Abstract: In a liquid droplet jetting mode of jetting liquid droplets, a controller controls a piezoelectric actuator to perform a liquid droplet jetting operation in which volume of a pressure chamber is decreased to a decreased volume smaller than a predetermined volume, and then the volume of the pressure chamber is increased to an increased volume greater than the predetermined volume, and the volume of the pressure chamber is again decreased to the decreased volume. On the other hand, in a warm-up mode of heating the liquid in the pressure chamber, the controller controls the piezoelectric actuator to perform at least one of a first warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the increased volume, and a second warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the decreased volume.

Abstract: An inkjet printer head for performing recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium, has: a cavity unit including a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting the ink, a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with each of the nozzle holes, and a manifold that temporarily accumulates the ink that is supplied to the pressure chambers; and actuators that eject the ink from the nozzle holes. The cavity unit contains at least a laminate having a nozzle film made of a synthetic resin and provided with said plurality of nozzle holes, a reinforcement plate stuck onto one face of the nozzle film and arranged facing the recording medium, and a manifold plate stuck onto the other face of the nozzle film and provided with manifold holes constituting the manifold. The reinforcement plate is provided with a through-hole passing therethrough facing each nozzle hole, and a recess that opens facing the manifold holes through the nozzle film.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inkjet printer including: a printhead having a front surface in which is formed at least one nozzle row consisting of a plurality of nozzles from each of which a droplet of ink is ejected; a maintenance unit including a purge cap which receives ink from the nozzles during a purging operation, the purge cap having a contact surface to be brought into contact with the front surface of the printhead, and at least one main channel extending alongside the nozzle row; and a plurality of dents formed on at least one of the contact surface of the purge cap and the front surface of the printhead so as to form, at least when the contact surface is in contact with the front surface, a plurality of branches a part of each of which is in communication with at least one of the nozzles, and another part of each of which is in communication with the main channel.

Abstract: An inkjet head has a passage unit where individual ink passages are formed, and an actuator unit bonded onto the upper surface of the flow passage unit. On the upper surface of the actuator unit, plural individual electrodes are positioned opposing pressure chambers. The plural individual electrodes form plural individual electrode rows. Each individual electrode includes a main electrode region disposed where the pressure chamber is opposed, and an auxiliary electrode region connected to the main electrode region and a FPC terminal. In the individual electrode row closest to a base-end side of the FPC, the individual electrodes whose auxiliary electrode regions are on the tip-end side of the FPC in relation to the main electrode regions and the individual electrodes whose auxiliary electrode regions are on the base-end side of the FPC 50 in relation to the main electrode regions are mixed.

Abstract: Ink cartridges 10a to 10d have different patterns from each other in positional relationship between projections 12a to 12d and insertion parts 16a to 16d, respectively, and cartridge holders 20a to 20d have different patterns from each other in positional relationship between slits 22a to 22d and ink introducing tubes 21a to 21d, as seen from the direction on which the ink cartridges 10a to 10d are mounted on the cartridge holders 20a to 20d, respectively. At the same time, the respective patterns of the positional relationships in the ink cartridges and the cartridge holders coincide with each other per each of the four colors of black, cyan, yellow and magenta. Thus, any one of ink cartridges is prevented from inadvertently joined to any one of the cartridge holders to which the ink cartridge does not correspond to.

Abstract: A head, for an ink-jet printer, includes a channel unit having a plurality of elongated pressure chambers arranged in a plurality of pressure-chamber rows; an actuator unit having individual surface electrodes corresponding to the pressure chambers respectively, and land portions each of which is conducted to one of the individual surface electrodes; and a flexible cable having connection terminals and signal lines. The land portions are electrically connected to the connection terminals. In each of the pressure-chamber rows, the land portions are arranged such that a certain land portion of the land portions is shifted, in the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber, from another land portion adjacent to the certain land portion. Accordingly, it is possible to easily connect the flexible cable and the actuator unit easily even when the pressure chambers are arranged highly densely.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a channel unit in which a plurality of pressure chambers are formed; and a piezoelectric actuator which includes a vibration plate, a piezoelectric layer formed on an upper surface of the vibration plate, and an electroconductive layer formed on an upper surface of the piezoelectric layer. On an upper surface of the piezoelectric actuator, there are formed outer grooves each extended along an area overlapping with the periphery of each of the pressure chambers, and inner grooves each extended along one of the outer grooves at a portion inside of one of the outer grooves. Further, recesses deeper than the thickness of the electroconductive layer is formed in the piezoelectric actuator at portions each located inside of the one of the inner grooves. Accordingly, it is possible to improve a drive efficiency of the piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a head main body including a channel unit in which a pressure chamber is formed, and a piezoelectric actuator having a piezoelectric deformation portion facing the pressure chamber, and an FPC which has a substrate and a plurality of wires, and which is arrange on an upper side of the piezoelectric actuator. A plurality of projections bent to form a projection toward the head main body is formed in the FPC. A front end of the projections is in contact with an area not facing the pressure chamber, on a surface of the piezoelectric actuator. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress hindering of a deformation of the piezoelectric deformation portion accompanied by a liquid discharge, due to a contact with a flexible flat cable.

Abstract: A measurement electrode for capacitance measurement is disposed so as to be opposed to a common electrode with a second and a third piezoelectric plates in between and to be opposed to all ink pressurizing chambers with a first piezoelectric plate in between. The capacitance of the piezoelectric plate disposed between the common electrode and the measurement electrode is measured with a larger area, and from the measured capacitance, the temperature of the piezoelectric plate is calculated based on the capacitance-temperature characteristic of the piezoelectric plate. In order to generate a pressure suitable for the ink viscosity that changes according to the temperature, the change in the overall temperature of the printer head that changes according to the status of use of the printer is accurately measured.

Abstract: An inkjet head includes a flat cable having: (a) first drive wires connecting first output terminals and a first driver circuit; (b) first controller wires extending from the first driver circuit; (c) second drive wires connecting second output terminals and a second driver circuit; and (d) second controller wires extending from the second driver circuit. The output terminals includes (i) a terminal which is most distant from the first driver circuit among the output terminals and which is one of the second output terminals, and/or (ii) a terminal which is most distant from the second driver circuit among the output terminals and which is one of the first output terminals. The first controller wires extend from the first driver circuit toward one of opposite sides of the second driver circuit that is remote from the first driver circuit.

Abstract: A head for a liquid discharging apparatus includes a cavity unit having a cavity plate in which pressure chambers are formed and a vibration plate and a base plate which are joined to upper and lower surfaces of the pressure chambers respectively. In a joining surface of the cavity plate and the vibration plate and in a joining surface of the cavity plate and the base plate, test grooves are formed corresponding to column portions which partition mutually adjacent pressure chambers among the plurality of pressure chambers, and communication grooves capable of supplying air communicate with the respective test grooves. By supplying air to the respective test grooves through the communication grooves and detecting a change in supply pressure thereof, it is possible to test a joint state of the cavity plate with the vibration plate and with the base plate at the column portions.

Abstract: Ink cartridges 1a to 1c for storing light-transmissive inks include a shutter arranged therein so that the shutter is movable depending on the ink residual amount, and a projection 51 having light transmittance and passing the shutter therethrough. An ink cartridge 1d for storing a nontransparent ink includes a projection 51 having light transmittance. Optical sensors 21a to 21c, which detect the shutter at the projection 51 of the ink cartridges 1a to 1c respectively, are arranged at a position higher in the vertical direction than a position of arrangement of an optical sensor 21d detecting the ink at the projection 51 of the ink cartridge 1d. It is possible to use both an ink cartridge for storing a light-transmissive ink and an ink cartridge for storing a nontransparent ink, and the ink amount is correctly detected for any one of the cartridges.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a channel unit formed of a plurality of stacked plates having openings and a liquid channel formed of the openings of the stacked plates. A curing material is filled in a step formed due to shift of the openings provided in the adjacent plates respectively, and the curing material forms part of an inner surface of the liquid channel. Consequently, the channel inner surface becomes smooth, and a liquid discharging head with little residual bubbles and with excellent bubble discharging capability is provided. Further, the attenuation of a pressure wave due to the step can be prevented.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first side wall, a second side wall opposite from the first side wall, a front wall, a back wall opposite from the front wall, a bottom wall, a top wall opposite from the bottom wall, and an ink chamber formed in a space enclosed by the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, the back wall, the bottom wall and the top wall. The bottom wall includes an ink supply opening through which ink may be provided to a print head, and a protruding region of the ink cartridge protrudes outwardly from the first side wall.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has an ink tank in which the ink is stored, and a shutter mechanism which is arranged in the ink tank. The shutter mechanism includes a lever which is supported swingably and which has one end provided with a shutter and the other end provided with a float. The mass and the volume of the float are set so that the first direction, in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity generated when the entire shutter mechanism is positioned in the ink, is opposite to the second direction in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity when a part of the float protrudes from the ink liquid surface. A residual amount of an ink is indicated without being excessively affected by any disturbance such as the surface tension of the ink.

Abstract: A piezoelectric layer is provided on a vibration plate which covers a plurality of pressure chambers extending in a predetermined direction. The piezoelectric layer has a first area corresponding to a central portion in a width direction of each of the pressure chambers and a second area corresponding to both sides in a longitudinal direction of an inner peripheral portion of each of the pressure chambers. A head for a liquid-droplet jetting apparatus which has the piezoelectric layer is prepared, and when the head is driven, a first driving step for applying a drive voltage to the second area, and the first area corresponding to a pressure chamber which does not jet a liquid droplet is carried out. Thereafter, a second driving step for applying a drive voltage to the first area corresponding to a pressure chamber which discharges the liquid droplet is carried out.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has a cartridge body to which an ink supply pipe extending from an inkjet printer is detachably attached, and which has an ink storing space for storing an ink to be supplied to the inkjet printer via the ink supply pipe, and a valve mechanism that opens and closes both an ink path which, when the ink supply pipe is attached to the cartridge body, communicates with the ink supply pipe, and an atmospheric air path through which atmospheric air is introduced into the ink storing space, the valve mechanism including a valve member having a first opening-closing portion which is relatively movable with respect to the cartridge body, and which opens and closes the ink path and a second opening-closing portion which is relatively movable with respect to the cartridge body, and which opens and closes the atmospheric air path.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a judging unit that judges an ink residual amount of an ink container, a pair of electrodes that are in contact with ink in the ink container and that are spaced apart, a detecting unit that detects an electrical characteristic between the pair of electrodes, a first route that is formed so as to connect the pair of electrodes via the ink in a state that the ink in the ink container is more than a prescribed amount, and a second route that connects the pair of electrodes in a state that the ink in the ink container is of the prescribed amount or less, the second route establishing electrical continuity though it is different from the first route in the electrical characteristic between the pair of electrodes via the ink.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has an ink tank for reserving ink and a joint connected to the ink tank, the joint including an outer frame having an ink channel, and a sealing member made of an elastic material and received in the outer frame, the sealing member having a cylindrical portion and a valve portion. When an ink supply pipe having an ink inlet is inserted into the cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion abuts against an outer circumference of the ink supply pipe on an ink flow downstream side of the ink supply pipe with respect to the ink inlet. The valve portion leaves the outer frame so as to open the ink channel when the ink supply pipe is inserted into the cylindrical portion, and when the ink supply pipe is not inserted into the cylindrical portion, the valve portion abuts against the outer frame to close the ink channel.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has an ink tank in which the ink is stored, and a shutter mechanism which is arranged in the ink tank. The shutter mechanism includes a lever which is supported swingably and which has one end provided with a shutter and the other end provided with a float. The mass and the volume of the float are set so that the first direction, in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity generated when the entire shutter mechanism is positioned in the ink, is opposite to the second direction in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity when a part of the float protrudes from the ink liquid surface. A residual amount of an ink is indicated without being excessively affected by any disturbance such as the surface tension of the ink.