Abstract: A recording apparatus that has a recording head and a flexible printed circuit board. The recording head, which performs recording on a recording medium, has a plurality of recording elements. One end of the flexible printed circuit board has plurality of feeder wires that connect to one of the terminal lands of each of the recording elements. A first common voltage wire connects the other terminal lands of each of the recording elements to a common potential. A drive circuit is attached to the flexible printed circuit board to drive the recording head via the feeder wires. The other end of the flexible printed circuit board is connected to another circuit board used by the recording apparatus.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder includes a recording head having an ejection nozzle, and a purging apparatus for recovering the ejecting condition of the nozzle. The recorder further includes a timer for clocking the time having passed after the last purging by the purging apparatus, and a controller for controlling the head and the purging apparatus. If a command for operating the head is input in the recorder, and on condition the time clocked by the timer exceeds a predetermined time period, the controller starts the head ejecting ink. The air bubbles produced in the head by purging can vanish naturally during the predetermined period. It is therefore possible to improve the ejecting characteristic and secure high recording quality.

Abstract: A pressure welding apparatus includes a pressing die assembly 50 which has a plurality of stuffers 54 that pressure-weld electric wires 45 to the pressure-welding parts 34 of contacts 30, and a comb 70. The pressing die assembly 50 has a plurality of pins 60 which are located adjacent to the respective stuffers 54 and which are constantly driven downward by springs 62 so that the pins 60 protrude beyond the lower ends of the stuffers 54. The widths of the respective pins 60 are set so that these widths are substantially equal to the widths of the cavities 16 of the housing 10 in which the contacts 30 are accommodated. As a result, the pins 60 advance into the housing cavities 16 located adjacent to the contact 30 on which pressure-welding is to be performed, and support the housing partition walls 20 from the sides during the pressure welding process.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus in which after each purging operation, a wiping operation is performed, and then a preliminary ejection is performed. In the preliminary ejection operation, a preliminary ejection by a small dot waveform is performed, and then a preliminary ejection by a larger dot waveform than the small dot waveform is performed.

Abstract: An ink jet printer incudes a carriage supported slidably in opposite reciprocating directions and having a turning axis which extends in these directions. The printer also includes a head holder a and a head unit. The unit is fixed to the front wall of the holder, and has print heads. The printer further includes protective caps for covering the ejection faces of the heads respectively. When the heads are replaced at their position where their ejection faces are opposite the caps the caps are oriented opposite the direction in which the holder is moved toward the axis. When the holder is put on the carriage in such a direction that the holder approaches the caps the caps cap the heads. The caps can move in the directions in which the holder turn. After part of the holder is put on the carriage, the holder is turned around the axis to its normal position, where the heads correctly face the printing position on printing paper. The holder turns together with the caps with the heads capped with them.

Abstract: When the printing instruction is issued in S100, it is judged in S110 whether the present mode is the printer mode. When the present mode is not set to the printer mode, it is judged in S120 whether the present mode is set to the facsimile mode. When the present mode is set to the facsimile mode, the driving waveform of the driving signal is set in S130 into a multi-pulse, comprised of two pulses, for every single set of print data. In S140, printing operation is performed with the multi-pulse driving signal. Accordingly, ink droplets are ejected twice from a single nozzle for a single set of data. Thus, the print density of the obtained image is increased.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder includes a recording head having a plurality of ejection surfaces each containing a nozzle for ejecting a different ink, a purging device for purging the nozzle of one ejection surface at a time within the plurality of ejection nozzles, and a controller for controlling the purging device in such a manner that a nozzle for ejecting a darker color ink is purged before a nozzle for ejecting a lighter color ink. The nozzle for the darker color can have longer waiting time than the nozzle for the lighter color ink and thereby the air bubbles remained in the nozzle can be absorbed into the darker color ink. Noticeable lack of darker color ink on the color printed medium can be avoided.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder includes a recording head having an actuator for ejecting ink from a nozzle by changing the volume of an ink passage, an ink cartridge, a purging device, and a control unit. The control unit controls the purging device so as to effect a first purge and a second purge having a greater sucking force than that in the first purge, and controls the actuator during the first purging operation. Ink passage walls and ink are vibrated, and by virtue of a synergistic effect with the flow of ink flowing due to the first purging operation, bubbles and foreign objects attached to the passage walls are easily separated from the walls. The operation of the actuator can be executed by lagging behind a purging start for a predetermined time duration.

Abstract: An ink droplet ejection apparatus includes a print head having ejection nozzles and three storers store serial ejection data therein and transfer them in order. On the basis of the data output from the storers and transfer data control signals, a transfer data generator makes a logical operation to generate additional pulse data for cancellation of ink pressure wave vibration in order to prevent ink from being ejected or dropped accidentally through the nozzles. The control signals are determined depending on temperature and condition of use.

Abstract: In an ink jet-type printer device, a printer head has ink passages and actuators for jetting ink from the ink passages. An integrated circuit for driving the actuators and its leading electrodes having respective connecting terminals are provided on the printer head. A printed circuit plate has an electric wiring pattern having connecting terminals which correspond to the connecting terminals on the printer head. The printer head is attached to the printed circuit plate by an adhesive with its connecting terminals being made to contact with the corresponding connecting terminals on the printed circuit plate. The printed circuit plate is assembled to a carriage integrally with the printer head.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sealed cable-terminating structure in which a braided-shielding member is fastened to supporting members with high strength, and in which an optimum shielding effect can be ensured, and a simple termination method for realizing such a terminating structure. An end portion of a shielding member (50) on a clamped side has a folded-back section (55a), which is formed by being turned inward. A portion of the folded-back section (55a) is fastened by clamping to socket (20) by a clamping member (31), and it is extended by a prescribed length in a direction away from the fastened portion.

Abstract: The ink jet apparatus of an ink jet printer includes an ink jet head. The head has an ink channel, a nozzle, and an actuator for ejecting ink from the channel through the nozzle. A drive unit can drive the actuator. A control unit generates print data, on which the control unit is based to control the drive unit. A stop pulse data generator carries out a logical operation of the print data for each print cycle Tm and the print data for the next print cycle Tm+1 to generate a predetermined stop pulse data if the former data is a data for execution of printing and if the latter data is a data for no execution of printing. After printing is executed in accordance with the print data for the cycle Tm, the drive unit is based on the stop pulse data to drive the actuator so as to damp the pressure wave vibration generated in the channel.

Abstract: A recording device including a recording head for recording on a recording medium; a drive motor; a temperature detection circuit for detecting temperature of the recording head and outputting an analog signal corresponding to the detected temperature; a conversion circuit for converting the analog signal into a digital signal; and a CPU for receiving the digital signal from the conversion circuit only when at least one of the recording head and the drive motor are not being driven and for controlling energy applied to the recording head based on the received digital signal.

Abstract: To provide a print head unit and device and a method for evaluation of the print head unit without performing a printing operation. A current probe 21 detects a head ground current, which corresponds to a driving circuit output current. A current-voltage converter 22 converts the head ground current to a voltage level. Then, an integrating device integrates the voltage level to a waveform which corresponds to the head ground current. By comparing the produced waveform with a proper waveform one can determine, whether the print head unit is operational.

Abstract: A drive voltage is applied to an actuator between adjacent ink-jet channels so that the actuator is deformed to jet ink from one of the adjacent channels. Then, a drive voltage for jetting ink from the other channel is applied to the actuator so as to partially overlap the drive voltage for deforming the actuator, and thereby the actuator returns to its original state. A first protection diode D1 and a second protection diode D2 for protecting transistors from a reverse bias voltage are connected respectively in parallel with a first transistor Q1 and a second transistor Q2, which constitute a driving circuit for the actuator. The average rectified current I.sub.0 used in the maximum rating of the protection diodes D1 and D2 satisfies I.sub.0 .gtoreq.2.times.E.times.C'.times.f (amps), and the peak current I.sub.FM used in the maximum rating satisfies I.sub.FM .gtoreq.2.times.(E-E.sub.F)/(2.times.R+R.sub.ON) (amps).

Abstract: A printer has a temperature sensor for detecting its internal temperature. When a print head is covered with a cap of a cap unit, a machine temperature T1 is stored in a controller. After a lapse of a predetermined time, a machine temperature T2 is measured. If a predetermined temperature difference exists between T1 and T2, the cap is released transiently from the print head to prevent the pressure of the gap between the cap and the print head from reaching a level at which the meniscus is destroyed. Not only the machine temperature, but the elapsed time since the start of capping may be used as a basis for control.

Abstract: A portable printing device including: a case; a print unit having a print head with a print surface, the print head being switchable between a raised position and a lowered position with respect to the case; and a shutter member that covers the print surface of the print head when the print head is in its raised position. A link mechanism including crossed arms is provided for freely pivotably supporting the print unit with respect to the case.

Abstract: To allow a head unit to be detached from a carriage while preventing a driver IC substrate provided on the head unit from being damaged by a latchup current, electrical charges stored in a smoothing capacitor are discharged in a resistor and dissipated therein when, a power source cutoff signal changes from a high level to a low level. When the smoothing capacitor is discharged, an LED is turned off to indicate the completion of the discharge. Upon confirming that the LED has turned off, the head unit is detached from the carriage. In another solution, the head unit is locked to the carriage by a lock mechanism. A high voltage contact in a dimple FPC is disconnected from the driver IC substrate when a lever of the lock mechanism is rotated in counter-clockwise direction to unlock the head unit. In this condition, the head unit can be detached from the carriage without damaging the driver IC substrate.

Abstract: An ink ejecting printing apparatus is capable of selectively changing between a first printing mode, in which two driving signals are output for each pulse signal output, and a second printing mode, in which one driving signal is output for each pulse signal. When the first printing mode is set, the nozzles are driven by two driving signals during each data cycle. When the second printing mode is set, the nozzles are driven by a single driving signal during each data cycle.

Abstract: A manual printing device manually scanned across a recording medium to record images in ink on the recording medium, the device including: a recording unit for recording images in ink on the recording medium; an ink supply unit including an ink tank filled with ink and an ink tube for supplying ink from the ink tank to the recording unit; an ink tube valve disposed along the ink tube and for controlling supply of ink from the ink tank to the recording unit; and an ink tube valve drive unit for opening the ink tube valve when the recording unit is in confrontation with the recording medium and closing the ink tube valve when no recording medium is in confrontation with the recording unit.