Abstract: For a temperature adjustment process that uses high viscosity ink and is based on a first table, in a low temperature environment, an ink refill failure may occur and lower density may appear in high duty printing. Also for a temperature adjustment process that uses high viscosity ink and is based on second and third tables, in a low temperature environment, an ink refill failure may occur and lower density may appear. On the other hand, for a temperature adjustment process that employs a fourth table, a smaller pre-heat pulse width than that for the first table, for the conventional temperature adjustment, is employed in the same low temperature environment. Therefore, an ink refill failure does not occur, and horizontal or vertical gaps do not appear during high duty printing.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus and a printing method, the frequency of an operation of detecting an inappropriate ejection state of each ejection port is increased, while allowing a decrease in throughput to be suppressed. The printing apparatus includes a first ejection state sensing unit for carrying out an ejection state sensing process in which determination of whether or not ejected droplets are normal is executed, during a single process, on all the ejection ports formed in the print head. The printing apparatus further includes a second ejection state sensing unit for carrying out the ejection state sensing process on the ejection ports in a part of a plurality of ejection port groups into which the plurality of ejection ports formed in the print head are divided.

Abstract: For a temperature adjustment process that uses high viscosity ink and is based on a first table, in a low temperature environment, an ink refill failure may occur and lower density may appear in high duty printing. Also for a temperature adjustment process that uses high viscosity ink and is based on second and third tables, in a low temperature environment, an ink refill failure may occur and lower density may appear. On the other hand, for a temperature adjustment process that employs a fourth table, a smaller pre-heat pulse width than that for the first table, for the conventional temperature adjustment, is employed in the same low temperature environment. Therefore, an ink refill failure does not occur, and horizontal or vertical gaps do not appear during high duty printing.

Abstract: For a temperature adjustment process that uses high viscosity ink and is based on a first table, in a low temperature environment, an ink refill failure may occur and lower density may appear in high duty printing. Also for a temperature adjustment process that uses high viscosity ink and is based on second and third tables, in a low temperature environment, an ink refill failure may occur and lower density may appear. On the other hand, for a temperature adjustment process that employs a fourth table, a smaller pre-heat pulse width than that for the first table, for the conventional temperature adjustment, is employed in the same low temperature environment. Therefore, an ink refill failure does not occur, and horizontal or vertical gaps do not appear during high duty printing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus and a printing method in which the frequency of an operation of detecting an inappropriate ejection state of each ejection port is increased, while allowing a decrease in throughput to be suppressed. The printing apparatus includes first ejection state sensing means for carrying out a first ejection state sensing process in which an ejection state sensing process of determining whether or not ejected droplets are normal is executed, during a single process, on all the ejection ports formed in the print head. The printing apparatus further includes second ejection state sensing means for carrying out a second ejection state sensing process in which the ejection state sensing process is executed on the ejection ports in a part of a plurality of ejection port groups into which the plurality of ejection ports formed in the print head are divided.

Abstract: For the temperature adjustment process that uses high viscosity ink and is based on table No. 1, in a low temperature environment, an ink refill failure may occur and lower density may appear in high duty printing. Also for the temperature adjustment process that uses high viscosity ink and is based on table Nos. 2 and 3, in a low temperature environment, an ink refill failure may occur and lower density may appear. On the other hand, for a temperature adjustment process that employs table No. 4, a smaller pre-heat pulse width than that for table No. 1, for the conventional temperature adjustment, is employed in the same low temperature environment. Therefore, an ink refill failure does not occur, and horizontal or vertical gaps do not appear during high duty printing.

Abstract: An jet recording apparatus, which records on a recording medium by discharging ink form a recording head, is provided with at least two electrothermal converting elements each having different amount of heat generation, and driven each individually, which are arranged in the ink flow path communicated with the discharge port of the recording head along the ink flow path each in different distance to the discharge port, and when the pre-discharge is performed without participating in recording, driving signals needed for discharging ink are supplied to the electrothermal converting element on the side near to the discharge port subsequent to being supplied to the electrothermal converting element on the side away from the discharge port.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head provided with a discharge port for discharging ink, an ink flow path communicating with the discharge port, and at least two heat generating elements provided in the ink flow path along the direction thereof, wherein the ink is pigment-based ink and the recording head comprises drive signal supply means for varying the supply timing of drive signals to the plural heat generating elements for ink discharge in such a manner that the drive signal is at first given to the heat generating element at the side of the discharge port at room temperature and the supply timings to the plural heat generating members become simultaneous or closer thereto with an increase in the temperature of the recording head.

Abstract: An jet recording apparatus, which records on a recording medium by discharging ink form a recording head, is provided with at least two electrothermal converting elements each having different amount of heat generation, and driven each individually, which are arranged in the ink flow path communicated with the discharge port of the recording head along the ink flow path each in different distance to the discharge port, and when the pre-discharge is performed without participating in recording, driving signals needed for discharging ink are supplied to the electrothermal converting element on the side near to the discharge port subsequent to being supplied to the electrothermal converting element on the side away from the discharge port.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a discharge port for discharging liquid, a liquid passage communicated with the discharge port, a bubble generating area for generating a bubble in the liquid in the liquid passage, the bubble generating area including a heater for heating the liquid in the liquid passage, and a movable member disposed in a confronting relation to the bubble generating area in the liquid passage and adapted to be shifted by pressure caused by generating the bubble at the bubble generating area to direct the pressure toward the discharge port and to be returned to its initial position by negative pressure due to contraction of the bubble, and wherein resistance of the movable member against the liquid in the liquid passage when it is shifted is smaller than that when it is returned.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head provided with a discharge port for discharging ink, an ink flow path communicating with the discharge port, and at least two heat generating elements provided in the ink flow path along the direction thereof, wherein the ink is pigment-based ink and the recording head comprises drive signal supply means for varying the supply timing of drive signals to the plural heat generating elements for ink discharge in such a manner that the drive signal is at first given to the heat generating element at the side of the discharge port at room temperature and the supply timings to the plural heat generating members become simultaneous or closer thereto with an increase in the temperature of the recording head.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head provided with a discharge port for discharging ink, an ink flow path communicating with the discharge port, and at least two heat generating elements provided in the ink flow path along the direction thereof, wherein the ink is pigment-based ink and the recording head comprises drive signal supply means for varying the supply timing of drive signals to the plural heat generating elements for ink discharge in such a manner that the drive signal is at first given to the heat generating element at the side of the discharge port at room temperature and the supply timings to the plural heat generating members become simultaneous or closer thereto with an increase in the temperature of the recording head.

Abstract: A connector cap 56 having connection openings 56A and 56B provided respectively corresponding to the other ends of ink passages 46 and 54 and a communication passage 56R for communicating the connection opening 56A with the connection opening 56B is provided detachably to the other ends of the ink passages 46 and 54.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink, a plurality of ink flow paths in communication with the plurality of discharge ports, a plurality of substrates including discharge energy generating elements for providing discharge energy for discharging ink, a supporting member for supporting a plurality of substrates in an arranged state, and a ceiling plate member for forming the plurality of ink flow paths by being bonded to a plurality of arranged substrates.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head including a base plate substrate formed by a first base plate substrate and a second base plate substrate in which the thermal expansion coefficient of the first base plate substrate directly in contact with a substrate having discharge energy generating elements arranged thereon is smaller than that of the second base plate substrate and the first base plate substrate is formed by material having the thermal expansion coefficient closer to that of the substrate having the discharge energy generating elements arranged therefor, and at the same time, the first base plate substrate, above which the discharge energy generating elements are placed, is supported by a surface of the second base plate substrate and a side face in the longitudinal direction of the second base plate substrate.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head comprises a grooved member including plural discharge ports for discharging liquid, plural grooves for respectively constituting first liquid paths directly communicating with the discharge ports, and a recess for constituting a first common liquid chamber communicating with the plural grooves and serving to supply the first liquid paths with liquid, plural element substrates, each including plural heat generating members for generating bubble in the liquid by giving heat thereto and walls of second liquid paths corresponding to each the heat generating members, and arranged along the direction of array of the discharge ports of the grooved member, and a partition wall positioned between the element substrates and the grooved member, and including, in positions respectively opposed to the heat generating members, plural movable members adapted to respectively displace toward the first liquid paths by the pressure of generation of the bubble.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a plurality of ink ejection outlets, a first member having a plurality of grooves in fluid communication with the ejection outlets, respectively, a second member having a plurality of energy generating elements for producing energy for ejecting ink in the grooves through the ejection outlets, and a clamping unit for clamping the first member with the second member to constitute ink passages with the grooves, wherein the clamping unit has a plurality of pressure regulating mechanism pressure regulating mechanisms, which are independently operable.

Abstract: An ink tank has an ink container storing the ink to be used in the printing apparatus, a waste ink container storing the ink used in the printing apparatus, an atmosphere communication hole provided in the waste ink container, and a coupling member provided on one of or both of the ink container and the waste ink container and provided for coupling the ink container and the waste ink container, and forming an ink guide path for guiding the ink flown from the atmosphere communication hole to a predetermined position of the ink container or the waste ink container. An elastic body has a domed shape, and is used at a coupling portion in one of or both of the ink container and the waste ink container, the coupling portion for coupling the containers to the printing apparatus.

Abstract: An etching resist composition containing at least a polymeric compound having an acid value of not less than 35, a base, and water, and having a viscosity of 10 centipoises or below.

Abstract: Provided is an ink-jet color recording process to form color images on a recording medium by an ink-jet system applying a plurality of colored pigment-based inks, wherein each of the colored pigment inks comprises a pigment dispersant, and a pigment dispersant contained in at least one of colored pigment-based inks is different from a pigment dispersant contained in the remaining colored pigment-based inks.