Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: first and second liquid discharge heads and a controller. The first liquid discharge head includes n of nozzles NA1-NAn and m of nozzles NB1-NBm. The second liquid discharge head includes m of nozzles NC1-NCm. The first and second liquid discharge heads include m of nozzle pairs (NB1, NC1)-(NBm, NCm) A difference of position between the nozzle NBj and the nozzle NCj in the first direction is smallest in the j-th nozzle pair (NBj, NCj), of them of nozzle pairs (NB1, NC1)-(NBm, NCm), and a difference between the use rate RBp of the nozzle NBp and the use rate RCp of the nozzle NCp is smallest in the p-th nozzle pair (NBp, NCp) different from the j-th nozzle pair (NBj, NCj), of the m of nozzle pairs (NB1, NC1)-(NBm, NCm).

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: first and second liquid discharge heads and a controller. The first liquid discharge head includes n of nozzles NA1-NAn and m of nozzles NB1-NBm. The second liquid discharge head includes m of nozzles NC1-NCm. The first and second liquid discharge heads include m of nozzle pairs (NB1, NC1)-(NBm, NCm) A difference of position between the nozzle NBj and the nozzle NCj in the first direction is smallest in the j-th nozzle pair (NBj, NCj), of them of nozzle pairs (NB1, NC1)-(NBm, NCm), and a difference between the use rate RBp of the nozzle NBp and the use rate RCp of the nozzle NCp is smallest in the p-th nozzle pair (NBp, NCp) different from the j-th nozzle pair (NBj, NCj), of the m of nozzle pairs (NB1, NC1)-(NBm, NCm).

Abstract: A liquid jetting head includes: a channel substrate having a nozzle surface in which nozzles are open, the channel substrate being formed with pressure chambers communicating with the nozzles respectively; and an actuator covering the pressure chambers. The pressure chambers include first pressure chambers arranged in an arrangement direction to form a first pressure chamber row. The nozzles include first nozzles communicating with the pressure chambers respectively. Any two first nozzles that are adjacent in the arrangement direction are arranged at different positions in the channel substrate with respect to an orthogonal direction which is parallel to the nozzle surface and orthogonal to the arrangement direction and different in a first distance. The first distance is a distance in the orthogonal direction between each first nozzle and an end on one side in the orthogonal direction of the first pressure chamber communicating with the first nozzle.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a plurality of heat exchange segments juxtaposed in a housing, and a plug member connected fluid-tightly to the housing, and supporting the heat exchange segments to provide a coolant or cooling medium passage in each gap between the heat exchange segments adjacent to each other. Each heat exchange segment comprises a case having an opening only on a surface of the case, at least outside of the opening being plugged fluid-tightly by the plug member, and a guide member, e.g., fin accommodated in the case, and provided with a plurality of passages allowing only gas flow in a predetermined direction, and gas intake passages and gas exhaust passages at the upstream and downstream thereof, wherein an opening of the case is provided with a gas inlet port communicated with the gas intake passage, and a gas outlet port communicated with the gas exhaust passages.

Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device includes: a first pipe through which exhaust gas from an engine flows; a second pipe that communicates with the first pipe and bypasses the first pipe; a heat recovery unit that is disposed at an interior of the second pipe, and that exchanges heat between the exhaust gas and cooling water that circulates at an interior of the heat recovery unit, and that recovers heat of the exhaust gas; and a heat transfer suppressing mechanism that is provided at a portion connecting the first pipe with the second pipe, and that suppresses transfer of heat from the first pipe to the second pipe.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet printer including an ink-jet head, a conveyance section, and a controller. The ink-jet head includes a plurality of nozzle groups. Between the plurality of nozzle groups, the nozzles forming the nozzle groups are positioned in conformity with each other, respectively, in a second direction. The controller causes the conveyance section to convey the recording medium between a first pass and a second pass such that the respective nozzle groups have partly overlapped scanning areas, and causes the ink-jet head to print separately between the first pass and the second pass in the second direction. The controller sets usable bordering positions in the overlapping range with respect to the passes. The controller sets the usable bordering positions based on one of such conditions as a duty of printing on the recording medium and a type of the nozzle groups to be used in printing.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet printer including an ink-jet head, a conveyance section, and a controller. The ink-jet head includes a plurality of nozzle groups. Between the plurality of nozzle groups, the nozzles forming the nozzle groups are positioned in conformity with each other, respectively, in a second direction. The controller causes the conveyance section to convey the recording medium between a first pass and a second pass such that the respective nozzle groups have partly overlapped scanning areas, and causes the ink-jet head to print separately between the first pass and the second pass in the second direction. The controller sets usable bordering positions in the overlapping range with respect to the passes. The controller sets the usable bordering positions based on one of such conditions as a duty of printing on the recording medium and a type of the nozzle groups to be used in printing.

Abstract: There is provided an inkjet printer including an inkjet head, a conveyance section, and a controller. The ink jet head includes a plurality of nozzle groups. Between the plurality of nozzle groups, the nozzles forming the nozzle groups are positioned in conformity with each other, respectively, in a second direction. The controller causes the conveyance section to convey the recording medium between a first pass and a second pass such that the respective nozzle groups have partly overlapped scanning areas, and causes the ink jet head to print separately between the first pass and the second pass in the second direction. The controller sets usable bordering positions in the overlapping range with respect to the passes. The controller sets the usable bordering positions based on one of such conditions as a duty of printing on the recording medium and a type of the nozzle groups to be used in printing.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet printer including an ink-jet head, a conveyance section, and a controller. The ink-jet head includes a plurality of nozzle groups. Between the plurality of nozzle groups, the nozzles forming the nozzle groups are positioned in conformity with each other, respectively, in a second direction. The controller causes the conveyance section to convey the recording medium between a first pass and a second pass such that the respective nozzle groups have partly overlapped scanning areas, and causes the ink-jet head to print separately between the first pass and the second pass in the second direction. The controller sets usable bordering positions in the overlapping range with respect to the passes. The controller sets the usable bordering positions based on one of such conditions as a duty of printing on the recording medium and a type of the nozzle groups to be used in printing.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes an ejection surface having a plurality of ejection opening sets each of which consists of at least two ejection openings adjacent to each other in a given direction. A straight line defined to connect between centers of the respective at least two ejection openings is parallel with the ejection surface and is inclined with respect to the given direction and a perpendicular direction that is perpendicular to the given direction. The straight line defined in one of each adjacent two of the ejection opening sets, which are adjacent to each other in the given direction, and the straight line defined in another of the each adjacent two of the ejection opening sets, are inclined with respect to the perpendicular direction, in respective directions opposite to each other. Also disclosed is a liquid ejection recording device including the liquid ejection head.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes an ejection surface having a plurality of ejection opening sets each of which consists of at least two ejection openings adjacent to each other in a given direction. A straight line defined to connect between centers of the respective at least two ejection openings is parallel with the ejection surface and is inclined with respect to the given direction and a perpendicular direction that is perpendicular to the given direction. The straight line defined in one of each adjacent two of the ejection opening sets, which are adjacent to each other in the given direction, and the straight line defined in another of the each adjacent two of the ejection opening sets, are inclined with respect to the perpendicular direction, in respective directions opposite to each other. Also disclosed is a liquid ejection recording device including the liquid ejection head.

Abstract: A driving-signal applying section maintains a first driving signal at a first low voltage prior to and subsequent to a first voltage application period during which voltage is applied to a first active portion based on image data for one recording medium, maintains a second driving signal at a second low voltage prior to and subsequent to a second voltage application period during which voltage is applied to a second active portion based on the image data, changes the second driving signal from the second low voltage to a second high voltage at a first time point that is a first predetermined period before a second time point that is a starting time point of the first voltage application period, and maintains the second driving signal at the second high voltage from the first time point until the second time point.

Abstract: In the manufacturing process of a printer, a check (check associated with the liquid ejecting performance of ejection outlets) on the heads is performed, and the heads are ranked based on the result of the check. The heads that are high in liquid ejecting performance are classified as a first rank; the heads that are low in liquid ejecting performance, as a second rank; and the heads that are lower in ejecting performance than the heads of the second rank, as a third rank. The heads of the third rank are dealt with as not applied to the printer. The heads of the second rank are distributed to a color inkjet head that ejects a color ink or to a pretreatment liquid ejecting head that ejects a colorless liquid. The heads of the first rank are distributed to a black inkjet head that ejects black ink.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator disposed on a surface of a flow-path forming member may comprise a first piezoelectric layer disposed farthest from the surface of the flow-path forming member. The piezoelectric actuator may comprise a surface electrode disposed on one surface of the first piezoelectric layer opposite the surface of the flow-path forming member. The piezoelectric actuator may comprise a land bonded to a terminal of a power supply member. The piezoelectric actuator may comprise a continuous detection electrode including an outer peripheral portion extending along the outline of an area that opposes the land to surround the area and being disposed on one of the other surface of the first piezoelectric layer and a surface of a second piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: In the manufacturing process of a printer, a check (check associated with the liquid ejecting performance of ejection outlets) on the heads is performed, and the heads are ranked based on the result of the check. The heads that are high in liquid ejecting performance are classified as a first rank; the heads that are low in liquid ejecting performance, as a second rank; and the heads that are lower in ejecting performance than the heads of the second rank, as a third rank. The heads of the third rank are dealt with as not applied to the printer. The heads of the second rank are distributed to a color inkjet head that ejects a color ink or to a pretreatment liquid ejecting head that ejects a colorless liquid. The heads of the first rank are distributed to a black inkjet head that ejects black ink.

Abstract: A driving-signal applying section maintains a first driving signal at a first low voltage prior to and subsequent to a first voltage application period during which voltage is applied to a first active potion based on image data for one recording medium, maintains a second driving signal at a second low voltage prior to and subsequent to a second voltage application period during which voltage is applied to a second active portion based on the image data, changes the second driving signal from the second low voltage to a second high voltage at a first time point that is a first predetermined period before a second time point that is a starting time point of the first voltage application period, and maintains the second driving signal at the second high voltage from the first time point until the second time point.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator disposed on a surface of a flow-path forming member may comprise a first piezoelectric layer disposed farthest from the surface of the flow-path forming member. The piezoelectric actuator may comprise a surface electrode disposed on one surface of the first piezoelectric layer opposite the surface of the flow-path forming member. The piezoelectric actuator may comprise a land bonded to a terminal of a power supply member. The piezoelectric actuator may comprise a continuous detection electrode including an outer peripheral portion extending along the outline of an area that opposes the land to surround the area and being disposed on one of the other surface of the first piezoelectric layer and a surface of a second piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head having an ejection surface on which a plurality of nozzles are formed, a cap including (1) a bottom surface portion, (2) an annular elastic member, (3) a plate member, and (4) at least one discharge outlet, and a discharge mechanism. The elastic member includes a contact portion which is provided on an inner circumferential surface thereof and which is configured to be distant from the plate member when the end portion of the elastic member is not in contact with the ejection surface, and to be in contact with the plate member along an outer circumference of the plate member by elastic deformation of the elastic member when the end portion of the elastic member is in contact with the ejection surface.