Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller configured to be heated by a heat source, and a pressure roller configured to be in pressure-contact with the fixing roller. The fixing roller includes a cylindrical tubular core having an inner circumferential surface and one or more ribs protruded from the inner circumferential surface and extending spirally along the inner circumferential surface. The total number of times that the one or more spiral ribs cross through a region of contact between the fixing roller and the pressure roller is more than one, regardless of a rotation angle of the fixing roller.

Abstract: A fixing roller has a heat source therein and has a rubber layer on an outer periphery of a metal pipe. Hardness of the fixing roller is set to a range from 70° to 85° (ASKER C). A pressing roller is come into pressure contact with the fixing roller and a silicone foam rubber is formed on an outer periphery of a core. Hardness of the pressing roller is set to a range from 55° to 70° (ASKER C). A fixing apparatus in which a pressure necessary for color fixing is obtained, a print medium is not wrapped, and heat insulating performance of the pressing roller is obtained is provided.

Abstract: A fixing roller has a heat source therein and has a rubber layer on an outer periphery of a metal pipe. Hardness of the fixing roller is set to a range from 70° to 85° (ASKER C). A pressing roller is come into pressure contact with the fixing roller and a silicon foam rubber is formed on an outer periphery of a core. Hardness of the pressing roller is set to a range from 55° to 70° (ASKER C). A fixing apparatus in which a pressure necessary for color fixing is obtained, a print medium is not wrapped, and heat insulating performance of the pressing roller is obtained is provided.

Abstract: A fixing device capable of improving printing speed without increasingly the size of rollers, and making the surface temperature of the heating roller quickly reach a target temperature. The heating roller, which comes into contact with recording sheet having unfixed toner adhering to it, includes an elastic body of low heat conductivity and high heat resistance, and has metal foil formed tightly to the external circumferential surface thereof. This meal foil with a small heat capacity, by direct contact on its surface with the heating source, helps the surface of the heating roller quickly rise in temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device capable of improving printing speed without increasingly the size of rollers, and making the surface temperature of the heating roller quickly reach a target temperature.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a black head and a plurality of color heads. The black head has a predetermined number of first orifices aligned at predetermined intervals (e.g. 0.0169 mm) in a sub scanning direction (direction in which a print medium travels). The plurality of color heads eject different colored ink drops. Each color head has the predetermined number of second orifices aligned in the sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The second orifices of adjacent color heads are aligned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub scanning direction.

Abstract: An ink Jet head includes first base second base which are made of a piezoelectric material. The first and second bases are formed with a plurality of first and second grooves in their surfaces, respectively, and are formed with first and second electrodes on their surfaces between the first grooves, respectively. The first and second bases also includes side surfaces intersecting the surfaces of the first and second bases, respectively. The electrodes are spaced apart from the side surfaces. The second base is placed on the first base so that the grooves in the first base and the grooves in the second base communicate with each other to define ink pressure chambers. An insulating layer is formed on the inner walls of the ink pressure chambers. An orifice plate having orifices is bonded to the side surfaces so that the ink chambers communicate with atmosphere through the orifices.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a print head is for use with an ink Jet printer. The print head includes a plurality of parallel ink pressure chambers defined by a plurality of walls and a cover bonded on the top surfaces of the walls. The method includes the steps of forming a plurality of parallel grooves in a piezoelectric element, the grooves being bounded by a plurality of parallel walls aligned in a row; and applying an adhesive either to the top surfaces of the walls or to a surface of a cover in registration with top surfaces of the walls, the adhesive being applied by screen printing, the adhesive being applied by moving a squeegee in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the grooves extend.

Abstract: An ink-jet head comprising a plurality of sidewalls each imparting a pressure pulse to an ink pressurizing cell by means of shear mode deformation, and a front wall having a plurality of orifices. The ink in the ink pressurizing cells is ejected from the orifices. Each sidewall comprises a first wall section, a first electrode disposed thereon, an anisotropic adhesive disposed thereon, a second electrode disposed thereon, and a second wall section disposed thereon. Width of the first electrode is narrower than width of the first wall section, and the upper surface of the first wall section has first side areas which are not covered by the first electrode. Width of the second electrode is narrower than width of the second wall section, and the lower surface of the second wall section has second side areas which are not covered by the second electrode.

Abstract: A method of adjusting an ink jet head having at least one polarized electromechanical transducer forming an ink pressure chamber from which ink drops are ejected when the electromechanical transducer is deformed. The method includes the steps of performing a first polarization operation where the electromechanical transducer is polarized into saturation in a first direction, and performing second polarization operation where the electromechanical transducer polarized by the first polarization operation is polarized in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the electromechanical transducer is polarized to a predetermined level.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is of the construction where information is printed by ejecting ink drops through orifices of an ink jet head mounted on a carriage. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a cap for closing the surface of the ink jet head in which the orifices are formed. The cap is adapted to move between a first position at which the cap is fully disengaged with the orifices, and a second position at which the cap is engaged with the orifices. The cap communicates with a suction mechanism which negatively pressurizes the cap when the cap is at the second position. The carriage, cap, and suction mechanism are controllably driven by a controller. The cap is provided with an engagement member, which may take the form of a sweep blade, attached to its tip for sweeping the surface in which the orifices are formed.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus has at least one ink chamber having an orifice through which ink drops are ejected, each ink drop having a variable amount of ink and being ejected at a timing corresponding to the amount of ink; and a controller for causing said ink chamber to eject ink drops therefrom in accordance with print data. The ink drop has an amount of ink in accordance with the level of gradation of the print data and is ejected at a timing in accordance with the amount of ink. The ink chamber may includes a plurality of ink chambers, i.e., black, yellow, magenta, and cyan. A black ink chamber is located at a first distance away from the print medium and ejects black ink drops along line k1. Color ink chambers of yellow, magenta, and cyan are aligned in a plane parallel to the surface of the print medium and oriented so that the color ink drops are ejected toward the print medium along lines k1, k3, and k4, respectively.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has a print head mounted on a movable carriage. The print head prints by ejecting drops of ink. A cap is detachably mounted on the print head during non-printing periods. The cap moves together with the print head when the print head and the movable carriage move during the non-printing periods. The cap protects the print head by preventing accumulation of dirt and drying of ink. A cap holder detachably holds the cap. The cap holder carries the cap to the print head after printing ends, and carries the cap away from the print head before printing begins.

Abstract: An ink-jet head comprising a plurality of sidewalls each imparting a pressure pulse to an ink pressurizing cell by means of shear mode deformation, and a front wall having a plurality of orifices. The ink in the ink pressurizing cells is ejected from the orifices. Each sidewall comprises a first wall section, a first electrode disposed thereon, an anisotropic adhesive disposed thereon, a second electrode disposed thereon, and a second wall section disposed thereon. Width of the first electrode is narrower than width of the first wall section, and the upper surface of the first wall section has first side areas which are not covered by the first electrode. Width of the second electrode is narrower than width of the second wall section, and the lower surface of the second wall section has second side areas which are not covered by the second electrode.

Abstract: An impact printer having a print head, the print head having a movable armature, a printing wire fixed to the armature, and sensor for detecting movement of the armature. The position of the armature is monitored based on an output of the sensor. A home sensor detects whether the print head is at a home position. A paper end sensor detect whether a printing medium is between the platen and the print head. A gap motor means adjusts a gap between the printing wire and the platen. A gap controller is responsive to detection signals output by said home sensor and said paper end sensor, for controlling the print head to swing the armature so as to cause the tip of said printing wire to strike the platen, determining a time of impact of the tip with the platen based on the monitored position of the armature, performing a comparison of the time of impact with a predetermined impact time, and outputting a drive signal to the gap motor for adjusting the gap according to a result of the comparison.