Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a discharge port through which a liquid is discharged, an element for discharging the liquid from the discharge port, a channel through which the liquid is supplied to the discharge port, and a film member that is provided so as to be in contact with the liquid in a liquid chamber in the channel. The film member has a corrugated structure in which a plurality of loop-shaped projecting portions and a plurality of loop-shaped recessed portions are alternately formed. When seen in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the film member, the corrugated structure has a loop shape having a linear portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing pellets of hot-melt ink which includes the steps of filling molten ink into a mold cavity defined by a first die and a second die of a mold, allowing the ink to cool down and solidify in the mold cavity, and heating at least one of the first and second dies for re-melting the surface of the ink pellet to facilitate its removal from the mold cavity.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead comprising a channel plate having a plurality of ink channels etched into at least one surface thereof, actuators respectively associated with each of the ink channels for pressurizing ink contained in the ink channels, and means defining an ink reservoir communicating with the ink channels, wherein said ink reservoir is defined by a base member made of a material different from that of the channel plate.

Abstract: A channel structure for an ink jet printhead has a channel plate containing a plurality of substantially equidistant ink channels formed in one surface thereof defining dams between the adjacent ink channels. A diaphragm extending over the plurality of ink channels. A plurality of spacers disposed between the diaphragm and the channel plate for supporting the diaphragm on the dams. And actuators operatively associated with the diaphragm above the ink channels on the opposite side of the diaphragm from the spacers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing pellets of hot-melt ink which includes the steps of filling molten ink into a mold cavity defined by a first die and a second die of a mold, allowing the ink to cool down and solidify in the mold cavity, and heating at least one of the first and second dies for re-melting the surface of the ink pellet to facilitate its removal from the mold cavity.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing pellets of hot-melt ink which includes the steps of filling molten ink into a mold cavity defined by a first die and a second die of a mold, allowing the ink to cool down and solidify in the mold cavity, and heating at least one of the first and second dies for re-melting the surface of the ink pellet to facilitate its removal from the mold cavity.

Abstract: A melting device for melting an ink unit used in an inkjet printer, including a melting chamber provided with a wide end for dispensing the ink unit to the melting chamber and a narrow end, the melting chamber having a form such that the ink unit moves, as a result of melting, in a direction from the wide end to the narrow end, the ink unit being laterally enclosed with respect to said direction by one or more walls of a melting chamber, wherein the walls which form a lateral enclosure for the ink unit are heated, during the melting, to above a temperature at which the ink is liquid.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing pellets of hot-melt ink which includes the steps of filling molten ink into a mold cavity defined by a first die and a second die of a mold, allowing the ink to cool down and solidify in the mold cavity, and heating at least one of the first and second dies for re-melting the surface of the ink pellet to facilitate its removal from the mold cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the pressure in an ink reservoir of an ink jet printer, including a casing and a piston movable relative to the casing and defining therewith a variable-volume chamber communicating with the ink reservoir, the piston being biased to maintain a pressure difference between the variable-volume chamber and the outside, wherein the piston is biased mainly by gravitational forces.

Abstract: A method for supplying pellets of hot melt ink to a printer using an ink reservoir having an inlet port, which comprises sequentially supplying the ink pellets to the ink reservoir through the inlet port whereby when the ink pellet is positioned in the inlet port it serves as a closure member for the reservoir and when the ink pellet is introduced into the ink reservoir it is replaced with a new ink pellet which serves as a new closure member.

Abstract: A device for delivering ink to a sheet of paper which includes a body member containing side surface portions which extend into a head surface, the head surface being inclined at an angle relative to the side surface portions forming a head end portion, an ink distribution chamber provided in the body member, a plurality of ink delivery nozzles disposed at the head end portion and a plurality of ink passages extending along one or more of the side portions between the ink distribution chamber and the ink delivery nozzles, and an ink propulsion overall located at said ink passages for selectively propelling ink through the ink passages to the ink delivery nozzles, wherein the ink passages are formed as substantially parallel continuous open ducts in the side surfaces and the adjoining head surfaces of the body member.

Abstract: A melting device for melting an ink unit used in an inkjet printer, including a melting chamber provided with a wide end for dispensing the ink unit to the melting chamber and a narrow end, the melting chamber having a form such that the ink unit moves, as a result of melting, in a direction from the wide end to the narrow end, the ink unit being laterally enclosed with respect to said direction by one or more walls of a melting chamber, wherein the walls which form a lateral enclosure for the ink unit are heated, during the melting, to above a temperature at which the ink is liquid.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead having a nozzle face in which at least one printhead nozzle is formed is cleaned by disposing a suction nozzle in front of the nozzle face, so that it forms a small gap therewith, and sucking ink out of the prinhead nozzle. The ink is caused to spread or flow in the gap in a direction parallel to the nozzle face so as to clean the nozzle face.

Abstract: An ink jet system including an ink jet head for the image-wise spraying of hotmelt ink, diode for maintaining the hotmelt ink in a molten state in the ink jet head, a rest station defining an area for at least partially receiving the ink jet head, and a guide system for facilitating the movement of the ink jet head from an operative mode to a standby mode within the rest station.

Abstract: A device for delivering ink to a substrate including a body member, an ink distribution chamber, a plurality of ink delivery nozzles, a plurality of ink passages formed in a side body member for delivering the ink from the ink distribution chamber to the ink delivery nozzles, the ink passages being formed, at least partially, as grooves in said side of the body member, and a filter element for filtering the ink entering the ink passages, said filter element being disposed on said side of the body member covering the grooves.

Abstract: An ink supply container defining an ink chamber wherein the ink supply container is provided with an ink filling opening leading into the ink chamber and an ink outflow opening leading out of the ink chamber, the ink outflow opening being suitable for connection to an inkjet printhead, the ink supply container further being provided with, or at least being connectable to, means for maintaining a negative pressure in the ink chamber. The ink chamber is separated from the ink filling opening by a porous material.

Abstract: A device for delivering ink to a sheet of paper or the like, which includes a body member containing side surface portions which extend into a head surface portion, the head surface portion being inclined at an angle relative to the side surface portions and the body member between the end surface portion and the side surface portions being formed with a curved transition zone, the body member containing an ink inlet for letting in ink originating from an ink reservoir, ink delivery nozzles disposed at the head surface portion and ink passages in the form of ducts extending between the inlet and the ink delivery nozzles along one or more of the side surface portions of the body member, a first ink-tight layer which covers the ducts, the ducts terminating in ends at the ink delivery nozzles, and a second ink-tight layer which covers the ends of the ink passages in which second ink-tight layer the ink delivery nozzles are formed, and ink propulsion device operatively connected with the ink-tight layer for selec

Abstract: An ink jet system including an ink jet head for the image-wise spraying of hotmelt ink, means for maintaining the hotmelt ink in a molten state in the ink jet head, a rest station defining an area for at least partially receiving the ink jet head, and a guide system for facilitating the movement of the ink jet head from an operative mode to a standby mode within the rest station.

Abstract: An ink jet nozzle head including a channel plate defining a linear array of equidistanced nozzles and a plurality of substantially parallel ink channels communicating with an associated nozzle, a vibration plate disposed on the channel plate, at least one block member containing a comb-like array of fingers which extend toward and engage the vibration plate, some fingers functioning as actuators for exerting mechanical pressure on ink contained in the ink channels which, in turn, expels ink droplets from the nozzles, at least one actuator being provided for each nozzle, and other fingers serving as support members for supporting the actuators at the vibration plate, where the reaction forces of the actuators are received, and a backing member disposed on the block member, wherein the pitch “a” of the support members is larger than the pitch “b” of the nozzles and the fingers are evenly distributed over the length of the nozzle array.