Abstract: A print head includes upper protective members located at positions corresponding to heat generating resistor elements to protect the heat generating resistor elements, and further, a part of the protective member can be eluted into ink when a current flows inside in a state in which the ink is stored in the pressure chambers. The print head includes a drive element and a logic circuit capable of allowing a current to independently flow in each of the upper protective layers so as to elute a part of the upper protective layer, in which the current flows, into the ink.

Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a liquid discharge head including a discharge port surface on which discharge ports for discharging liquid are formed, an electrothermal conversion element configured to generate energy for discharging liquid from the discharge ports, and a protection film configured to cover at least the electrothermal conversion element, and a cap configured to cover the discharge port surface, wherein the cap is arranged along the discharge port surface at a position opposite to the protection film via the discharge ports in a state where the cap covers the discharge port surface, and wherein the cap includes an electrode configured to be used to apply voltage between the protection film and the electrode.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a liquid discharge head which includes; a discharge port to discharge a liquid; and a substrate including: an energy generating element for generating thermal energy to discharge the liquid from the liquid discharge port; a pair of electrodes connected to the energy generating element for driving thereof; an insulating layer of an insulating material provided to cover the energy generating element; and a metal layer of a metal material provided corresponding to the energy generating element to cover the insulating layer; and a driver unit which sets a first potential of one of the pair of electrodes substantially equal to the potential of the liquid and a second potential of the other one of the pair of electrodes lower than the first potential to drive the energy generating element.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head substrate includes a base; a pair of wiring lines; a heat-generating resistive layer, which is in contact with the wiring lines, and which has a portion corresponding to a space between the wiring lines, the portion forming an electrothermal transducer; an insulating layer which covers the heat-generating resistive layer and the wiring lines and which contains Si; a protective layer which covers at least one region of the insulating layer which contains Ir; and an intermediate layer which is placed between the insulating layer and the protective layer. The intermediate layer contains a material represented by the formula TaxSiyNz, where x is 5 atomic percent to 80 atomic percent, y is 3 atomic percent to 60 atomic percent, z is 10 atomic percent to 60 atomic percent.

Abstract: In a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid by using thermal energy, reduction of film thickness caused by elution of a protective layer when kogation on the protective layer is removed is uniformized and decrease in liquid ejection performance is suppressed. More specifically, a counter electrode is provided around a portion on which an ejection port of a flow path forming member is formed.

Abstract: A substrate for a liquid discharge head includes an upper protection film that covers at least a region corresponding to each of thermal energy generation elements. The upper protection film and at least one of the upper protection films adjacent to the upper protection film within a liquid chamber are respectively connected to different external electrodes, and a voltage can be applied therebetween via the different external electrodes.

Abstract: A print head includes upper protective members located at positions corresponding to heat generating resistor elements to protect the heat generating resistor elements, and further, a part of the protective member being eluted to ink when a current flows inside in a state in which the ink is reserved in the pressure chambers. The print head includes a drive element and a logic circuit capable of allowing a current to independently flow in each of the upper protective layers so as to elute a part of the upper protective layer, in which the current flows, to the ink.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head substrate includes a substrate, an element disposed on the substrate that generates thermal energy used for ejecting liquid, and a protective layer disposed at least at a position corresponding to the element. The protective layer contains iridium and has a density in the range of 21.0 g/cm3 to 22.7 g/cm3.

Abstract: A reproduction method of a liquid ejecting head including: a process of filling the flow path with an electrolyte solution containing metal, and filling a space between an electrode capable of applying a voltage to between itself and the upper protective film and the upper protective film with the electrolyte solution; and a process of applying a voltage to between the upper protective film and the electrode to make the metal contained in the electrolyte solution deposit on the surface of the upper protective film.

Abstract: A substrate for a liquid discharge head includes an upper protection film that covers at least a region corresponding to each of thermal energy generation elements. The upper protection film and at least one of the upper protection films adjacent to the upper protection film within a liquid chamber are respectively connected to different external electrodes, and a voltage can be applied therebetween via the different external electrodes.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a liquid-discharge head substrate including a base material provided with an energy generating element that generates energy utilized for discharging liquid, a noble metal layer including noble metal provided on a surface of the base material on energy generating element side, and a material layer provided to come into contact with the noble metal layer. The manufacturing method includes preparing the base material on which the material layer is provided, oxidizing a part of a surface of the material layer by discharging electricity in oxygen-containing gas, and providing the noble metal layer on the base material.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head substrate includes a base; a pair of wiring lines; a heat-generating resistive layer, which is in contact with the wiring lines, and which has a portion corresponding to a space between the wiring lines, the portion forming an electrothermal transducer; an insulating layer which covers the heat-generating resistive layer and the wiring lines and which contains Si; a protective layer which covers at least one region of the insulating layer which contains Ir; and an intermediate layer which is placed between the insulating layer and the protective layer. The intermediate layer contains a material represented by the formula TaxSiyNz, where x is 5 atomic percent to 80 atomic percent, y is 3 atomic percent to 60 atomic percent, z is 10 atomic percent to 60 atomic percent.

Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a liquid discharge head including a discharge port surface on which discharge ports for discharging liquid are formed, an electrothermal conversion element configured to generate energy for discharging liquid from the discharge ports, and a protection film configured to cover at least the electrothermal conversion element, and a cap configured to cover the discharge port surface, wherein the cap is arranged along the discharge port surface at a position opposite to the protection film via the discharge ports in a state where the cap covers the discharge port surface, and wherein the cap includes an electrode configured to be used to apply voltage between the protection film and the electrode.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head, contains: an energy generating element which generates thermal energy and contains a heat generation resistant layer and a pair of electrode layers whose end surfaces are separated from each other; an insulating layer covering the pair of electrode layers and the heat generation resistant layer and containing an insulating material; a protective layer provided above the insulating layer at least at a position corresponding to the energy generating element and containing a metal material containing iridium or ruthenium; and a covering layer provided at a position covering at least portions of the protective layer corresponding to the end surfaces of the pair of electrode layers in such a manner that a part of the protective layer is exposed and containing a metal material containing tantalum or niobium.

Abstract: A simplified and less costly manufacture process of a print head can be effective in preventing the peeling-off between a substrate and a flow passage forming member. In the print head, a protective layer is formed between the flow passage forming member and a heat generating portion. The protective layer contains a noble metal. On a side of the flow passage forming member, the surface of the protective layer is made of an oxide of a noble metal, except in a portion corresponding to the heat generating portion, while in the portion corresponding to the heat generating portion on the flow passage forming member side, the surface thereof is made of the noble metal.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a liquid discharge head which includes; a discharge port to discharge a liquid; and a substrate including: an energy generating element for generating thermal energy to discharge the liquid from the liquid discharge port; a pair of electrodes connected to the energy generating element for driving thereof; an insulating layer of an insulating material provided to cover the energy generating element; and a metal layer of a metal material provided corresponding to the energy generating element to cover the insulating layer; and a driver unit which sets a first potential of one of the pair of electrodes substantially equal to the potential of the liquid and a second potential of the other one of the pair of electrodes lower than the first potential to drive the energy generating element.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to provide a standard work time updating method and system in which a work time is declared by a worker without requiring an observer or the like and the reliability of the updated data of standard work time can be prevented from being degraded due to a worker's false or erroneous declaration. To achieve this purpose, for example, the standard work time updating system is configured as follows. When a reliability determination unit (24) determines that a work time required for work and declared by a worker is not departed from a predetermined range in the work time data distribution of the work stored in a database, a standard work time for the work is updated to a standard work time calculated from the declared work time, and otherwise, the standard work time is not updated.

Abstract: In an ink jet head using a thermal energy for ejecting ink, this invention aims to reliably and uniformly remove kogations deposited on a heat application portion in contact with the ink. To realize this objective, the upper protective layer is arranged in an area including the heat application portion so that it can be electrically connected to serve as an electrode which causes an electrochemical reaction with the ink. The upper protective layer is formed of a material containing a metal which is dissolved by the electrochemical reaction and which does not form, on heating, an oxide film which hinders the dissolution. With this arrangement, a reliable electrochemical reaction can be produced to dissolve a surface layer of the upper protective layer, thereby removing kogations on the heat application portion reliably and uniformly.

Abstract: A base for a liquid discharge head includes a heat element which forms an exothermic portion, an electrode wire that is electrically connected with the heat element, an insulative protective layer provided above the heat generating resistive element and the electrode wire and an upper protective layer provided on the protective layer. The upper protective layer is made from a TaSi alloy containing 22 at. % or more Si.

Abstract: To provide a print head that simplifies the manufacture process of a print head and reduces the manufacturing cost while preventing the peeling-off between a substrate and a flow passage forming member in the print head, and a method of manufacturing the print head. In the print head of the present invention, a protective layer is formed in a flow passage forming member side portion in a heat generating portion 2. The protective layer 20 contains a noble metal. Then, in the flow passage forming member side portion in the protective layer 20, the surface thereof is made of an oxide of a noble metal except in a portion corresponding to the heat generating portion 2, while in the portion corresponding to the heat generating portion 2 on the flow passage forming member side in the protective layer 20, the surface thereof is made of the noble metal.