Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a liquid container having an information storage portion configured to store information and a supply port for supplying liquid in the liquid container to the outside and a movable member having the liquid container attached thereon. After the connection between the supply port and the apparatus is severed while the movable member moves from a first position to a second position, information is written in the information storage portion. The second position is set such that the time required for the movable member to move from the first position to the second position is longer than or equal to the time required for the information communication.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit configured to apply ink to a recording medium while reciprocating a print head with respect to the recording medium and a drying unit configured to apply energy for accelerating dryness to the recording medium to which the ink is applied by the print head. The drying unit applies a larger energy at edges of a range within which the printing unit moves on the recording medium than at a middle of the range.

Abstract: When performing at least one of preliminary ejection or a suction unit as a countermeasure against adhering ink that accumulates in the portion where preliminary ejection is performed, the preliminary ejection amount and suction speed of the suction unit are optimized. An inkjet print apparatus that prints by using a printing head for ejecting ink, comprising: an ejecting unit; a sucking unit; a measuring unit that measures an elapsed time after the sucking unit is performed; and a control unit that control ejection by the ejecting unit or sucking by the sucking unit according to the elapsed time measured in the measuring unit; wherein as the elapsed time becomes longer, the amount of ink that is ejected to the ink receiving unit in the ejecting unit is increased or a suction speed at which the ink is sucked in the sucking unit is increased.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus that suppresses temperature rising of a recording head to decrease standby time when the recording head is high in temperature, thereby reducing a drop in recording speed and degradation in image quality. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a discharge port surface in which a discharge port for discharging ink is formed, a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of the recording head, and a cleaning unit configured to make contact with the recording head to clean the discharge port surface. The inkjet recording apparatus controls whether to make the cleaning unit contact the discharge port surface based on the recording head temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A recording head includes ejection ports that eject ink, a first liquid chamber for supplying ink to the ejection ports, a second liquid chamber for supplying ink to the first liquid chamber, a gas reservoir disposed in the upper part of the first liquid chamber and collecting gas, a first outlet through which fluid is discharged out of the gas reservoir, and a pump chamber into which fluid is moved through the first outlet out of the first liquid chamber by producing a pressure difference from the first liquid chamber.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a liquid container having an information storage portion configured to store information and a supply port for supplying liquid in the liquid container to the outside and a movable member having the liquid container attached thereon. After the connection between the supply port and the apparatus is severed while the movable member moves from a first position to a second position, information is written in the information storage portion. The second position is set such that the time required for the movable member to move from the first position to the second position is longer than or equal to the time required for the information communication.

Abstract: An inner-pressure-changing connecting portion that changes the inner pressure of an ink cartridge and a fitted portion to be fitted on a positioning mechanism provided on an ink-jet printer are disposed coaxially. In a configuration for supplying ink by applying pressure to a pressure chamber, high-accuracy positioning of the ink cartridge and the ink-jet printer can be achieved.

Abstract: A recording head includes ejection ports that eject ink, a first liquid chamber for supplying ink to the ejection ports, a second liquid chamber for supplying ink to the first liquid chamber, a gas reservoir disposed in the upper part of the first liquid chamber and collecting gas, a first outlet through which fluid is discharged out of the gas reservoir, and a pump chamber into which fluid is moved through the first outlet out of the first liquid chamber by producing a pressure difference from the first liquid chamber.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a print head for printing an image on a printing medium. The print head includes a first nozzle array for ejecting a first ink and a second nozzle array for ejecting a second ink. The ink jet printing apparatus also includes a wiping member for wiping a printing face of the print head provided with the first and second nozzle arrays, and a control unit for controlling the wiping member to wipe the printing face depending on an ejection number of the first ink ejected from the first nozzle array and an ejection number of the second ink ejected from the second nozzle array, wherein the control unit controls the wiping member to wipe the printing face if the ejection number of the first ink exceeds a first threshold value or the ejection number of the second ink exceeds a second threshold value.

Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus carrying out printing using a plurality of ejecting portions for respectively ejecting different kinds of inks, a condition for wiping of an ejection face provided with ink ejection openings of the plurality of ejecting portions is appropriately determined and defective ejection due to a wet and dirty ejection face is effectively prevented. A timing of wiping is controlled considering kinds of inks. Specifically, the timing of wiping is determined not simply based on a number of ejections carried out by the plurality of ejecting portions to perform printing, but also a condition of an amount of mist generated in accordance with the kinds of ink.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus carrying out printing using a plurality of ejecting portions for ejecting different kinds of inks respectively, wherein a condition for wiping of an ejection face provided with ink ejection openings of a plurality of ejecting portions is appropriately determined and an defective ejection due to wet and dirty ejection face is effectively prevented. A timing of wiping is controlled considering an ink condition. Specifically, the timing of wiping is determined not simply based on a dot count value being a number of ejection carried out by a plurality of ejecting portions to perform printing, but also a condition of an amount of mist generated in accordance with ink types as well.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having capping control means which, if a dot number counted by a count means reaches or exceeds a second threshold value smaller than a first threshold value and if a waiting time measured by a measuring means reaches or exceeds a first predetermined waiting time, covers an ink discharge surface of an ink jet recording head with a cap, and wiping control means which, if the dot number counted by the count means exceeds the first threshold value, wipes the ink discharge surface of the ink jet recording head with a wiper, and, if the waiting time measured by the measuring means reaches or exceeds a second predetermined waiting time longer than the first predetermined waiting time during the capping, wipes the ink discharge surface of the ink jet recording head with the wiper.

Abstract: A region to be covered by a cover plate (208) on an ejection opening forming surface (205) of an ink-jet head or an ink-jet head to which the cover plate (208) is installed are determined, on a basis of content of a rebounding mist generated upon ejection of an ink and a processing liquid in overlaying fashion. By this, in the ink-jet printing apparatus performing printing by ejecting the ink and the processing liquid for making the ink insoluble, deposition of the insoluble substance contained in the rebounding mist generated upon ejection of an ink and a processing liquid in overlaying fashion can be successfully prevented.

Abstract: To enable an ink jet printing apparatus to produce high quality images at all times from the initial stage of use until the end of its service life, the present invention provides an ink jet printing method for printing an image on a print medium by using a print head, in which the print head can eject ink supplied from an ink tank. The ink jet printing method includes an ink consumption detection step for detecting an amount of ink consumed in the ink tank, an ejection number detection step for detecting the number of ink ejections from the print head, an ink droplet volume calculation step for calculating an ink droplet volume based on the number of ink ejections from the print head and the ink consumption, and a control step for changing processing associated with a printing operation according to the ink droplet volume calculated by the calculation step.

Abstract: A liquid container which supplies ink to its exterior until the ink is almost depleted and allows simple detection of the remaining ink amount, is constructed to distribute components of the ink even after a prolonged standing. The liquid container is provided with a connecting portion for connection to an ink deriving tube and an air introduction tube of an ink jet printer. Both the ink deriving tube and the air introduction tube are positioned for connection to the connecting portion at a position deviated from a center of the bottom of the liquid container. The deviation facilitates mixing of ink components as ink is supplied from the container.

Abstract: For the sake of achieving both the size and weight reductions of a printing apparatus and increasing the reliability thereof, an ink tank is provided with a gas-permeable member that permits air to pass without permitting ink. The ink tank is capable of introducing ink through an ink inlet by negative pressure introduced in the ink tank through a common suction port.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing apparatus and suction recovery control method which can minimize reduction in throughput while maintaining a printhead in the most appropriate condition, and can reduce the amount of wasted ink. According to the suction recovery control method, a printing period of predetermined printing operation is timed, and the number of print dots formed by discharging ink from a printhead during the predetermined printing operation is counted. Based on the timed printing period and counted number of print dots, the number of print dots per unit time is calculated. Then based on the calculated number of print dots per unit time, timing of suction recovery operation is determined, and suction recovery operation of the printhead is performed according to the determined timing.

Abstract: A recovery method for an ink jet printing apparatus is provided which makes it possible to use as much ink in the ink tank as possible and minimize the residual ink volume at time of a tank replacement. The recovery method for keeping an ejection performance of the print head in appropriate condition by performing a recovery operation of discharging ink from the print head, therefore, includes the steps of: detecting a residual ink volume in the ink tank; and controlling a discharge ink volume to be discharged by the recovery operation when the residual ink volume detected by the residual ink volume detection step is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus, ink information detecting apparatus, and ink information detection method which can calculate ink consumption without any errors by combining two detection devices. In an ink jet printing apparatus that prints an image on a print medium by using a print head that can eject ink fed from an ink tank, ink consumption is detected on the basis of the number of ink droplets ejected from the print head, and the amount of ink remaining in the ink tank is detected by pins used as a pair of electrodes. Further, a value used to calculate the ink consumption is corrected on the basis of the results of detection of the amount of remaining ink.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus has a pressure limiting mechanism between a gas-liquid separator and a source of negative pressure required to suck and supply ink for refilling an ink tank, to prevent a fixed amount or more of negative pressure from being exerted on the gas-liquid separator.