Abstract: A folding indoor/outdoor chair that folds in multiple directions includes a seat and backrest assembly supported by a collapsible or foldable chair support assembly. The seat portion of the seat and backrest assembly includes pivot hinges that allow the seat portion to fold in a first direction. The seat and backrest members are comprised of a flexible material or fabric that easily folds in multiple directions when the chair support assembly and seat member are folded along their pivot axes. The resulting chair folds in a compact space while providing increased support and stability to the user.

Abstract: The floppy desk is designed to interface with a modern personal computer system. It is anthropometrically sized for the average of the 95th percentile of males and females. The floppy desk consists of an upper assembly and a support base. The upper assembly is composed of a tubular frame, a seat, an adjustable back and head rest, a foot platform, a computer support and a single plane work surface for monitor, keyboard and mouse. The support base is composed of a welded tubular frame with integral brackets for the upper assembly pivot and the shock absorber. The most important feature of the floppy desk is that the entire upper assembly reclines relative to the support base and maintains the operator's relative position to the monitor, keyboard, and computer. Reclining is achieved by the offset weight of the operator as he or she takes the seated position. Afterwards, as the operator vacates the seat, the unbalanced computer component weights cause the upper assembly to return to its horizontal position.

Abstract: A lumbar support employing a supporting member having a plurality of elastic support wings interposed between upper and lower car seat frames wherein the plurality of support wings are folded at both side end parts. A support plate having a center portion which is curved and protrudes substantially outward from the center and includes locking grooves formed at both upper and lower ends. Preferably, a support height control member is operably disposed at one side of the support plate for controlling the height of the protruded center portion of the support plate. A lumbar support locking apparatus is also provided which includes members for fixing the respective upper and lower locking grooves of the support plate in relative engagement with the locking grooves of the locking member. The lumbar support locking apparatus also includes a pair of front fixing pieces formed on opposing sides which are adapted to be inserted into engagement with the seat frames.

Abstract: A manual uplift apparatus comprising a structural frame unit, a mechanical uplift assembly unit, and a power translating mechanism connecting the two units to allow the user to more easily obtain a standing position from a previously seated position. A second use for the apparatus may be as an exercise product for exercising upper body muscle groups. The structural frame unit is used to support and guide the mechanical uplift assembly unit. The mechanical uplift assembly unit has two sections that can independently move vertically with respect to the structural frame unit. One section has a seat, the other has rails or hand engagement handles. When downward force is applied to the hand engagement handles, the section having the handles move vertically downward and produces an upward force in the section having the seat through the power translating mechanism.

Abstract: A head and neck support for engaging a leg of a seated person or the arm of a chair and comfortably supporting the head and neck of the person at a selected angle and height above his or her lap. In a preferred embodiment the head and neck support includes a head support tray which typically supports a pillow, upon which the head of the sitting person rests. The head support tray is pivotally and adjustably mounted on a cylindrical compression shaft fitting which adjustably receives the upper end of an extension shaft or a support shaft attached to the extension shaft and terminated on the bottom end by a curved support arm which typically engages the leg of the person. A compression sleeve is provided on the extension or support shaft for threadibly engaging and compressing the compression shaft fitting against the extension shaft or the support shaft after a selected length of the extension shaft or the support shaft is extended from the compression shaft fitting.

Abstract: A headrest for motor-vehicle seats comprising a yielding body connected to a pair of supports, to be fixed to the backrest of a motor-vehicle seat, through an articulated parallelogram system formed by two pairs of swinging arms by means of which the yielding body can be displaced between a lowered position and a raised position. To hold the yielding body in the raised position or, respectively, in the lowered position a locking system is provided which, in the raised position of the yielding body, applies a retaining force appreciably higher than in the lowered position of the yielding body and can be released by a push-button arranged on one side of the yielding body.

Abstract: A chair includes a seat plate disposed on a base, four panels secured to the bottom of the seat plate and secured to the base for securing the seat plate on the base. The base includes a pair of bars having a middle portion secured together to form a cross-shape. Four fasteners are engaged through the bars and engaged with the panels for securing the seat plate on the base. The middle portions of the bars each has a flat recess engaged with each other for maintaining the bars at the cross-shape. Four pads are engaged on the bars and engaged between the bars and the panels.

Abstract: A mining machine (20) for combined entry and retreat cutting of material located in underground seams including, a movable mainframe (21), a wing (50, 51) extending ahead of the movable mainframe, a cutter assembly (100) positionable proximate the end of the wing for entry cutting a hole in the material when the wing is aligned with the direction of movement of the mainframe, a pivotal connection (130) between the mainframe and the wing for orienting the wing at an angle to the direction of the movement of the mainframe, and a carriage mechanism (80) for moving the cutter assembly along the wing for cutting of the material in proximity to the wing during retreat cutting of the material.

Abstract: A cutting tooth is fitted in a cutting-tooth holder of an earthworking appliance which has at least one cutter. The cutter is mounted ahead of a cutter-support region, as seen in the cutting direction, and has at least one cutting edge. The size of the cross-sectional areas of the cutter-support region which lie perpendicular to the cutting advance direction and intersect the cutting edge remains approximately constant in the area which is delimited by in each case two such cross-sectional areas.

Abstract: A rotatable tool for breaking hard material includes an elongated tool body and a cutting cap mounted on the tool body. The cutting cap includes a generally conical front tip having a maximum first diameter (d), and a rear base portion having an outer peripheral surface defining a maximum second diameter (D). An intermediate portion extends from the tip to the base, and at least a part of the intermediate portion has a concave outer peripheral surface. A longitudinal extent (H) of the cap extends from a front end of the tip to a rear end of the outer peripheral surface of the base. A ratio of d to D is equal to or greater than 0.7. A ratio of H to D is equal to or greater than 1.0.

Abstract: A mop head for cleaning floors and the like includes a pair of fabric covering elements enclosing the strands of a looped-end wet mop. The fabric covering elements are of a generally trapezoidal shape with a narrow end at the top and a wider end at the bottom. The narrow end is open for insertion of the strands,. while the wider end may be open or closed. The fabric covering elements enclose each end of the strands. A headband is attached to the central portion of the mop head around the open ends of the fabric covering elements enclosing the strands. Alternatively, the mop head may be made solely of two fabric mopping elements secured to and extending from each end of a headband, or two fabric pouches having absorbent filler material inserted therein and attached to a central headband to form a fabric wet mop.

Abstract: An improved vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing the same includes a wheel disc and a wheel cover secured thereto. The wheel disc defines an outboard facing wheel surface and includes an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange. The outboard bead seat retaining flange includes an outer peripheral end and an inner surface having at least one annular groove formed therein. The wheel cover covers at least a portion of the outboard facing wheel surface and the entire portion of the outer peripheral end of the outboard bead seat retaining flange, and includes an outer end. The wheel cover is secured to the wheel disc by an adhesive/sealant. In particular, the adhesive/sealant is disposed in the annular groove to secure the outer end of the wheel cover to the outer peripheral end of the wheel disc and to provide a seal to prevent water, mud, salt and other debris from entering between the outer end of the wheel cover and the outer peripheral end of the wheel disc.

Abstract: A pneumatically-operated braking system for a tractor-trailer combination incorporates a trailer control valve (4) for providing braking pressure for the trailer. The control valve (4) is adapted to be actuated by a pressure differential acting across it to limit the flow of air in the supply line (2) when a leak is present in the trailer control line (12), and the pressure differential is generated between the pressure in the supply line (2) and pressure supply from another independent source (1).

Abstract: In a rotary pump, an outer rotor and an inner rotor are assembled in a casing such that, when a clearance between an inner teeth portion of the outer rotor and an outer teeth portion of the inner rotor is substantially nullified at a first closed gap portion having a maximum volume formed between the inner teeth portion and the outer teeth portion, a clearance between the outer rotor and the casing on a side of the first closed gap portion and a clearance between the outer rotor and the casing on a side of a second closed gap portion having a minimum volume, become substantially an equivalent interval. As a result, the outer rotor and the casing can be brought into contact with each other on the side of the second closed gap portion rather than the central axis of the inner rotor. Even in a high pressure discharge operation, the outer rotor is not locked by being squeezed between the inner rotor and the casing.

Abstract: A motor, installed on a first surface of a housing, has a drive shaft normal to the first surface. Two pumps are installed in the housing and driven by the motor for introducing and discharging operation fluid. Two reservoirs are provided in the housing for storing the operation fluid released from a wheel cylinder and supplied to the pump. Each reservoir has an opening at a second surface of the housing and an axis normal to the second surface. Two dampers are provided in the housing for suppressing pulsation flow of the operation fluid discharged from the pump. Each damper has an opening at a third surface of the housing and an axis normal to the third surface. The third surface faces to the second surface so that the drive shaft of the motor is interposed between the second surface and the third surface.

Abstract: The invention discloses an automatic brake system for motor vehicles which serves to shorten the stopping distance by means of propulsion motor vehicle control signals while simultaneously lowering the required costs. According to the invention, means are provided which ensure pre-filling of the wheel brakes when a control signal which represents the motion of the gas pedal when the actuating force is discontinued is received by the brake system control unit.

Abstract: An electrically operated braking system of a motor vehicle, including a brake having a friction member movable to be forced onto a rotor rotating with a vehicle wheel and thereby braking the wheel. The friction member is forced onto the rotor by an electric motor operated by an electric power supplied from an electric power source. A controller determines an amount of the electric power to be supplied to the motor, depending upon an operating amount of the brake operating member, and a relationship estimated by a relationship estimating and utilizing device. The relationship estimating and utilizing device obtains an actual value of the electric power supplied to the motor during operation of the brake while the vehicle is running, and an actual value of a braking torque applied from the brake to the wheel during the brake operation, and estimate a relationship between the electric power to be supplied to the wheel on the basis of the actual values obtained.

Abstract: In a travelling crawler belt in which a pair of left and right links are connected by pins respectively press-fitted into the corresponding links, a fixing end surface of the pin or the links is continuously and locally pressed and deformed in an axial direction of the pin from the fixing end surface, along an inner or outer peripheral portion of an opening of a pin-press-fit hole. Then, a part of the opening peripheral portion of the end of the pin or the link is enlarged or reduced in diameter, so that the diametrically increased or reduced portion is retained and fixed to a mating retaining space. With this fixing method, it is possible to easily and strongly couple the links and the pin, and to obtain a fixing structure of the links and the pin for a crawler belt capable of sufficiently securing a holding force of the pin in the axial direction.

Abstract: A case for electronic equipment including a main frame having an upper wall and a lower wall, an upper fit plate slidably mounted on the upper wall, and a lower fit plate slidably mounted on the lower wall. The upper wall is formed with a plurality of equally spaced ridges, and the upper fit plate is formed with a plurality of equally spaced ridges arranged with the same pitch as that of the ridges of the upper wall. Similarly, the lower wall is formed with a plurality of equally spaced ridges, and the lower fit plate is formed with a plurality of equally spaced ridges arranged with the same pitch as that of the ridges of the lower wall. The case further includes a first fit lever pivotably mounted to the main frame so as to be operatively connected to the upper fit plate, and a second fit lever pivotably mounted to the main frame so as to be operatively connected to the lower fit plate. The first fit lever and the second fit lever are pivotably and slidably connected with each other.

Abstract: A foot door opener attachment for a refrigerator for easily and conveniently opening the door of a refrigerator with little effort. The foot door opener attachment for a refrigerator includes a mounting bracket being adapted to securely attach to a side wall of the refrigerator near where the door to the refrigerator can be opened; and also includes a spring-loaded lever being pivotally mounted at a central portion thereof to the mounting bracket and having a second end, a first end, and a spring member being securely attached to the mounting bracket and to the first end to bias the first end of the spring-loaded lever out of contact with the door of the refrigerator; and further includes a foot support member being securely mounted to the second end of the spring-loaded lever; and also includes a door opening member securely attached to the first end of the spring-loaded lever.

Abstract: The invention provides an exemplary label printer and methods for printing labels on optical media. According to one exemplary method, an optical medium is inserted into a printing device having a mechanism for rotating the optical medium. The optical medium is rotated with a rotation mechanism. Further, a print head is moved over the optical medium and ink is ejected onto the medium while the medium is rotating to create a label on the medium.

Abstract: A printer unit having a pagewidth full color ink jet printhead; a detachable print roll cartridge including ink and paper, wherein the printer unit is formed within the disk drive bay of a personal computer type system. The printer unit includes a rotatable mount enabling the printed paper to be ejected from the front of the disk drive bay in an operational position, and the cartridge to be loaded longitudinally from the front when the printer is rotated through 90° to a loading position.

Abstract: A method of instantly measuring the amount of ink discharged from a nozzle of an ink-jet type printhead in a single discharging operation comprises: a density measuring step of measuring the density of an ink dot formed by ink discharged from the printhead onto a glass plate 10, and a determining step of determining the amount of the discharged ink on the basis of the density of the ink dot measured in the measuring step.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing device, at least two kinds of drive waveforms are selectively fed to each of plezoelectric elements for controlling an injection amount of ink to be jetted toward a print medium via a corresponding nozzle. One of the drive waveforms is in the form of a cardiac waveform which has two voltage changing points in one drive period thereof. At the voltage changing point, a sign of slope of voltage variation is inverted. In the cardiac waveform, a voltage at one of the voltage changing points is set lower than a standby voltage, while a voltage at the other voltage changing point is set higher than the standby voltage.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer provided with a printing head having an ink chamber, a piezoelectric element and a nozzle tip; the printer is further provided with a drive signal generating circuit for generating drive signals corresponding to image information, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the printing head; and a heating signal generating circuit for generating a heating signal on the basis of the temperature of the printing head measured by the temperature sensor. The piezoelectric element vibrates in response to the heating signal and generates heat so that the ink in the ink chamber is heated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an inkjet printer (11) in which printing can be conducted with a normal ink and a light ink each having a plurality of ink droplet sizes to generate high quality pictures. When the number of the sizes is three, the 7 level gray scale printing can be performed because the three different densities for the respective two links and another density in which no dot is printed are utilized. Further disclosed is a printing method employing the inkjet printer (11).

Abstract: A print head recapping mechanism is disclosed for recapping a page width ink jetting print head structure, comprising a first stationary ferrous arm; a solenoid coil wrapped around a portion of the ferrous arm; a second moveable arm located substantially adjacent the first arm and biased towards the print head structure; a series of membranes attached to the second moveable arm the membranes sealing the print head structure when in a rest position; the solenoid being activated to cause the moveable arm to move away from the surface of the print head structure sufficient to allow a “paper or film” to be inserted between the membranes and the print head structure for the printing of ink thereon. Preferably, the membranes are resiliently collapsible against the surface of the print head structure. The membranes can comprise two mutually opposed elastomer strips running substantially the length of the ink jetting portions of the print head structure so as to surround the ink jetting portions.

Abstract: A small footprint device, such as an inkjet printer, having a set of printhead cartridges for applying ink droplets to a medium sheet, the printer including a housing having a pair of side plates. A platen, mounted in the housing between the side plates, helps to define a centrally disposed print zone. Sets of centrally disposed wiper openings, and cap openings, within the platen, help to facilitate, respectively, printhead cartridge wiping services before the medium sheet has passed through the print zone and printhead capping services after the medium sheet has passed through the print zone. A set of rib members extend upwardly from the platen top surface for substantially avoiding residual ink contamination on the underside of the medium sheet as it passes through the print zone.

Abstract: A head position adjustment mechanism includes two plates mounted so as to be displaceable in a scanning direction and in a sheet feed direction. The two plates can be adjusted independently in a scanning direction by angle adjusting levers that pivot the plates about reference pins. At least one plate can be adjusted in the sheet feed direction by a nozzle positioning adjusting lever that actuates a cam positioned to urge the plate in the sheet feed direction while the plate is guided by a reference pin.

Abstract: An incremental printer, such as for example an inker printer, produces very small markings (as for example by firing small ink droplets) preferably in a single-pass print mode for text, as well as image applications if desired, to achieve addressable print resolution at least four times higher in the carriage scan axis than in the media advance axis. More preferably the resolution in the scan axis is at least six times, ideally eight times, higher than that in the media advance axis. A preferred form of the invention uses 96 dots/mm (2400 dpi) resolution in the scan axis, in conjunction with only 12 dots/mm (300 dpi) resolution in the media advance axis, without having to employ any dot-depletion algorithms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for processing color image data for printing on an inkjet printer to reduce intercolor bleeding in an image recorded on a receiving medium. The method receives a target pixel comprising multiple separation pixels, wherein each separation is associated with a separate color plane and has at least three states, a first state corresponding to depositing no ink drops, a second state corresponding to depositing one ink drop, and a third state corresponding to depositing more than one ink drop. The method further includes determining if the target pixel is within a black border region near a black/color interface or within a color border region near a black/color interface.

Abstract: It is first determined whether any printing element of a printhead has failed. If so, functions of the failed element are reassigned to other elements. Some aspects of the invention do this in such a way as to maintain essentially single-pass operation. Ordinarily the reassigned functions are applied to control operation of the head or heads, to print images on a print medium, and functions of the apparatus and method are effected automatically by program instructions—in nonvolatile memory. One approach to the reassignment includes removing from service all printing elements between the failed element and a nearer end of the head, inclusive—and then preferably operating all remaining in-service elements as a shorter printhead. If the printhead operates in conjunction with a print-medium advance mechanism, then also preferably each operation of that mechanism is shortened to correspond to a height of the shorter head.

Abstract: A control method of an ink jet printer having an ink jet head which ejects an ink droplet to record a dot on a recording sheet. When plural colors of ink are overlapped to record a dot, each color ink ejection time length is set shorter as compared with when a single-color dot is recorded. Ink amount in the dot in which the plural colors are overlapped is reduced, and ink blur on the recording sheet is prevented from occurring, so that recorded image quality can be enhanced. Preferably, ejection time width of one dot of ink ejected from the ink jet head is divided into plural pitches, each pitch is associated with an address of a timing data memory, and timing data is prepared by storing data indicating plural ejection time lengths of the ink jet head in the address corresponding to an ejection timing.

Abstract: An ink-jet printed product is formed by printing an image with a plurality of similar color inks having different concentrations and a special ink having a single concentration. In the product, graininess resulting from ink dots is decreased for all hues of the printed image. A decision is made as to whether or not a hue of an image to be printed can be printed with inks without the special ink of a color (for example, special color BL (blue)) having a single concentration. When it is decided that the hue of the image is to be printed with inks without the special color ink, data on ink color BL (blue) is decomposed into data on C (cyan) and data on M (magenta). The hue can be printed without the color BL, thereby significantly decreasing graininess in a portion having this hue.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer head is constructed with first electrodes formed on a silicon substrate on which oxidization is performed, and each having a region contacting ink to generate ink bubbles, and a region coated with insulating layers; second electrodes formed on a layer different from the first electrodes' layer, electrically isolated from the first electrodes by the insulating layers, and contacting the ink, and producing ink bubbles in the ink on receipt of electric energy; bubble chamber barriers for electrically isolating the first electrodes from the second electrodes and for constituting bubble chambers in the ink; a nozzle plate having a plurality of orifices through which the ink is sprayed on a print media; ink chamber barriers formed between the second electrodes and the nozzle plate, and leading the ink into the orifices by a steam pressure generated from the bubble chamber barriers; and ink chambers formed by the ink chamber barriers and the bubble chamber barriers, and each temporarily stori

Abstract: An ink-jet recording head for an ink-jet recording apparatus, includes a plurality of pressure generating chambers, a nozzle plate in which a plurality of nozzle apertures which communicate with the pressure generating chambers are formed, and a protective layer formed in the vicinity of the nozzle apertures, wherein when a cleaning blade for cleaning the nozzle plate of leavings of at least ink, comes in contact with the nozzle apertures when the blade is pressed on the nozzle plate, the blade elastically contacts the protective layer and the nozzle plate without damaging an ink-repellent layer disposed around the nozzle apertures, as the blade is moved in a direction toward an open exhaust port disposed on a side of an end of the nozzle plate, such that the leavings are exhausted through the open exhaust port by movement of the blade.

Abstract: An ink jet nozzle. The ink jet nozzle includes a substrate having an upper surface in which an ink energizing element is attached to the upper surface of the substrate. The ink jet nozzle further includes an oxide-nitride or oxide-carbide composite orifice layer. The oxide-nitride composite orifice layer includes a lower surface conformally connected to the upper surface of the substrate, and an exterior surface facing away from the substrate. The oxide-nitride composite orifice layer defines a firing chamber. The firing chamber opens through a nozzle aperture in the exterior surface, and extends downward with a negative slope through the oxide-nitride orifice layer to expose the ink energizing element.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus has an ink-jet head which includes a main head body including ink chambers formed therein, piezoelectric elements for changing a volume of each of the ink chambers in accordance with application of a driving voltage, and an IC chip including a driving circuit for driving the piezoelectric elements. An anisotropic conductive material having adhesive force is applied to a surface of the IC chip formed with chip electrodes, the material is covered with a surface of the main head body formed with head electrodes, and a pressure is applied in an overlapping direction so that electric continuity is established between the both electrodes. The heat generated in the IC chip can be efficiently radiated through the anisotropic conductive material. The IC chip can be prevented from damage which would be otherwise caused by the heat. In place of the anisotropic conductive material, a potting material can be used in combination with a conductive adhesive or solder.

Abstract: The method for printing is carried out by creating pressure pulses at individual points of an ink layer which has been applied onto the surface of a continuous smooth plate, focusing a light beam of a laser on those points from the side of the opposite surface of the plate. Pressure pulses are developed due to the light hydraulic effect at the border of the surface of a plate, made of transparent material, and a layer of ink applied thereon, or due to the conversion of light radiation into acoustic when the light beam of the laser is absorbed by material which is not transparent for its wavelength. The printer has a device for deflecting the light beam over the surface of the plate to excite pressure pulses in the ink layer at points predetermined by a program.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes: a toner support for supporting the toner; an opposing electrode opposed to the toner support; a high-voltage power source for supplying a high voltage to produce a potential difference between the toner support and the opposing electrode; a control electrode having an insulative substrate disposed between the developer support and the opposing electrode, a plurality of gates formed in the insulative substrate for forming the passage of the developer, and electrode groups provided around a multiple number of the gates; and a control device for selectively applying multiple potential states to each electrode in the control electrode, wherein the control device controls the passage of the developer through the gates by applying the predetermined voltage to electrode groups so as to form an image on the surface of the paper which is being conveyed over the opposing electrode.

Abstract: A tandem type direct printing apparatus 2 comprising a plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d for depositing printing particles 38 on a print medium 8. The plurality of printing stations 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are positioned in a moving direction of the print medium 8. Each printing station 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d comprises a bearing member 30 for bearing charged printing particles 38 thereon, a backing electrode 44 opposed to the bearing member 38, a printing head 50 disposed between the bearing member 30 and the backing electrode 44, the printing head 50 having a plurality of apertures 56 through which the printing particles 38 can propel and a plurality of electrodes 68 disposed around the plurality of apertures 56.

Abstract: A micro-injecting device and a method for manufacturing the device are disclosed in which a main operational part of a membrane is structured to have two regions: an impact film region having high expansion and contraction delivery characteristics, for example, a nickel film region, and an organic film region having high expansion and contraction, for example, a polyimide film region. Each of the two regions serves as an impact delivery medium for efficiently pushing ink upward, a prompt initialization medium, and a hinge for dispersing and eliminating a stress, to thereby prevent deformation, for example, wrinkling, of the a membrane. In addition, a membrane having such enhanced main operation part can endure stress and react well during operation. As a result, significantly enhanced injecting performance can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-injecting device for supplying working fluid for heating chambers. According to an embodiment of the present invention, two main channels for supplying the working fluid for the heating chamber are formed in the micro-injecting device. Even if one of the main channels is prevented by means of dust or particle, or due to a defect of etching, it can be possible to supply the working fluid for the heating chambers as supply of the working fluid can be accomplished through the other channel communicated with one of channels. In the embodiment of the present invention, furthermore, in order to increase flow resistance of the working fluid, a feeder channel for supplying the working fluid for the heating chambers can be formed in a curved shape or a plurality of projections can be formed on the outer walls of heating chamber barrier layers defining the auxiliary channel for supplying the working fluid for the heating chambers.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head capable of ejecting liquids in different conditions includes an ejection outlet for ejecting a liquid; a liquid flow path for supplying the liquid to the ejection outlet, the liquid flow path having bubble generation heat elements used to eject the liquid and capable of selectively generating bubbles having different sizes; and a movable mechanism having at least one movable member arranged to face a bubble generation region formed in the liquid flow path by the bubble generation heat elements. The movable member has a free end on a downstream side with respect to a direction of the ejection outlet and a supporting member on an upstream side. The movable member is displaced in a direction to separate from the bubble generation region in accordance with a bubble generated by the bubble generation heat elements.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid discharging method and apparatus in which a bubble is formed and grown in the liquid is communicated with atmosphere at an area of a discharge opening, and in which a movable member having a free end which guides the bubble toward the discharge opening while regulating growth of the bubble.

Abstract: This present invention is embodied in a low-cost printing system including a printhead and an ink composition that provides photographic-quality resolution. The printhead of the present invention includes a high-density array of drop generators that eject ink drops having a low drop weight and that operate at a high frequency. Further, high-resistance firing resistors are used to provide minimum energy dissipation and the firing resistors are preferably thin-film resistors to ensure that a minimal amount of energy is needed to eject ink drops. The stability of the ink drop volume is maintained by including an overdamped structure within the ink drop generators that allow the ink chambers to fill up with ink slowly. The ink composition of the present invention includes an ink additive that prevents decel from occurring during sustained high-frequency printing bursts.

Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus has a concave casing having an opened flat face, and a piezoelectric drive element for at least partly sealing the opened flat face to form a liquid reservoir to store a liquid, such as ink. The reservoir has a liquid injection port for injecting a liquid and a liquid jet port for jetting the stored liquid. The piezoelectric drive element is directly bonded to the open flat face.

Abstract: An ink jet type recording head of a multi-layer structure including a pressure generating unit and a flow path unit. The pressure generating unit is composed of a ceramic vibrating member with piezoelectric transducers on the surface thereof, a ceramic first spacer member with a plurality of through-holes forming pressure chambers, and a lid member having through-holes through which the pressure chambers are communicated with a reservoir, these members being joined by firing in such a manner that a diaphragm is placed on one surface of the first spacer member, and the lid member is sealingly set on the other surface of the spacer member.

Abstract: An ink pen assembly of a continuous ink jet printer includes a printhead nest and an ink pen cartridge removably received within the nest. The cartridge includes a pen body in electrical communication with the printhead nest, and a nozzle body in fluid communication with the printhead nest. A charge electrode charges ink drops breaking off from ink jetted from an outlet of the nozzle body. A deflection electrode deflects the charged ink drops along an axis substantially transverse to a direction of travel of a substrate being printed. An ink block mount includes an ink blocking element for diverting deflected ink drops. An ink block actuator pivots with respect to the pen body to adjust the position of the ink blocking element. The printhead nest defines at least four ink outlets for delivering different colored inks, and at least four ink pen cartridges are removably received by the printhead nest.

Abstract: The ink-jet print head 23 is provided with a sloped surface 18 on the inner side surface between the inflow channel 16 and the ink supply channel 14. The sloped surface 18 gradually increases the cross-sectional area of the ink flow path 45 from the inflow channel 16 toward the ink supply channel 14. Accordingly, as the ink flows along the sloped surface 18 into the ink supply channel 14, the rate of flow of the ink gradually decreases due to the increased cross-sectional area provided by the sloped surface 18. As a result, the liquid ink flows more gently into the ink supply channel 14.