Abstract: Disadvantages relating to ink refill specific to an increase in a number of ink ejection openings in an ink jet print head is eliminated to provide a particularly excellent fast-response capability and ejection performance. More specifically, when an ink is supplied to a liquid chamber via an ink supply path and an ink supply opening formed in a support member and a print element substrate in a print head, and is then ejected from ejection openings, a pressure of an ink effected upon the ejection is transmitted to the ink supply path. This pressure, however, can be absorbed by air chambers via communication paths to reduce adverse effects of the pressure on ink refill in the liquid path after the ejection. In this case, since the air chambers and other components are structured to be closed with respect to the atmosphere, problems such as an increase in viscosity which are associated with communication of the air chambers and other components with the atmosphere can be prevented.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a unit which counts the number of drive pulses applied to a print head and accumulatively stores the number of the drive pulses from the start of initial use of the printing head, and a unit which measures a temperature of the printing head and a time elapsed at the temperature in conjunction with each other, and stores a temperature history. The printing apparatus controls a timing of ink ejection from the printing head and an amount of ink to be ejected by adjusting a width of the drive pulses dependently on stored contents (a use history of the printing head) to maintain a stable image quality by adequately preventing ejecting characteristics and dot forming locations on a printing medium from being varied due to a use history of the print head.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a plurality of nozzles constituting a row of nozzles, a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink, corresponding to the plurality of nozzles, the discharge ports communicating with the nozzles, respectively, an energy generating device for generating energy for discharging the ink from the discharge ports, a common liquid compartment in communication with the plurality of nozzles constituting the row of nozzles, a first filter provided at an end of at least one nozzle of the row of nozzles, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment, and a second filter that is provided at an end of a nozzle other than the nozzle provided with the first filter and that has a flow resistance lower than that of the first filter, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment.

Abstract: Disadvantages relating to ink refill specific to an increase in a number of ink ejection openings in an ink jet print head is eliminated to provide a particularly excellent fast-response capability and ejection performance. More specifically, when an ink is supplied to a liquid chamber via an ink supply path and an ink supply opening formed in a support member and a print element substrate in a print head, and is then ejected from ejection openings, a pressure of an ink effected upon the ejection is transmitted to the ink supply path. This pressure, however, can be absorbed by air chambers via communication paths to reduce adverse effects of the pressure on ink refill in the liquid path after the ejection. In this case, since the air chambers and other components are structured to be closed with respect to the atmosphere, problems such as an increase in viscosity which are associated with communication of the air chambers and other components with the atmosphere can be prevented.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a unit which counts the number of drive pulses applied to a print head and accumulatively stores the number of the drive pulses from the start of initial use of the printing head, and a unit which measures a temperature of the printing head and a time elapsed at the temperature in conjunction with each other, and stores a temperature history. The printing apparatus controls a timing of ink ejection from the printing head and an amount of ink to be ejected by adjusting a width of the drive pulses dependently on stored contents (a use history of the printing head) to maintain a stable image quality by adequately preventing ejecting characteristics and dot forming locations on a printing medium from being varied due to a use history of the print head.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a plurality of nozzles constituting a row of nozzles, a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink, corresponding to the plurality of nozzles, the discharge ports communicating with the nozzles, respectively, an energy generating device for generating energy for discharging the ink from the discharge ports, a common liquid compartment in communication with the plurality of nozzles constituting the row of nozzles, a first filter provided at an end of at least one nozzle of the row of nozzles, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment, and a second filter that is provided at an end of a nozzle other than the nozzle provided with the first filter and that has a flow resistance lower than that of the first filter, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment.

Abstract: A liquid discharge recording head cartridge comprises a first plate having liquid supply ports opened for supply liquid; a recording element base plate provided with discharge ports for discharging liquid, a member for forming liquid flow paths to conduct liquid to the discharge ports for discharging liquid, and recording elements for generating energy to be utilized for discharging the liquid from the discharge ports, and fixed to aid first plate for inducing liquid from the liquid supply ports; a recording element unit provided with a wiring board for providing signals for the recording element base plate in accordance with recording images; and a liquid supply unit having liquid supply paths formed therefor to conduct liquid supplied from tanks containing liquid to liquid inlet ports.

Abstract: In the electrode pads in the ink jet print head substrate that uses ball bumps, bonding of the ball bumps is carried out in satisfactory condition despite reduced thickness of films in the substrate. In an ink jet print head substrate, which has a heater film constituting the heater portions, a second electric wire in electrical contact with the heater film to supply it with electric power, and a first electric wire constituting a common electrode of a matrix wire for selectively driving the heater portions, the first electric wire is used as the electrode pads to which the ball bump is joined. The first electric wire does not need to be reduced in thickness even when the thickness of the protective film is reduced. Thus, an ultrasonic wave can be transferred well to the electrode pad during ultrasonic bonding.

Abstract: A method for coupling a liquid jet head unit is to couple a liquid jet head unit for recording by discharging liquid to a recording medium with a head installation member capable of installing the head unit through an elastic member.

Abstract: When recording is performed by using ink and a processing liquid for making a color material in the ink insoluble in a combined manner, a distance between a recording head and a sheet of paper is set to a larger value in a one-pass recording mode than in a multi-pass recording mode before the start of the recording. Also, when recording is performed on a film medium, the distance between the recording head and the sheet of paper is set to a smaller value than the case of using ordinary paper before the start of the recording.

Abstract: In an ink tank including a receiving portion having a polyhedral shape and receiving an ink absorbing member to store ink therein, an ink supply opening formed in part of the receiving portion for supplying the ink stored in the ink absorbing member to the outside, and an open-air communication port formed in part of the receiving portion apart from the ink supply opening for making an inner space of the receiving portion open to be communicated with open air, the ink is filled into the ink absorbing member while the inner space of the receiving portion is held under depressurization, and a projection comprising at least two ribs extending over a distance substantially equal to a length of inner wall surfaces of the receiving portion is provided on at least one of the inner wall surfaces of the receiving portion, which has a maximum surface area, substantially at a center thereof.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ink jet unit detachably mounted to the carriage of an ink jet recording apparatus. The ink jet unit includes an ink container for storing ink and a casing for retaining the ink container, wherein the casing and ink container are independent from each other so that the ink container can be exchangeably installed in the casing. The casing includes an ink jet recording portion, an opening for mounting the ink container thereto, a guide portion for installing the ink container into an accommodating portion through a rotary motion, a shoe portion generating a resistive feel when the ink container is inserted into the accommodating portion, and a dislocation preventive member. The shoe portion has a pressing device for maintaining fluid communication between the ink container and an ink supply tube contained in the casing.

Abstract: An ink jet head for performing recording by discharging inks comprises an element substrate provided with a plurality of discharge energy generating elements for discharging the inks and a grooved member integrally having discharge ports, a plurality of grooves constituting ink flow passages provided corresponding to the discharge energy generating elements, a plurality of recess portions constituting a plurality of liquid chambers for supplying the inks to a plurality of ink flow passages, and separation grooves provided between the plurality of recess portions to separate between the recess portions constituting the liquid chambers. The element substrate and the groove member being jointed together. The liquid chambers are separated by the separation grooves for preventing the inks from flowing between the liquid chambers.

Abstract: An ink container, containing different inks for recording, detachably mountable in an opening of an ink container holder, the ink container including a claw-like projection for engagement with a first hole provided in an inner surface of the opening adjacent one end thereof; a latch claw for engagement with a second hole provided in an inner surface of the opening adjacent the other end thereof, the latch claw being provided on a latch lever resiliently supported on the ink container; a projection corresponding to a guiding member provided on an inside of each of side walls of the container holder, which side walls connect the one end and the other end of the ink container holder, the projection being provided on each lateral side at a front portion in a mounting direction of the ink container; wherein the ink container is mounted in the ink container holder by rotating the ink container after being guided by the guiding members; a plurality of ink supply ports in a bottom surface, wherein at least one portio

Abstract: A mounting method of an ink container to an ink jet unit mountable to an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink container is mounted while a corner portion of the ink container between a top surface and a rear side is slid in contact with an urging member and while a corner portion of the ink container between a front side and a bottom side is slid toward a front side of the ink jet unit in contact with an inner bottom surface of the ink jet unit.

Abstract: An ink container, containing different inks for recording, detachably mountable in an opening of an ink container holder, the ink container including a claw-like projection for engagement with a first hole provided in an inner surface of the opening adjacent one end thereof; a latch claw for engagement with a second hole provided in an inner surface of the opening adjacent the other end thereof, the latch claw being provided on a latch lever resiliently supported on the ink container; a projection corresponding to a guiding member provided on an inside of each of side walls of the container holder, which side walls connect the one end and the other end of the ink container holder, the projection being provided on each lateral side at a front portion in a mounting direction of the ink container; wherein the ink container is mounted in the ink container holder by rotating the ink container after being guided by the guiding members; a plurality of ink supply ports in a bottom surface, wherein at least one portio

Abstract: An ink jet unit to which an ink container is detachably mountable, and which is further mountable to an ink jet recording apparatus so as to effect ink jet recording. The ink jet unit includes an ink jet head for ejecting ink for recording, an ink supply tube for receiving ink from the ink container and being provided at a bottom portion of the ink jet unit in fluid communication with the ink jet head, and an opening for permitting mounting of the ink container thereto. The opening is formed continuously, in such sides of the ink jet unit as take top and front positions when the ink jet unit is mounted to the ink jet recording apparatus. A cover is provided, at the top side of the ink jet unit.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head comprises a ceiling plate provided with a plurality of grooves to form ink paths, a plurality of extrusions confining the grooves, recesses serving as common liquid chambers conductively connected with the grooves, and supply apertures for supplying ink to the common liquid chambers; and an elemental substrate having a plurality of energy generating elements formed on it to generate energy for use of discharging ink.