Abstract: An ink jet printer including a housing; a carriage which is movable in the housing relative thereto; an ink jet recording head which is mounted on the carriage and which has a plurality of ink supply channels; a damping device which is mounted on the carriage and which includes a plurality of damping chambers corresponding to the ink supply channels, respectively; an ink-tank supporting portion which is provided in the housing and which supports a plurality of ink tanks: and a plurality of ink supply tubes each of which supplies an ink from a corresponding one of the ink tanks to a corresponding one of the ink supply channels of the ink jet recording head via a corresponding one of the ink supply tubes and a corresponding one of the damping chambers. The damping device further includes a primary partition wall which separates at least one first damping chamber of the damping chambers, from at least one second damping chamber of the damping chambers.

Abstract: A joint structure including a first member and a second member which are jointed to each other to define a flow passage in which a fluid flows. One of the first and second members includes a weldable portion which projects toward an opposed surface of the other of the first and second members in a first direction and whose end portion is fused and welded to the opposed surface, so as to joint the first and second members to each other at a first position in the first direction. One of the first and second members includes a first projecting portion which is provided between the weldable portion and the flow passage in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and projects toward the other of the first and second members such that a free end of the first projecting portion is located at a second position different from the first position in the first direction, while the first projecting portion cooperates with the weldable portion to define a first space therebetween in the second direction.

Abstract: An ink-package assembly including an ink package fluid-tightly containing a mass of an ink, and a sealing wrapper fluid-tightly enclosing the ink package, wherein an interior space of the sealing wrapper is charged with an inert gas such as a helium gas, which has a lower degree of solubility in the ink, than the air. The interior space of the sealing wrapper is evacuated to a reduced pressure of −20 kPa and −60 kPa with respect to the atmospheric pressure, as needed. The ink package includes an ink bag and is provided with a spout having a passage, and a cap for closing the passage. Where the sealing wrapper is evacuated, the ink package preferably further includes an ink-bag casing accommodating the ink bag, and a reinforcing structure interposed between the casing and the ink bag, to prevent deformation of the ink bag. Also disclosed is a method of producing the ink-package assembly.

Abstract: There is provided a method of polishing a glass substrate for information recording media which enables polishing to be carried out such that the product quality is improved, without the productivity dropping, and without the processing cost increasing. A precision polishing step has a first polishing step and a second polishing step carried out in this order, in which, after carrying out rough polishing on major surfaces of a glass substrate, precision polishing is carried out on the major surfaces by feeding abrasive grains onto the major surfaces, pushing polishing members against the major surfaces, and rotating the major surfaces and the polishing members relative to one another. At least one of the first polishing step and the second polishing step has a preceding polishing step and a succeeding polishing step carried out in this order.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device providing a stable fluid coupling from an ink accumulation tank to a head unit. A joint portion is provided at which a plurality of primary side ink paths and a plurality of secondary side ink paths are coupled together at one to one correspondence. The joint portion includes a main frame fixed to the head unit. Primary side first and second connecting portions those connected to the primary side ink paths are provided integrally with the main frame. Secondary side first and second connecting portions those connected to the secondary side ink paths are joined to the primary side first and second connecting portions, respectively by ultrasonic melt-bonding. The secondary side first and second connecting portions are separated from each other.

Abstract: In a purge apparatus for use with a color ink jet printer, a suction member that sucks a nozzle surface of an ink jet head is integral with a suction cap and a cap holder that receives the suction cap therein. A suction adapter to which a suction tube is connected is integral with the cap holder. An air-communicating adapter to which an air-communicating tube is connected is formed separately from the cap holder. The air-communicating adapter is loosely supported in the cap holder.

Abstract: A color ink jet printer 21 includes a carriage 26 and a head unit 25 supported to the carriage 26. The head unit 25 includes an ink jet head 24 and a base plate 46. The ink jet head 24 includes an actuator having channel members 72 and a center plate 73 interposed between the channel members 72, and the ink jet head 24 also includes manifolds 71. The center plate 73 has a height greater than that of the channel members 72 so as to protrude upward from the channel members 72. Thus protruding portion is directly attached to the base plate 46. Accordingly, the actuator 70 is reliably supported by the base plate 46, thereby preventing positional deviation of nozzles 75 formed to the actuator 70.

Abstract: There is provided a method of polishing a glass substrate for information recording media which enables polishing to be carried out such that the product quality is improved, without the productivity dropping, and without the processing cost increasing. A precision polishing step has a first polishing step and a second polishing step carried out in this order, in which, after carrying out rough polishing on major surfaces of a glass substrate, precision polishing is carried out on the major surfaces by feeding abrasive grains onto the major surfaces, pushing polishing members against the major surfaces, and rotating the major surfaces and the polishing members relative to one another. At least one of the first polishing step and the second polishing step has a preceding polishing step and a succeeding polishing step carried out in this order.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device providing a stable fluid coupling from an ink accumulation tank to a head unit. A joint portion is provided at which a plurality of primary side ink paths and a plurality of secondary side ink paths are coupled together at one to one correspondence. The joint portion includes a main frame fixed to the head unit. Primary side first and second connecting portions those connected to the primary side ink paths are provided integrally with the main frame. Secondary side first and second connecting portions those connected to the secondary side ink paths are joined to the primary side first and second connecting portions, respectively by ultrasonic melt-bonding. The secondary side first and second connecting portions are separated from each other.

Abstract: In a purge apparatus for use with a color ink jet printer, a suction member that sucks a nozzle surface of an ink jet head is integral with a suction cap and a cap holder that receives the suction cap therein. A suction adapter to which a suction tube is connected is integral with the cap holder. An air-communicating adapter to which an air-communicating tube is connected is formed separately from the cap holder. The air-communicating adapter is loosely supported in the cap holder.

Abstract: A color ink jet printer 21 includes a carriage 26 and a head unit 25 supported to the carriage 26. The head unit 25 includes an ink jet head 24 and a base plate 46. The ink jet head 24 includes an actuator having channel members 72 and a center plate 73 interposed between the channel members 72, and the ink jet head 24 also includes manifolds 71. The center plate 73 has a height grater than that of the channel members 72 so as to protrude upward from the channel members 72. Thus protruding portion is directly attached to the base plate 46. Accordingly, the actuator 70 is reliably supported by the base plate 46, thereby preventing positional deviation of nozzles 75 formed to the actuator 70.