Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport section including a first transport section configured to transport the recording medium in a first direction having a component of a downward direction in a vertical direction, a second transport section configured to transport the recording medium in a second direction having a component of an upward direction in the vertical direction, and a third transport section configured to connect the first transport section and the second transport section; a first head provided to face the first transport section and includes a plurality of first nozzles formed in different positions in the vertical direction; a second head provided to face the second transport section and includes a plurality of second nozzles formed in different positions in the vertical direction; and a control device configured to control the transport section, the first head, and the second head.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a controller and a cartridge accommodating section in which an ink cartridge of a predetermined type is mountable. The ink cartridge includes: an ink chamber; a first heat conductor that conducts heat to the ink; a pyroelectric portion that outputs an electrical signal; and a first electrical interface that connects to the pyroelectric portion. The cartridge accommodating section includes: a second electrical interface that connects to the first electrical interface when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge accommodating section; a heater that applies heat; and a second heat conductor that conducts heat to the first heat conductor. The controller determines at least one of the type of the mounted ink cartridge and whether an amount of ink in the ink chamber is less than a predetermined amount based on the electrical signal inputted from the pyroelectric portion via the second electrical interface.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including: a head jetting liquid droplets from nozzles; and a controller controlling the head to perform a recording jetting-operation for jetting the liquid droplets toward a recording medium from the nozzles at each of drive periods, and a flushing operation for performing maintenance on the nozzles by jetting the liquid droplets from the nozzles prior to the recording jetting-operation. The controller controls the head so that with respect to each of the nozzles, a total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation becomes less in a case of jetting a liquid droplet at a first drive period in the recording jetting-operation, in comparison with a case of not jetting the liquid droplet at the first drive period.

Abstract: A cartridge installing unit on which a plurality of types of liquid cartridges are to be installed, includes: a plurality of cartridge installing portions on which the plurality of types of liquid cartridges are installed; a plurality of liquid infusing portions each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of types of liquid cartridges, and each of which is provided to be movable between the plurality of cartridge installing portions to communicate with corresponding liquid cartridge; and a plurality of moving mechanisms each of which moves one of the plurality of liquid infusing portions, and when a liquid cartridge among the liquid cartridges is installed on a cartridge installing portion among the cartridge installing portions, a moving mechanism among the moving mechanisms moves a liquid infusing portion corresponding to the liquid cartridge to the cartridge installing portion on which the liquid cartridge is installed.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes: a casing; a pyroelectric portion; a heat conductor; and an electrical interface. The casing is configured to store ink therein. The casing has a bottom wall. The pyroelectric portion is configured to output an electrical signal. The heat conductor is configured to conduct heat to the ink and the pyroelectric portion. The heat conductor has at least a portion in contact with or disposed adjacent to the bottom wall. The electrical interface is configured to output an electrical signal outputted from the pyroelectric portion.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator is provided, including a piezoelectric layer arranged on one surface of a base member; a plurality of driving electrodes arranged on one surface of the piezoelectric layer; a plurality of leading electrodes led from the driving electrodes to apply a voltage to the driving electrodes; and a low dielectric layer arranged between the piezoelectric layer and the leading electrode, and having a dielectric constant lower than that of the piezoelectric layer. Surroundings of driving areas of the piezoelectric layer including areas facing the plurality of driving electrodes are joined to the base member. The plurality of leading electrodes extend to outside of the driving areas, respectively, some of the plurality of leading electrodes being led in a predetermined first direction, and others of the plurality of leading electrodes being led in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator is provided, including a piezoelectric layer which is joined to a joining member and which has a coefficient of linear expansion smaller than a coefficient of linear expansion of the joining member; a first electrode which is arranged on one surface of the piezoelectric layer; a second electrode which is arranged on a portion of the one surface of the piezoelectric layer different from the first electrode and which is in conduction with the first electrode; and a low dielectric layer which is formed between the piezoelectric layer and the second electrode and which has a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A liquid-jetting apparatus includes: a liquid-jetting head which jets the liquid; a liquid tank which stores the liquid; a first flow passage which connects the liquid-jetting head and the liquid tank; a gas-liquid separating section which is arranged on the first flow passage and which separates the liquid and a gas in the liquid; a gas communication passage which connects the gas-liquid separating section and the liquid tank and through which the gas in the gas-liquid separating section is transported to the liquid tank; a second flow passage which communicates an upstream side and a down stream side of the gas-liquid separating section; and a switching mechanism which selectively switches between a first passage route for supplying the liquid through only the first flow passage and a second passage route for supplying the liquid through the second flow passage.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting head which includes a cavity unit in which a plurality of nozzle rows is formed, a plurality of pressure chambers, and a plurality of common liquid chambers corresponding to the nozzle rows, and a pressure applying mechanism which applies a pressure to the liquid in the pressure chambers. The liquid is supplied to each common liquid chamber, from both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber, toward a central portion of the common liquid chamber, and a position of an equilibrium point at which a channel resistance of both sides in the longitudinal direction is balanced, is shifted mutually in the longitudinal direction in one of the common liquid chambers and an adjacent common liquid chamber which is adjacent to the one of the common liquid chambers.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric layer, a second piezoelectric layer stacked on the first piezoelectric layer, a first electrode arranged on the first piezoelectric layer, a second electrode arranged between the first and second piezoelectric layers, and a third electrode arranged on the second piezoelectric layer. A portion of the third electrode faces the second electrode, and another portion of the third electrode faces the first electrode. The first electrode does not face at least a portion of the second electrode. A portion, of the second piezoelectric layer, sandwiched between the second electrode and the third electrode is polarized in a first direction in a thickness direction thereof, and portions, of the first and the second piezoelectric layers, which are sandwiched between the first electrode and the third electrode and between which the second electrode is not arranged, are polarized in a direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes: an ink chamber configured to store ink therein; a base board having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface being formed with a void recess; and a pyroelectric portion mounted on the first surface of the base board and opposing the void recess via the base board.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes: a casing; a pyroelectric portion; a heat conductor; and an electrical interface. The casing is configured to store ink therein. The casing has a bottom wall. The pyroelectric portion is configured to output an electrical signal. The heat conductor is configured to conduct heat to the ink and the pyroelectric portion. The heat conductor has at least a portion in contact with or disposed adjacent to the bottom wall. The electrical interface is configured to output an electrical signal outputted from the pyroelectric portion.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a controller and a cartridge accommodating section in which an ink cartridge of a predetermined type is mountable. The ink cartridge includes: an ink chamber; a first heat conductor that conducts heat to the ink; a pyroelectric portion that outputs an electrical signal; and a first electrical interface that connects to the pyroelectric portion. The cartridge accommodating section includes: a second electrical interface that connects to the first electrical interface when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge accommodating section; a heater that applies heat; and a second heat conductor that conducts heat to the first heat conductor. The controller determines at least one of the type of the mounted ink cartridge and whether an amount of ink in the ink chamber is less than a predetermined amount based on the electrical signal inputted from the pyroelectric portion via the second electrical interface.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid jetting head which includes a cavity unit in which a plurality of nozzle rows is formed, a plurality of pressure chambers, and a plurality of common liquid chambers corresponding to the nozzle rows, and a pressure applying mechanism which applies a pressure to the liquid in the pressure chambers. The liquid is supplied to each common liquid chamber, from both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber, toward a central portion of the common liquid chamber, and a position of an equilibrium point at which a channel resistance of both sides in the longitudinal direction is balanced, is shifted mutually in the longitudinal direction in one of the common liquid chambers and an adjacent common liquid chamber which is adjacent to the one of the common liquid chambers.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including: a head jetting liquid droplets from nozzles; and a controller controlling the head to perform a recording jetting-operation for jetting the liquid droplets toward a recording medium from the nozzles at each of drive periods, and a flushing operation for performing maintenance on the nozzles by jetting the liquid droplets from the nozzles prior to the recording jetting-operation. The controller controls the head so that with respect to each of the nozzles, a total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation becomes less in a case of jetting a liquid droplet at a first drive period in the recording jetting-operation, in comparison with a case of not jetting the liquid droplet at the first drive period.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a recording head which records an image to a recording surface of a recording medium; a scanning mechanism which reciprocates the recording head along a scanning direction; a recording direction deciding unit which decides a recording direction along which the recording head scans with respect to the recording surface of the recording medium to record the image, from a first direction along the recording surface and a second direction intersecting with the first direction and along the recording surface; and a changing unit which changes one of the scanning direction of the recording head and a direction of the recording medium to bring the recording direction with respect to the recording surface decided by the recording direction deciding unit and the scanning direction of the recording head in line.

Abstract: A cartridge installing unit on which a plurality of types of liquid cartridges are to be installed, includes: a plurality of cartridge installing portions on which the plurality of types of liquid cartridges are installed; a plurality of liquid infusing portions each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of types of liquid cartridges, and each of which is provided to be movable between the plurality of cartridge installing portions to communicate with corresponding liquid cartridge; and a plurality of moving mechanisms each of which moves one of the plurality of liquid infusing portions, and when a liquid cartridge among the liquid cartridges is installed on a cartridge installing portion among the cartridge installing portions, a moving mechanism among the moving mechanisms moves a liquid infusing portion corresponding to the liquid cartridge to the cartridge installing portion on which the liquid cartridge is installed.

Abstract: A liquid supply apparatus, which supplies a liquid or liquids stored in liquid cartridges of a plurality of types, includes a plurality of cartridge installing sections to which the liquid cartridges of the plurality of types are detachably installable, wherein a plurality of connection ports, which correspond to supply ports formed for the liquid cartridges of the plurality of types respectively, are formed at mutually different positions of the respective cartridge installing sections.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator is provided. The method includes: forming a diffusion-preventive layer having an electrical conductivity on a partial surface thereof on a surface of a vibration plate formed of a metallic material; forming a piezoelectric layer on the surfaces of the diffusion-preventive layer and the vibration plate; forming an electrode in an area of the piezoelectric layer which overlaps the partial surface of the diffusion-preventive layer having the electrical conductivity; forming an extraction electrode in an area of the piezoelectric layer which does not overlap the diffusion-preventive layer; and heating the piezoelectric layer and the vibration plate after the piezoelectric layer is formed so as to diffuse metallic atoms of the metallic material of which the vibration plate is formed to the piezoelectric layer, thereby making the extraction electrode be in conduction with the partial surface of the diffusion-preventive layer having the electrical conductivity.

Abstract: In a liquid droplet jetting mode of jetting liquid droplets, a controller controls a piezoelectric actuator to perform a liquid droplet jetting operation in which volume of a pressure chamber is decreased to a decreased volume smaller than a predetermined volume, and then the volume of the pressure chamber is increased to an increased volume greater than the predetermined volume, and the volume of the pressure chamber is again decreased to the decreased volume. On the other hand, in a warm-up mode of heating the liquid in the pressure chamber, the controller controls the piezoelectric actuator to perform at least one of a first warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the increased volume, and a second warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the decreased volume.