Abstract: There is provided a liquid-feeding device with large liquid-capacity and a simplified structure and capable of stably holding liquid without leakage. An ink-feeding device includes an ink reservoir; an ink chamber; a valve displaced so that a closing member opens an open region by reduction in pressure due to reduction in the ink amount in the ink chamber; a fresh-air communicating hole for communicating with fresh air; and an air inlet tube capable of bringing air, when an amount of ink in the ink chamber is reduced, from the fresh-air communicating hole by the amount of air corresponding to the amount of the reduced ink, wherein a bore diameter of the lower end of the air inlet tube and a water head are determined so that the ink meniscus holding power P at the lower end of the air inlet tube and the water head pressure H corresponding to the height from the bottom surface of an ink ejection unit (nozzle surface) to the lower end of the air inlet tube satisfy the relationship P>H.

Abstract: A printer includes a front panel having an approximately flat main surface which serves as one of the surfaces of the external housing of the printer, a feed-tray attachment hole for detachably attaching a feed tray which stores a paper sheet to the main body of the printer, and an output hole for outputting the paper sheet after an image is printed, and an output door which is attached to the external panel to cover the output hole such that the output door can be opened and closed, the output door being opened when the printed sheet is output through the output hole. The output door serves as an auxiliary output tray while the output door is open and the printed paper which is output through the output hole is placed on the top surface of the output door.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head including a reusable nozzle cap and head cap unit that prevents ink from leaking during transport and storage. When the liquid ejection head is in use, the nozzle cap can be readily detached from the liquid ejection head without damaging an ejection surface of a nozzle sheet from which ink is ejected. The liquid ejection head can also be used with a large nozzle sheet. The nozzle cap is incorporated in the liquid ejection head that ejects ink in an ink reservoir through nozzles in the nozzle sheet. Stoppers are disposed below the ejection surface of the nozzle sheet to cover the nozzles, thereby preventing ink from leaking. The stoppers are composed of a resilient material that does not adhere to the nozzle sheet and that inhibits ink from passing therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention provides a droplet discharging apparatus including a discharge head for deflectively discharging droplets through one discharge port at a plurality of pixel areas in adaptive fashion. The discharge head is controlled to discharge droplets at an object. A storage unit stores status information about the discharge head. A communication unit communicates with an information processing apparatus located outside so as to transmit the status information to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A negative pressure generated inside a liquid-ejecting head can circulate liquid between the liquid-ejecting head and a liquid tank, prevent the liquid from leaking out of nozzles while the liquid is circulating, and remove bubbles contained in the liquid. A head cartridge includes a printhead ejecting ink from ink-ejecting nozzles formed in a nozzle plate of the printhead, an ink-supplying conduit supplying the ink from an ink tank to an ink chamber in the printhead, an ink-refluxing conduit refluxing the ink from the printhead to the ink tank, and a liquid-delivering pump disposed on the ink-refluxing conduit and circulating the ink between the printhead and the ink tank. The liquid-delivering pump is driven to generate a negative pressure inside the printhead to circulate the ink between the printhead and the ink tank.

Abstract: A printer head chip includes a plurality of ink compressing chambers which include heat-generating resistors and which are disposed side by side on a substrate. The printer head chip is used to discharge ink inside the plurality of ink compressing chambers from a nozzle by driving the heat-generating resistors. The printer head chip further includes an ink flow path groove, which is formed in the substrate and which is connected to each of the ink compressing chambers, for supplying ink to each of the ink compressing chambers. The invention makes it possible to supply ink to the printer head chip without increasing the size of a printer head, and to simplify the structure of the printer head.

Abstract: A printer head chip includes a plurality of ink compressing chambers which include heat-generating resistors and which are disposed side by side on a substrate. The printer head chip is used to discharge ink inside the plurality of ink compressing chambers from a nozzle by driving the heat-generating resistors. The printer head chip further includes an ink flow path groove, which is formed in the substrate and which is connected to each of the ink compressing chambers, for supplying ink to each of the ink compressing chambers. The invention makes it possible to supply ink to the printer head chip without increasing the size of a printer head, and to simplify the structure of the printer head.

Abstract: A liquid-amount detecting apparatus detects the amount of a liquid in containers. The liquid-amount detecting apparatus includes a liquid detecting circuit and a determining unit. The liquid detecting circuit includes electrode units disposed so as to be in contact with the liquid in the containers, which becomes electrically conductive when in contact with the liquid, an impedance, and an AC-signal source. An AC signal not containing a DC component is input from the AC-signal source to the electrode units through the source impedance, and a signal representing the status of electric connection of the electrode units is output. Furthermore, based on the output signal, a binary signal representing the presence or absence of electrical connection of the electrode units is output. The determining unit determines the presence or absence of the liquid at the electrode units based on the binary signal output from the liquid detecting circuit.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid-feeding device with large liquid-capacity and a simplified structure and capable of stably holding liquid without leakage. An ink-feeding device includes an ink reservoir; an ink chamber; a valve displaced so that a closing member opens an open region by reduction in pressure due to reduction in the ink amount in the ink chamber; a fresh-air communicating hole for communicating with fresh air; and an air inlet tube capable of bringing air, when an amount of ink in the ink chamber is reduced, from the fresh-air communicating hole by the amount of air corresponding to the amount of the reduced ink, wherein a bore diameter of the lower end of the air inlet tube and a water head are determined so that the ink meniscus holding power P at the lower end of the air inlet tube and the water head pressure H corresponding to the height from the bottom surface of an ink ejection unit (nozzle surface) to the lower end of the air inlet tube satisfy the relationship P>H.

Abstract: A remaining-liquid-amount apparatus for displaying an amount of conductive liquid (ink) remaining in a container includes electrode units which are arranged along a direction in which the liquid level falls when the amount of liquid in the container decreases and which conduct current when the electrode units are in contact with the liquid, a voltage source (pulse generator) which applies a voltage to the electrode units, a liquid detector (DFFs) which detects the presence/absence of the liquid at positions of the electrode units on the basis of whether or not the electrode units conduct current when the voltage is applied by the voltage source, and a remaining-liquid-amount display unit (LEDs) which displays, in steps, the amount of liquid remaining in the container on the basis of the detection result of the presence/absence of the liquid at positions of the electrode units obtained by the liquid detector.

Abstract: A printer includes a front panel having an approximately flat main surface which serves as one of the surfaces of the external housing of the printer, a feed-tray attachment hole for detachably attaching a feed tray which stores a paper sheet to the main body of the printer, and an output hole for outputting the paper sheet after an image is printed, and an output door which is attached to the external panel to cover the output hole such that the output door can be opened and closed, the output door being opened when the printed sheet is output through the output hole. The output door serves as an auxiliary output tray while the output door is open and the printed paper which is output through the output hole is placed on the top surface of the output door.

Abstract: A printer head chip includes a plurality of ink compressing chambers which include heat-generating resistors and which are disposed side by side on a substrate. The printer head chip is used to discharge ink inside the plurality of ink compressing chambers from a nozzle by driving the heat-generating resistors. The printer head chip further includes an ink flow path groove, which is formed in the substrate and which is connected to each of the ink compressing chambers, for supplying ink to each of the ink compressing chambers. The invention makes it possible to supply ink to the printer head chip without increasing the size of a printer head, and to simplify the structure of the printer head.

Abstract: A printer is selectively supplied with ink by moving a print head to an end position and bringing an ink supply element into contact with an ink absorbing material in the print head. At that time ink can be supplied to the ink absorbing material in the print head either by pressing a flexible bag containing an ink supply or by capillary action from another ink absorbing material that is impregnated with ink and that has a capillary force smaller than a capillary force of the ink absorbing material of the print head. The ink supply device is located at one end of a platen for the printer and can be rotated out of position until the print head moves to the end of the platen, at which time the ink supply device is rotated into contact with the print head. An arrangement of rotating a discoid cam can be used to apply a pressing force to the flexible bag, which includes a self-sealing valve, so that ink flows to the ink absorbing material in the print head.

Abstract: A recording apparatus in which a comparatively small spacing is required for automatic loading of transfer paper of a transfer paper and record paper cartridge. The recording apparatus comprises a spool feeding mechanism for feeding a supply spool from a transfer paper and record paper cartridge mounted in position in the recording apparatus to an opposite position with respect to a platen roller to effect loading of the transfer paper, a paper supplying mechanism for supplying a record paper sheet from within the cartridge to the platen roller, and a print head which is pressed against the platen roller with the record paper sheet and the transfer paper interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge has openings through its lower casing in order to selectively receive an electric conduction type ribbon end sensor or a photoelectric type ribbon end sensor on a printer. Ribbon housed in the ribbon cartridge extends across one of the openings which is separated from the other by a webbing. Where the sensor is of the electric conduction type, the webbing ensures the location of its electrodes to the back of the ribbon which carries a conductive member on its back. The ribbon is provided with, in addition to a transparent tape section at its tail end, a thin piece which is connected by means of an adhesive to the ribbon adjacent to the tail end. An upper casing is formed with a window to facilitate visual checks on a remaining length of the ribbon. An area of the inner surface of the lower casing which corresponds to the window is painted in a color different from that of the ribbon, thereby promoting quicker and more accurate checks on the remaining length.