Abstract: An inkjet head includes a plurality of head units including a first head unit and a second head unit. Each head unit has a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of drive elements. The second head unit has an ejection performance of nozzles lower than an ejection performance of nozzles of the first head unit. The second head unit is farther from a center portion of the inkjet head than the first head unit is. A drive unit is configured to apply a drive voltage for generating energy to each of the plurality of drive elements included in each of the plurality of head units. The drive voltage applied to each of the plurality of drive elements included in the first head unit is lower than the drive voltage applied to each of the plurality of drive elements included in the second head unit.

Abstract: In a printer, an inkjet head includes a plurality of head units. Each head unit has a nozzle layout area in which nozzles are arranged in an alignment direction crossing a conveying direction. The head units are arranged in a first row and a second row in the conveying direction. One head unit in the first row and another head unit in the second row define an overlap length. The overlap length is a length in the alignment direction of an overlap region in which the nozzle layout area of the one head unit and the nozzle layout area of the another head unit partially overlap in the conveying direction. The one head unit is shifted from the another head unit in the alignment direction. The overlap length in a center portion of the inkjet head is larger than that in each end portion of the inkjet head.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: driving elements; a first member including a first trace and a first IC connected to ones of the plurality of driving elements; a second member including a second trace and a second IC connected to other ones of the driving elements; and a metallic member arranged on one side with respect to the plurality of driving elements in a second direction orthogonal to the liquid discharge surface, the metallic member including: a body portion extending in the first direction while straddling over the driving elements, a first projection projected from the body portion toward the liquid discharge surface; and a second projection projected from the body portion toward the liquid discharge surface, wherein the first IC is supported by the first projection and the second IC is supported by the second projection.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: driving elements; a first member including a first trace and a first IC connected to ones of the plurality of driving elements; a second member including a second trace and a second IC connected to other ones of the driving elements; and a metallic member arranged on one side with respect to the plurality of driving elements in a second direction orthogonal to the liquid discharge surface, the metallic member including: a body portion extending in the first direction while straddling over the driving elements, a first projection projected from the body portion toward the liquid discharge surface; and a second projection projected from the body portion toward the liquid discharge surface, wherein the first IC is supported by the first projection and the second IC is supported by the second projection.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of liquid ejection heads each comprising a channel member having a plurality of ejection openings, a plurality of channels communicated with the plurality of ejection openings, and a heat body, and a plurality of radiators each provided for each of the plurality of liquid ejection heads. The liquid ejection apparatus further includes a plurality of temperature sensors each provided for each of the plurality of liquid ejection heads and outputting a signal indicating a temperature of the channel member, a heat-resistance change device changing a heat resistance between one of the plurality of radiators and one of the plurality of liquid ejection heads corresponding to the one of the plurality of radiators, and a controller controlling the heat-resistance change device based on the signal outputted from at least one of the plurality of temperature sensors.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head having ejection-opening groups and ejection-passage groups; caps for covering the respective ejection-openings groups; and suction passages connecting between the interiors of the respective caps and a sucking device. A method of manufacturing the liquid ejection apparatus includes: a step of classifying, as a first group, an ejection-opening group corresponding to an ejection-passage group having a resistance value not less than a first value and classifying, as a second group, another ejection-opening group corresponding to an ejection-passage group having a resistance value less than the first value; and a step of assigning at least one suction passage having a resistance value less than a second value to the ejection-opening group as the first group and assigning another at least one suction passage having a resistance value not less than the second value to the ejection-opening group as the second group.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head including an ejection surface, an internal passage and ejection openings; a cap mechanism including a facing member and an elastic member; and a controller for: performing an ejection-opening purging operation for, after establishing a first isolated state of an ejection space, discharging liquid from the ejection openings by establishing an isolating state of a discharge passage in a state in which the liquid in a tank is supplied to the internal passage by a pump; and thereafter stopping the liquid in the tank from being supplied to the internal passage. The controller controls the cap mechanism in the ejection-opening purging operation to switch the ejection space from the first isolated state to a second isolated state in which the ejection space is isolated, with the facing member spaced from the ejection surface at a greater distance than in the first isolated state.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head including an ejection surface, an internal passage and ejection openings; a cap mechanism including a facing member and an elastic member; and a controller for: performing an ejection-opening purging operation for, after establishing a first isolated state of an ejection space, discharging liquid from the ejection openings by establishing an isolating state of a discharge passage in a state in which the liquid in a tank is supplied to the internal passage by a pump; and thereafter stopping the liquid in the tank from being supplied to the internal passage. The controller controls the cap mechanism in the ejection-opening purging operation to switch the ejection space from the first isolated state to a second isolated state in which the ejection space is isolated, with the facing member spaced from the ejection surface at a greater distance than in the first isolated state.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head having an ejection face; a capping mechanism including: a separator having a lip member enclosing the head; a facing member facing the ejection face to form an ejection space; and a moving mechanism for moving the lip member between a contact position and a distant position; and a humidifying mechanism including: a humid air producer; a first projecting portion extending along a first side face of the head and extending in a direction away from the first side face; a supply opening defined by the first projecting portion and the separator, for supplying humid air into the ejection space; and an air discharger disposed on an opposite side of the ejection face from the supply opening and configured to discharge air from the ejection space. At least one cutout is formed in an edge portion of the first projecting portion.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head having ejection-opening groups and ejection-passage groups; caps for covering the respective ejection-openings groups; and suction passages connecting between the interiors of the respective caps and a sucking device. A method of manufacturing the liquid ejection apparatus includes: a step of classifying, as a first group, an ejection-opening group corresponding to an ejection-passage group having a resistance value not less than a first value and classifying, as a second group, another ejection-opening group corresponding to an ejection-passage group having a resistance value less than the first value; and a step of assigning at least one suction passage having a resistance value less than a second value to the ejection-opening group as the first group and assigning another at least one suction passage having a resistance value not less than the second value to the ejection-opening group as the second group.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of liquid ejection heads each comprising a channel member having a plurality of ejection openings, a plurality of channels communicated with the plurality of ejection openings, and a heat body, and a plurality of radiators each provided for each of the plurality of liquid ejection heads. The liquid ejection apparatus further includes a plurality of temperature sensors each provided for each of the plurality of liquid ejection heads and outputting a signal indicating a temperature of the channel member, a heat-resistance change device changing a heat resistance between one of the plurality of radiators and one of the plurality of liquid ejection heads corresponding to the one of the plurality of radiators, and a controller controlling the heat-resistance change device based on the signal outputted from at least one of the plurality of temperature sensors.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a cap, an opposing member opposing an ejection surface of a liquid ejection head which is elongated in one direction, and a cap moving mechanism arranged to move the cap. The cap includes a lip component, a diaphragm, and a holder having a lower linear expansion coefficient and higher rigidity than the lip component. On the elongated portions of the lip component, either first hooks or first receiving portions hooked on the first hooks are formed, whereas the other first hooks or first receiving portions are formed at parts of the holder which parts oppose the elongated portions. The lip component is connected with the holder such that the first hooks hook the first receiving portions in a direction orthogonal to the ejection surface. In the one direction, gaps are formed between the first hooks and the first receiving portions.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head having an ejection face; a capping mechanism including: a separator having a lip member enclosing the head; a facing member facing the ejection face to form an ejection space; and a moving mechanism for moving the lip member between a contact position and a distant position; and a humidifying mechanism including: a humid air producer; a first projecting portion extending along a first side face of the head and extending in a direction away from the first side face; a supply opening defined by the first projecting portion and the separator, for supplying humid air into the ejection space; and an air discharger disposed on an opposite side of the ejection face from the supply opening and configured to discharge air from the ejection space. At least one cutout is formed in an edge portion of the first projecting portion.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including a head and a capping mechanism which includes: a surrounding member including a lip that surrounds the head and a diaphragm which closes a space between the lip and the head and which outwardly biases the lip; a guide fixed to the head; a holder which surrounds the head and to which the lip is fixed; a moving mechanism configured to move the guide and the holder relative to each other such that the capping mechanism is placed in one of a hermetically sealed state and a non-hermetically sealed state; and a restraining member which is provided on one of the holder and the guide and which is configured to restrain outward deformation of the lip by contacting the other of the holder and the guide, when the capping mechanism is placed in the hermetically sealed state.

Abstract: There is provided a laser gauge interferometer with high measurement precision, which uses laser beam interference, includes: a measurement interferometer which generates a measurement output corresponding to a displacement of a moving member; and a correction interferometer which generates a measurement output corresponding to a change in refractive index of air at a constant reference interval. An arithmetic processing device computes a measurement target displacement amount for which the influence of the change in refractive index of air is corrected. A correction laser beam from the correction interferometer passes through the measurement interferometer and thus travels on the same optical path as an optical path of a correction laser beam from the measurement interferometer to become interference light corresponding to the change in refractive index of air through which a measurement laser beam passes, and then enters the arithmetic processing device.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a cap, an opposing member opposing an ejection surface of a liquid ejection head which is elongated in one direction, and a cap moving mechanism arranged to move the cap. The cap includes a lip component, a diaphragm, and a holder having a lower linear expansion coefficient and higher rigidity than the lip component. On the elongated portions of the lip component, either first hooks or first receiving portions hooked on the first hooks are formed, whereas the other first hooks or first receiving portions are formed at parts of the holder which parts oppose the elongated portions. The lip component is connected with the holder such that the first hooks hook the first receiving portions in a direction orthogonal to the ejection surface. In the one direction, gaps are formed between the first hooks and the first receiving portions.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including a head and a capping mechanism which includes: a surrounding member including a rip that surrounds the head and a diaphragm which closes a space between the rip and the head and which outwardly biases the rip; a guide fixed to the head; a holder which surrounds the head and to which the rip is fixed; a moving mechanism configured to move the guide and the holder relative to each other such that the capping mechanism is placed in one of a hermetically sealed state and a non-hermetically sealed state; and a restraining member which is provided on one of the holder and the guide and which is configured to restrain outward deformation of the rip by contacting the other of the holder and the guide, when the capping mechanism is placed in the hermetically sealed state.

Abstract: There is provided a laser gauge interferometer with high measurement precision, which uses laser beam interference, includes: a measurement interferometer which generates a measurement output corresponding to a displacement of a moving member; and a correction interferometer which generates a measurement output corresponding to a change in refractive index of air at a constant reference interval. An arithmetic processing device computes a measurement target displacement amount for which the influence of the change in refractive index of air is corrected. A correction laser beam from the correction interferometer passes through the measurement interferometer and thus travels on the same optical path as an optical path of a correction laser beam from the measurement interferometer to become interference light corresponding to the change in refractive index of air through which a measurement laser beam passes, and then enters the arithmetic processing device.