Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in the cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.

Abstract: When a predetermined time T1ref has elapsed from performance of a previous cleaning, all nozzles in a nozzle row as an inspection target are driven at a drive frequency of a maximum frequency so that an air bubble in a filter chamber is crushed against a filter by increasing the flow rate in the filter chamber of an ink needle which connects an ink cartridge and a head, and a nozzle inspection to determine whether or not a nozzle defect is occurred is performed repeatedly until the nozzle defect occurs at a predetermined time interval T2ref (every week, for example) and, when the nozzle defect occurs, cleaning for ejecting the air bubble in the filter chamber to the outside is performed.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in the cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in the cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.

Abstract: The cleaning process best suited to the condition of an inkjet printer is selected and run, thereby removing nozzle clogging without wastefully consuming ink. The first time a cleaning switch 7 is operated a CL1 cleaning process is run. If the cleaning switch 7 is pressed a second time and the print pass count is less than e.g., 400, a CL2 cleaning process that uses more ink than the CL1 process is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used. If the print pass count is less than 400 the third time the switch is operated, the CL2 cleaning process is used, but the CL1 cleaning process is used if the print pass count is 400 or more. If the cleaning switch 7 is operated four or more times and the print pass count is less than 400, a YCL cleaning process that consumes substantially no ink is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus including: a cartridge mounting portion, on which an ink cartridge having a waste ink containing portion containable a waste ink can be mounted; a waste ink introduction portion, adapted to connect to a waste ink introduction port of the waste ink containing portion of the ink cartridge so as to introduce the waste ink; a waste ink introduction portion holder, supporting the waste ink introduction portion; and a cartridge moving mechanism, operable to move the ink cartridge to a cartridge replacement position, located on an outside of the cartridge mounting portion where the ink cartridge can be attached to or detached from the cartridge mounting portion, and a cartridge use position located on an inside of the cartridge mounting portion, wherein the waste ink introduction portion holder is constructed to move integrally with the ink cartridge between the cartridge replacement and the cartridge use position while the waste ink introduction portion is connected to the waste ink i

Abstract: When a predetermined time T1ref has elapsed from performance of a previous cleaning, all nozzles in a nozzle row as an inspection target are driven at a drive frequency of a maximum frequency so that an air bubble in a filter chamber is crushed against a filter by increasing the flow rate in the filter chamber of an ink needle which connects an ink cartridge and a head, and a nozzle inspection to determine whether or not a nozzle defect is occurred is performed repeatedly until the nozzle defect occurs at a predetermined time interval T2ref (every week, for example) and, when the nozzle defect occurs, cleaning for ejecting the air bubble in the filter chamber to the outside is performed.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in the cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.

Abstract: The cleaning process best suited to the condition of an inkjet printer is selected and run, thereby removing nozzle clogging without wastefully consuming ink. The first time a cleaning switch 7 is operated a CL1 cleaning process is run. If the cleaning switch 7 is pressed a second time and the print pass count is less than e.g., 400, a CL2 cleaning process that uses more ink than the CL1 process is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used. If the print pass count is less than 400 the third time the switch is operated, the CL2 cleaning process is used, but the CL1 cleaning process is used if the print pass count is 400 or more. If the cleaning switch 7 is operated four or more times and the print pass count is less than 400, a YCL cleaning process that consumes substantially no ink is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.

Abstract: The cleaning process best suited to the condition of an inkjet printer is selected and run, thereby removing nozzle clogging without wastefully consuming ink. The first time a cleaning switch 7 is operated a CL1 cleaning process is run. If the cleaning switch 7 is pressed a second time and the print pass count is less than e.g., 400, a CL2 cleaning process that uses more ink than the CL1 process is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used. If the print pass count is less than 400 the third time the switch is operated, the CL2 cleaning process is used, but the CL1 cleaning process is used if the print pass count is 400 or more. If the cleaning switch 7 is operated four or more times and the print pass count is less than 400, a YCL cleaning process that consumes substantially no ink is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used.

Abstract: A head chip has a first face formed with nozzle orifices from which ink is ejected, and a second face formed with at least one ink inlet communicated with the nozzle orifices. An ink passage communicates the nozzle orifices with the ink supply source to supply ink to be ejected. A filter is disposed in the ink passage at an upstream side of the ink inlet. The filter has a first face directed to an upstream side of the ink passage. A cover member covers at least a part of the first face of the filter, the cover member being adapted to allow ink in the ink passage to pass through while preventing air bubbles contained in the ink from coming in contact with the first face of the filter.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus including: a cartridge mounting portion, on which an ink cartridge having a waste ink containing portion containable a waste ink can be mounted; a waste ink introduction portion, adapted to connect to a waste ink introduction port of the waste ink containing portion of the ink cartridge so as to introduce the waste ink; a waste ink introduction portion holder, supporting the waste ink introduction portion; and a cartridge moving mechanism, operable to move the ink cartridge to a cartridge replacement position, located on an outside of the cartridge mounting portion where the ink cartridge can be attached to or detached from the cartridge mounting portion, and a cartridge use position located on an inside of the cartridge mounting portion, wherein the waste ink introduction portion holder is constructed to move integrally with the ink cartridge between the cartridge replacement and the cartridge use position while the waste ink introduction portion is connected to the waste ink i

Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in the cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.

Abstract: In a passenger judging apparatus with a load sensor excellent in practical use and capable of achieving not only the reduction of judgment delay in the case of the necessity for a quick judgment but also the improvement of the judgment accuracy in the other cases, a judgment indicating the occurrence of a state transition forming a transition between classes is made only when a load detected stays continuously in a predetermined class for a predetermined threshold time period, with the threshold time period being variably set to be different in length among inter-class state transitions. This contributes greatly to the improvement of the judgment accuracy by eliminating erroneous judgment stemming from a false signal without uselessly delaying the judgment on the state transition requiring a quick decision.

Abstract: The cleaning process best suited to the condition of an inkjet printer is selected and run, thereby removing nozzle clogging without wastefully consuming ink. The first time a cleaning switch 7 is operated a CL1 cleaning process is run. If the cleaning switch 7 is pressed a second time and the print pass count is less than e.g., 400, a CL2 cleaning process that uses more ink than the CL1 process is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used. If the print pass count is less than 400 the third time the switch is operated, the CL2 cleaning process is used, but the CL1 cleaning process is used if the print pass count is 400 or more. If the cleaning switch 7 is operated four or more times and the print pass count is less than 400, a YCL cleaning process that consumes substantially no ink is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used.

Abstract: An ink cartridge, for an ink jet printer, having a cartridge case, first and second ink bags housed in the cartridge case, and a partition plate placed between the ink bags. The partition plate is dropped into a case main body of the cartridge case through an upper opening of the case main body. When a case lid is attached to the case main body, the partition plate is sandwiched between rib upper end faces of the case main body and an outer frame end face of the case lid so that the position of the partition plate is fixed. Ink outlet parts, of the ink bags, are overlaid on each other in a case thickness direction so that they are in contact with each other without intervention of the partition plate. Therefore, the ink cartridge is miniaturized and can be easily disassembled when it is recycled.

Abstract: A seat occupant in a vehicle is classified into one of first and second categories by using a support vector machine (SVM). Sensor signals are obtained from seat sensors to form a sensor signal vector. By using the sensor signal vector, a value of a two-value decision function known as SVM is calculated. The seat occupant is decided to be of one of the first and second categories associated with the value. The two-value decision function can be generated through support vector learning by using a set of training vectors obtained from the seat sensors. An airbag system using an inventive seat occupant classifying apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A head chip has a first face formed with nozzle orifices from which ink is ejected, and a second face formed with at least one ink inlet communicated with the nozzle orifices. An ink passage communicates the nozzle orifices with the ink supply source to supply ink to be ejected. A filter is disposed in the ink passage at an upstream side of the ink inlet. The filter has a first face directed to an upstream side of the ink passage. A cover member covers at least a part of the first face of the filter, the cover member being adapted to allow ink in the ink passage to pass through while preventing air bubbles contained in the ink from coming in contact with the first face of the filter.