Abstract: A transfer arrangement is used in a transfer portion of an image forming apparatus. The transfer arrangement includes an electrically conductive member that contacts a toner image bearing member of the image forming apparatus. The electrically conductive member is made of polyurethane resin to which electrically conducive polymer is added. An adding amount of the electrically conductive polymer with respect to the polyurethane resin is from 8 wt % to 40 wt %.

Abstract: The grease composition of the present invention contains, in a lubricant base oil, 0.01 to 10% by mass of a fatty acid salt, 0.01 to 10% by mass of carbonate, 2 to 30% by mass of a thickener, and 0.1 to 20% by mass of a sulfur type extreme-pressure agent on the basis of the total amount of composition.

Abstract: A transfer member is used in a transfer portion of an image forming apparatus. The transfer member includes an electrically conductive member that contacts a toner image bearing member of the image forming apparatus. The electrically conductive member is made of polyurethane resin to which electrically conducive polymer is added. An adding amount of the electrically conductive polymer with respect to the polyurethane resin is from 8 wt % to 40 wt %.

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: The grease composition of the present invention contains, in a lubricant base oil, 0.01 to 10% by mass of a fatty acid salt, 0.01 to 10% by mass of carbonate, 2 to 30% by mass of a thickener, and 0.1 to 20% by mass of a sulfur type extreme-pressure agent on the basis of the total amount of composition.

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: A dot data generator receives print data from a host apparatus and generates dot data from the print data. Dots have different diameters according to a gradation level. A drive frequency setting section sets a drive frequency in accordance with the print data. A drive signal generator generates a timing in timed relation with the drive frequency. A recording head is driven at the generated timing to form a plurality of dots on a print medium. An operation circuit determines a total drive time forming dots for each line in the main scanning direction. The drive frequency is set on a line-by-line basis in accordance with the total drive time. The timing may be delayed so that dots are formed always at accurate print positions irrespective of the scanning speed in the main scanning direction and in 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 has a plurality of ink pressure chambers defined therein and a surface to which a plurality of ink pressure chambers open. An orifice plate having an orifice therein is bonded to the surface. When manufacturing the ink jet head, a coating of an insulating material is first formed on an inner wall of the ink pressure chambers and subsequently a re-dissolvable curingresin is applied to the ink jet head in an area from the inner walls to the surface. Then, the coating and the resin deposited on the surface are removed from the surface. Then, the resin deposited on the coating in the ink pressure chambers is dissolved to remove the resin from the inner wall. Finally, the orifice plate is bonded to the surface.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a printhead that ejects black ink drops and colored ink drops through a plurality of corresponding ink nozzles in accordance with print data. The printhead ejects ink drops when the printhead is moved to scan a recording medium in a forward direction and a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction. The forward and reverse directions are perpendicular to a direction in which the recording medium travels. A print data identifier separates the print data for a line into black print data and color print data. A print data selector supplies one of the black print data and color print data to the printhead when the printhead scans the recording medium in the forward direction, and the other of the black print data and color print data to the printhead when the printhead scans the recording medium in the reverse direction.

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 apparatus for controlling an ignition timing of a cylinder-injection gasoline engine includes an electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling the operation of an ignition coil. The ECU advances the ignition timing in accordance with the throttle opening in consideration of a delay in increase of the wall temperature of a combustion chamber when the acceleration of a vehicle is detected by the change of the throttle opening. In order to prevent knocking of the engine attributable to the increase of the wall temperature, the ECU gradually decreases an advance angle for the ignition timing to 0 with the passage of control time. When the engine is reaccelerated during the advance angle correction, the ECU newly sets an advance angle for the ignition timing and a control time, corresponding to the increase of the wall temperature.

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 has a print head in which demagnetizing coils are embedded in a filling compound. A resistor or Zener diode is connected in series between the print head and the printer's frame ground, to prevent current flow through the filling compound from causing corrosion of the demagnetizing coils, while permitting discharge of static charge from the print head to ground.