateral sides, and having an ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head portion and an air vent for fluid communication between an inside of the ink container and ambience. A seal member is mounted on a first one of the sides and on a second one of the sides continuous with the first side, the seal member having a width larger than a width of the first and second sides. A portion of the seal member is inwardly folded beyond the width of the first side. A portion of the seal member is outwardly folded beyond the width of the second side. The inwardly folded portion of the seal member is heat-sealed to a side of a packaging bladder for accommodating the ink container.

Abstract: A simple and high productivity liquid filling method is provided for a small-size liquid container having a high efficiency of use in which an amount of accommodated ink per unit volume is increased and a stable liquid supply can be realized. This method fills a liquid into a liquid container, which includes a first chamber incorporating a negative pressure Generating member and including a liquid supply portion and an atmospheric-air communicating portion, and a second chamber including a communicating portion communicating with the first chamber and forming a substantially closed space. The method includes the step of prohibiting discharge of air within one of the first chamber and the second chamber, and simultaneously filling a liquid into the other chamber while discharging air within the other chamber to the outside of the liquid container, in a state in which the communicating portion is placed at a lower position in a direction of gravity.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid discharging method and apparatus in which a bubble is formed and grown in the liquid communicated with atmosphere at an area of a discharge opening, and in which a movable member having a free end which guides the bubble toward the discharge opening while regulating growth of the bubble.

Abstract: In a liquid discharge head having a movable member displaced by generation of a bubble, endurance of stepped portions of the movable member and of root portions of movable parts of the movable member is enhanced and flexure deformation of the movable member is prevented to enhance endurance of the member. A pressing member for covering stepped portions of a movable member and root portions of branched movable parts is provided within a flow path. A part of the pressing member is tapered and extends to a downstream side (toward a discharge port) to be spaced apart from the movable member, thereby forming a flexure regulating portion opposed to and spaced apart from an intermediate portion of the movable member. The pressing member and the flexure regulating portion suppress excessive deformation of the movable member.

Abstract: A substrate having plural recording elements and electrical leads for supplying electric signals to the recording elements includes electrical contacts for external electrical connection for reception of image signals used for driving the recording elements; and a processing circuit for converting signals which are serially supplied to the connecting contact to parallel signals to be applied to the recording elements.

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: A substrate for liquid ejection includes a built-in energy generating element for generating thermal energy, a built-in electrode wiring portion for supplying an electric signal to the energy generating element, and a built-in temperature detecting element for detecting a temperature of the substrate.

Abstract: A liquid supply system includes a liquid supply container provided with a liquid accommodating portion being deformable by storing liquid in the closed space to be able to generate negative pressure, a liquid supply unit detachably mountable on the liquid supply container to contain the capillary force generating material retaining liquid therein, and at the same time, to supply liquid to the outside, a container for the capillary force generating material provided with an air communication unit communicating with the air outside to be able to generate the gas-liquid exchange for leading out liquid by introducing gas into the liquid accommodating portion through the communication unit connected with the liquid supply container, and the communication unit being arranged on the upper surface of the container for the capillary force generating material, at the same time, the liquid supply container being arranged above the container for the capillary force generating material through the communication unit to sh

Abstract: A liquid discharging method for discharging liquid by displacing a movable member by means of air bubble created on the air bubble generating area, which the free end of the movable member faces, comprises the step of promoting the movement of the free end of the movable member by means for promoting the displacement of the free end thereof. With the adoption of this method, the pressure of the air bubble that acts upon the free end of the movable member enables the movable member to form an appropriate displacing configuration to lead the pressure exerted at the time of foaming and the development of the air bubble in the discharging direction efficiently. At the same time, the displacement of the movable member is performed smoothly, thus contributing to enhancing the durability of the movable member.