Abstract: An ink container which includes an ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head, and is formed with a flexible member shaped like a bag, which deforms in accordance with an amount of remaining ink contained therein, the ink container including: a sensor module serving as vibration activating and detecting unit, provided on one of the surfaces of the ink container, for emitting a vibration to the ink; and a rigid member provided on a location of the other surface of the ink container, which is opposed to the sensor module; wherein an amount of remaining ink is detected based on a vibration characteristic of the vibration activating and detecting unit which depends on a distance between the vibration activating and detecting unit and the rigid member.

Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.

Abstract: A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device including a vibrating section symmetrical about a center thereof, and at least one electrode electrically connecting with said vibrating section.

Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.

Abstract: The mounting structure for mounting the piezo-electric device (106) used to detect the consumption condition of the liquid in the liquid container (1) to the liquid container (1), having the receiving portion (363) to which the piezo-electric device (106) is to be mounted and the mount portion (363) to be mounted to the liquid container (1). The mounting structure can appropriately mount a piezo-electric device (106) for detecting the consumption condition of a liquid in a liquid container (1) to the liquid container (1).

Abstract: A liquid charging method for charging a liquid container with a liquid, the liquid container being provided with a piezo-electric device for detecting a consumption condition of the liquid in said liquid container, the piezo-electric device being provided with a cavity connecting to an inside of the liquid container, has the steps of: reducing a pressure in the liquid container to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure; and charging the liquid container with the liquid. The liquid container requiring no complicated seal structure for precisely detecting the consumption condition of a liquid by using the piezo-electric device is charged with a liquid without internally leaving air bubbles.

Abstract: The mounting structure for mounting the piezo-electric device (106) used to detect the consumption condition of the liquid in the liquid container (1) to the liquid container (1), having the receiving portion (363) to which the piezo-electric device (106) is to be mounted and the mount portion (363) to be mounted to the liquid container (1). The mounting structure can appropriately mount a piezo-electric device (106) for detecting the consumption condition of a liquid in a liquid container (1) to the liquid container (1).

Abstract: A head cover of a recording head includes an opening portion for exposing a nozzle face of the liquid ejection nozzle of a flow path unit, a frame portion provided at a surrounding of the opening portion to cover a peripheral edge portion of the flow path unit to be supported by the mounting face, protective wall portions erected integrally from the frame portion to be formed to cover side faces of the head case, and support portions formed integrally with the protective wall portions and bent from the protective wall portions to extend in surrounding directions for fixing to the head case and the protective wall portion is formed to widen a width thereof toward a side of the support portion.

Abstract: An ink container which includes an ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head, and is formed with a flexible member shaped like a bag, which deforms in accordance with an amount of remaining ink contained therein, the ink container including: a sensor module serving as vibration activating and detecting unit, provided on one of the surfaces of the ink container, for emitting a vibration to the ink; and a rigid member provided on a location of the other surface of the ink container, which is opposed to the sensor module; wherein an amount of remaining ink is detected based on a vibration characteristic of the vibration activating and detecting unit which depends on a distance between the vibration activating and detecting unit and the rigid member.

Abstract: A liquid-jet head includes: head main bodies each including at least a nozzle plate in which nozzle orifices are formed, each of the nozzle orifices being that from which liquid droplets are ejected; a passage-forming substrate, the nozzle plate being joined to one surface of the passage-forming substrate, and a plurality of pressure generating chambers respectively communicating with the nozzle orifices being arranged side by side in the passage-forming substrate; and pressure generators, each of which applies pressure to a liquid in each of the corresponding pressure generating chambers; and a fixing plate including exposure ports through which to expose the nozzle orifices to the outside respectively in areas corresponding to the head main bodies, the plurality of head main bodies being aligned and fixed, at predetermined intervals, to the fixing plate, the liquid-jet head wherein the fixing plate includes a reservoir forming plate, a compliance plate and a sealing plate, the reservoir forming plate being

Abstract: A method of detecting a consumption status of liquid contained in a liquid container, comprising steps of: preparing a detection device having a piezoelectric element and attaching the detection device on a desired position of the liquid container so that at least a part of the detection device contacting the liquid; measuring a residual vibration of the detection device; and detecting the consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container on the basis of a result of the measurement of the residual vibration.

Abstract: A liquid container, comprising: a housing containing therein liquid; a liquid supply opening formed in the housing for withdrawing the liquid from the housing; a liquid sensor mounted on the housing for detecting a level of the liquid which is variable in accordance with a consumption of the liquid; and a first partition wall extending in an interior of the housing and defining the interior of the housing into at least two liquid accommodating chambers which communicate with each other, the liquid accommodating chambers comprising: an air-communication side liquid accommodating chamber which communicates with ambient air; and a detection side liquid accommodating chamber in which the liquid sensor is disposed at an upper portion thereof.

Abstract: A liquid charging method for charging a liquid container with a liquid, the liquid container being provided with a piezo-electric device for detecting a consumption condition of the liquid in said liquid container, the piezo-electric device being provided with a cavity connecting to an inside of the liquid container, has the steps of: reducing a pressure in the liquid container to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure; and charging the liquid container with the liquid. The liquid container requiring no complicated seal structure for precisely detecting the consumption condition of a liquid by using the piezo-electric device is charged with a liquid without internally leaving air bubbles.

Abstract: A method of detecting a consumption status of liquid contained in a liquid container, comprising steps of: preparing a detection device having a piezoelectric element and attaching the detection device on a desired position of the liquid container so that at least a part of the detection device contacting the liquid; measuring a residual vibration of the detection device; and detecting the consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container on the basis of a result of the measurement of the residual vibration.

Abstract: The present method detects an ink consumption condition in an ink cartridge loaded on an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head for jetting ink drops, using a piezo-electric device mounted on the cartridge. The method detects the ink consumption condition using the piezo-electric device when the recording head is in a non-recording state. A complicated seal structure is not necessary and the ink residue can be detected surely.

Abstract: There is provided a plurality of dot printing modes each defining printing operations during main- and sub-scanning. A preferable dot printing mode is selected according to mode selection information that is predetermined to specify the preferable printing mode, and printing is executed according to the preferable dot printing mode specified by the mode selection information. The plurality of dot printing modes are divided into a plurality of printing mode groups according to combination of print resolution and printing speed. The mode selection information specifies the preferable dot printing mode for each printing mode group. One of the plurality of printing mode groups is selected in initial settings of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: First internal electrode layers and second internal electrode layers are alternately laminated in a substrate while sandwiching piezoelectric layers therebetween. The first internal electrode layers are exposed to at least a first end face of the substrate, and the second internal electrode layers are exposed to at least a second end face of the substrate which is opposite to the first end face. A first external electrode layer is formed on the first end face and a third end face connecting the first end face and the second end face. The first external electrode layer is electrically connected to the first internal electrode layers. A second external electrode layer is formed on at least the second end face and the third end face. The second external electrode layer is electrically connected to the second internal electrode layers, and is electrically independent from the first external electrode layer.

Abstract: A detector of liquid consumption condition includes first and second vibrating parts that can vibrate relatively to a containing space that can be filled and refilled with a liquid. At least a portion of the first and second vibrating parts are exposed to the containing space. Each of the vibrating parts are caused to vibrate by piezoelectric devices based on a driving signal and can generate a counter electromotive force signal by a vibration of the vibrating parts. A liquid consumption condition detecting part can detect a liquid consumption condition, based on the counter electromotive force signal from at least one of the piezoelectric devices. The containing space can contains a predetermined volume of the liquid, and the first vibrating part is placed near a surface of the liquid at a first level, and the second part is placed near a surface of the liquid at a second level.

Abstract: A head cover of a recording head includes an opening portion for exposing a nozzle face of the liquid ejection nozzle of a flow path unit, a frame portion provided at a surrounding of the opening portion to cover a peripheral edge portion of the flow path unit to be supported by the mounting face, protective wall portions erected integrally from the frame portion to be formed to cover side faces of the head case, and support portions formed integrally with the protective wall portions and bent from the protective wall portions to extend in surrounding directions for fixing to the head case and the protective wall portion is formed to widen a width thereof toward a side of the support portion.

Abstract: A head cover of a recording head includes an opening portion for exposing a nozzle face of the liquid ejection nozzle of a flow path unit, a frame portion provided at a surrounding of the opening portion to cover a peripheral edge portion of the flow path unit to be supported by the mounting face, protective wall portions erected integrally from the frame portion to be formed to cover side faces of the head case, and support portions formed integrally with the protective wall portions and bent from the protective wall portions to extend in surrounding directions for fixing to the head case and the protective wall portion is formed to widen a width thereof toward a side of the support portion.