Abstract: A support device is provided for leaning against by a generally upright person. The support device includes a seat portion having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge extending between the top and bottom surfaces. A plurality of legs each has a first end and a second end. Each of the first ends is pivotally attached to the bottom surface of the seat portion. Each of the legs is located generally adjacent to the peripheral edge. The legs are spaced from each other. The legs are each telescoping and selectively extendable between extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: A head restraint pivot latch for a seat assembly allowing pivotal adjustment of a head restraint relative to a seat back. A base member is pivotally assembled to the seat back allowing movement of the head restraint between a use position and a folded position. A first bracket having an index slot is fixedly assembled to the base member. A second bracket having a locking slot defining the use position extends between a proximal end pivotally assembled to the base member and a distal end fixedly secured to the seat back. A button having a tang and a tang slot is movable between the use position, with the tang extending through both the index slot of the first bracket and the locking slot of the second bracket, and a released position with the second bracket slidably engaged within the tang slot, allowing pivotal movement of the head restraint between the two positions.

Abstract: A height and pivot-adjustable office chair arm assembly with an arm rest that can be raised to different vertical positions by actuation of a gas cylinder and having a shroud surrounding and vertically movable with respect to at least a portion of an arm support that is hollow and surrounds the gas cylinder such that the shroud is vertically movable in relation to at least a portion of the arm support. The shroud is connected to the gas cylinder at an upper end for vertical movement by the gas cylinder. An arm rest pivot support is attached only to the shroud and receives the arm rest assembly and enables the arm rest assembly to pivot in a horizontal plane thereby allowing the arm rest assembly to assume any selected rotational position.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to simplify the structure for softening the shock of a rear-end collision. The lower portion of each of its right-side and left-side members 3, which are made of sheet steel, include a plurality of holes 7 and 8 in which fastening bolts 11 and 12 are inserted so as to connect the side members 3 with an external member. The fastening bolt 11 is capable of contacting the hole brim of a hole, and by installing such a fastening bolt 11 in all of the holes, or in all of the holes but one, the shock of a rear-end collision is softened.

Abstract: A ball chair with a securing device has a seat (10), a ball-shaped cushion (20) and a guard rod (30). The ball-shaped cushion (20) rests on the seat (10). The seat (10) has a backrest (13) attached to a rear end of the seat (10), and the guard rod (30) is erected at a front end of the seat (10). Thus, the ball-shaped cushion (20) is firmly secured on the seat (10) to avoid danger of a user falling when sitting on the ball chair.

Abstract: A seat structure having an elastomeric fabric connected to spaced apart support members which are pivotally secured to a support plate to allow one or both of said spaced apart support members to be pivoted away from the other to provide a desired tension in the elastomeric fabric.

Abstract: A seating structure includes a support assembly for supporting the body of a user. The support assembly includes a frame member defining an opening and having a channel formed around at least a portion of a perimeter of the opening and an expandable carrier member expandable between at least a first and second configuration. The carrier member is inserted into the channel when expanded to the second configuration. A membrane of elastic material covers the central opening. The membrane has an edge, at least a portion of which is attached to the carrier member. The membrane is stretched a desired amount as the carrier member is expanded between the first and second configurations. A method of assembling a seating structure is also provided.

Abstract: A seat having a frame made of a molded article in which the molded article is a shell-structure is described. Preferably the molded article describes a lattice structure in the form of a space frame. The molded article is preferably scaled and contoured providing significant structural integration and torsional strength.

Abstract: A rotary feed mechanism includes a ratcheting mechanism intervening between an operating lever and a brake drum and operable to permit rotation of an input shaft only when the operating lever is angularly moved from the neutral position in any one of the first and second directions, but to lock the input shaft during angular movement of the operating shaft back to the neutral position.

Abstract: A cutting assembly includes a holder and a cutting tool body mounted in a bore of the holder, and a retainer sleeve for retaining the tool body axially within the bore while permitting the tool body to rotate freely about a longitudinal axis thereof. The retainer sleeve includes inwardly bent tongues which engage a groove formed in a shank of the tool body. The retainer sleeve is configured to facilitate the escape of fines from the groove during a cutting operation.

Abstract: In a method of melting together axial ends of bunched fibers of thermoplastic material, the fiber ends are brought into contact with the heated surface of a stamp. The body of the stamp is heated by controlling an electric current passing through it. In one embodiment the stamp is cooled by a flow of compressed air before the stamp is separated from the fiber ends. In another embodiment, the stamp is separated from the melted fiber ends, heated to a higher temperature to vaporize any residual fiber material, and cooled by exposure to compressed air until it has no more than the temperature for melting the fiber material.

Abstract: A steel wheel with a retaining base. The steel wheel includes a bearing, a turning disc, an axle disposed on the turning disc and pivotally coupled to the bearing on the retaining base. A wing plate is defined on the turning disc so that the wing plate rotates independently from the wheel cover when the vehicle is moving.

Abstract: A wheel cover. The wheel cover includes engraved holes with special shapes on a circular disc of the wheel cover, latch members on the backside of the wheel cover, and the latch members define a diameter of an area on the wheel cover for embedding the steel wheel. A turning disc is disposed on the wheel cover. An axle is disposed on the axle and pivotally coupled to a bearing on the wheel cover. A wing plate is defined on the turning disc, and the wing plate rotates independently from the wheel cover when the vehicle is moving.

Abstract: For a wheel head for wheel guides of vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles, the wheel flange which is held via a supporting bushing is connected releasably to the supporting bushing.

Abstract: An automotive hub assembly, which carries a brake disk, has a hub provided with a spindle which rotates in a housing on a double row antifriction bearing having its raceways oriented obliquely to the axis of rotation so that the bearing accommodates both radial and axial loads. The bearing is set to a condition of preload so no free motion exists in it. The hub also has a flange at one end of its spindle, and the flange is machined on its face that is presented away from the housing to provide a machined mounting surface against which the brake disk is installed. The machining occurs after the hub assembly is assembled. To this end, the housing of the hub assembly is held fast while the hub is rotated on the bearing. With the hub rotating, a cutting tool is moved across the face of the flange, and it produces the machined mounting surface which is perpendicular to the axis of the bearing. The machined mounting surface has essentially no runout, so that the brake disk acquires no runout from the hub assembly.

Abstract: A shock absorbing bicycle wheel hub apparatus uses an open ended, cylindrical shock absorber housing mounted concentrically within a wheel hub. The wheel hub is adapted for rotation about the shock absorber housing. A pivot tube is axially aligned with the shock absorber housing and rotationally mounted within its sidewall. Terminal ends of the pivot rod engage cover plates fixedly mounted thereon. A pressure tube is axially aligned with the shock absorber housing and extends through it so that its terminal ends may be fixed in the cover plates. A shock-absorbing medium is compressively positioned between the pressure tube and an interior surface of the shock absorber housing. The cover plates engage a bicycle fork so that weight supported by the bicycle fork is transmitted through the cover plates and the pivot tube and pressure tube, to the shock absorbing medium, and thereby, through the shock absorber housing and the wheel hub to a wheel of the bicycle.

Abstract: A bus door/service brake interlock system having a warning system is provided to inform a driver that the service brake pressure is insufficient or not being applied at all, as well as indicating if a system malfunction occurs, precluding a service brake application. The system is based on a sequential operation of the driver activating the caution lights and opening the door. Once these events have occurred, the autobrake system including an alarm is activated. On the other hand, applying the park brake deactivates the autobrake system. The autobrake assembly energizes a solenoid that receives regulated pressure from a pressure reducing valve. This pressure is supplied to one side of a double check valve, while the other side receives a delivery from the foot valve to assure delivery for normal service braking.

Abstract: A vehicle electro-hydraulic braking system having a fluid pressure accumulator of the pre-charged diaphragm type which is used to store fluid under pressure, charged by means of a fluid pump or compressor driven either by an electric motor or directly from the vehicle engine for supply to a valve system which is adapted to supply the brake or brakes of the vehicle with fluid pressure in accordance with the level of the driver's braking demand, the control of the accumulator pressure being arranged to lie within a fixed control range, with a cut-in pressure defining the lower limiting pressure of the control range and a cut-out pressure defining the upper limiting pressure of the control range, and there being a warning pressure range defined between a warning pressure level and the cut-in pressure, wherein at least one of the warning, cut-in and cut-out pressure levels is arranged to be controlled in dependence upon temperature.

Abstract: A vehicular braking force control apparatus includes a solenoid valve disposed between a master cylinder and the suction side of a hydraulic pump. A ripple absorption low-pressure reservoir is provided between the solenoid valve and the suction side of the hydraulic pump. The low-pressure reservoir is partitioned, by a partition member, into an operation liquid portion that communicates with an auxiliary suction passage and an air portion where air exists. A spring member for pressing the partition member toward the operation liquid portion side is provided in the air portion.

Abstract: An assembly (20) is used with an anti-lock braking system (10) and an associated method. The assembly (20) includes a circuit board (30), a motor (40), a hydromechanical block (50), a lead frame (60), and a plurality of solenoid coils (70). The circuit board (30) integrates the electronics of the anti-lock braking system (10). The motor (40) provides pressurized fluid to the anti-lock braking system (10). The motor (40) is connected to the circuit board (30). The hydromechanical block (50) has a through bore (52). The lead frame (60) has a built-in connector (61) extending through the through bore (52) to the circuit board (30). The plurality of solenoid coils (70) controls flow of the pressurized fluid through the hydromechanical block (50). Each of the plurality of solenoid coils (70) is connected to the lead frame (60) such that the plurality of solenoid coils (70) is electrically connected to the circuit board (30) by the built-in connector (61) of the lead frame (60).

Abstract: An actuation system controls the flow of electric power to electromagnetic actuators to control motion or movement of at least two shafts or bodies. The system is preferentially applied to braking systems in automobiles and trucks, and may also be applied to other areas, including clutches and drive systems for other power transmission purposes. The electromagnetic retarders may also be used in combination with friction brake systems. Principal advantages of the combination system are the reliability and simplicity of friction and hydraulic components, and the lower wear and longer life of electromagnetic components.

Abstract: An electric parking brake system for a vehicle includes an electric control unit that controls a brake device and an operating element for actuating the electric parking brake system. When the vehicle is in a resting position, actuation of the operating element alternatively applies and releases the electric parking brake according to the driver's request. The electric parking brake system includes a parking operative mode and several starting operative modes. The electric parking brake system includes at least one distance sensor for enabling a controlled power braking involving dynamics and slip control when the vehicle is moving to avoid a potential collision with an obstacle, especially when parking the vehicle.

Abstract: A travel gear of a crawler work vehicle has a plurality of double bogie type track wheel devices. The double bogie type track wheel devices respectively include a first arm member attached to the lower part of a track frame so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, a second arm member whose almost center portion in the longitudinal direction is rotatably attached to the tip of the first arm member, and a pair of front and rear track wheels rotatably attached to front and rear ends of the second arm member and rolling on the tread of a crawler. A pair of first guard devices for preventing intrusion of a foreign matter into a space between the pair of front and rear track wheels and the crawler are attached to both side faces in the width direction of the vehicle of the first arm member.

Abstract: A gray-scale power supply line supplied to a source signal line driving circuit is made only one system, and each of D/A conversion circuits drives source signal lines in which three source signal lines corresponding to RGB are made a unit and the number of which is a multiple of 3. The periods in which respective source line selecting circuits select source signal lines corresponding to respective colors of the RGB are made synchronous with each other, and the power supply voltage applied to the gray-scale power supply line is changed in one horizontal writing period, so that power supply voltages corresponding to R, G and B are respectively applied to the gray-scale power supply line in periods while the source signal lines of R, G and B are respectively selected.

Abstract: Hydrodynamic bearing having a shaft relatively rotatable with respect to a surrounding sleeve and having a thrust plate on one end thereof rotating in a recess of the sleeve. The shaft is preferably interrupted by a equi-pressure groove accessing a central reservoir in the shaft and having journal bearings defined by herringbone patterns above and below the groove to stabilize and provide stiffness to the cartridge. The stiffness of the cartridge is further enhanced by a thrust plate carried at one end of the shaft and rotating in a recess of the sleeve and being used to define thrust bearings on either surface thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device and more specifically a front door of a gaming device that has a moveable and/or removable bolster that swings out of the way, so that an operator may open the door without the bolster hitting the bolster of an adjacent gaming device. The front door is pivotally connected to the gaming device using one or more hinges and facilitates access to the interior of the gaming machine. The moveable and/or removable bolster pivotally attaches to the door. In one preferred embodiment, when unlocked, the bolster automatically swings open to a preliminary angle, whereby the operator lifts the bolster to the predefined operating angle. In one alternative embodiment, when unlocked, the bolster automatically swings open to the predefined operating angle.

Abstract: A device for supporting a standard size keyboard tray within an electronics rack or cabinet. The keyboard supporting device includes a slideable shelf and a keyboard tray that is rotatably mounted thereto. The keyboard tray is rotatable between a storage position in which the keyboard tray is substantially perpendicular to the slideable shelf and a use position in which the keyboard tray is substantially parallel to the slideable shelf. A biasing device is included for biasing the keyboard tray toward either the storage position or the use position when the keyboard tray is disposed between the use position and the storage position.

Abstract: A waste receptacle or other household items are placed upon a movable shelf or drawer under the counter in a space covered by an openable door. The shelf or drawer is movable between a first, retracted, mounted position stowed within the cabinet and a second, deployed, position removed from the cabinet. The user can withdraw the shelf or drawer hands-free from the cabinet and place items within the waste receptacle or drawer by simply opening the cabinet door. To stow the tray or drawer, the user simply pushes the tray or drawer back within the cabinet, into the retracted position. A novel latch assembly retains the drawer or tray, and, hence the receptacle or other item(s), in the retracted position, and the door can be closed to conceal the same. Upon closing the door, a lever attached to the door causes the latch mechanism to unlatch, releasing the drawer, which then abuts against the cabinet door.

Abstract: A track assembly, adapted to be mounted in a housing, having first and second rail members aligned with one another and allowed limited relative longitudinal movement with respect to the other. The joined first and second rail members have a mounting bracket attached to distal ends of the rail members. A spring, positioned between the rail members, provides a force extending the distance between the distal ends of the rail members. A locking mechanism interacts with the rail members and has a locked position resisting inward movement of the distal ends. The method of installing the track assembly in a rack is accomplished by compressing the track assembly to reduce its overall length prior to positioning it between opposing rack members. The track assembly is released to securely engage the opposing rack members and locked in position.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head which comprises an element substrate having on one surface thereof energy generating element for generating energy to be utilized for discharging liquid from a liquid discharge port, and a liquid supply port communicated with the liquid discharge port, a printed substrate provided with an external fetch electrode, and an IC component for control use for the energy generating element having provided therefor an output side electrode connected with the energy generating element and an input side electrode connected with the external fetch electrode. For this liquid discharge head, at least the aforesaid output side electrode of the IC component for control use is provided for the one surface of the element substrate.

Abstract: To enable fine droplets each having a diameter of 15 &mgr;m or less to be ejected without causing increase of device cost and a device size, and decrease reliability and a manufacturing yield. A driving waveform driving a piezoelectric actuator includes a first voltage changing process for inflating a pressure generating chamber in a falling time t1, a second voltage changing process for rapidly deflating the pressure generating chamber in a rising time t3 after keeping the fallen voltage during a time t2, a third voltage changing process for rapidly inflating the pressure generating chamber just after the preceding process, and a fourth voltage changing process for compressing the pressure generating chamber just after the preceding process.

Abstract: Printing is performed on a printing medium by using an ink-jet printhead for discharging ink, multilevel printing is performed by multipass printing operation of executing main scanning operation of moving the printhead relative to the printing medium with respect to each print area while changing the number of ink droplets discharged to each pixel, and the number of scans to be performed to discharge ink droplets used to print a pixel with a low gray level value is made larger than the number of scans to be performed to discharge ink droplets used only to print a pixel with a high gray level value, thereby preventing the occurrence of density irregularity and streaks in a low gray level portion and printing a high-quality image.

Abstract: Printing media, a method and an apparatus for printing an image on a print medium are provided, the image having super-pixels made up of a combination of dots, wherein each of the dots is independently controlled with respect to the size of each dot, the density of each dot, and an overlap of at least two of the dots.

Abstract: A printing cartridge includes a housing. An actuating formation is positioned on the housing and is capable of actuating a number of capacitive sensors in an array of such sensors. The actuating formation is configured to represent data relating to at least one of: a serial number of the cartridge, a media and a media colorant, so that the capacitive sensors, when actuated, together generate a signal carrying such data.

Abstract: When positively charged ink droplets 608 from a defective nozzle impact a negatively charged deflector electrode 320, the positive charge on condenser 609 flows to the ground via a FET 618 of a photo-coupler 610. As a result, the electric discharge occurs by an amount equivalent to the charging amount of the ink droplets 608 clinging on the electrode 320. Because a switching signal 606 is “1”, the ON resistance of the photo-coupler 610 is large, and the ON resistance of the FET 620 of the photo-coupler 612 is small. Accordingly, the discharge due to the charged ink droplets 608 is detected as a large detection voltage and amplified by an operational amplifier 613 . Because the charger voltage of the condenser 609 is static and has no noise, even when the detection output 615 is highly amplified, noise during the detection is suppressed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for delivering droplets. One embodiment provides a system comprising nozzles adapted to deliver droplets to target points on the substrate, a first camera, and means for determining an angular rotation of the substrate in a coordinate system. In some embodiments the means for determining the angular rotation includes a second camera. The substrate has a top surface and alignment marks. The nozzles have droplet delivery openings oriented towards the substrate for delivery of the droplets. The first camera is oriented substantially towards the nozzle openings, and the second camera is oriented substantially towards the substrate top surface.

Abstract: A plurality of forward pulse-waiting-times are respectively defined correspondingly to respective forward-timings that are defined correspondingly to a plurality of predetermined passage-positions while the head member is moved forward. A plurality of backward pulse-waiting-times are respectively defined correspondingly to respective backward-timings that are defined correspondingly to the plurality of predetermined passage-positions while the head member is moved backward. A forward jetting-driving signal includes a plurality of forward pulse-waves that respectively rise up or fall down when the respective forward pulse-waiting-times have passed since the respective forward-timings. A backward jetting-driving signal includes a plurality of backward pulse-waves that respectively rise up or fall down when the respective backward pulse-waiting-times have passed since the respective backward-timings. Each forward pulse-wave and each backward pulse-wave have the same waveform.

Abstract: A recovery method for an ink jet printing apparatus is provided which makes it possible to use as much ink in the ink tank as possible and minimize the residual ink volume at time of a tank replacement. The recovery method for keeping an ejection performance of the print head in appropriate condition by performing a recovery operation of discharging ink from the print head, therefore, includes the steps of: detecting a residual ink volume in the ink tank; and controlling a discharge ink volume to be discharged by the recovery operation when the residual ink volume detected by the residual ink volume detection step is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet color recording apparatus capable of forming a good image by preventing solidification of ink. The ink jet color recording apparatus has a recovery step of recovering the injection function of a black nozzle by recovering black ink (pigment ink) remaining in the black nozzle into a black cap, and a supply step of supplying color ink (dye ink) to the black cap after the recovery step. Thus, the pigment ink recovered into the black cap by the recovery step can be made into mixed ink hard to dry, and further ink adhering to the inner wall of a suction hose connected to the black cap can be made into mixed ink residue hard to dry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning device for an inkjet printing head and a method for cleaning such a head; a wiper to be used for cleaning the inkjet printing head; and an inkjet printing apparatus having such a wiper for preventing the deposition of ink on the side of a printing head. Slits facing to the side of the printing head are formed on a wiper made of a sheet of rubber, which moves relatively with the printing head.

Abstract: A head jetting property maintenance device includes a wiping device for wiping a recording head, a capping device for sealing the recording head, and a driving device including two planet gears for transmitting a drive force to the wiping device and the capping device and one rotary device for rotating the planet gears, and the driving device is able to drive the wiping device and the capping device in either of normal and reverse directions of the rotary device by switching the engagement of one of the planet gears to the engagement of the other of the planet gears and vice versa. With such a mechanical arrangement, there is no need that providing flags to detect the initializing positions of the cap and wiper are provided on cams for driving the cap and the wiper thereby effecting sensing them. Accordingly, the assembling and adjustment of the device are simplified, and the cost to manufacture the device is decreased.

Abstract: An inkjet printer system and method for recording an image in a single pass print mode includes a printhead having a plurality of nozzles that are selectively operable for depositing drops of liquid ink or other liquid used in forming of an image in a single pass print mode upon a surface of a receiver medium with a printing resolution R, a dot size Di of the dots resulting from impact of the drops with the receiver medium being in the range of 0.5/R<Di<1/R and a final dot size D after spreading on the surface being in the range of 2½/R<D<2.0/R. The receiver medium has a surface for receiving the drops and a region of the medium proximate the surface has an influence upon drop spreading and the region has a porosity in the range of 0.2 to 0.8 and sufficient to provide a media drop spread factor Sm wherein Sm=D/Di with 2½<Sm<2×2½.

Abstract: A method for correcting image degradations due to nonejecting nozzles or kink ejection of nozzles without reducing a recording rate for an inkjet recording apparatus for recording images at high speed employing a one-pass recording system, in which an image is completed by one time scanning of a recording head relative to a recording medium, such as an inkjet recording apparatus using a full-line type recording head. When corrected data during head shading correction and nonejection complementing in image processing exceed a maximum value capable of being recorded, complementing is controlled with a different color corresponding to data-amount which exceeds the maximum value.

Abstract: The invention is to connect a liquid container, having a fluid connecting portion and an information memory medium, to the main body of a recording apparatus without generating stress in both connecting portions. An information memory medium is fixed on the internal wall of a connection aperture of an information memory medium holder, which is contained in a space defined by an information memory medium holder containing portion and a bottom cover. The space is of a size capable of containing the information memory medium holder without contact thereto, and the information memory medium holder can change its position and direction in the space.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead has a structure in which a base plate, a barrier wall, and a nozzle plate are stacked. The base plate includes a substrate on which a recess is formed to a predetermined depth, an adiabatic layer formed on the substrate, a heater which is formed on the adiabatic layer and generates a thermal energy, and a passivation layer which is formed on the heater and passivates the heater. The barrier wall is stacked on the base plate, defines an ink chamber, which is disposed on the recess and has a recessed bottom surface, and defines an ink passage which communicates with the ink chamber. The nozzle plate is stacked on the barrier wall, has nozzles through which ink is ejected, and is formed at a location corresponding to a center of the ink chamber.

Abstract: An ink chamber structure for an inkjet printhead, comprising a plurality of ink channels and a plurality of ink chambers arrayed in columns, with each of such plurality of ink chambers corresponding to an ink channel; the plurality of ink channels respectively channels ink from two sides of such column into ink chambers. The openings for part of the ink chambers are located on one side of the column installation, whereas the openings for the rest of the ink chambers are located on the other side of the column installation. By utilizing the cavity between two adjacent ink chambers on the same side to install an ink chamber from the other side, higher density of ink chamber installment can be achieved in the same scope of space. Also, with the ink chambers on the left and right sides being indentedly arranged, the ink chambers are provided with larger ink-inlet angles, thus effectively avoiding disturbance that adversely affects the reception of ink by the chambers.

Abstract: An actuating device for a multi-nozzle ink jet printhead, which includes a linear array of electromechanical transducers some of which are configured as actuator fingers associated with the nozzles of the printhead while others are configured as support fingers disposed between the actuator fingers, wherein each transducer has a first and a second electrode and is adapted to expand and contract in accordance with a voltage applied between the first and second electrodes, wherein the totality of the transducers consists of at least one group which includes a plurality of actuator fingers and a plurality of support fingers, and control circuit are associated with each group for applying a voltage that depends on the number of active actuator fingers in this group, to the first electrodes of all support fingers of the group.

Abstract: Of the compliance component of a recording head, the volume of a pressure generating chamber is set so that the percentage of the compliance of ink in the pressure generating chamber becomes larger than the percentage of the compliance of pressure generating chamber components such as a partition wall and a vibration plate making up the pressure generating chamber. Accordingly, it possible to decrease variations in the compliance of the recording head without depending only on the accuracy of finishing.

Abstract: An inkjet head 100 includes a pair of support plates 17A, 17B and a diaphragm plate 9 interposed between the support plates 17A, 17B. In this configuration, even when adhesion between the diaphragm plate 9 and the support plate 17B is insecure, and when a piezoelectric element 12 deforms a diaphragm 7 toward a pressure chamber 3, that is, in a direction away from the support plate 17B, the support plate 17A prevents the diaphragm plate 9 from peeling off the support plate 17B. Accordingly, the dimension and thus a deforming amount of the diaphragm 7 is maintained uniform, whereby a uniform ink ejection performance is maintained.

Abstract: An ink supply mechanism comprises an ink supply tube for supplying ink to a recording head, an ink supply needle communicated with a liquid flow path, and an air inducing needle communicated with an atmospheric communication port. The ink supply needle and the air inducing needle are communicated with the inside of a main tank by being penetrated through rubber plugs provided for the bottom of the main tank, respectively, to enable liquid paths to be communicated through the main tank. Also, both the ink supply needle and the air inducing needle are formed by conductive material, and a circuit is connected therewith to measure the electrical resistance of ink. The flow path is communicated with the atmospheric communication port by way of a portion positioned higher than the upper opening of the air inducing needle. With the structure thus arranged, the ink supply mechanism prevents ink from leaking from the atmospheric communication port.