Abstract: A liquid droplet discharge unit for discharging liquid droplets from nozzles is disclosed, and this liquid droplet discharge unit is constructed in such a way that plural nozzles are communicated with plural pressure chambers in which liquid is filled, the volumes of the respective pressure chambers are changed by plural drive elements to cause liquid droplets to be discharged from the respective nozzles. Further, one heat pipe, which is in thermal communication with the drive elements and moves heat to one end in the axial direction, is provided. A liquid droplet discharge apparatus equipped with such a liquid droplet discharge unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting unit is disclosed wherein plural liquid droplet ejecting sub-units are provided which are arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording medium. Further, plural valves are provided which connect the respective liquid droplet ejecting sub-units and a liquid feed path. The valves comprise a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port, and a floating member. The floating member is larger in radius than the inlet port and smaller in radius than the outlet port and has a lower specific gravity that the liquid. Thus, the floating member is floated in the liquid in the valve body and capable of closing the inlet port. An image forming apparatus using such a liquid droplet ejecting unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid droplet ejecting device including a liquid droplet ejecting head; a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; a first flow path and a second flow path that connect the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, the second flow path connecting with the first flow path in the liquid droplet ejecting head; a bypass flow path connected with the first flow path and the second flow path; a liquid feed unit provided between the liquid storage unit and a connecting portion of the bypass flow path and the first flow path, and circulating the liquid in the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, and a pressure control unit provided at the bypass flow path, and controlling pressure of the liquid flowing through the bypass flow path from the first flow path side to the second flow path side.

Abstract: A droplet discharge apparatus includes a droplet discharge head which discharges droplets; a liquid retention unit which is configured such that a liquid surface of a liquid retained in the liquid retention unit is located below the droplet discharge head, the liquid retention unit including an atmosphere open port; a liquid channel which couples the droplet discharge head and the liquid retention unit; a liquid tank in which the liquid is retained, the liquid tank being sealed; a liquid inflow channel which couples the liquid retention unit and the liquid tank, an inflow port of the liquid inflow channel in the liquid retention unit being located below the atmosphere open port; a liquid sending channel which couples the liquid tank and the droplet discharge head; and a pump which sending the liquid in the liquid tank to the droplet discharge head.

Abstract: A liquid droplet discharge unit for discharging liquid droplets from nozzles is disclosed, and this liquid droplet discharge unit is constructed in such a way that plural nozzles are communicated with plural pressure chambers in which liquid is filled, the volumes of the respective pressure chambers are changed by plural drive elements to cause liquid droplets to be discharged from the respective nozzles. Further, one heat pipe, which is in thermal communication with the drive elements and moves heat to one end in the axial direction, is provided. A liquid droplet discharge apparatus equipped with such a liquid droplet discharge unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting unit is disclosed wherein plural liquid droplet ejecting sub-units are provided which are arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording medium. Further, plural valves are provided which connect the respective liquid droplet ejecting sub-units and a liquid feed path. The valves comprise a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port, and a floating member. The floating member is larger in radius than the inlet port and smaller in radius than the outlet port and has a lower specific gravity that the liquid. Thus, the floating member is floated in the liquid in the valve body and capable of closing the inlet port. An image forming apparatus using such a liquid droplet ejecting unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device of the present invention includes an inkjet recording head, a first wiper, a first movement component and a control component. The inkjet recording head ejects ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles formed in a nozzle face. The first wiper abuts against the nozzle face and wipes the nozzle face. The first movement component relatively moves the first wiper, with respect to the nozzle face, along the nozzle face. The control component controls ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles and controls the first movement component. The control component moves the first wiper relative to the nozzle face while the control component causes ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzles at least toward the first wiper, causing the nozzle face to be wiped.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink drops and a differential pressure valve provided in an ink feeding line connected to the ink jet recording head, the differential pressure valve generating a head back pressure in the ink jet recording head when ejecting no ink drop. Thus, the degree of freedom for the position of arrangement of an ink reservoir such as an ink tank connected to the ink feeding line is remarkably increased. Accordingly, it is possible to realize an ink jet recording apparatus of reduced size.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes first and second switching elements respectively controlled by first and second clock signals, a first parallel resonance circuit connected between the first switching element and a dc power supply, a second parallel resonance circuit connected between the second switching element and the dc power supply, and a series resonance circuit connected between the first and second parallel resonance circuits. An output voltage of the power supply circuit is obtained from a node in the series resonance circuit.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes first and second switching elements respectively controlled by first and second clock signals, a first parallel resonance circuit connected between the first switching element and a dc power supply, a second parallel resonance circuit connected between the second switching element and the dc power supply, and a series resonance circuit connected between the first and second parallel resonance circuits. An output voltage of the power supply circuit is obtained from a node in the series resonance circuit.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a boost circuit and a switch circuit. The boost circuit has rectifying elements and charge storage elements associated with the rectifying elements, and outputs a boosted voltage by sequentially cumulating charges in the charge storage elements in accordance with an AC input signal. The switch circuit switches a polarity of boosting in cumulating the charges in the charge storage elements. The boost circuit includes a circuit part that supplies charges to be sequentially cumulated in positive and negative directions in accordance with the AC input signal.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a boost circuit and a switch circuit. The boost circuit has rectifying elements and charge storage elements associated with the rectifying elements, and outputs a boosted voltage by sequentially cumulating charges in the charge storage elements in accordance with an AC input signal. The switch circuit switches a polarity of boosting in cumulating the charges in the charge storage elements. The boost circuit includes a circuit part that supplies charges to be sequentially cumulated in positive and negative directions in accordance with the AC input signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a driving device for an inkjet recording apparatus, which uses supersonic waves to significantly save power consumption for a compact, light-weight, lower price apparatus, and provides an inkjet recording apparatus using the driving device. An LC circuit of inductance and a capacitor, and an amplitude limiting resistor are connected in series across a fixed inductance for tuning, and are connected in parallel to a degenerated equivalent circuit of a piezoelectric element oscillator. The LC circuit is served to compensate lacking complex components respecting the driving frequency when a capacitance is fluctuated by printing pattern in the degenerated equivalent circuit of simultaneously driven oscillators. By adding a LC circuit in parallel to the TANK circuit as an equivalent circuit comprised of oscillator capacitance and a fixed inductance, the fluctuated capacitance including its complex component is compensated for and the oscillators is driven at a constant frequency.

Abstract: To remove deposit on a protective film 6 of heating resistors 3, main pulse P3r of multi-pulse drive is set to the width narrower than main pulse width P3s at the normal recording time and wider than the main pulse width starting film boiling in a region on the protective film including heating regions of the heating resistors, and the heating resistors 3 are driven, whereby the deposit is peeled in a wide area including the heating region. After bubbles grow in an ink chamber 9, they shrink and disappear as the heating resistors 3 terminate heating. Liquid rapidly flows into the ink chamber 9 accordingly, and the deposit on the protective film can be removed by cavitation at the time.