Abstract: An ink jet print head by which ink droplet ejected from all orifices are adapted to have uniform size has the following structure. Each of a plurality of ink chambers divided by partitions is communicated with a common pressure chamber with a first filter interposed. Common pressure chamber is communicated with a common ink feed path with a second filter interposed. Common pressure chamber and each of the ink chambers are covered by a pressure chamber ceiling. On pressure chamber ceiling, a piezo vibrator is provided at a position corresponding to common pressure chamber. A movable wall which is bent and deformed to the side increasing the volume is provided corresponding to each partition. By driving a piezo vibrator, a pressure wave is generated in common pressure chamber, which wave is transmitted to each ink chamber through the first filter. When movable wall is bent and deformed, the pressure wave is absorbed, so that an ink droplet is not ejected.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes an ink supply path, a pressure chamber, an orifice and an oscillator. By bending a portion of the wall surface of the pressure chamber by oscillation of oscillator, ink is emitted. A portion of the wall surface of pressure chamber is formed by an oscillating plate of resin, and a unimorph including an elastic plate and oscillator provided on oscillating plate. Sidewalls separating the inside of pressure chamber are provided, and the dimension between the sidewalls is made shorter than the dimension of the unimorph.

Abstract: In a container, an ink exhausting detecting liquid permeable sponge and an ink permeable sponge are disposed with an isolation film therebetween. The ink exhaustion detecting liquid is oil based, and has a resistance value higher than that of ink, and a specific gravity smaller than that of ink. In usage, the isolation film is drawn out of the container, whereby the ink exhaustion detecting liquid permeable sponge is brought into contact with the ink permeable sponge.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method includes the steps of: causing ink drops to fly from a recording head; attaching the ink drops onto an intermediate transfer element at a recording density of no less than 140 dots/cm.times.140 dots/cm and an amount of ink attached of no more than 3.0.times.10.sup.-4 ml/cm.sup.2 ; and transferring an image formed on the intermediate transfer element onto a recording medium.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device has heating device for heating ink at a suction pipe, a suction pump or a cap member. With this structure, an unsatisfactory operation of the ink jet recording device due to coagulation of ink can be prevented even when heat melting ink, or ink presenting plastic-flowability at the ordinary temperature, is used for the ink jet recording device.

Abstract: A photoconductive layer is formed on the entire outer peripheral surface of a light transmissive drum, and a conductive layer is formed on the photoconductive layer and is made up of a plurality of strip-like conductive portions. Provided around the drum are a tank for storing thermo-melting ink, a blade which removes surplus ink on the outer peripheral surface of the drum, a drier for drying the ink filling the gaps between the conductive portions in the conductive layers, a platen roller which presses against the outer peripheral surface of the drum with a sheet of recording paper in between, and a light source which is provided inside the drum, facing the inner peripheral surface thereof. When the light source is selectively operated in accordance with image information, current is made to flow between the conductive portions in the conductive layer via the photoconductive layer at image recording areas, thus causing the ink filling the gap to be transferred to the recording paper.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device includes a recording head for discharging ink to a recording medium, a recording head side coupling portion coupled with a reservoir chamber side coupling portion to receive supply of ink and providing ink to the recording head. The recording head side coupling portion includes a member with an ink passage and a valve device for opening/closing the ink passage. The valve device begins to open during coupling of the reservoir chamber side coupling portion and the recording head side coupling portion, and closes at complete detachment.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes an electroviscous fluid chamber provided at a part of a sidewall of an ink chamber, and having electroviscous fluid sealed therein, an elastic film provided between the ink chamber and the electroviscous fluid chamber for transmitting pressure between the ink chamber and the electroviscous fluid chamber, a pair of electrodes provided at a part of a sidewall of the electroviscous fluid chamber corresponding to the ink chamber for applying an electric field to the electroviscous fluid, a pressure generation device for discharging ink from the ink chamber, and a control device for controlling ink discharge by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes to alter the viscosity of the electroviscous fluid in response to record information.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes an orifice plate having a plurality of orifices disposed transversely at prescribed intervals, a vibrating plate disposed parallel to orifice plate and deformed by applying a potential difference perpendicularly to the direction of polarization, and a plurality of partitions disposed between orifice plate and vibrating plate in the space between adjacent orifices, and the space surrounded by orifice, vibrating plate and partition defines a pressure chamber to be filled with ink. Vibrating plate is provided with a groove having a rectangular cross section in a region having relatively low field intensity when signal voltage is applied. In this structure, the electric capacitance of vibrating plate is reduced without adversely affecting the electric field intensity, and the efficiency of deformation of vibrating plate is increased.

Abstract: In a non-printing state, a cap is moved toward an ink jet nozzle of a head, for sealing the same. Immediately before the cap comes into contact with the jet nozzle, a gear is rotated by a motor to drive a piston, for sucking air from the interior of the cap by a suction pump consisting of the piston and a cylinder. This sucking operation is continued until the cap comes into close contact with the jet nozzle, for sucking the ink from the head.