Abstract: A droplet forming apparatus includes a liquid retaining portion that retains cell suspension containing cells; a membrane member, provided with a nozzle, that discharges the cell suspension retained in the liquid retaining portion from the nozzle as a droplet by oscillation; and an open portion that opens the liquid retaining portion to atmosphere.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet forming apparatus comprising: a liquid holding part configured to hold a liquid including precipitating particles; a film member configured to be vibrated so as to eject the liquid held in the liquid holding unit, wherein a nozzle is formed in the film member and the liquid is ejected as a droplet from the nozzle; a vibrating unit configured to vibrate the film member; and a driving unit configured to selectively apply an ejection waveform and a stirring waveform to the vibrating unit, wherein the film member is vibrated to form the droplet in response to applying the ejection waveform and the film member is vibrated without forming the droplet in response to applying the stirring waveform.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet forming apparatus comprising: a liquid holding part configured to hold a liquid including precipitating particles; a film member configured to be vibrated so as to eject the liquid held in the liquid holding unit, wherein a nozzle is formed in the film member and the liquid is ejected as a droplet from the nozzle; a vibrating unit configured to vibrate the film member; and a driving unit configured to selectively apply an ejection waveform and a stirring waveform to the vibrating unit, wherein the film member is vibrated to form the droplet in response to applying the ejection waveform and the film member is vibrated without forming the droplet in response to applying the stirring waveform.

Abstract: A droplet forming apparatus includes a liquid retaining portion that retains cell suspension containing cells; a membrane member, provided with a nozzle, that discharges the cell suspension retained in the liquid retaining portion from the nozzle as a droplet by oscillation; and an open portion that opens the liquid retaining portion to atmosphere.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.

Abstract: A carriage scanning period required for moving from completion position of printing of the preceding line to start position of printing of the next line is compared to a printing medium feeding period required for feeding a printing medium in a predetermined amount after printing in the preceding line. The carriage is temporarily decelerated and stopped after printing of the preceding line and maintained the carriage in stand-by state for a predetermined period so that scanning of carriage to the start position of printing of the next line after printing of the preceding line and feeding the printing medium for a predetermined amount are simultaneously completed when the carriage scanning period is less than the printing medium feeding period. The carriage is accelerated to reach the start position of printing of the next line at a predetermined speed. Thus, respective printing pattern can be printed at the minimum printing period.

Abstract: A host apparatus of an information processing system performs processing related to a printer operation. That is, the operation to be performed by a user is displayed on a display screen of the information processing system so the user performs the operation appropriately and easily. As a result, in the information processing system with an ink jet recording apparatus provided, the operation peculiar to the ink jet recording apparatus can be performed appropriately and easily by a user.

Abstract: A liquid detection method and a liquid discharging device to detect whether or not a liquid can be supplied in a state in which a liquid channel from a tank for accommodating the liquid to each discharging port of a recording head is not disconnected by a bubble. A detection-signal input terminal is provided at a position where it contacts the liquid. A detection terminal is provided at a position where it does not electrically contact the liquid and is isolated from the liquid within the tank via a lower wall of the tank, made of an insulating plastic material, and the air. An electrical signal is input from a recording apparatus to the detection-signal input terminal via a connection terminal. The input electrical signal is transmitted through the ink within the recording head, the liquid channel within a joint, and the liquid within the tank.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprising recovery means for maintaining and recovering the performance of discharge from a plurality of discharge ports for discharging a plurality of different inks for the recording, and control means for controlling such that the content of recovery by said recovery means for the discharge ports for discharging the ink not used for the subsequent recording, and the content of recovery by said recovery means for the discharge ports for discharging the ink used for the subsequent recording may be different.

Abstract: An ink jet recording system includes a recovery device for maintaining and recovering performance of discharge from a plurality of discharge ports for discharging a plurality of different inks for recording, and a control device for controlling the apparatus such that a content of recovery by the recovery device for discharge ports not used for recording and a content of recovery by the recording device for discharge ports used for recording is different. The control device also controls the apparatus such that a content of recovery for a discharge port used for recording is based on whether a predetermined lapse time has passed since a previous recovery of the discharge port used for recording.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a distance adjust mechanism for adjusting in two steps a distance between a liquid nozzle-formed face of a print unit and the recording surface, and a unit having first and second cleaning members with different free end positions, lengths and/or thicknesses are arranged movable relative to the face and adapted to wipe a substance adhering to the face off of the face with a predetermined engagement condition. The substance is wiped off of the face by the first and second cleaning members having different engagement conditions when the face is a first distance from a recording surface, and is wiped off with the engagement condition of a wipe portion of the first cleaning member virtually equal to the engagement condition of a wipe portion of the second cleaning member associated with the first distance when the face is a second distance from the medium.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence or absence of a liquid, which is installed on an ink-jet recording apparatus, is configured to determine the presence or absence of ink in the ink flow path by detecting the reflection of light from a light transmission portion by irradiating light thereon. The light transmission portion is formed on at least a part of the ink path wall that forms the ink flow path for supplying ink to the recording head. As a result, it becomes possible for responding to consumer demands of designing a smaller version of the ink tank, a cost effective production thereof, and the like in addition to provide images with excellent image qualities.

Abstract: A print timing signal is generated which has 1/n the previous cycle of the encoder output. The print processing based on this print timing signal allows the actual print processing to extend into the next encoder cycle when the encoder cycle varies due to carriage speed variations and other causes, and corrects the print start trigger of the next cycle and the print timing cycle on the basis of a time difference by which the actual print processing extends into the next encoder cycle. When performing printing with high resolution in particular, this printing apparatus generates precise print timings, thereby improving the print position accuracy of the print head and performing high quality printing.

Abstract: A carriage mechanism for carrying a recording head includes a carriage for carrying the recording head; a flexible cable for supplying a recording signal to the recording head; a head contact for establishing electric connection between the recording head and the carriage; a flexible cable pad on the flexible cable for contact with the head contact; and a common positioning portion engageable with the recording head, the flexible cable, the head contact and the flexible cable pad to simultaneously positioning them.

Abstract: A carriage mechanism for carrying a recording head includes a carriage for carrying the recording head; a flexible cable for supplying a recording signal to the recording head; a head contact for establishing electric connection between the recording head and the carriage; a flexible cable pad on the flexible cable for contact with the head contact; and a common positioning portion engageable with the recording head, the flexible cable, the head contact and the flexible cable pad to simultaneously positioning them.

Abstract: A liquid detection method and a liquid discharging device can exactly detect whether or not a liquid can be supplied in a state in which a liquid channel from a tank for accommodating the liquid to each discharging port of a recording head is not disconnected by a bubble. A detection-signal input terminal is provided at a position where it contacts the liquid. A detection terminal is provided at a position where it does not electrically contact the liquid and is isolated from the liquid within the tank via a lower wall of the tank, made of an insulating plastic material, and the air. An electrical signal is input from a recording apparatus to the detection-signal input terminal via a connection terminal. The input electrical signal is transmitted through the ink within the recording head, the liquid channel within a joint, and the liquid within the tank.