Abstract: A detection unit to optically detect a discharge condition of a droplet is disclosed. The detection unit includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element disposed on opposite sides of an area through which a droplet discharged from a droplet-discharger passes. A diaphragm plate having an aperture and another diaphragm plate having at least two apertures arranged at a pitch in a discharge direction are respectively disposed near front surfaces of the two elements. When light emitted from the light emitting element passes through the apertures, two light beams are received by the light receiving element. When the droplet is discharged and passes in front of the apertures, the two light beams are blocked sequentially by the ink droplet, which causes the quantity of light received by the light receiving element to change, thereby inducing a change in an output from the light receiving element. Based on the change in the output, a discharge-condition of the droplet is determined.

Abstract: A recording head includes an ink-discharging surface and nozzles. The ink-discharging surface is provided with ink-discharging ports of the nozzles. A light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are disposed opposite each other close to the ink-discharging surface. The light-receiving element outputs a detection signal. A reflector is provided on the ink-discharging surface and reflects light emitted from the light-emitting element toward the light-receiving element. One of the nozzles is driven and whether the nozzle discharges an ink drop is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the reflected light by the ink drop. If the nozzle discharges an ink drop, then whether the nozzle discharges the ink drop in an appropriate direction is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the direct light by the ink drop.

Abstract: A detection unit to optically detect a discharge condition of a droplet is disclosed. The detection unit includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element disposed on opposite sides of an area through which a droplet discharged from a droplet-discharger passes. A diaphragm plate having an aperture and another diaphragm plate having at least two apertures arranged at a pitch in a discharge direction are respectively disposed near front surfaces of the two elements. When light emitted from the light emitting element passes through the apertures, two light beams are received by the light receiving element. When the droplet is discharged and passes in front of the apertures, the two light beams are blocked sequentially by the ink droplet, which causes the quantity of light received by the light receiving element to change, thereby inducing a change in an output from the light receiving element. Based on the change in the output, a discharge-condition of the droplet is determined.

Abstract: A recording head includes an ink-discharging surface and nozzles. The ink-discharging surface is provided with ink-discharging ports of the nozzles. A light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are disposed opposite each other close to the ink-discharging surface. The light-receiving element outputs a detection signal. A reflector is provided on the ink-discharging surface and reflects light emitted from the light-emitting element toward the light-receiving element. One of the nozzles is driven and whether the nozzle discharges an ink drop is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the reflected light by the ink drop. If the nozzle discharges an ink drop, then whether the nozzle discharges the ink drop in an appropriate direction is checked on the basis of change in the detection signal due to interception of the direct light by the ink drop.

Abstract: A recording head cartridge is mounted on a carriage scanning in a forward direction and in a backward direction along the width direction of a recording medium. The fan of an ink mist collecting section produces an airflow and collects ink mist generated when ink is discharged. When the carriage scans in the forward direction, an image is formed and the fan is not operated and when the carriage scans in the backward direction, the image is not formed and the fan is operated to collect the ink mist.

Abstract: There is provided a printer including a grip portion that becomes a handhold in moving the printer, and the grip portion is formed of a part of a jacket of the printer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus including a carriage to which a recording head for effecting recording on a recording material by discharging ink and an ink tank for containing ink to be supplied to the recording head are detachably mounted in a separate exchanging permitting manner and which shifts the recording head and the ink tank in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording material, comprising an ink tank exchanging position which is a position of the carriage, where the ink tank is to be exchanged, and a recording head exchanging position which is different from the ink tank exchanging position and which is a position of the carriage where the recording head is to be exchanged.

Abstract: A recording head cartridge is mounted on a carriage scanning in a forward direction and in a backward direction along the width direction of a recording medium. The fan of an ink mist collecting section produces an airflow and collects ink mist generated when ink is discharged. When the carriage scans in the forward direction, an image is formed and the fan is not operated and when the carriage scans in the backward direction, the image is not formed and the fan is operated to collect the ink mist.

Abstract: There is provided a printer including a grip portion that becomes a handhold in moving the printer, and the grip portion is formed of a part of a jacket of the printer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus including a carriage to which a recording head for effecting recording on a recording material by discharging ink and an ink tank for containing ink to be supplied to the recording head are detachably mounted in a separate exchanging permitting manner and which shifts the recording head and the ink tank in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording material, comprising an ink tank exchanging position which is a position of the carriage, where the ink tank is to be exchanged, and a recording head exchanging position which is different from the ink tank exchanging position and which is a position of the carriage where the recording head is to be exchanged.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus having a detachable automatic sheet supplying apparatus, wherein a projection protruding substantially in a horizontal direction is formed on the recording system or on the automatic sheet supplying apparatus, so that they can stand by themselves; a recess is formed in the automatic sheet supplying appparatus or in the recording system; and the recording system is connected to the automatic sheet supplying apparatus by fitting the projection into the recess.

Abstract: To assure that the space efficiency of a recording apparatus can be improved, the length of each of cables to be electrically connected to a mechanism section can be optimized, and the recording apparatus having excellent handling properties can be produced with small dimensions at a reduced cost, a controlling section for controlling a mechanism section substantially composed of an automatic feeding section, a conveying section, a discharging section and a recording section, each of which is associated with a recording operation to be performed by the recording apparatus, is arranged above the mechanism section.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a discharge rotary body, a pinch rotary body, a drive transmission rotary body and a regulation member. The discharge rotary body feeds and discharges a sheet from a recording section. The pinch rotary body is disposed facing the discharge rotary body for pinching and feeding the sheet along the discharge rotary body. The drive transmission rotary body has a circumferential surface contacting a circumferential surface of the discharge rotary body with a pressure exerted in a direction different from a straight line drawn between rotary centers of the discharge rotary body and the pinch rotary body, for rotationally driving the discharge rotary body. The regulation member contacts the discharge rotary body when deformation of the discharge rotary body exceeds a predetermined quantity arising due to pressure from the drive transmission rotary body and regulates deformation of the discharge rotary body from exceeding the predetermined quantity.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having a carriage which scans along a guide shaft and which is provided with recording heads includes a position detector for detecting the positions of the carriage in the scanning direction; and a fixing device for engaging with the carriage to regulate the carriage in the scanning direction when it is detected by the position detector that the carriage is in a given fixing position and fixing the carriage in the given fixing position. With the structure thus arranged, this recording apparatus is capable of preventing the carriage from being bent or deformed when the ink tanks and recording heads are detachably mounted or the gap adjustment for the recording heads are executed on the carriage, thus enabling the operation and positioning of the carriage to be executed exactly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus which can determine a position of a carriage on which a recording head is mounted with high accuracy without enhancing positional accuracy of a carriage position detecting system. In this recording apparatus, a rod-like member is moved upwardly to be engaged by a recessed portion formed in the carriage. A deviation amount of the carriage generated by such engagement is detected by a linear encoder and is used as a correction value when the carriage is moved next time.

Abstract: Ink jet recording encounters deviations in the position at which a recorded dot is applied due to changes in the distance from the recording head to a recording medium, the carriage movement speed and the ink discharge speed or the like. When bidirectional recording is performed while moving the carriage having the recording head mounted thereon, deviations of the recorded dot may occur in the forward and rearward recording operations. The present invention is arranged in such a manner that values for correcting the deviations occurring in bidirectional recording and corresponding to the changes of the distance from the recording head to a recording medium, the carriage movement speed and the ink discharge speed or the like are previously stored. A drive signal, the timing of which has been corrected with the correction value, is used to operate the apparatus so that high-quality recordings free from deviations occurring in the bidirectional recording operation are obtained.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by discharging ink to the surface of the recording medium, wherein ink is reserved in an ink tank including a negative pressure generating member, such as an absorber and a foaming member, and a function of accurately detecting the residual quantity such that depletion to a predetermined level can be detected is realized. Light emitted by a photointerrupter is allowed to pass through a portion of a wall surface of the ink tank made of transparent plastic or the like which is transmissible with respect to detection light emitted by the photointerrupter to detect change in the light reflectance in the boundary portion between the wall surface and the ink absorber. In accordance with reflectance obtained in a case where no ink exists in the detected portion and that obtained in a case where ink exists, the residual quantity of ink can be detected.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a positioning device for postioning a recording head on a carriage and an electrical connecting device for establishing electrical connection between the recording head and a main body portion. The positioning device and the electrical connecting device are provided on the carriage independently of each other. Therefore, the recording head and an ink tank can be certainly and simply installed on the recording apparatus. Also, an information processing system employs such recording apparatus to output input information, such as characters, image or so forth on a recording medium.

Abstract: A color ink jet printing apparatus including a single suction mechanism having a capping member designed to cap any one of the printheads of the apparatus and carrying out a suction recovery of that capped printhead. A plurality of additional caps which are not associated with the suction mechanism are provided for capping the printhead. Various printing moving schemes are devised to provide quick and efficient positioning of selected printheads opposing the suction mechanism to speedily service that printhead.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a control unit for controlling the driving of a print head in accordance with a temperature measured by a sensor which is provided on a movable carriage for mounting the print head. The control unit controls a sensor such that the sensor measures the temperature when the carriage is in a position where the heat from motors or the like in the printing apparatus does not affect the sensor on the carriage.