Abstract: An ink tank includes a tank case and a stirrer. The proximal end of the stirrer is supported by the inner surface of the tank case in a pivotal manner. When the stirrer moves close to the inner surface of the ink tank, the stirrer is substantially parallel to the inner surface. The stirrer includes a through-hole in the vicinity of the proximal end thereof.

Abstract: An ink tank includes a stirrer supported in a freely moveable manner near an inner wall of an ink storage chamber. When the stirrer moves closest to the inner wall, a predetermined gap is formed between opposing surfaces of the inner wall and the stirrer.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a mechanism for opening and closing an ink supply route between an ink tank and a printing head and capable of attaching and removing the ink tank by a horizontal movement. More specifically, a moving member 60 and the communication pipe 51 engaged therewith are moved upward by moving an operation member 70 upward. As a result, the communication pipe 51 moves into an ink lead chamber 16 and a communication channel 52 of the communication pipe 51 comes into communication with the ink lead chamber 16 through its opening. In this way, the ink lead chamber 16, namely, an ink storage chamber 12 comes into communication with a liquid chamber 50 of a printing head 20. An ink supply route is opened in this manner. The ink supply route is closed by the reverse operation to that mentioned above.

Abstract: A liquid discharge recording head includes a recording element with a discharge port for discharging liquid and an electrically connecting portion arranged adjacent to the discharge port and receiving an electric signal for controlling the discharge of the discharge port. The liquid discharge recording head further includes a flexible wiring substrate for covering at least a portion of the recording element. The flexible wiring substrate includes each of a device hole for exposing the discharge port and a bonding hole arranged facing the electrically connecting portion independently. The liquid discharge recording head further includes a sealing agent for covering at least a portion of the electrically connecting portion and filled to at least a portion of the bonding hole. Thus, a liquid discharge recording head that enhances recording performance and that has superior productivity while maintaining reliability of the recording performance is provided.

Abstract: A liquid container and its manufacturing method configured to contain a spring member and crimp a flexible member in a frame, wherein positional shift between the flexible member and the fixing member (frame) caused by compression of the spring during manufacturing process is prevented and no device is necessary for spring compression. Accordingly, the liquid container includes a liquid storage portion including a deformable flexible member, a planar portion disposed in the flexible member, and the spring member which abuts on the planar portion to generate negative pressure in the liquid container. The planar portion includes an engaging portion disposed in the planar portion and engaging the elastic portion so as to facilitate holding the elastic portion in a compressed state and releasing the elastic portion from the compressed state.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid supplying apparatus which enables a liquid housing container to be appropriately and smoothly attached to and detached from a print head. Thus, the present invention includes a liquid supplying tube projected from the print head and having a liquid introducing port which is in communication with the print head, a seal member rotatably movably held on the liquid supplying tube, the seal member being movable from a position at which the liquid introducing port is closed to a position at which the liquid introducing port is opened, a housing container main body in which the liquid is housed, the housing container main body having a liquid supplying port into and from which the liquid supplying tube can be inserted and removed, and a movable member which rotatably moves the seal member.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head cartridge includes a recording element unit having a plate member with liquid supply paths for supplying liquid to a recording element base plate for recording by discharging the liquid; a liquid supply unit portion having a communication passage for conducting liquid from a liquid supply source; and an elastic sealing member that forms a seal between one end portion of the liquid supply paths of the plate member and an end portion of the communication passage facing the one end portion of the liquid supply paths. The elastic sealing member is provided with liquid flow paths communicating with the liquid supply paths and the communication passage. The liquid supply unit portion and the recording element unit are adhesively bonded with each other at locations other than those having the elastic sealing member arranged thereon.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ink jet recording head, which is provided with a recording elemental substrate having discharge port group for discharging ink, an electric wiring substrate electrically connected with the recording elemental substrate, and a supporting member for holding and fixing the recording elemental substrate and the electrical wiring substrate, comprises the steps of injecting thermohardening filler into a filler retaining portion communicated with the sealing area requiring sealing; filling the area with the thermohardening filler injected into the filler retaining portion by heating the filler to flow; and hardening the filled thermohardening filler. With the structure thus arranged, it is possible to eliminate any electrical and structural defects in order to materialize a highly reliable and compact ink jet recording head.

Abstract: Disadvantages relating to ink refill specific to an increase in a number of ink ejection openings in an ink jet print head is eliminated to provide a particularly excellent fast-response capability and ejection performance. More specifically, when an ink is supplied to a liquid chamber via an ink supply path and an ink supply opening formed in a support member and a print element substrate in a print head, and is then ejected from ejection openings, a pressure of an ink effected upon the ejection is transmitted to the ink supply path. This pressure, however, can be absorbed by air chambers via communication paths to reduce adverse effects of the pressure on ink refill in the liquid path after the ejection. In this case, since the air chambers and other components are structured to be closed with respect to the atmosphere, problems such as an increase in viscosity which are associated with communication of the air chambers and other components with the atmosphere can be prevented.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head comprises a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals, at least one sub-discharge port arranged in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports on both end sides of the arrangement direction of main discharge ports at intervals larger than the intervals of the main discharge port arrangement, a plurality of liquid chambers having these plural discharge ports open thereto, a common liquid chamber having these liquid chambers communicated therewith, and liquid being supplied thereto, and a plurality of discharge energy generating units provided for each of the liquid chambers corresponding to the main discharge ports and the sub-discharge ports to generate discharge energy utilized for discharging liquid from the main discharge ports and the sub-discharge ports.

Abstract: To suitably electrically interconnect a recording element substrate, on which power supply paths are formed in a high density, and an electric wiring substrate, on which wiring lines for supplying power to these paths are formed, bumps are formed and arranged on the recording element substrate at a predetermined pitch therebetween so as to protrude by a predetermined distance t1 from this substrate. On the electric wiring substrate, on the other hand, connecting terminals are formed and arranged with the same pitch as that of the bumps. Between each two of the bumps is formed an insulating film which protrudes in the protrusion direction of the bumps by a predetermined distance t2, where t1<t2. By fitting the connecting terminals between respective pairs of the insulating films, each connecting terminal comes in contact with a corresponding bump with a sufficient contact area provided therebetween so as not to give rise to short-circuiting or open-circuiting.

Abstract: Disadvantages relating to ink refill specific to an increase in a number of ink ejection openings in an ink jet print head is eliminated to provide a particularly excellent fast-response capability and ejection performance. More specifically, when an ink is supplied to a liquid chamber via an ink supply path and an ink supply opening formed in a support member and a print element substrate in a print head, and is then ejected from ejection openings, a pressure of an ink effected upon the ejection is transmitted to the ink supply path. This pressure, however, can be absorbed by air chambers via communication paths to reduce adverse effects of the pressure on ink refill in the liquid path after the ejection. In this case, since the air chambers and other components are structured to be closed with respect to the atmosphere, problems such as an increase in viscosity which are associated with communication of the air chambers and other components with the atmosphere can be prevented.

Abstract: A print element unit comprising a print element substrate, and a plate-like member having a surface to be adhered on which the print element substrate is positioned and fixedly adhered via heat-hardening adhesive and a first reference surface used as a positioning reference to the print element substrate to be fixedly adhered, wherein a holder member for holding tanks for storing liquid supplied to the print element substrate, having the second reference surface to be detachably engaged with the first reference surface of the plate-like member and with a reference surface of a mounting portion of a carriage member movable together with the print element substrate and the plate-like member, and the second reference surfaces are engaged with the first surface, and then the print element unit and the holder member are fixedly adhered with each other via a hardening adhesive at a low (normal) temperature.

Abstract: Disadvantages relating to ink refill specific to an increase in a number of ink ejection openings in an ink jet print head is eliminated to provide a particularly excellent fast-response capability and ejection performance. More specifically, when an ink is supplied to a liquid chamber via an ink supply path and an ink supply opening formed in a support member and a print element substrate in a print head, and is then ejected from ejection openings, a pressure of an ink effected upon the ejection is transmitted to the ink supply path. This pressure, however, can be absorbed by air chambers via communication paths to reduce adverse effects of the pressure on ink refill in the liquid path after the ejection. In this case, since the air chambers and other components are structured to be closed with respect to the atmosphere, problems such as an increase in viscosity which are associated with communication of the air chambers and other components with the atmosphere can be prevented.

Abstract: To electrically suitably interconnect a recording element substrate on which power supply paths are formed in a high density and an electric wiring substrate on which wiring lines for supplying power to these paths are formed, such bumps are formed and arranged on the recording element substrate at a predetermined pitch therebetween as to protrude by a predetermined amount of t1 from this substrate. On the electric wiring substrate, on the other hand, connecting terminals are formed and arranged with the same pitch as that of the bumps. Between each two of the bumps is formed an insulating film which protrudes in the protrusion direction of the bumps by a predetermined amount t2 that satisfies a relationship of t1<t2. By fitting each connecting terminal between each two of the insulating films, each connecting terminal comes in contact with corresponding each connecting terminal with a sufficient contact area provided therebetween without giving rise to short-circuiting or open-circuiting.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ink jet recording head, which is provided with a recording elemental substrate having discharge port group for discharging ink, an electric wiring substrate electrically connected with the recording elemental substrate, and a supporting member for holding and fixing the recording elemental substrate and the electrical wiring substrate, comprises the steps of injecting thermohardening filler into a filler retaining portion communicated with the sealing area requiring sealing; filling the area with the thermohardening filler injected into the filler retaining portion by heating the filler to flow; and hardening the filled thermohardening filler. With the structure thus arranged, it is possible to eliminate any electrical and structural defects in order to materialize a highly reliable and compact ink jet recording head.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head capable of separating or coupling ink tanks from or with the head including a recording device substrate having a plurality of recording devices thereon for discharging ink, a wiring device for giving electrical recording signals to the recording device substrate, an ink supply member for supplying ink to the recording device substrate, and a filter member for removing dust particles or the like in ink. This recording unit is provided with all the functions of discharging ink, and coupled with a holder member having only the function of holding and fixing ink tanks. With the structure thus arranged, it becomes unnecessary to connect ink supply paths as in the conventional art, hence eliminating the provision of sealing members. The number of parts is made smaller, while making it possible to carry out inspection of heads only in accordance with the recording units, which significantly contributes to simplifying manufacture and providing highly reliable heads at lower costs.

Abstract: A liquid discharge recording head cartridge comprises a first plate having liquid supply ports opened for supply liquid; a recording element base plate provided with discharge ports for discharging liquid, a member for forming liquid flow paths to conduct liquid to the discharge ports for discharging liquid, and recording elements for generating energy to be utilized for discharging the liquid from the discharge ports, and fixed to aid first plate for inducing liquid from the liquid supply ports; a recording element unit provided with a wiring board for providing signals for the recording element base plate in accordance with recording images; and a liquid supply unit having liquid supply paths formed therefor to conduct liquid supplied from tanks containing liquid to liquid inlet ports.