Abstract: A detector of liquid consumption condition includes a vibrating part that can vibrate relatively to a containing space that can be filled and refilled with a liquid. At least a portion of the vibrating part is exposed to the containing space. A piezoelectric device can cause the vibrating part to vibrate based on a driving signal and can generate a counter electromotive force signal by a vibration of the vibrating part. A liquid consumption condition detecting part can detect a liquid consumption condition, based on the counter electromotive force signal from the piezoelectric device. The containing space can contain only a predetermined volume of the liquid. The vibrating part is provided in a vicinity of a liquid surface in the containing space when the containing space contains the predetermined volume of the liquid.

Abstract: A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device including a vibrating section symmetrical about a center thereof, and at least one electrode electrically connecting with said vibrating section.

Abstract: A detector of liquid consumption condition includes a vibrating part that can vibrate relatively to a containing space that can be filled and refilled with a liquid. At least a portion of the vibrating part is exposed to the containing space. A piezoelectric device can cause the vibrating part to vibrate based on a driving signal and can generate a counter electromotive force signal by a vibration of the vibrating part. A liquid consumption condition detecting part can detect a liquid consumption condition, based on the counter electromotive force signal from the piezoelectric device. The containing space can contain only a predetermined volume of the liquid. The vibrating part is provided in a vicinity of a liquid surface in the containing space when the containing space contains the predetermined volume of the liquid.

Abstract: A method of detecting a consumption status of liquid contained in a liquid container, comprising steps of: preparing a detection device having a piezoelectric element and attaching the detection device on a desired position of the liquid container so that at least a part of the detection device contacting the liquid; measuring a residual vibration of the detection device; and detecting the consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container on the basis of a result of the measurement of the residual vibration.

Abstract: An ink cartridge serving as a liquid container, comprises a liquid sensor having a piezoelectric element which detects a consumption state of the liquid contained in the container, and a consumption data memory as a memory means. The consumption data memory is a rewritable memory which stores consumption related data which are related to the detection of the consumption state using the liquid sensor. The consumption related data are, for example, consumption state data as a result of the detection. Even when the ink cartridge is removed, the consumption state data can still be utilized. The consumption related data may be a detection characteristic detected depending on the consumption state of the liquid. Based on this detection characteristic, the consumption state is detected utilizing the liquid sensor. The consumption state can be detected irrespective of individual differences of the ink cartridges.

Abstract: A liquid container, comprising: a housing containing therein liquid; a liquid supply opening formed in the housing for withdrawing the liquid from the housing; a liquid sensor mounted on the housing for detecting a level of the liquid which is variable in accordance with a consumption of the liquid; and a first partition wall extending in an interior of the housing and defining the interior of the housing into at least two liquid accommodating chambers which communicate with each other, the liquid accommodating chambers comprising: an air-communication side liquid accommodating chamber which communicates with ambient air; and a detection side liquid accommodating chamber in which the liquid sensor is disposed at an upper portion thereof.

Abstract: A liquid container, comprising: a housing containing therein liquid; a liquid supply opening formed in the housing for withdrawing the liquid from the housing; a liquid sensor mounted on the housing for detecting a level of the liquid which is variable in accordance with a consumption of the liquid; and a first partition wall extending in an interior of the housing and defining the interior of the housing into at least two liquid accommodating chambers which communicate with each other, the liquid accommodating chambers comprising: an air-communication side liquid accommodating chamber which communicates with ambient air; and a detection side liquid accommodating chamber in which the liquid sensor is disposed at an upper portion thereof.

Abstract: An ink cartridge comprises a container main body 2 storing ink and having a through hole 67 communicating with the atmosphere as the ink cartridge is placed in a record apparatus, and a liquid level sensor 61 being disposed in the vicinity of a corner in the container main body 2 for detecting the ink level. A partition wall 62 to cover the liquid level sensor 61 is disposed in the container main body 2. An upper gap 63 into which an air bubble occurring with ink consumption can be introduced and a lower gap 64 positioned below the upper gap 63 are formed between the partition wall 62 and the inner face of the container main body 2, and a sensor accommodation area 65 communicating with both the gaps 63 and 64 to destroy the air bubble is formed.

Abstract: A liquid sensor (802) composed of a piezoelectric device is provided on an ink cartridge (800). An actual consumption detection processing section (816) of a recording apparatus control section (810) detects an actual consuming state by detecting an oscillating state corresponding to an ink consuming state using a piezoelectric device. An estimate consumption calculation processing section (814) finds an estimate consuming state by calculating an ink consuming state based on printing amount when printing using ink. For example, a consuming volume is calculated by adding up and multiplying the number of printing dots. An estimate consumption calculation processing for finding a consuming volume in detail and an actual consumption detection processing capable of detecting precisely are used in combination. Preferably, the passage of liquid level is detected as detection of an actual consumption. Consuming volumes prior to and after it are estimated by adding up and multiplying the number of dots.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus in which a nozzle ink jet recording head provided with a nozzle plate provided with apertures for jetting an ink droplet and a capping device provided with a cap unit for sealing the apertures of the nozzle plate when the recording apparatus is not used are mounted, in which in the cap unit of the capping device, in a sealed state, an ink suction port for supplying negative pressure for exhausting ink from a nozzle aperture if necessary is arranged at the bottom and an atmospheric air open port for releasing negative pressure is arranged on one side and in which a porous plate provided with plural through holes for adjusting the distribution of pressure in the longitudinal direction of the cap unit is housed between the inner bottom face and the upper open face of the cap unit and further, an ink suction method of a recording head are provided.

Abstract: A liquid container, comprising: a housing containing therein liquid; a liquid supply opening formed in the housing for withdrawing the liquid from the housing; a liquid sensor mounted on the housing for detecting a level of the liquid which is variable in accordance with a consumption of the liquid; and a first partition wall extending in an interior of the housing and defining the interior of the housing into at least two liquid accommodating chambers which communicate with each other, the liquid accommodating chambers comprising: an air-communication side liquid accommodating chamber which communicates with ambient air; and a detection side liquid accommodating chamber in which the liquid sensor is disposed at an upper portion thereof.

Abstract: A liquid container, comprising: a housing containing therein liquid; a liquid supply opening formed in the housing for withdrawing the liquid from the housing; a liquid sensor mounted on the housing for detecting a level of the liquid which is variable in accordance with a consumption of the liquid; and a first partition wall extending in an interior of the housing and defining the interior of the housing into at least two liquid accommodating chambers which communicate with each other, the liquid accommodating chambers comprising: an air-communication side liquid accommodating chamber which communicates with ambient air; and a detection side liquid accommodating chamber in which the liquid sensor is disposed at an upper portion thereof.

Abstract: A piezo-electric device has a base including a cavity opened on a first surface of the base, a first electrode layer formed on a second surface of the base, a piezo-electric layer laminated on the first electrode layer, and an auxiliary electrode layer formed on the second surface of the base. Between the first electrode layer and the auxiliary electrode layer, an insulating gap for ensuring the insulating state between both electrode layers is formed. The insulating gap is formed away from the position corresponding to the periphery of the cavity. The piezo-electric device can prevent a generation of cracks in the piezo-electric layer.

Abstract: A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device including a vibrating section symmetrical about a center thereof, and at least one electrode electrically connecting with said vibrating section.

Abstract: A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device including a vibrating section symmetrical about a center thereof, and at least one electrode electrically connecting with said vibrating section.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of controlling an ink jet recording apparatus on which a liquid container is to be detachably mounted, the liquid container having a piezoelectric device for detecting the liquid. The method includes the steps of: detecting a characteristic value of the piezoelectric device by a detection section provided inside or outside of the ink jet recording apparatus; judging whether or not the characteristic value satisfies a predetermined condition by a judging section provided inside or outside of the ink jet recording apparatus; and controlling the ink jet recording apparatus so that the ink jet recording apparatus is set in an operable or a non-operable state based on a result of the judging step.

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 member for pressurizing the pressure generating chambers, and a control device for applying drive signals to the pressure generating member. The control device applies drive signals to the pressure generating member. The drive signals contain signals corresponding to print data and signals which minutely vibrate the meniscus of ink in the nozzle openings to such an extent as to not eject ink droplets during a nonprint period. The control device causes ejection of ink droplets from the nozzle openings in accordance with print data during printing operations, and minutely vibrates the 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: The present method detects an ink consumption condition in an ink cartridge loaded on an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for jetting ink drops, using a piezo-electric device mounted on the cartridge. The method detects the ink consumption condition using the piezo-electric device when the recording head is in a non-recording state. A complicated seal structure is not necessary and the ink residue can be detected surely.

Abstract: A detector of liquid consumption condition includes a vibrating part that can vibrate relatively to a containing space that can be filled and refilled with a liquid. At least a portion of the vibrating part is exposed to the containing space. A piezoelectric device can cause the vibrating part to vibrate based on a driving signal and can generate a counter electromotive force signal by a vibration of the vibrating part. A liquid consumption condition detecting part can detect a liquid consumption condition, based on the counter electromotive force signal from the piezoelectric device. The containing space can contain only a predetermined volume of the liquid. The vibrating part is provided in a vicinity of a liquid surface in the containing space when the containing space contains the predetermined volume of the liquid.

Abstract: A liquid charging method for charging a liquid container with a liquid, the liquid container being provided with a piezo-electric device for detecting a consumption condition of the liquid in said liquid container, the piezo-electric device being provided with a cavity connecting to an inside of the liquid container, has the steps of: reducing a pressure in the liquid container to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure; and charging the liquid container with the liquid. The liquid container requiring no complicated seal structure for precisely detecting the consumption condition of a liquid by using the piezo-electric device is charged with a liquid without internally leaving air bubbles.