Abstract: In a structure of an ink tank having a deformable sheet that constitutes the tank and a spring for imparting a negative pressure, unstableness of the negative pressure attributable to the deformation of the sheet as a result of ink consumption is prevented. For this purpose, a plate-like member is joined to a top section of the sheet formed in a convex shape, and the spring for generating the negative pressure in the tank is mounted to the same member. This makes it possible to maintain a high volume ratio of the ink tank and to achieve stableness of the negative pressure by adequately regulating the deformation of the sheet when the sheet is displaced in the direction of retracting toward the interior of the tank as a result of a reduction of the amount of ink in the tank.

Abstract: A first gap formation member and a fixed portion are provided on an element substrate, a movable member is formed on the first gap formation member and the fixing member, and a second gap formation member is formed thereon. The first gap formation member is removed, a wall material is coated and exposed at a pattern mask. The wall material is patterned to form the liquid flow path walls and the liquid supply ports altogether, and removing the second gap formation member, hence making it easier to form the side stopper that supports the movable member stably in a state where the displacement of the movable member is regulated to close the liquid supply port, as well as the minute gap between the movable member and the side stopper in higher precision.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an ink jet recording head utilizing ink bubbling by heating of an exothermic resistor to thereby eject ink and a method manufacturing the same, including the steps of: preparing a substrate provided with the exothermic resistor; applying such first resin on the substrate as to provide a first mold shape for forming the nozzle channel and the movable member; forming the first mold shape using the first resin; applying, on the substrate, second resin over the first mold shape for forming the nozzle channel and the movable member; and removing the first mold shape. By this method, the movable member is formed in the nozzle channel between the ink inlet and the exothermic resistor to thereby provide a high-density, high-accuracy ink jet recording head which can improve a frequency response while maintaining proper discharge performance.

Abstract: A liquid discharging method for a liquid discharge head having a plurality of discharge ports and a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated always with each of the discharge ports at one end, each having a bubble generating area, a bubble generating unit, a plurality of liquid supply ports, and a movable member supported with a minute gap to the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and provided with a free end. The area of the movable member is surrounded at least by the free end portion and both sides continued therefrom are made larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port facing the liquid flow path. A period for the movable member is set to close and essentially cut off the opening area during the period from the application of the driving voltage to the bubble generating unit.

Abstract: A substrate for use of an ink jet head that constitutes an ink jet head includes a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid, a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated with the plurality of discharge ports, and first and second heat generating device arranged serially in the liquid flow paths in the flow path direction of the liquid flow paths for generating thermal energy which is utilized for discharging liquid in the liquid flow paths from the discharge ports, the first and second heat generating device being formed on the substrate.

Abstract: By effectively executing ejection recovery and aging process of an ink-jet printing head having a plurality of electrothermal transducers in an ink passage, ejecting characteristics including the ejecting speed and ejecting quantity of ink are more stably kept under the printing operation for ejecting the ink by driving the electrothermal transducers. For that purpose, shift values of application timings of driving pulses to be applied to heaters in the ink passage of the ink-jet printing head are changed under the ejection recovery after the ink-jet printing head is set to a printing apparatus and/or the aging process when the ink-jet printing head is fabricated.

Abstract: There is disclosed a solid semiconductor element which very efficiently detects information about a liquid and bidirectionally exchanges the information with the outside. The solid semiconductor element is disposed in a liquid container, and includes at least energy converting unit, information acquiring unit, and information communicating unit. The energy converting unit converts an electromotive force from the outside to a power, and operates the information acquiring unit and information communicating unit. The information acquiring unit acquires the information about the liquid in which the solid semiconductor element is disposed from the liquid, and the information communicating unit transmits the information acquired by the information acquiring unit to the outside.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a discharge port and a liquid passage provided with bubble-generating means and a movable member. The liquid passage has one side which is closed, and one side which communicates with the discharge port and with a liquid supply port. The movable member has a free end on the closed side of the liquid passage and a fulcrum on the other side. The bubble-generating means is disposed on a wall of the liquid passage facing the free end of the movable member and facing a wall in which the liquid supply port is provided. The movable member is separated from the discharge port by a gap in the liquid passage corresponding to the bubble-generating means. The projected area of the movable member on the liquid supply port is larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head having a plurality of discharge ports to discharge a liquid, a plurality of liquid flow paths, in which an end part permanently communicates with the respective discharge ports, having a bubble generating area to generate a bubble in the liquid, bubble generating unit to generate energy to generate and grow the bubble, a plurality of liquid supply ports arranged in the plurality of liquid flow paths and communicating with a common liquid supply chamber, and a movable member, having a free end, supported with a very small gap by at least part of the liquid flow path side of the liquid supply port, the area surrounded by at least the free end part of the movable member and both side parts continuing thereto being larger than an opening area prepared in the liquid flow path of the liquid supply port, in which in a status of the movable member at rest, the part of the discharge port side of the movable member contacts with a member for forming the liquid supply port and a very small gap is

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid discharge head comprises a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a liquid flow path with one end constantly communicating with the discharge port and with a bubble generating area for generating a bubble in the liquid, a liquid supply port disposed in the liquid flow path and connected to a common liquid supply chamber for storing the liquid to be supplied to the liquid flow path, a plurality of bubble generating means, disposed in the liquid flow path, for generating the bubble in the liquid, and a plate-like movable member disposed in the liquid flow path with the side of the discharge port supported as a free end at a gap of 10 &mgr;m or less with respect to the liquid supply port on the side of the liquid flow path, and provided with a projection area larger than an opening area of the liquid supply port.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head comprising a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink droplets, a plurality of ink flow paths communicated with the respective discharge ports, a common liquid chamber communicated with said ink flow paths and adapted to hold ink to be introduced into said ink flow paths, electro-thermal converting portions disposed in said ink flow paths and adapted to generate heat for bubbling the ink, and bubble trapping portions disposed at communicating portion between said ink flow paths and said common liquid chamber.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head that is capable of avoiding damages due to cavitation of an electrothermal converting element and thus extending its life is provided. The ink jet recording head comprises a plurality of ink discharge ports for discharging ink; a plurality of electrothermal converting elements provided to be associated with each of the ink discharge ports, respectively, for bubbling and discharging the ink; a plurality of pressure chambers for containing the electrothermal converting elements and providing spaces for heating and bubbling the ink; a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to the plurality of pressure chambers; and a plurality of ink flow paths for communicating the pressure chambers with the common liquid chamber. The ink flow paths are arranged such that central lines in a direction of ink supply to the pressure chambers are positioned offset from central lines of the electrothermal converting elements in the same direction.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording method for recording on a recording medium, includes the steps of preparing an ink-jet recording head which has a plurality of electro-thermal conversion elements that can be independently driven in an ink channel communicating with an ejection orifice, and ejects ink from the ejection orifice by bubbling the ink upon driving the electro-thermal conversion elements and ejecting the ink from the ejection orifice by relatively shifting the bubbling timings defined upon driving of at least two electro-thermal conversion elements within the range in which the ejection characteristics of the ink do not deteriorate as compared to those obtained when the ink is bubbled by simultaneously driving the at least two electro-thermal conversion elements, when the ink is bubbled by driving the at least two electro-thermal conversion elements. Also, an ink-jet recording head using the ink-jet recording method, and an ink-jet recording apparatus using the ink-jet recording head are disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a solid semiconductor element which very efficiently detects information about a liquid and bidirectionally exchanges the information with the outside. The solid semiconductor element is disposed in a liquid container, and includes at least energy converting unit, information acquiring unit, and information communicating unit. The energy converting unit converts an electromotive force from the outside to a power, and operates the information acquiring unit and information communicating unit. The information acquiring unit acquires the information about the liquid in which the solid semiconductor element is disposed from the liquid, and the information communicating unit transmits the information acquired by the information acquiring unit to the outside.

Abstract: An ink tank is provided which can efficiently perform detection of information in an ink tank such as an ink residual amount in the ink tank with a simple configuration in which it is unnecessary to set wiring or the like. A solid semiconductor element, which is provided with an acquiring unit for acquiring environmental information of the outside, an information storing unit, a discriminating unit for comparing acquired information and stored information to make a determination, and an information communicating unit for displaying the acquired information or communicating the acquired information to the outside, is embedded in an outer wall of an ink tank such that the solid semiconductor element is exposed to an internal side and an external side of the ink tank from the outer wall.

Abstract: A solid type semiconductor device comprises energy converting means for converting energy from outside, and operating means operated by energy converted by the energy converting means. The energy converting means converts the electromotive force supplied from the outside to the device in non-contact into electric power. The operating means comprises information acquiring means actuated by electric power obtained by energy converting means; discriminating means; information accumulating means; and information communicating means.

Abstract: To supply electromotive force to a solid semiconductor element in an ink tank in a non-contact and stable manner. An electromagnetic apparatus (a standstill electromotive force supply unit) is placed at a home position HP. When a carriage is at a standstill at this home position HP, if the electromagnetic apparatus is AC-driven, magnetic properties of both ends (magnetic poles) continue to change mutually and penetrate a solid semiconductor element in the ink tank on the carriage so that a constantly changing magnetic flux is generated. Electromotive force is generated by electromagnetic induction on a coil of the solid semiconductor element. In addition, if the carriage reciprocates during printing operation, the coil L of the solid semiconductor element crosses inside the magnetic flux due to a plurality of permanent magnets (a movement time electromotive force supply unit) arranged on a carrier path (range of movement), and so the electromotive force is generated on the coil by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an Fe—Ni alloy consisting of, by mass, 30 to 50% of Ni (or 27 to 47% Ni and not more than 22% Co), 0.005 to 0.1% of Nb, less than 0.01% of C, 0.002 to 0.02% of N, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein the equation “0.000013≦(% Nb)×(% N)≦0.002”, is fulfilled. In the alloy, preferably, the maximum grain size of compounds primarily containing Nb and nitrogen and other compounds primarily containing Nb and C is less than 0.5 &mgr;m, which can be observed at an fractional section of metal structure, and a total number of the compounds is not less than 50,000/mm2 at an fractional section. An average grain size of the alloy structure is not less than 10 by the crystal grain size number as defined in JIS G0551. The alloy may applied to shadow masks for the Braun tube and lead frames for semiconductor elements.

Abstract: A first gap formation member and a fixed portion are provided on an element substrate, a movable member is formed on the first gap formation member and the fixing member, and a second gap formation member is formed thereon. The first gap formation member is removed, a wall material is coated and exposed at a pattern mask. The wall material is patterned to form the liquid flow path walls and the liquid supply ports altogether, and removing the second gap formation member, hence making it easier to form the side stopper that supports the movable member stably in a state where the displacement of the movable member is regulated to close the liquid supply port, as well as the minute gap between the movable member and the side stopper in higher precision.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head, comprises a discharge port for discharging liquid, a liquid passage provided with bubble-generating means for generating bubbles in the liquid supplied via a liquid supply port, and in communication with the discharge port at its one end, and a movable member arranged apart from the discharge port by a gap in the liquid passage corresponding to the bubble-generating means, wherein the projected area of said movable member on said liquid supply port is larger than the opening area of said liquid supply port, said bubble-generating means is arranged on a wall, via the movable member, facing a wall to which the liquid supply port in the liquid passage is open, said movable member is on the one end of said liquid passage as the fulcrum and its free end is arranged on the closed side of said liquid passage, said bubble- generating means is arranged to face the free end of the movable member in the same direction; and said liquid supply port is open to the liquid passage on the side of th