Abstract: A pressure generator is driven to eject ink droplets from a nozzle orifice such that a plurality of flushing operations are intermittently repeated with a first time interval, when a recording operation of a recording head is not performed. Each flushing operation includes a plurality of ink ejections repeated for a predetermined times with a second time interval which is shorter than the first time interval. The ink near the nozzle orifice is residually vibrated between the flushing operations, so that the viscous ink is diffused and the viscous ink is effectively expelled.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus having an ink-jet recording head including pressure generating chambers communicatively connected to a nozzle opening and a reservoir, pressure generating means for pressurizing the pressure generating chambers, and control means for applying drive signals corresponding to print data to the recording head and for minutely vibrating meniscuses of ink in the nozzle openings to such an extent as to not eject ink droplets during a nonprint period. The control means ejects ink droplets from the nozzle openings in accordance with print data during printing operations, and minutely vibrates meniscuses of ink formed at the nozzle openings a preset period of time before or after the discharging of the ink droplets in a printing operation.

Abstract: Flushing regions for receiving ink droplets to be ejected when flushing signal is supplied to a recording head are provided in both of non-print regions situated at both sides of print region in order to prevent throughput during the flushing operation from deteriorating. A guide member having a slant surface is disposed between the recording head and an ink absorbing member to which the ink landed on the slant surface flows in order to reduce in size of the ink absorbing member. A porous sheet member closely faced to nozzle orifices of the recording head for receiving the ink droplets ejected therefrom is provided in order to prevent undesired mist of fine ink droplets from generating. A plurality of plate members closely faced to the nozzle orifices are provided at a predetermined angle with respect to the flight direction of the ink droplets in order to prevent the undesired mist from generating. The flushing operation is performed so as to prevent solidification of the ejected ink.

Abstract: A recording head of an ink-jet -recording apparatus has a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers connected to the plurality of nozzles respectively, and an ink saving chamber connected to the plurality of the pressure chambers for supplying ink into the pressure chambers and for temporarily saving the ink. An ink way is connected to the ink saving chamber for supplying the ink into the ink saving chamber. A driver causes respective pressures in the pressure chambers to change in such a manner that the ink is jetted from the nozzles so as to carry out flushing operations of the nozzles. A flushing controller causes the driver to carry out the flushing operations so that a flushing operation for a pressure chamber arranged relatively further from the ink way is delayed in starting for a predetermined time with respect to a flushing operation for another pressure chamber arranged relatively closer to the ink way.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes: a timer (26) that outputs a signal upon measurement of a predetermined time that is longer than a predetermined cycle during a period for which recording heads (8, 9) are released from a cap member (uncapped period) after a print command has been outputted; and a flushing control means (27) that control to move the recording heads (8, 9) to an ink receiving means so that the recording heads jet ink droplets, in response to the signal from the timer (26), and to reset the timer (26). If the predetermined time set to the timer (26) is up during uncapped period, the flushing control means (27) flushes a maximum number of ink droplets, and upon end of a single round of printing, the flushing control means (27) flushes a number of ink droplets corresponding to a time measured by the timer (26).

Abstract: A recording head of an ink-jet-recording apparatus has a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers connected to the plurality of nozzles respectively, and an ink saving chamber connected to the plurality of the pressure chambers for supplying ink into the pressure chambers and for temporarily saving the ink. An ink way is connected to the ink saving chamber for supplying the ink into the ink saving chamber. A driver causes respective pressures in the pressure chambers to change in such a manner that the ink is jetted from the nozzles so as to carry out flushing operations of the nozzles. A flushing controller causes the driver to carry out the flushing operations so that a flushing operation for a pressure chamber arranged relatively further from the ink way is delayed in starting for a predetermined time with respect to a flushing operation for another pressure chamber arranged relatively closer to the ink way.

Abstract: An ink jet printing device supplies first and second signals to cause a pressure generating chamber to jet out ink droplets. A third signal is applied to the pressure generating chamber to effectively attenuate the kinetic energy of the meniscus and to hold the meniscus at a position suitable for jetting out the next ink droplet to provide a stable print output. Also, an ink-jet recording apparatus is provided with a control means for controlling the timing of the start of the second signal and the timing of the start of the third signal according to the environmental temperature. In the ink-jet recording apparatus, the discharge speed of ink drops is made constant by regulating the start time of the second signal so as to make constant the drawing position of a meniscus when the ink drops are discharged.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head having high printing quality which is achieved independently of ambient temperature changes. An overhang portion (22) is formed on a surface of a frame (20) in such a manner that the overhang portion extends close to an island portion (9) of a resilient plate. A front end (17) of a fixed board (14) is fixed to the overhang portion (22) so that a gap (23) is interposed between a lateral side of the fixed board (14) and the frame (20). The piezoelectric vibration elements (8) are secured to the opposite end of the fixed board and abut against each of the island portions. The thickness (L0) of the overhang portion (22) affects that thermal expansion differential derived from a difference in the materials of the frame (20) and the piezoelectric vibration element. Since the thickness is minimized, the thermal expansion differential between the frame (20) and the piezoelectric vibration elements (8) is correspondingly minimized.

Abstract: A sealing timer (25) for measuring the time in which the recording head (7) is sealed by the capping device (10); an opening timer (26) for measuring the time in which the recording head (7) is opened to the atmosphere; and a cleaning control means having a first cleaning mode in which a predetermined quantity of ink is sucked, a second cleaning mode in which a larger quantity of ink than the quantity of ink sucked in the first cleaning mode is sucked, and a third cleaning mode in which a quantity of ink substantially equal to the quantity of ink sucked in the second cleaning mode is divided into two portions and the two portions may be sucked at two separate times.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head is disclosed. The recording head comprises a reservoir for storing ink which is supplied into a plurality of pressure generating chambers arranged in a first direction, a slit-shaped air bubble guide groove communicated with the reservoir and extending in the first direction, an ink supply member communicating the air bubble guide groove with the pressure generating chambers, pressure generation unit for generating pressure to be applied to the ink in the pressure generating chambers, and a nozzle plate in which nozzle orifices in communication with the pressure generating chambers are formed for ejecting the ink pressurized by the pressure generation unit.

Abstract: An ink jet printer head includes a spacer including pressure generating chambers continuous to nozzle openings, ink supply paths, and reservoirs, a cover member for covering the pressure generating chambers in a sealing fashion, and pressure generating means for generating pressure in the pressure generating chambers in accordance with print data. In processing a silicon single-crystal substrate vertically oriented in (110) by anisotropic etching process, one of the walls of a path hole for forming a pressure generating chamber is aligned with one of the walls of a path hole for forming a reservoir. Walls defining the path hole for forming a pressure generating chamber, which are located in the vicinity of a nozzle opening, are connected to each other at an obtuse angle. As a result, the ink supply path serving as a narrow path for ink flow and the pressure generating chamber are formed as smooth flow paths.

Abstract: An ink jet printer head includes a spacer including pressure generating chambers continuous to nozzle openings, ink supply paths, and reservoirs, a cover member for covering the pressure generating chambers in a sealing fashion, and pressure generating means for generating pressure in the pressure generating chambers in accordance with print data. In processing a silicon single-crystal substrate vertically oriented in (110) by anisotropic etching process, one of the walls of a path hole for forming a pressure generating chamber is aligned with one of the walls of a path hole for forming a reservoir. Walls defining the path hole for forming a pressure generating chamber, which are located in the vicinity of a nozzle opening, are connected to each other at an obtuse angle. As a result, the ink supply path serving as a narrow path for ink flow and the pressure generating chamber are formed as smooth flow paths.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head formed by laminating and fixing: a flow path forming plate having through holes for defining pressure producing chambers, ink supply inlets, and a common ink chamber, a nozzle plate having nozzle openings communicating with the pressure producing chambers, and a vibration plate having diaphragm portions that are resiliently deformed in response to displacement of piezoelectric vibration elements one upon another with an adhesive so as to be watertight. The vibration plate has frame-like thick wall portions that extend as far as to the ink supply inlet side of the pressure producing chamber as well as to the inner side of the nozzle opening, and portions closer to a piezoelectric vibration element than to both ends of the pressure producing chamber are made to be supported by a base. As a result of this construction, a nonsupported region of the pressure producing chamber can be shortened, which in turn improves the rigidity of a substrate unit as a whole.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a circuit 49 for generating a first voltage waveform for expanding piezoelectric vibrators at a rate suitable to form ink drops, a second voltage for holding an expansion or contraction state, and a third voltage waveform for contracting the piezoelectric vibrators at a rate suitable to suck ink into pressure generating chambers; a circuit 52 for detecting the time when the process of forming ink drops by the first voltage waveform is ended; a delay circuit 53 for delaying a signal from the circuit 52 by a time .DELTA.T until vibration of menisci caused by the ink drop formation process, switches to motion toward nozzle openings; a charge signal generating circuit 48 for generating the third voltage waveform on the basis of a signal from the delay circuit 53; and a discharge signal generating circuit 51 for generating the first voltage waveform on the basis of a print timing signal.