Abstract: The object is to provide a liquid container that can prevent foreign substances from flowing into a liquid ejection apparatus with a simple configuration. The liquid container for containing liquid to be ejected by a liquid ejection apparatus includes: a bag body configured to contain the liquid inside; and a flow path for supplying the liquid contained inside the bag body to the liquid ejection apparatus, wherein, inside a peripheral wall of the flow path, a first capturing unit extending in an anti-gravitational direction and a second capturing unit extending in a gravitational direction are arranged at different positions with respect to a direction in which the liquid flows.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which includes a circulation route configured to supply ink stored in a storage unit to a print head via a supply passage and send back the ink collected from the print head to the storage unit via a collection passage and which performs printing on a print medium by ejecting the ink from the print head includes: a first detection unit which detects an ink concentration in the collection passage; an injection unit which injects a correcting liquid capable of correcting the ink concentration into a circulated ink flow downstream of a position where the first detection unit detects the concentration in the collection passage; and a control unit which obtains an injection amount of the correcting liquid based on the concentration detected by the first detection unit and controls the injection unit such that the correcting liquid is injected in the injection amount.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which includes a circulation route configured to supply ink stored in a storage unit to a print head via a supply passage and send back the ink collected from the print head to the storage unit via a collection passage and which performs printing on a print medium by ejecting the ink from the print head includes: a first detection unit which detects an ink concentration in the collection passage; an injection unit which injects a correcting liquid capable of correcting the ink concentration into a circulated ink flow downstream of a position where the first detection unit detects the concentration in the collection passage; and a control unit which obtains an injection amount of the correcting liquid based on the concentration detected by the first detection unit and controls the injection unit such that the correcting liquid is injected in the injection amount.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus including a liquid discharge head having a substrate, plural pressure chambers two-dimensionally provided on one surface of the substrate, a discharge port, a pressure generating unit to discharge liquid through the discharge port and a flow path connected to the pressure chamber which are provided correspondingly to each pressure chamber, a common liquid chamber provided on the other surface of the substrate, and plural supply paths provided between adjacent pressure chambers and connected to the common liquid chamber; a moving unit to relatively move the liquid discharge head and a recording object; and a driving unit to drive the pressure generating unit. Flow paths respectively corresponding to the pressure chambers adjacent to the supply paths are connected to the supply paths. The driving unit outputs drive signals to the pressure generating units respectively corresponding to the pressure chambers connected to the supply paths at different timings.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head including plural liquid discharge portions each including a discharge port for discharging liquid, plural discharge ports forming a discharge port array; a common liquid supply flow path extending adjacent to the discharge port array on one side of the discharge port array; and a common liquid collection flow path extending adjacent to the discharge port array on the other side of the discharge port array. Each liquid discharge portion includes a pressure chamber having the discharge port, and a piezoelectric element facing the discharge port. The pressure chamber includes an inlet and an outlet end portion respectively connected to the common liquid supply and collection flow paths, and has an elongated shape connecting the inlet and outlet end portions. A plurality of inlet and outlet end portions are respectively arranged along the common liquid supply flow path and the common liquid collection flow path.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head includes forming a hole in an SOI substrate including a first silicon layer, a second silicon layer, and a silicon oxide layer interposed between the first and second silicon layers such that the hole extends through the first silicon layer and the silicon oxide layer to the second silicon layer, forming a first protective film on the first silicon layer and an inner wall of the hole, forming a water-repellent film on the first protective film, attaching a support substrate to part of the water-repellent film facing away from the first silicon layer, removing the second silicon layer to remove a bottom of the hole, removing part of the water-repellent film disposed on the inner wall of the hole, and releasing the support substrate from the water-repellent film.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head including plural liquid discharge portions each including a discharge port for discharging liquid, plural discharge ports forming a discharge port array; a common liquid supply flow path extending adjacent to the discharge port array on one side of the discharge port array; and a common liquid collection flow path extending adjacent to the discharge port array on the other side of the discharge port array. Each liquid discharge portion includes a pressure chamber having the discharge port, and a piezoelectric element facing the discharge port. The pressure chamber includes an inlet and an outlet end portion respectively connected to the common liquid supply and collection flow paths, and has an elongated shape connecting the inlet and outlet end portions. A plurality of inlet and outlet end portions are respectively arranged along the common liquid supply flow path and the common liquid collection flow path.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus including a liquid discharge head having a substrate, plural pressure chambers two-dimensionally provided on one surface of the substrate, a discharge port, a pressure generating unit to discharge liquid through the discharge port and a flow path connected to the pressure chamber which are provided correspondingly to each pressure chamber, a common liquid chamber provided on the other surface of the substrate, and plural supply paths provided between adjacent pressure chambers and connected to the common liquid chamber; a moving unit to relatively move the liquid discharge head and a recording object; and a driving unit to drive the pressure generating unit. Flow paths respectively corresponding to the pressure chambers adjacent to the supply paths are connected to the supply paths. The driving unit outputs drive signals to the pressure generating units respectively corresponding to the pressure chambers connected to the supply paths at different timings.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head includes forming a hole in an SOI substrate including a first silicon layer, a second silicon layer, and a silicon oxide layer interposed between the first and second silicon layers such that the hole extends through the first silicon layer and the silicon oxide layer to the second silicon layer, forming a first protective film on the first silicon layer and an inner wall of the hole, forming a water-repellent film on the first protective film, attaching a support substrate to part of the water-repellent film facing away from the first silicon layer, removing the second silicon layer to remove a bottom of the hole, removing part of the water-repellent film disposed on the inner wall of the hole, and releasing the support substrate from the water-repellent film.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ejection orifice member includes: preparing a substrate including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the first layer protruding in a first direction crossing a principal surface of the substrate, the second and third layers being formed on the first direction side of the first layer, the preparing a substrate including forming the second layer to follow a contour of a first direction side surface of the first layer, and then forming the third layer on a surface of the second layer which protrudes on the first direction side; performing plating using the second layer as a seed to form a fourth layer on the first direction side of the second layer; removing the third layer from the fourth layer to form a hole as the ejection orifice in the fourth layer; and thinning the fourth layer at least around the hole.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ejection orifice member includes: preparing a substrate including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the first layer protruding in a first direction crossing a principal surface of the substrate, the second and third layers being formed on the first direction side of the first layer, the preparing a substrate including forming the second layer to follow a contour of a first direction side surface of the first layer, and then forming the third layer on a surface of the second layer which protrudes on the first direction side; performing plating using the second layer as a seed to form a fourth layer on the first direction side of the second layer; removing the third layer from the fourth layer to form a hole as the ejection orifice in the fourth layer; and thinning the fourth layer at least around the hole.

Abstract: In a coating method for forming a film of a coating material on a substrate by supplying the coating material from a coating unit to the substrate held by a stage while the coating unit is moved relative to the stage, the stage includes a substrate-holding section and a peripheral section which has a surface higher than that of the substrate-holding section. The coating method includes the steps of mounting the substrate on the substrate-holding section of the stage; forming the film of the coating material so that the coating covers the substrate and extends to the peripheral section; and removing the coating material remaining in the peripheral section by a coating material removing unit after the substrate provided with the film is dismounted from the stage.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is formed by a pair of substrates each having thereon electrodes, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to be movable along surfaces of the substrates. The liquid crystal is disposed over regions extending between the surfaces of the substrates including an effective optical modulation region, a first peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region and a second peripheral region formed along a part or an entirety of outer periphery of the first peripheral region. The liquid crystal is disposed to have a higher liquid crystal molecular pretilt angle in the first peripheral region than in the effective optical modulation region. The liquid crystal is disposed in a random alignment state free from uniaxial alignment characteristic or in a layer structure in the second peripheral region.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is formed by a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. At least one substrate has thereon a laminar structure including an electrode, an electrical property control layer and an alignment control layer contacting the liquid crystal disposed in this order on the substrate. The alignment control layer has a thickness of at most 100 .ANG., has been subjected to a uniaxial aligning treatment and has a volume resistivity larger than that of the electrical property control layer. The liquid crystal device thus constituted may exhibit a reduced influence of reverse electric field and a suppressed switching asymmetry over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal assuming two stable states disposed between the opposing electrodes. The opposing inner surfaces of the pair of substrates have been subjected to an aligning treatment such that the liquid crystal placed in one of the two stable states moves under application of an electric field in a direction identical to one in which the liquid crystal placed in the other of the two stable states moves under the application of the electric field. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region, wherein the effective optical modulation region and the photosensitive member have been subjected to different aligning treatments.

Abstract: A rubbing treating apparatus, comprising: a stage for mounting thereon an electrode substrate provided with an alignment control film, a rubbing cloth for effecting rubbing treatment by rubbing it against the alignment control film, a rubbing mask mounted on the stage so as to cover at least a part of the electrode substrate, and a holding means for causing at least the rubbing mask to closely contact the stage, wherein the rubbing mask is caused to closely contact the stage at the time of rubbing treatment. The rubbing mask is effective in imparting an alignment control power to the surface of the alignment control film, effecting uniform rubbing treatment with respect to a desired region and preventing an occurrence of alignment defects and a deterioration of the rubbing cloth.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device of a cell structure having a suppressed increase of cell thickness along a cell side is constituted by disposing a ferroelectric liquid crystal between a pair of electrode plates each sequentially provided with an electrode, an insulating film and an alignment film on a substrate. The alignment film is provided with a surface unevenness for suppressing a liquid crystal movement causing the increase in cell thickness. The surface unevenness is provided to the alignment film directly or to the insulating film below the alignment film, e.g., by wet forming the relevant film by using at least two solvents having different boiling points or dispersing fine particles within the relevant film, optionally followed by removal of the fine particles.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the opposing electrodes. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region. In the device, liquid crystal molecules in the peripheral region have a pretilt angle which is larger than a pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules in the effective optical modulation region. As a result, a local pressure irregularity or a cell thickness change caused by a liquid crystal molecular movement along an extension of the device is effectively suppressed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal assuming two stable states disposed between the opposing electrodes. The opposing inner surfaces of the pair of substrates have been subjected to an aligning treatment such that the liquid crystal placed in one of the two stable states moves under application of an electric field in a direction identical to one in which the liquid crystal placed in the other of the two stable states moves under the application of the electric field. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region, wherein the effective optical modulation region and the photosensitive member have been subjected to different aligning treatments.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed substrates having opposing inner surfaces and opposing electrodes thereon, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal disposed between the opposing electrodes. The liquid crystal device has an effective optical modulation region and a peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region. In the device, liquid crystal molecules in the peripheral region have a pretilt angle which is larger than a pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules in the effective optical modulation region. As a result, a local pressure irregularity or a cell thickness change caused by a liquid crystal molecular movement along an extension of the device is effectively suppressed.