Abstract: A fuse production method includes the steps of forming a liquid film of a dispersion liquid, in which metal nanoparticles are dispersed in a solvent, on a principal surface of a substrate containing at least an organic substance, heating the liquid film so as to vaporize the solvent to melt or sinter the metal nanoparticles and to soften or melt the principal surface, and forming a fuse film on the principal surface by fusing the melted or sintered metal nanoparticles and the softened or melted principal surface with each other.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a chip fuse, comprises: a liquid film forming step for forming a liquid film of dispersion liquid having metal nanoparticles dispersed therein on a principal surface of a substrate; a fuse film forming step for forming a fuse film on the principal surface by irradiating the liquid film with laser light; and a first terminal forming step for forming first terminals that each connects to the fuse film on each of both end sides in a longitudinal direction of the fuse film on the principal surface.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an attachment part to which a toner unit having a fuse that can be molten by being supplied with an electric current is detachably attached, and a control part that applies each of a non-melting conduction signal corresponding to a first current supply state where the fuse is not molten and a melting conduction signal corresponding to a second current supply state where the fuse is molten to the fuse. The control part detects each of whether or not the fuse is molten by applying the non-melting conduction signal and whether or not the fuse is molten by applying the melting conduction signal. The control part determines whether or not the toner unit attached to the attachment part is a specific exchange unit on the basis of a detection result of whether or not the fuse is molten.

Abstract: A fuse production method includes the steps of forming a liquid film of a dispersion liquid, in which metal nanoparticles are dispersed in a solvent, on a principal surface of a substrate containing at least an organic substance, heating the liquid film so as to vaporize the solvent to melt or sinter the metal nanoparticles and to soften or melt the principal surface, and forming a fuse film on the principal surface by fusing the melted or sintered metal nanoparticles and the softened or melted principal surface with each other.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an attachment part to which a toner unit having a fuse that can be molten by being supplied with an electric current is detachably attached, and a control part that applies each of a non-melting conduction signal corresponding to a first current supply state where the fuse is not molten and a melting conduction signal corresponding to a second current supply state where the fuse is molten to the fuse. The control part detects each of whether or not the fuse is molten by applying the non-melting conduction signal and whether or not the fuse is molten by applying the melting conduction signal. The control part determines whether or not the toner unit attached to the attachment part is a specific exchange unit on the basis of a detection result of whether or not the fuse is molten.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a chip fuse, comprises: a liquid film forming step for forming a liquid film of dispersion liquid having metal nanoparticles dispersed therein on a principal surface of a substrate; a fuse film forming step for forming a fuse film on the principal surface by irradiating the liquid film with laser light; and a first terminal forming step for forming first terminals that each connects to the fuse film on each of both end sides in a longitudinal direction of the fuse film on the principal surface.

Abstract: A recording head 200 has a plurality of nozzle orifices aligned in a row extending in a first direction. The recording head 200 is arranged with the nozzle orifices in confrontation with a recording medium P. The recording medium P is moved in a second direction B with respect to the recording head 200. Also, ink droplets ejected from the nozzle orifices are charged to a charged amount that corresponds to deflection amount of the ink droplets. The charged ink droplets are deflected in a direction perpendicular to a main scanning line. The plurality of ink droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzle orifices impinge on the same pixel position or at a nearby position so that it is possible to impinge multiple droplets at the same pixel position or a nearby position. As a result, it is possible to back up broken nozzles and to reduce recording distortion.

Abstract: An inkjet head is formed with a nozzle, a pressure chamber, a plurality of restrictors, and a common ink chamber. Because the plurality of restrictors are formed in the inkjet head, it is possible to increase a fluid resistance of the restrictors without decreasing the Helmholtz resonant frequency. Accordingly, the inkjet head can be driven at a high frequency while preventing residual pressure wave affecting a subsequent ink ejection.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head that enables a reduction in the amount of piezoelectric plate consumed, so that costs can be lowered, without lowering efficiency of piezoelectric actuators, even if the piezoelectric actuators are only roughly fixed to the housing, and that also enables accurately and easily positioning the piezoelectric actuators with respect to a diaphragm that defines an ink channel. Assuming that mB is the mass (kg) of the base 3 to which the piezoelectric actuator 5 is fixed and Tfall is the rising edge time (s) of the drive signal that drives the piezoelectric actuator 5, the spring modulus determined from mB and Tfall is 2×mB/Tfall2≧5.0 e6 (N/m). Therefore, the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator can be efficiently transmitted to the ink chamber regardless of the spring modulus of the adhesive agent used to fix the base to the housing.

Abstract: A back electrode 30 is provided at a rear surface side of a recording sheet 60. An orifice electrode 11 is attached to an orifice plate 15 of a head module 10. The orifice electrode 11, the orifice plate 15, and ink filling in a nozzle element 2 are electrically connected to the ground. The back electrode 30 has the potential corresponding to that of a charging/deflecting signal. With this configuration, the orifice electrode 11, a pressure chamber 13, and the back electrode 30 together generates an inclined electric field 85 at a position a close to a center trajectory 90. A charged ink droplet is deflected greatly by the inclined electric field 85, at an early stage of the ink flight, and even greater deflection can be achieved as the flight proceeds.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head that enables a reduction in the amount of piezoelectric plate consumed, so that costs can be lowered, without lowering efficiency of piezoelectric actuators, even if the piezoelectric actuators are only roughly fixed to the housing, and that also enables accurately and easily positioning the piezoelectric actuators with respect to a diaphragm that defines an ink channel. Assuming that mB is the mass (kg) of the base 3 to which the piezoelectric actuator 5 is fixed and Tfall is the rising edge time (s) of the drive signal that drives the piezoelectric actuator 5, the spring modulus determined from mB and Tfall is 2×mB/Tfall2≧5.0e6 (N/m). Therefore, the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator can be efficiently transmitted to the ink chamber regardless of the spring modulus of the adhesive agent used to fix the base to the housing.

Abstract: A recording head 200 has a plurality of nozzle orifices aligned in a row extending in a first direction. The recording head 200 is arranged with the nozzle orifices in confrontation with a recording medium P. The recording medium P is moved in a second direction B with respect to the recording head 200. Also, ink droplets ejected from the nozzle orifices are charged to a charged amount that corresponds to deflection amount of the ink droplets. The charged ink droplets are deflected in a direction perpendicular to a main scanning line. The plurality of ink droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzle orifices impinge on the same pixel position or at a nearby position so that it is possible to impinge multiple droplets at the same pixel position or a nearby position. As a result, it is possible to back up broken nozzles and to reduce recording distortion.

Abstract: A head is formed with a plurality of nozzles and a common ink chamber fluidly connected with the nozzles. A sub ink tank is provided above the head. Ink housed in a main ink tank is supplied into the sub ink tank through the common ink chamber when an image forming operation is not performed. At this time, air bubbles existing in the common ink chamber is brought into the sub ink tank along with the ink supplied from the main ink tank. The air bubbles collected into the sub ink tank in this manner are released into the ambient air through a valve provided to the sub ink tank.

Abstract: An inkjet head is formed with a nozzle, a pressure chamber, a plurality of restrictors, and a common ink chamber. Because the plurality of restrictors are formed in the inkjet head, it is possible to increase a fluid resistance of the restrictors without decreasing the Helmholtz resonant frequency. Accordingly, the inkjet head can be driven at a high frequency while preventing residual pressure wave affecting a subsequent ink ejection.

Abstract: A back electrode 30 is provided at a rear surface side of a recording sheet 60. An orifice electrode 11 is attached to an orifice plate 15 of a head module 10. The orifice electrode 11, the orifice plate 15, and ink filling in a nozzle element 2 are electrically connected to the ground. The back electrode 30 has the potential corresponding to that of a charging/deflecting signal. With this configuration, the orifice electrode 11, a pressure chamber 13, and the back electrode 30 together generates an inclined electric field 85 at a position &agr; close to a center trajectory 90. A charged ink droplet is deflected greatly by the inclined electric field 85, at an early stage of the ink flight, and even greater deflection can be achieved as the flight proceeds.

Abstract: A recording sheet is positioned at one of a plurality of starting positions based on a printing mode used in previous printing operations. When printing operations are started in a printing mode different from the previous printing mode, the recording sheet is transported either in a forward direction or in a reverse direction to a corresponding starting position. Then, actual printing is started. On the other hand, when printing operations are started in the same printing mode, actual printing is started immediately. In this way, printing speed is improved.

Abstract: A print head for ink jet printer having a reduced length in a main scanning direction and an elongated length in an auxiliary scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. A plurality of linear print head modules are arrayed in the auxiliary scanning direction, and each linear print head module extends in a slanting direction with respect to the main scanning direction by a predetermined angle. Further, each linear print head module has a width in a direction perpendicular to its extending direction. The slanting angle and the width determine scanning pitch extending in the auxiliary scanning direction and can reduces the length of the print head in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A head is formed with a plurality of nozzles and a common ink chamber fluidly connected with the nozzles. A sub ink tank is provided above the head. Ink housed in a main ink tank is supplied into the sub ink tank through the common ink chamber when an image forming operation is not performed. At this time, air bubbles existing in the common ink chamber is brought into the sub ink tank along with the ink supplied from the main ink tank. The air bubbles collected into the sub ink tank in this manner are released into the ambient air through a valve provided to the sub ink tank.

Abstract: A cleaning device capable of ensuring prevention of extraneous substances, such as the toner, paper powder and so on, from releasing outside an extraneous substance removing region, and an electrophotographic apparatus having the cleaning device. The cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus includes an extraneous substance removing arrangement for removing extraneous substances, such as toner, paper powder and the like, from a surface of a member to be cleaned; an extraneous substance containing arrangement for collecting the extraneous substances removed by the extraneous substance removing arrangement; and a barrier forming arrangement for preventing the extraneous substances from releasing out of an extraneous substance removing region, the barrier forming arrangement being located in the extraneous substance removing region where the extraneous substance removing arrangement acts on the member to be cleaned.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus having an image carrying and an optical scanning unit, wherein an optical scanning unit support means is provided, the optical scanning unit support means serving to turn the optical scanning unit in a horizontal direction, so that an error in positioning the image carrying body with respect to the optical scanning unit can be corrected by the turning operation.