Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic urinary volume sensor capable of estimating a urinary volume in the bladder accurately corresponding to any particular individuals and/or conditions thereof by incorporating a space time series processing method allowing for an accurate estimation of the urinary volume in the bladder in association with the particular individuals and/or conditions thereof.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink containing section including an ink absorbing body made of a porous material for retaining ink. The ink cartridge satisfies 200?N·R?320, where N is the cell density, expressed in the number of pores per inch, of the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section; and R is a compressibility, which is a volume ratio of the ink absorbing body when the ink absorbing body is contained in a compressed state in the ink containing section to the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which ink depletion detection accuracy will not be deteriorated even if an air bubble is created in an ink supplying path. The image forming apparatus is provided with (a) an ink storage section for storing ink therein, (b) an ink supplying path for supplying, to a print head, the ink stored in the ink storage section, and (c) an electrode for detecting whether the ink is present or absent in the ink supplying path, an amount of the ink supplied into the ink supplying path being 1.0 cc or less per minute.

Abstract: A fixing device of the present invention includes a pressure roller and a peeling roller both of which press a heat roller. The pressure roller is disposed upstream to the peeling roller in a transport direction of a recording paper. An outer diameter of the heat roller, an outer diameter of the pressure roller, and an outer diameter of the peeling roller decrease in this order. With this arrangement, it is possible to realize a fixing device which achieves a reduced size and reduced power requirements, while ensuring a fixing property and a peeling property with respect to a recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an ink tank; and an ink supplying path for supplying the ink from the ink tank to a print head, wherein the ink supplying path therein includes a filter, which generates negative pressure when the ink is supplied, the negative pressure being smaller than ink absorbing pressure of a nozzle of the print head. Further, the ink tank therein includes, for example, a porous ink absorbing body for retaining ink.

Abstract: The present invention can reduce the amount of ink in an outlet-side space which is sucked together with gas, without making the thickness of an isolating member for separating the inside of the sub-tank into an inlet-side space and the outlet-side space in the horizontal direction extremely thin nor making an inflow channel for allowing the ink in the inlet-side space to flow into the outlet-side space extremely small. The present invention has an isolating member in the form of a plate for separating the inside of a sub-tank coupled to a recording head into an inlet-side space connected to a main-tank and an outlet-side space connected to the recording head, and an inflow channel in the form of a slit for increasing the ink level in the inlet-side space while allowing the ink in the inlet-side space to flow into the outlet-side space from the isolating member.

Abstract: An ink supply device includes an ink tank for containing ink inside and a tank holder for holding the ink tank in a detachable manner. The tank holder includes a control tank, a circulation needle, and an air supply needle. The control tank allows the ink and air to circulate between the control tank and the ink tank so that the internal pressure of the ink tank attached has a predetermined value.

Abstract: The invention offers an inkjet printer which does not produce defective prints when bubbles enter ink supply tube. There is provided an air trap in an ink supply tube near an ink delivery port of an ink tank. The air trap is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with a flow passage length of Lx, a height of Lh as measured from the bottom of an ink flow to a highest part, and a width of W. On its downstream end, the air trap has an outlet having a height of Ly as measured from the bottom of an ink flow. The air trap has a bubble catching space above the outlet. The dimensions are determined so that bubbles float at least up to height Ly while passing through the flow passage of length Lx. When bubbles flow into the air trap, they float and are caught in the space of the air trap before reaching the outlet.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink containing section including an ink absorbing body made of a porous material for retaining ink. The ink cartridge satisfies 200?N·R?320, where N is the cell density, expressed in the number of pores per inch, of the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section; and R is a compressibility, which is a volume ratio of the ink absorbing body when the ink absorbing body is contained in a compressed state in the ink containing section to the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink containing section including an ink absorbing body made of a porous material for retaining ink. The ink cartridge satisfies 200?N·R?320, where N is the cell density, expressed in the number of pores per inch, of the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section; and R is a compressibility, which is a volume ratio of the ink absorbing body when the ink absorbing body is contained in a compressed state in the ink containing section to the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section.

Abstract: A fixing device of the present invention includes a pressure roller and a peeling roller both of which press a heat roller. The pressure roller is disposed upstream to the peeling roller in a transport direction of a recording paper. An outer diameter of the heat roller, an outer diameter of the pressure roller, and an outer diameter of the peeling roller decrease in this order. With this arrangement, it is possible to realize a fixing device which achieves a reduced size and reduced power requirements, while ensuring a fixing property and a peeling property with respect to a recording medium.

Abstract: Ink absorption pads are associated with waste ink storage apparatus in ink jet printers. Waste ink is emitted from the tubes. The waste ink is absorbed by the pads.

Abstract: Ink absorption pads are associated with waste ink storage apparatus in ink jet printers. Waste ink is emitted from the tubes. The waste ink is absorbed by the pads.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an ink tank; and an ink supplying path for supplying the ink from the ink tank to a print head, wherein the ink supplying path therein includes a filter, which generates negative pressure when the ink is supplied, the negative pressure being smaller than ink absorbing pressure of a nozzle of the print head. Further, the ink tank therein includes, for example, a porous ink absorbing body for retaining ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which ink depletion detection accuracy will not be deteriorated even if an air bubble is created in an ink supplying path. The mage forming apparatus is provided with (a) an ink storage section for storing ink therein, (b) an ink supplying path for supplying, to a print head, the ink stored in the ink storage section, and (c) an electrode for detecting whether the ink is present or absent in the ink supplying path, an amount of the ink supplied into the ink supplying path being 1.0 cc or less per minute.

Abstract: The present invention can reduce the amount of ink in an outlet-side space which is sucked together with gas, without making the thickness of an isolating member for separating the inside of the sub-tank into an inlet-side space and the outlet-side space in the horizontal direction extremely thin nor making an inflow channel for allowing the ink in the inlet-side space to flow into the outlet-side space extremely small. The present invention has an isolating member in the form of a plate for separating the inside of a sub-tank coupled to a recording head into an inlet-side space connected to a main-tank and an outlet-side space connected to the recording head, and an inflow channel in the form of a slit for increasing the ink level in the inlet-side space while allowing the ink in the inlet-side space to flow into the outlet-side space from the isolating member.

Abstract: The invention offers an inkjet printer which does not produce defective prints when bubbles enter ink supply tube. There is provided an air trap in an ink supply tube near an ink delivery port of an ink tank. The air trap is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with a flow passage length of Lx, a height of Lh as measured from the bottom of an ink flow to a highest part, and a width of W. On its downstream end, the air trap has an outlet having a height of Ly as measured from the bottom of an ink flow. The air trap has a bubble catching space above the outlet. The dimensions are determined so that bubbles float at least up to height Ly while passing through the flow passage of length Lx. When bubbles flow into the air trap, they float and are caught in the space of the air trap before reaching the outlet.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink containing section including an ink absorbing body made of a porous material for retaining ink. The ink cartridge satisfies 200≦N·R≦320, where N is the cell density, expressed in the number of pores per inch, of the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section; and R is a compressibility, which is a volume ratio of the ink absorbing body when the ink absorbing body is contained in a compressed state in the ink containing section to the ink absorbing body before the ink absorbing body is contained in the ink containing section.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a recording head is disclosed in which a needle-type control electrode is formed integrally with the substrate. The method includes steps of forming on a substrate a first member layer having a pattern such that the substrate is partially exposed. Forming a second member layer spanning a portion of the exposed substrate and a portion of the first member layer. Then, a needle-type member is formed from the second member layer. Finally, the basic portion of the recording head is completed just by joining the substrate and an overhead plate. Thus, there is no need to join the needle-like control electrode with the substrate. There is no need to position members having critical dimensions with each other.

Abstract: An ink jet print head by which ink droplet ejected from all orifices are adapted to have uniform size has the following structure. Each of a plurality of ink chambers divided by partitions is communicated with a common pressure chamber with a first filter interposed. Common pressure chamber is communicated with a common ink feed path with a second filter interposed. Common pressure chamber and each of the ink chambers are covered by a pressure chamber ceiling. On pressure chamber ceiling, a piezo vibrator is provided at a position corresponding to common pressure chamber. A movable wall which is bent and deformed to the side increasing the volume is provided corresponding to each partition. By driving a piezo vibrator, a pressure wave is generated in common pressure chamber, which wave is transmitted to each ink chamber through the first filter. When movable wall is bent and deformed, the pressure wave is absorbed, so that an ink droplet is not ejected.