Abstract: The present invention provides a print module, an information processing device, a print system, a print unit, an ink supply unit, a print method and program, all capable of quickly and easily meeting demands for a print medium size change, particularly to increased sizes, while at the same time coping with demands for faster printing speed. To this end, this invention constructs the print heads (811) in the form of print modules (M) so that their ink systems and signal systems are independent among the print modules. Each print module is set with identity information for its identification.

Abstract: An ink-feeding device is provided in which the pressure applied to the ink in the printing head can be adjusted arbitrarily irrespective of the relative positions of the ink container and the printing head. Inside the sub-tank 80, a pressure-adjusting pump 82 is installed for applying a suitable pressure to many nozzles 22Kn of the printing head 22K. This pressure-adjusting pump 82 is placed a little above the bottom face of the sub-tank 80 at a prescribed distance from the bottom face. Thereby the pressure-adjusting pump 82 is immersed in the ink held in the sub-tank 80. A drive unit 83 for driving the pressure-adjusting pump 82 is placed above the sub-tank 80. On the upper wall of the sub-tank 80, an air-vent valve 84 is fixed to bring the inside pressure in the sub-tank 80 to an atmospheric pressure. The inside pressure in the sub-tank 80 is made equal to the atmospheric pressure by opening the air-vent valve 84.

Abstract: Variations in the negative pressure in the print head is minimized by positively controlling the ink supply pressure. For this purpose, the pump (36) and the valve (35) are installed in the ink communication path between the ink tank (40) and the print head (811), and are controlled to adjust the negative pressure applied to the print head (811).

Abstract: An ink circulation system, an inkjet recording apparatus having the ink circulation system, and an ink circulating method thereof. The ink circulation system includes an ink tank including an ink outlet and an ink inlet, a head assembly including a head chip through which an ink is discharged, and a filter, a supply path which supplies the ink of the ink tank to the head assembly, a first feed line through which ink of the head assembly at the upstream of the filter is conveyed into the ink tank, a second feed line through which the ink of the head assembly at the downstream of the filter is conveyed to the ink tank, and a pump which is provided at the ink inlet of the ink tank to provide the first and the second feed lines with a negative pressure to circulate the ink.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an ink tank to store ink, an auxiliary tank having an ink chamber through which the ink circulates with the ink tank, a head having nozzles which communicate with the ink chamber and eject ink therethrough, a filter which is positioned inside the auxiliary tank and divides the ink chamber into a first ink chamber which communicates with the ink tank and a second ink chamber which communicates with the nozzles, a circulation pipe which connects the ink tank with the first ink chamber and forms a circulation flow route, and a pump which is positioned on the circulation flow route to apply a negative pressure to the auxiliary tank.

Abstract: An ink-feeding device is provided in which the pressure applied to the ink in the printing head can be adjusted arbitrarily irrespective of the relative positions of the ink container and the printing head. Inside the sub-tank 80, a pressure-adjusting pump 82 is installed for applying a suitable pressure to many nozzles 22Kn of the printing head 22K. This pressure-adjusting pump 82 is placed a little above the bottom face of the sub-tank 80 at a prescribed distance from the bottom face. Thereby the pressure-adjusting pump 82 is immersed in the ink held in the sub-tank 80. A drive unit 83 for driving the pressure-adjusting pump 82 is placed above the sub-tank 80. On the upper wall of the sub-tank 80, an air-vent valve 84 is fixed to bring the inside pressure in the sub-tank 80 to an atmospheric pressure. The inside pressure in the sub-tank 80 is made equal to the atmospheric pressure by opening the air-vent valve 84.

Abstract: An ink leaking from an atmosphere communication hole of a waste ink container is guided to an end portion of the waste ink container. Electrodes are provided for shutting off an ink guide path. By this, the ink leaking through the atmosphere communication hole is inherently guided into the end portion of the container to come into contact with both of the electrodes. By contacting of the ink, a resistance value between the electrodes is varied to permit detection of ink leakage based on the variation of the resistance value. As a result, ink leakage from a waste ink container employed in an ink-jet printer or so forth can be certainly detected. Also, sealing ability of the waste ink container can be enhanced.