Abstract: A method of printing is provided.

Abstract: A microdeposition system (20) and method deposits precise amounts of fluid material onto a substrate. A microdeposition head (50) includes a plurality of spaced nozzles. A positioning device controls a position of the microdeposition head relative to the substrate. A controller (22) includes a positioning module that communicates with the positioning device and that generates position control signals for the positioning device. A nozzle firing module communicates with the microdeposition head (50) and selectively generates nozzle firing commands to define features of at least one layer of an electrical device, such as resistors, traces and capacitors on a printed circuit board, polymer light emitting diodes, and light panels.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus can effectively extend its lifetime with regard to disconnection without acceleration of deterioration of the heater element with aging, and can avoid adverse effects owing to its use environment, the deteriorated state of the heater element, scattering in recording heads at manufacturing, and the like. Because deterioration of recorded images caused by disconnection in heaters can be avoided, stable image quality can be obtained. The ink jet recording apparatus has a plurality of heater elements in a recording head thereof, for ejecting ink by heating of the heater elements, and includes a control unit for executing driving control of the heater elements. The same heater element is driven for recording under different driving conditions, independently of recording data.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a plurality of ink ejecting sections for ejecting ink. The printing apparatus prints an image on a medium to be printed by ejecting ink from the ink ejecting sections. The ink ejecting sections include a first ink ejecting section that is set to eject ink for printing a highlight region in the image, and a second ink ejecting section that is set not to eject the ink for printing the highlight region in the image.

Abstract: A multi-media printer includes an engine controller, a printhead controller, and a pulse activation table. The engine controller transmits a row of energy values. The printhead controller receives the row of energy values and transmits an activation signal. The activation signal is transmitted based on a comparison of an activating energy level for each pulse position in a pulse stream with the energy values in the row of energy values. Comparison logic performs the comparison and transmits an activation signal if the energy value for the row of energy values is greater than or equal to the activating energy level for the corresponding pulse positions.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes an ink-jet head having actuators and an actuator controller. The actuator controller supplies to the actuator an ejection pulse signal that appropriately switches the actuator between two states. When a time period Si (i=1, 2, . . . n), which is from a printing start point T0 to a point Ti (i=1, 2, . . . n) at which the ejection pulse signal is firstly supplied to actuators each corresponding to each of n nozzles (n denotes an arbitrary natural number) that are intended to eject ink based on print data, is longer than a predetermined time period Tw1, the actuator controller supplies the vibration pulse signal to each of the actuators within the time period Si.

Abstract: A method of printing includes associating a pixel area of a recording medium with a nozzle and a time interval during which a fluid drop ejected from the nozzle can impinge the pixel area of the recording medium; dividing the time interval into a plurality of subintervals; grouping some of the plurality of subintervals into blocks; associating one of two labels with each block, the first label defining a printing drop, the second label defining non-printing drops; associating no drop forming pulse between subintervals of each block having the first label; associating a drop forming pulse between each subinterval of each block having the second label; associating a drop forming pulse between other subintervals, the drop forming pulse being between each pair of consecutive blocks; and causing drops to be ejected from the nozzle based on the associated drop forming pulses.

Abstract: In a method of controlling drive of a function liquid droplet ejection head in which a plurality of nozzle arrays are arranged, the nozzle arrays have function liquid droplet ejection amounts which are different from each other per unit nozzle. The drive of the plurality of nozzle arrays is controlled by using a single drive signal having a plurality of ejection pulses corresponding to the plurality of nozzle arrays in one print cycle. Thus, even if a plurality of nozzle arrays having function liquid droplet ejection amounts which are different from each other per unit nozzle are disposed in one function liquid droplet ejection head, easy drive control is possible without lowering printing throughput.

Abstract: A print head driving circuit is provided whereby, even if the load changes, the accuracy of the driving voltage waveform supplied to the load can be maintained, and consequently, deterioration in printing quality can be prevented. Transistors Q3, Q4 connected in a push-pull configuration are connected to the upstream of a transistor Q1. If the base potential of the transistor Q1 rises above its normal level, then the emitter potential of the transistors Q3, Q4 will rise and the transistor Q3 will become non-conductive, and the transistor Q1 will also become non-conductive, but since the transistor Q4 is conductive, the current I2 will flow from the base terminal of the transistor Q1, to earth, via the transistor Q4, and hence the base potential of the transistor Q1 will fall to or below the prescribed value. As a result, it is possible to prevent the base potential of the transistor Q1 from rising up in excess of the prescribed value.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus comprises: (a) a recording head including a nozzle from which a droplet of a liquid is ejected, (b) a pressure chamber which is filled with the liquid and whose volume is changeable for ejecting the droplet from the nozzle, and (c) an actuator which changes the volume of the pressure chamber by a drive pulse inputted thereto; and an operating device which outputs the drive pulse to the actuator and which is capable of performing a restoring operation for restoring a droplet ejection performance of the recording head. The restoring operation includes: a first operation for outputting, a plurality of times, an ejection drive pulse as the drive pulse by which the droplet can be ejected; and a second operation for outputting, a plurality of times, a non-ejection drive pulse as the drive pulse by which the droplet can not be ejected, the second operation being performed following the first operation.

Abstract: A head driving control apparatus for driving a pressure generation part in a droplet discharging head outputs a driving signal including: a first waveform element for contracting the volume of a pressurizing chamber without discharging a droplet; a second waveform element for keeping a contracted state until a meniscus in a nozzle moves toward the pressurizing chamber; a third waveform element for expanding the volume of the pressurizing chamber from the contracted state; a fourth waveform element for keeping an expanded state; and a fifth waveform element for contracting the volume of the pressurizing chamber to discharge a droplet.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving an ink jet printer including actuators for first and second pressure chambers communicating with first and second nozzles, the printer operating in a first mode in which the first and second nozzles are permitted to eject a first and a second ink and in a second mode in which only the first nozzles are permitted to eject the first ink, the apparatus including an obtainer which obtains a mode signal indicating in which one of the first and second modes the printer is to operate, and image data indicating whether each of the first and second nozzles is to eject a corresponding one of the first and second inks; and an applier which applies, based on the signal and the data, a voltage to each actuator such that when the printer is to operate in the first mode, a first voltage not equal to zero V is applied to an actuator corresponding to an operative nozzle of the first and second nozzles that is to eject a corresponding one of the first and second inks and subsequently a first subsequent

Abstract: A high resolution ink jet printer includes a rotating drum and a pair of ink jet heads scanned along a substrate carried by the drum in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum. The heads are driven by a lead screw coupled to the drum drive shaft and a control unit controls the rate of drop ejection from the printheads at a rate corresponding to the rate of encoder signals received from an encoder coupled to the drum drive draft. One printhead receives and ejects drops of black, magenta, cyan and yellow high-density inks and the other printhead ejects drops of black, magenta and cyan low-density inks along with another ink which may be a different color or black ink of a different density. High resolution and high print quality are assured by accurate control of the distance between the drum support shaft and the drum surface and also between the drum support shaft and a carriage support rail on which the printhead is supported as it moves adjacent to the drum surface.

Abstract: Apparatus including a plurality of droplet ejection devices, an electric source and a controller. Each droplet ejection device includes switches connected in parallel to a piezoelectric actuator. Each switch includes an input terminal to connect to an input waveform signal, an output terminal to connect to the piezoelectric actuator, a control signal terminal to control a connection of the switch with a control signal, and a resistance between the input terminal and output terminal. The apparatus has a waveform table with information to distribute the input waveform signal to an input of each of the droplet ejection devices. The waveform signal table includes waveform signal information for a step pulse, a sawtooth waveform, and/or a combination of two or more waveform patterns.

Abstract: In an apparatus for ejecting droplets having nozzles that eject droplets, liquid containing chambers each connected at one longitudinal end thereof with a corresponding nozzle, and an actuator that changes a volume of each of the liquid containing chamber, an ejection pulse signal and an additional pulse signal each increasing the volume of the liquid containing chamber are sequentially applied in accordance with a one-dot printing instruction. When the volume of the liquid containing chamber decreases upon completion of the application of the ejection pulse signal, liquid becomes protruding from the nozzle. The additional pulse signal is then applied to pull a tail portion of the liquid back toward the liquid containing chamber, thereby ejecting a fine droplet. A time interval between a completion of the application of the ejection pulse signal and a start of the application of the additional pulse signal are set at defined times.

Abstract: A carriage 5 is provided with an injection head 7 to discharge an amount of liquid drops according to the supplied driving pulses and a liquid material sensor 17 to detect the ink amount hit at a filter substrate at each pixel region. A main controller 31 determines a waveform of the driving pulses capable of discharging the short amount of liquid drops according to a level of a detection signal from the liquid material sensor 17 and outputs the determined information on the waveform of the driving pulses to driving signal generator 32. The driving signal generator 32 generates driving pulses according to the received information on the waveform and outputs it to the injection head 7. The injection head 7 adjusts an ink amount at the corresponding pixel region to the target amount of liquid material by injecting the short amount of liquid drops to the corresponding pixel region.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for at least one recording head comprises a first waveform signal receiver, a first drive signal provider, a first delay circuit, and a second drive signal provider. The first waveform signal receiver receives, through signal lines, a plurality of waveform signals representing various recording modes. The first drive signal provider generates drive signals on the basis of the plurality of waveform signals received by the first waveform signal receiver, and supplies the drive signals to one of recording element groups included in the at least one recording head. The first delay circuit delays the waveform signals received by the first waveform signal receiver. The second drive signal provider generates drive signals on the basis of the waveform signals delayed by the first delay circuit, and supplies the drive signals to another recording element group.

Abstract: An ink jet printer ejects ink droplets of a plurality of sizes based on image data, and prints dots of a plurality of sizes corresponding to the ink droplets of the plurality of sizes for recording the image. In the ink jet printer, in order to print a smoothing dot close to a normal dot, pulse voltage having a waveform having its printing timing changed from a waveform for printing the normal dot is applied to a piezoelectric element. As a result, an ink jet printer capable of recording high definition images can be provided.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus provided with: a drive signal generator for generating drive signals including a plurality of drive pulses; a drive pulse selector for selecting drive pulses in accordance with a print datum of each pixel; and a head for ejecting a droplet from a nozzle provided corresponding to a channel, by changing a volume of the channel according to the drive pulses selected, wherein, the drive signal includes a micro-vibration pulse as one of the drive pulses to generate a micro-vibration of meniscus in the nozzle in such a degree that the droplet is not ejected, said micro-vibration pulse being formed of rectangular waves which include at least one micro-vibration pulse having a pulse width of (2n) AL, where AL is ½ of the acoustic resonance period of the channel, and n is an integer not smaller than 1.

Abstract: A problem that occurs with inkjet printers having a microelectromechanical thermal inkjet printhead is that the dot print size during the initial operation of the printer is inconsistent with the dot print size produced after the printer has reached an equilibrium temperature. In order to address this problem a method is described that involves applying a number of heating pulses to nozzles of the printhead before commencing a print job. The heating pulses are of sufficient duration to warm ink within the nozzles but are limited so that they do not cause ink ejection.

Abstract: An ink-jet head has deformable ink chambers formed in a piezoelectric ceramic plate and communicating with nozzle openings for ejecting ink from the chambers in response to voltage drive waveforms applied to electrodes on side walls of the chambers. A drive waveform generator selectively applies to the electrodes a first drive waveform to eject an ink droplet from a nozzle opening or a second drive waveform for vibrating a meniscus of the ink to the extent that no ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle opening. By vibrating the ink meniscus, thickening of ink in the nozzle openings can be suppressed without a complicated voltage control.

Abstract: The ink jet recording method performs image recording by a top shooter type thermal ink jet system. Ink is heated with heaters to grow air bubbles until the air bubbles communicate with an atmosphere and ink droplets are ejected above the heaters. Subsidiary ink droplets are ejected before the ink is replenished to predetermined liquid surface levels at which primary ink droplets are ejected after the ink droplets were ejected. The ink jet recording apparatus includes heaters, ink supplying paths for supplying ink to the heaters and driving devices for driving the heaters to heat the ink. The ink ejection amount can be changed to record a high quality image through correction of variations in the ink ejection amount among nozzles and expression with a finer gradation.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a pressure chamber that contains ink, a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber, which ejects the ink from the pressure chamber, an ink-jet head having an actuator that increases and decreases the capacity of the pressure chamber, and a driving signal generation unit that supplies the actuator with a driving signal to eject an ink drop from the nozzle. When no ink is ejected from the nozzle, the actuator is supplied with a very low pressure driving signal to increase the capacity of the pressure chamber and then return the increased capacity to an original size. The pulse width of the very low pressure driving signal is about twice as long as a pressure propagation time period during which a pressure wave in the ink propagates through the pressure chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for driving a piezoelectric ink jet head that surely suppresses the ensuing vibration of the drive section while suppressing the flying speed of the ink droplet from decreasing, by setting the time constant ?UP of rise of voltage when the drive voltage is applied and/or the time constant ?DN of fall of voltage when stopping the application of the drive voltage are set in ranges that satisfy the relations of the expressions (i) and (ii): Ta/(?ln 0.01)??UP?Ta/(?ln 0.25)??(i) Ta/(?ln 0.01)??DN?Ta/(?ln 0.25)??(ii) with respect to the period Ta of the ensuing vibration of the drive section, or pulse width T3 of the drive voltage is set at an integral multiple of the period Ta of the ensuing vibration of the drive section.

Abstract: A droplet discharging method for discharging a liquid inside a pressure chamber as a droplet from a nozzle, by applying a drive waveform to an actuator for causing change in volume of the pressure chamber filled with the liquid, is characterized by that: by taking volume of the pressure chamber as V, taking cross-sectional surface area of the nozzle as A, taking a length of the nozzle as l0, taking a density of the liquid to be discharged as ?, taking viscosity coefficient of the liquid to be discharged as ?, and taking rate of transmission of a pressure wave transmitted through the liquid inside the pressure chamber as c, these respective factors are established in such a manner that a condition expressed by the following inequality expression is satisfied: c 2 V < 16 ? ? 2 · µ 2 · l 0 A 3 · ? 2 .

Abstract: This invention concerns the control of firing pulse duration in a printhead, for a printer, such as a high performance color printer. The invention, in particular concerns a control system and a method. The printer may use, for instance, a pagewidth drop-on-demand inkjet printhead. The system and method involve a first input port to receive a signal indicative of the voltage available. A second input port to receive a signal indicative of the temperature of the printhead in the printer. A programmable pulse duration table, indexed by signals received at the first and second input ports, to generate control signals that represent predetermined durations for a firing pulse. And an output port to transmit the control signals.

Abstract: A droplet-jetting device having high jetting ability, which includes an actuator featuring a liquid chamber and a heater and a controller. The liquid chamber has an aperture for jetting droplets of an operation liquid which the liquid chamber accommodates. The heater provides thermal energy to the operation liquid and forms bubbles for droplet-jetting. The controller controls a driving signal, which is inputted to the heater. The driving signal includes a preparatory heating pulse signal, which corresponds to a preparatory heating energy for preparatory heating of the operation liquid, and a trigger pulse signal, which corresponds to a jetting thermal energy for bubble creation and growth. A power supplied by the preparatory heating pulse signal is smaller than a power supplied by the trigger pulse signal, and a heating duration by the preparatory heating pulse signal is longer than a heating duration by the trigger pulse signal.

Abstract: A recording head comprises a plurality of recording elements for performing recording; a driving circuit for driving the plurality of recording elements; and a predetermined voltage generating circuit for generating a predetermined voltage to be applied to the plurality of recording elements from voltage supplied from outside. With the head thus structured, a desired voltage is generated in the interior of the head by use of the predetermined voltage generating circuit for performing recording, thus making it possible to prevent the voltage drop which may take place if the voltage is supplied from outside through a cable, as well as to prevent the durability of the heat generating elements from being damaged due to noises. It also becomes possible to set the voltage to be applied to the recording elements at an optimal value corresponding to the discharge voltage, hence stabilizing ink discharges efficiently.

Abstract: A driving device of an ink-jet print head is provided that discharges liquid drops through a plurality of nozzles. The driving device comprises a data storage unit which stores a data block for liquid drop discharge; a data determination unit which determines the stored data block; a shift register which outputs the determined data block to the ink-jet print head; and a clock signal generation unit which generates clock signals for driving the shift register. The data determination unit determines whether the data block has a predetermined array. When the data block has the predetermined array, the clock signal generation unit stops generating the clock signals and the shift register outputs the data block having the predetermined array to the ink-jet print head.

Abstract: An ink-jet head control circuit is provided that includes a latch circuit which respectively stores a first data block and a second data block following the first data block, for ink liquid drop discharge, and a data determination unit which calculates a state transition data block based on the stored first and second data blocks. If the first data block is the same as the second data block, the data determination unit outputs a state transition data block having a first value (Low), and if the first data block is different from the second data block, the data determination unit outputs a state transition data block having a second value (High).

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus of the invention includes: a pressure-generating chamber having an inside space whose volume is changeable, into which a liquid is supplied and which is communicated with a nozzle, a resonance frequency of said pressure-generating chamber having a period of Tc; a signal-generating unit that generates a driving signal having: a first signal-element for causing the pressure-generating chamber to expand, a second signal-element for causing the pressure-generating chamber to contract from an expanding state thereof in order to eject a drop of the liquid through the nozzle, and a third signal-element for causing the pressure-generating chamber to expand to an original state before outputting the first signal-element after the drop of the liquid is ejected; and a pressure-generating unit that causes the pressure-generating chamber to expand and contract, based on the driving signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a discharge device which forms microlenses, etc., with high precision. A switch circuit selects a predetermined one of drive pulses included in a drive signal on the basis of waveform selection data obtained from a control device, and applies the selected drive pulse.

Abstract: A liquid jetting head includes a plurality of nozzle orifices, a plurality of pressure generation chambers associated with the nozzle orifices, and a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators for respectively varying the volume of the associated pressure generation chamber to jet a liquid droplet from the associated nozzle orifice. A drive signal generator generates a plurality of drive signals, respectively driving the piezoelectric vibrators, within a single jetting cycle of the liquid jetting head. An ID data storage stores ID data which identifies the respective nozzle orifices. A correction data storage stores correction data which corrects the amount of liquid jetted from the nozzle orifice.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus and a method for improving the quality of printing. The reference timings are adjusted by random values to decrease the cyclic unevenness of images associated with the conventional technique. The random values may be generated by the apparatus itself or may be received from an external device, such as a personal computer. The distance between two adjacent dots changes, and the unevenness of images is scattered to provide a higher quality of printing.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes: actuators each including a scanning electrode, a piezoelectric element and a recording electrode and arranged in a matrix pattern of n rows by m columns (where n and m are natural numbers equal to or greater than two) in terms of electrical circuit; and a driving circuit for supplying a scanning signal to the scanning electrodes for each column, while supplying a recording signal to each row of the recording electrodes in synchronization with the scanning signal. The actuators are geometrically arranged in n rows by m columns. A relay terminal, extending in a vertical direction, is provided in at least one inter-column space between vertical columns of the actuators for relaying signals from the driving circuit to the recording electrodes and the scanning electrodes. The recording electrodes and the scanning electrodes are connected to the relay terminal via lead wires extending in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A recording head comprises a plurality of recording elements for performing recording; a driving circuit for driving the plurality of recording elements; and a predetermined voltage generating circuit for generating a predetermined voltage to be applied to the plurality of recording elements from voltage supplied from outside. With the head thus structured, a desired voltage is generated in the interior of the head by use of the predetermined voltage generating circuit for performing recording, thus making it possible to prevent the voltage drop which may take place if the voltage is supplied from outside through a cable, as well as to prevent the durability of the heat generating elements from being damaged due to noises. It also becomes possible to set the voltage to be applied to the recording elements at an optimal value corresponding to the discharge voltage, hence stabilizing ink discharges efficiently.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet head including a first drive element which is provided in correspondence with each ink jet nozzle and which has a thin film resistor for ejecting ink droplets from each ink jet nozzle and a thin film conductive electrode for feeding electricity to the thin film resistor, a second drive element which is formed in a vicinity of the first drive element and which vibrates ink in each ink jet nozzle corresponding to the first drive element for changing a meniscus position and a drive signal control device which controls at least one of a drive signal given to the first drive element and a drive signal given to the second drive element so that the ink droplets can be ejected at a desired meniscus position of the ink in each ink jet nozzle. There is also provided an ink jet printer using the ink jet head. The size of ink droplets can be made uniform, whereby a high-quality image can be recorded.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes at least one inkjet printhead having nozzles and firing resisters. The inkjet printhead assembly includes fire pulse generator circuitry responsive to a start fire signal to generate fire signals, each having a series of fire pulses. The fire pulse generator circuitry generates the fire signals by controlling the initiation and duration of the fire pulses. The fire pulses control timing and activation of electrical current through the firing resisters to thereby control ejection of ink drops from the nozzles. One embodiment of the inkjet printhead assembly includes multiple printheads disposed on a carrier to form a wide-array inkjet printhead assembly.

Abstract: A drop emitting device that includes a drop generator and a drive signal waveform that includes in sequence a pulse of a first polarity, a first pulse of a second polarity, a delay interval, and a second pulse of the second polarity.

Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting very small droplets according to the present invention comprises a first ink ejector and a second ink ejector. The first ink ejector is controlled to eject a main droplet and a satellite droplet in accordance with one ink ejection signal such that the main droplet collides with an ink droplet ejected from the second ink ejector. A trajectory of a united droplet, formed by the collision of both droplets, is different from a trajectory of the main droplet, and the united droplet flies toward an in catcher. Only the satellite droplet having very small volume lands on a paper.

Abstract: The invention intends to maintain a constant ink discharge amount among the recording heads, even in case a total pulse width of pulse voltages applied to heat generating resistors. For this purpose, a rank table is prepared in such a manner, even in a situation where a total pulse width of the pulses applied to the heat generating resistor is 3 ?s or less whereby the ink discharge amount decreases with a decrease in the total pulse width, that a maximum reached temperature on the surface of the heat generating resistors at the application of a preheat pulse becomes higher with a decrease in the resistance of a rank resistor, and a pulse width P1 on the rank table is made longer thereby compensating a decrease in the ink discharge amount with a decrease in the total pulse width and maintaining a constant ink discharge amount.

Abstract: This drive device of a liquid droplet discharge head inhibits deterioration of a piezoelectric vibrator, enabling stable liquid droplets to be discharged from the liquid droplet discharge head over a long period of time. This drive device of a liquid droplet discharge head is provided with a piezoelectric vibrator 20 that extends and retracts according to a predetermined drive waveform, a drive control circuit 10 that functions as a drive control unit, and a drive wave generation circuit 30. The drive control circuit 10 drives the piezoelectric vibrator 20 by generating a drive waveform that is free of sharp edges and composed of a curved waveform based on a waveform generated by the drive waveform generation circuit 30.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet head, a reference pulse generation circuit, and switch circuits. The reference pulse generation circuit is a circuit for generating, at a predetermined cycle, a first reference pulse P4a based on which a driving pulse is produced. A preliminary pulse P1 is for vibrating an ink meniscus in the tip portion of a nozzle. A discharge pulse P2 is for discharging an ink droplet through the nozzle. The switch circuits selectively input, to piezoelectric actuators, the preliminary pulse P1 and the discharge pulse P2 generated by the reference pulse generation circuit.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a print control method can obtain excellent ink discharge without reducing the life of a printhead for image formation using plural sizes of ink droplets. Unop printing by discharging ink from an ink-jet printhead, having plural printing elements capable of discharging ink droplets in plural sizes, to a print medium, the number of concurrently-driven printing elements is counted corresponding to each respective size of the plural sizes, based on input print data, then a drive pulse applied to the concurrently-driven printing elements corresponding to the respective size of the plural sizes is determined based ont he result of counting, and the drive pulse is applied to the concurrently-driven printing elements.

Abstract: There is described inkjet recording method and apparatus capable of printing very fine images stably on every type of printing material. The apparatus includes an ink-heating section to heat ink; an ink-jetting head having an ink channel, a volume of which is expanded and shrunken by applying a first electronic pulse and by successively applying a second electronic pulse, to emit an ink particle from a nozzle of the ink channel onto a recording medium so as to form the image on the recording medium; and an ultraviolet light irradiating section to irradiate ultraviolet light onto the recording medium for fixing the image; wherein, at a time after the ink particle is emitted by applying a first driving pulse to the ink channel and before an ink meniscus, formed at the nozzle, grows to an original stable state, a next ink particle is emitted by applying a second driving pulse.

Abstract: A method of operation of an inkjet printhead within a predetermined temperature range to print an image, wherein the printhead temperature is measured and if the temperature is below a predetermined threshold, the printhead is heated by pulses of energy to a desired temperature above the predetermined threshold temperature before printing. The actuators are displaceable thermal actuators and heating is controlled such that the pulses of energy are insufficient to cause ejection of fluid from the printhead.

Abstract: A head driving unit the generates a driving waveform, each driving waveform including a plurality of driving pulses, and selects one or more driving pulses to be applied to a liquid drop discharging head in response to data corresponding to an image. By selecting a plurality of selection signals that defines the driving pulses to be applied to the liquid discharging head, the head driving unit can change a recording density or record multiple value images.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus in which an electromechanical converting device that changes a volume of an ink channel of a recording head is driven to make an ink droplet to jet from a nozzle, wherein before an ink droplet jetting operation is conducted, an ink meniscus of the ink channel is vibrated finely by repeating plural times a pushing out process so that a distance corresponding to a peak of the ink meniscus pushed out from a surface of the nozzle is equal to or more than a radius of the nozzle and a process for pulling in more toward the ink channel across a repose position, while the ink is prevented from jetting from the nozzle.

Abstract: During a printing operation, a recording device is switched from a normal mode to a refresh ejection mode so as to temporarily increase an ejection frequency. A refresh ink droplet ejected in the refresh ejection mode is deflected to impinge on an ink collector. Recording ink droplets ejected in the refresh ejection mode are deflected and impinge on a recording sheet at positions that are shifted by gradually smaller distances.

Abstract: In an ink droplet ejecting method and apparatus, by merely adding one pulse after a driving waveform for a main ejection of ink, without changing the driving voltage, it is possible to obtain an ink droplet of a desired volume and also possible to minimize the decrease of the ink droplet speed. The pulse width Wa of a jet pulse signal A is set equal to time T required for one-way propagation through an ink chamber of a pressure wave which is generated in the ink chamber, while the pulse width Wb of an additional pulse signal B is set at 0.2T to 0.6T, and a time difference between a fall timing of the jet pulse signal A and a rise timing of the additional pulse signal B is set at 0.3T to 0.7T, whereby an ink droplet being ejected is reduced in size and only one drive voltage is sufficient. Thus, the cost can be reduced, and a decrease of the ink droplet speed is prevented.