Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a cured product film, which is capable of increasing the formation accuracy of a fine cured product film and also increasing the adhesion of the cured product film. The method for producing a curable film according to the present invention includes an application step in which a curable composition that is photocurable and thermocurable and also is in liquid form is applied using an ink jet device, a first light irradiation step in which the curable composition is irradiated with light from a first light irradiation part, and a heating step in which a precured product film irradiated with light is heated, the ink jet device has an ink tank to store the curable composition, a discharge part, and a circulation flow path part, and in the application step, the curable composition is applied while being circulated in the ink jet device.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus is provided, comprising a liquid ejection head, a signal output circuit which outputs different signals depending on the number of ejection-defective nozzles in which any defective discharge of a liquid occurs, and a controller. The controller executes judgment to judge whether a first condition that any ejection-defective nozzle is absent in two or more nozzles for constructing a first nozzle group is satisfied, a second condition that all of the nozzles are the ejection-defective nozzles is satisfied, or a third condition that only some of the nozzles are the ejection-defective nozzles is satisfied, on the basis of the signal outputted from the signal output circuit.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a discharge head including orifices that discharge ink, a channel communicating with the orifices, a heating element that generates thermal energy for discharging the ink in the channel, a protection layer having a surface exposed to the channel and covering the heating element, and an electrode having a surface exposed to the channel; a tank that stores the ink to be supplied to the discharge head; an ink circulation unit that performs a circulation operation of circulating the ink between the discharge head and the tank; and a kogation removal unit that performs a removal operation of removing kogation generated around the heating element by applying a voltage between the protection layer and the electrode. The kogation removal unit performs the removal operation after the circulation operation is stopped.

Abstract: A printing fluid cartridge (104) for a pumped printing fluid system containing a pump (110) is described, the printing fluid cartridge (104) comprising a housing (120) defining an interior chamber (122); a collapsible bag (124) within the chamber for holding a supply of printing fluid (126); and a fluid connection member (106) for forming a fluid connection between the collapsible bag (124) and an upstream side of the pump (110). The housing (120) includes a structure allowing the application of manual pressure to the collapsible bag (124) to urge printing fluid out of the collapsible bag through the fluid connection member (106) to the upstream side of the pump (110) to displace air (130) in the fluid connection member (106) and the pump (110).

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid container containing section, and a pressurizing section that pressurizes inside of the liquid container containing section. The liquid container containing section has a casing that contains a liquid container, a mounting member that is mounted with the liquid container, and a cover that covers an opening that is formed in the casing, the mounting member is arranged inside the casing on the opening side, the cover is arranged outside the casing on the opening side, and the mounting member is fixed to the cover.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printing apparatus capable of performing preliminary discharge without the influence of mist while suppressing degradation in throughput regardless of a preliminary discharge time. Specifically, an inkjet printing apparatus that performs a wiping operation on a nozzle arrangement surface provided with nozzles discharging an ink in a print head includes a wiping determination unit that determines whether to perform the wiping operation before preliminary discharge based on the amount of the preliminary discharge to be performed.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a liquid ejection head which includes applying a voltage to a coating layer of the liquid ejection head to cause the coating layer to be eluted in a liquid so that kogation deposited on a coating layer is removed. When removing kogation deposited on the coating layer, temperatures of the liquids in the liquid chambers are selectively changed among a plurality of liquid chambers.

Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a liquid discharge head including a discharge port surface on which discharge ports for discharging liquid are formed, an electrothermal conversion element configured to generate energy for discharging liquid from the discharge ports, and a protection film configured to cover at least the electrothermal conversion element, and a cap configured to cover the discharge port surface, wherein the cap is arranged along the discharge port surface at a position opposite to the protection film via the discharge ports in a state where the cap covers the discharge port surface, and wherein the cap includes an electrode configured to be used to apply voltage between the protection film and the electrode.

Abstract: A mixing method and device are disclosed. The mixing method includes providing a drop generating device including a first drop ejector, a second drop ejector and a collector. The mixing method also includes ejecting a plurality of drops of a first reactant from the first drop ejector and ejecting a plurality of drops of a second reactant from the second drop ejector and collecting the drops with the collector.

Abstract: In a method for determining a maintenance performance of a maintenance unit of an inkjet printing system, the inkjet system comprises an inkjet print head having an orifice surface, the orifice surface comprising an orifice, which orifice is in fluid communication with an ink chamber. The method comprises operating the maintenance unit to perform a maintenance operation on the orifice surface of the inkjet print head and detecting the presence of a wiper element or amount of ink over the orifice by detecting a pressure wave in the ink chamber and analyzing the detected pressure wave to determine the maintenance performance of the maintenance unit.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which is capable of ejecting a photo-curable liquid to be cured by irradiation with light from nozzles which open at a nozzle surface of a nozzle-forming member; a wiping unit for wiping the nozzle surface with a wiping member in contact with the nozzle surface, a portion of the wiping member in contact with the nozzle surface being made of cloth; and a heating mechanism for generating heat to heat the nozzle surface; wherein the wiping member is capable of wiping the nozzle surface in a state in which an ink splash of a photo-curable liquid attached on the nozzle surface has been softened by heating of the heating mechanism.

Abstract: Methods for operating a printing system are provided. In one aspect, the methods can include causing an inkjet printhead that is positioned by a support structure to emit droplets of an ink including vaporizable carrier fluid toward a target area to emit droplets according to image data, using one of a plurality of shields to individually separate each one the plurality of printheads from the target area to form a shielded region between printhead and the shield and a printing region between the shield and the target area with the shield providing an opening between the shielded region and the printing region to allow the inkjet printhead to jet droplets to the target area, and supplying an energy to heat the shields to a temperature that is above a condensation temperature of the vaporized carrier fluid.

Abstract: A head chip for an ink jet type image forming apparatus with an improved cooling structure is disclosed. The head chip includes a plurality of nozzles to eject ink, a plurality of heaters for ink ejection to apply heat to ink so that the ink is ejected through the plurality of nozzles, and a cooling channel to circulate a refrigerant around the plurality of heaters for ink ejection.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus, including: a liquid droplet jetting head in which a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of individual channels are formed; a purge mechanism; a judgment mechanism which judges whether or not a defective nozzle in which a jetting failure occurs is included in purge target nozzles; a heating mechanism which heats a liquid in the plurality of individual channels; and a controller which controls the purge mechanism and the heating mechanism. In a case that the judgment mechanism judges that the defective nozzle is included in the purge target nozzles, the controller controls the heating mechanism and the purge mechanism to heat the liquid in a part of the plurality of individual channels, which include an individual channel communicating with the defective nozzle, and to execute the purge operation for the purge target nozzles.

Abstract: An array of liquid dispensing elements are positioned on a substrate. Each liquid dispensing element includes a liquid dispensing channel positioned on the substrate. The liquid dispensing channel includes an outlet opening positioned on a wall opposite the substrate. A diverter member is associated with the liquid dispensing channel. A liquid return channel is positioned on the substrate and is in fluid communication with the liquid dispensing channel. A liquid supply channel is positioned on the substrate and is in fluid communication with the liquid dispensing channel. A liquid supply passage extends through the substrate and is in fluid communication with the liquid supply channel. A liquid return passage extends through the substrate and is in fluid communication with the liquid return channel.

Abstract: A fluid discharging apparatus including a head that has a nozzle which discharges fluid from the nozzle and a sheet shaped wiping member for wiping a nozzle surface of the head. The wiping member is moved relative to the nozzle surface so that portions of the wiping member are sequentially in contact with the nozzle surface in order to wipe the nozzle surface.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a heater controller and a purge controller. The heater controller controls a heater to heat liquid in at least a part of a liquid path of a head when an ambient temperature of the head is lower than a first predetermined temperature. The purge controller controls a pressurizer so that: the pressurizer is continuously driven until a predetermined amount of liquid is ejected from ejection openings, when the ambient temperature is not lower than the first predetermined temperature; and the pressurizer is intermittently driven plural times until the predetermined amount of liquid is ejected from the ejection openings, when the ambient temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature, an amount of liquid ejected from the ejection openings in response to a single driving action of the pressurizer being not larger than an amount of liquid heated by the heater.

Abstract: A method for detecting ink flow through a printhead, due to a successful purging of the nozzles of a heater chip of the printhead, includes moving the printhead to a location in preparation for a purging operation such that a purge pump is connected in flow communication with heater chip nozzles, setting the manner in which the purge pump operates to suction ink through nozzles of the heater chip from a source of ink, performing a thermal analysis on the heater chip concurrently as the purge pump operates to determine whether ink is flowing through the heater chip nozzles and whether the purge pump should continue to operate, and adjusting the manner in which the purge pump continues to operate in response to the thermal analysis.

Abstract: In a method and thermotransfer printing device for setting the speed of a relative movement between the print head and a recording medium during a printing procedure in the thermotransfer printing device, in particular for setting the transport speed of a mail piece in a thermotransfer printing franking machine, the heat energies required for the generation of a predeterminable print image are calculated for the individual heating elements of the print head from start value that has been established for the desired speed. It is subsequently computationally checked whether the respectively calculated heat energy can be emitted at the respective heating element in a first time interval predetermined by the start value of the desired speed and a predeterminable remaining time. If so, a printing procedure follows in which the beginning of the printing procedure ensues using the end value of the desired speed.

Abstract: A printer controller generates a foam elimination flushing driving signal that includes a foam elimination flushing process driving pulse for eliminating foam within the ink flow channel by driving a piezoelectric element; a foam elimination flushing process for restoring the ejection capability of a recording head is carried out using the foam elimination flushing driving signal before ink within the ink flow channel is heated by a heating mechanism.

Abstract: A printhead IC is provided having an ejection nozzle having a heater for heating printing fluid, and drive circuitry for generating print pulses and maintenance pulses for driving the heater of the ejection nozzle. The maintenance pulses have a series of sub-ejection pulses preceding a de-clog pulse. The print signals are generated to heat the heater to form a first vapor bubble in printing fluid that causes ejection of the printing fluid from the nozzle. The de-clog pulse is generated to have lower power and longer duration than the print pulses so as to heat the heaters to form a second vapor bubble in the printing fluid which does not cause ejection. The sub-ejection pulses are generated to have lower power than the print pulses and shorter duration than the de-clog pulse so as to heat the heater without sufficient energy to nucleate a vapor bubble in the printing fluid.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead and a source of liquid. The printhead includes a nozzle bore. The liquid is under pressure sufficient to eject a column of the liquid through the nozzle bore. The liquid has a temperature. A thermal modulator is associated with the nozzle bore. The thermal modulator is operable to transiently lower the temperature of the liquid as the liquid is ejected through the nozzle bore.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus has ink jetting nozzles through each of which a photocurable ink is jetted for recording an image onto a recording material by an ink jetting method. The apparatus includes a color ink recording head for jetting color ink, a clear ink recording head for jetting clear ink; and an ink amount determining section for determining an amount of the clear ink to be jetted from the clear ink recording head, by causing at least one of the color ink recording head and the clear ink recording head to record a predetermined test pattern on the recording material, and on the basis of a glossiness of the recorded test pattern. A glossiness measuring device measures the glossiness, and the ink amount determining device determines the amount of the clear ink based on the measured glossiness.

Abstract: A printhead IC comprising: an array of nozzles, each with a corresponding heater to form a vapor bubble in printing fluid that causes a drop of the printing fluid to eject through the nozzle; and, drive circuitry for generating drive pulses that energize the heaters, the drive circuitry being configured to operate in two modes, a printing mode in which the drive pulses it generates are printing pulses, and a maintenance mode in which the drive pulses are de-clog pulses; wherein, the de-clog pulse has lower power and a longer duration than the printing pulse.

Abstract: In spite of relative deformation between a printing element substrate and a supporting member due to a change in temperature of a printing head, the printing quality is stabilized, and the printing head is not damaged. In detail, as the temperature of the supporting member and the printing element substrate, which are adhered to and fixed to each other in an expanded state, falls to the room temperature, the supporting member contracts significantly more than the printing element substrate, and a stress relation is caused to be present between the respective members. At this time, ribs are deformed in the direction of widening the ribs, which is the direction toward the outside of the printing element substrate, whereby the above-described difference in deformation can be absorbed, and influence on the printing element substrate can be relieved.

Abstract: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with clearing silicate based kogation from heating resistors employed in ink jet printing are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a silicate kogation clearing logic configured to pulse the heating resistor at a high frequency and low pulse width to heat the resistor surface to a temperature below that required to form an ink bubble and thus below that required to eject a drop of ink. Heating the resistor facilitates breaking bonds between the silicate based kogation and the heating resistor.

Abstract: A printhead IC comprising: an array of nozzles, each with a corresponding heater to form a vapor bubble in printing fluid that causes a drop of the printing fluid to eject through the nozzle; and, drive circuitry for generating drive pulses that energize the heaters, the drive circuitry being configured to operate in two modes, a printing mode in which the drive pulses it generates are printing pulses, and a maintenance mode in which the drive pulses are de-clog pulses; wherein, the de-clog pulse has lower power and a longer duration than the printing pulse.

Abstract: A capping apparatus including: a sealing unit that seals at least nozzle apertures of a liquid droplet ejection head that ejects liquid droplets; a heating unit that heats at least a vicinity of the nozzle apertures; and a negative pressure supplying unit that supplies an interior of the sealing unit with negative pressure that causes liquid droplets to be ejected from the nozzle apertures.

Abstract: A hardcopy device such as an ink-jet printer comprises a printhead, a spittoon for receiving waste ink from the printheads, and a heater for quickly drying the ink waste products in the spittoon. A drum platen having a print media supporting area also has an elongate spittoon region extending across its circumferential surface, the contents of the spittoon region being arranged to be removed intermittently by an elongate scraper which, in one position of the drum, can be moved radially towards the drum to contact the spittoon region.

Abstract: A fluid jet head with driving circuit of a heater set. A first and a second primary transistor are coupled to a first and a second heater. When the first primary transistor is turned on under control of a first control voltage and a first current is generated flowing through the first heater, the first primary transistor, and the first current path, then the first primary transistor has a first primary equivalent resistance corresponding to the first control voltage. When the second primary transistor is turned on under control of a second control voltage, and a second current is generated flowing through the second heater, the second primary transistor, and a second current path, then the second primary transistor has a second primary equivalent resistance corresponding to the second control voltage. Therefore, the thermal energy generated by the first heater is substantially equal to that generated by the second heater.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a fluid jetting apparatus, including: forming a heat driving part, a membrane, and a nozzle part; and forming a nozzle and jetting fluid chambers sequentially by using one nozzle plate, and assembling the heat driving part, the membrane, and the nozzle part, sequentially.

Abstract: A semiconductor die having multiple solder bumps, each having a diameter less than about 100 microns, and the method for making such a die are described. The solder bumps are preferably about 10 microns in diameter, and the pitch between the solder bumps is less than 100 microns, and preferably less than or equal to 10 microns. A thermal solder jet apparatus is utilized to deposit solder material to form the solder bumps. The apparatus includes a print head having a plurality of solder ejection ports. Each ejection port has an associated gas ejection conduit connected to a chamber containing one or more hydride films. The hydride film is heated to disassociate hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas rapidly builds up in the conduit which leads to the ejection port which is loaded with a solder material and forces the ejection of the solder material from the port.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device has an orifice plate with an orifice therein, and a heating element that heats fluid and ejects the fluid through the orifice that is associated with the heating element. The orifice has an exit area O, and the heating element has an effective surface area R, wherein a ratio R/O is below about 2.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an economical printer which is simple in structure and uses a common tray but is capable of adapting itself to various recording media of different shapes. Adapters in which recording media can be firmly held can be selectively mounted in the tray. An adapter 24 has an oval opening 24a in which a recording medium 30 can be placed. The contour of the adapter 24 can fit into a recessed portion 23a formed in the tray 23. The recording medium 30 is firmly held in the adapter 24. When the adapter 24 is mounted in the recessed portion 23a in the tray 23, a keyway 23b and a protrusion 24b engaging the keyway 23b prevent the adapter 24 from shifting out of position; the adapter is held in the tray 23. Prints can be made in accurate positions on the recording medium 30.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a head of an inkjet printer includes forming a heater on a substrate and also forming an ink feeding passage through the substrate in a vertical relation to a surface where the heater is formed, forming an ink chamber communicating with the ink feeding passage of the substrate; attaching the substrate to the nozzle plate, and forming a tapered nozzle in the nozzle plate, the tapered nozzle being narrower in diameter in an inside of the nozzle plate than an outside of the nozzle plate, by radiating a laser beam from inside toward the outside of the nozzle plate, wherein the substrate is used as a mask. Since the nozzle is formed by radiating the laser beam to the nozzle plate through the ink feeding passage of the substrate after attaching the nozzle plate to the substrate, the accuracy of the nozzle in form and position improves, and the nozzle of desirable structure of the improved ink discharge efficiency can be obtained by radiating the laser beam only once.

Abstract: A print head maintenance device is used in a printing device. The print head maintenance device cleans a print head of the printing device. The print head is movable on a horizontal track of the printing device. The print head has at least one linearly arranged nozzle array. When the print head moves across the maintenance device, the print head will connect with the maintenance device through the connecting device, making the connecting device capable of moving along the first track to slide the ink brush along the second track so as to clean remaining ink from the nozzle array of the print head.

Abstract: A thermal actuator for micro mechanical or micro electro-mechanical devices, the actuator comprising a supporting substrate, an actuator extension portion, a first arm attached at a first end thereof to the substrate and at a second end to the extension portion, the first arm being arranged, in use, to be conductively heatable, a second arm attached at a first end to the supporting substrate and at a second end to the extension portion, the second arm being spaced apart from the first arm, the first arm being arranged, in use, to undergo thermal expansion, thereby causing the actuator to apply a force to the extension portion, and wherein the first arm comprises at least one heat sink element substantially at a point of maximum heating of the first arm, being the point where, in use, maximum heating of the first arm would occur.

Abstract: A printer head substrate having a silicon substrate on which heat generating elements and partitions are formed and an orifice plate which adhered to the partitions is placed on a stage of a helicon-wave dry etching system. Helicon-wave dry etching is performed while cooling the printer head substrate by allowing a coolant gas to be intervened between the substrate and the stage. This allows multiple orifices of a desired and adequate shape to be simultaneously and quickly bored in the orifice plate even if a thin film sheet having adhesive layers adhered to both sides thereof is used as the orifice plate, thereby improving the working efficiency.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing liquid discharge heads is provided with discharge ports for discharging liquid, liquid flow paths communicated with the discharge ports for supplying liquid to the discharge ports, a substrate having heat generating members for creating bubbles in liquid, and movable members facing the heat generating members, each being arranged in each liquid flow path, having the free end on the discharge port side with a specific gap with the heat generating member. This method comprises the steps of forming the boundary layer used for providing a gap between the movable member and the substrate above the heat generating member on the substrate, of laminating the movable member on the boundary layer so as to position the free end above the heat generating member, at the same time fixing the movable member on the substrate, and of forming the gap between the movable member and the heat generating member by use of the boundary layer.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from an ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles, the method comprising:

Abstract: A method produces a liquid ejecting head having an ejection outlet for ejecting a liquid, a heat generating element for applying thermal energy to the liquid, a liquid flow path having a first path portion in fluid communication with the ejection outlet and a second path portion disposed below the first path portion and provided with the heat generating element in a bottom surface thereof, a partition wall for partitioning the liquid flow path into the first path portion and second path portion, and a movable member disposed above the heat generating element in the portion wall and arranged as displaceable to a side of the first path portion in accordance with a bubble generated in the liquid by the thermal energy in which upon generation of the bubble the first path portion and the second path portion are in fluid communication with each other and the pressure is directed toward the ejection outlet by the movable member displaced to eject the liquid droplet.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of manufacturing a monolithic thermal fluid jet nozzle for the electronically controlled propulsion of fluids characterized by the steps of arranging said nozzle on a substrate on which at least one dielectric layer and at least one layer of metal or metal strip have been deposited; removing at least part of the deposited metal layer, leaving chancels adjacent to said at least dielectric layer or in-between dielectric layers, for the transportation of fluids; applying at least one heating element to the channel for fluid propulsion, which element superheats the fluid to form a vapour bubble which ejects at least part of the surrounding fluid through the nozzle.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head for performing recording by discharging ink by forming a bubble by applying thermal energy to a heat acting portion of an ink holding portion of the recording head. The temperature of the recording head is raised to a predetermined temperature which is higher than for normal ink discharge, ink is recovered from the head through the discharge opening at the predetermined temperature and then the head temperature is lowered and a printing operation is performed.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device has heating device for heating ink at a suction pipe, a suction pump or a cap member. With this structure, an unsatisfactory operation of the ink jet recording device due to coagulation of ink can be prevented even when heat melting ink, or ink presenting plastic-flowability at the ordinary temperature, is used for the ink jet recording device.

Abstract: To remove deposit on a protective film 6 of heating resistors 3, main pulse P3r of multi-pulse drive is set to the width narrower than main pulse width P3s at the normal recording time and wider than the main pulse width starting film boiling in a region on the protective film including heating regions of the heating resistors, and the heating resistors 3 are driven, whereby the deposit is peeled in a wide area including the heating region. After bubbles grow in an ink chamber 9, they shrink and disappear as the heating resistors 3 terminate heating. Liquid rapidly flows into the ink chamber 9 accordingly, and the deposit on the protective film can be removed by cavitation at the time.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head for performing recording by discharging ink by forming a bubble by applying thermal energy to a heat acting portion of an ink holding portion of the recording head. Thermal energy is generated in the recording head and a cap sealingly caps a discharge opening forming surface of the recording head. Ink is sucked from the cap and positive recovery is effected so that 10.sup.4 or more times of preliminary discharges are performed toward the cap which is detached from the recording head, by supplying energy greater than energy at a recording condition by predetermined multiples of a minimum energy E.sub.o required for generating the bubble, and for causing the ink to be sucked in the cap that is open to atmosphere.

Abstract: A method for removing kogation deposits or other materials from the heater element of a thermal ink jet printer includes selecting a pulse voltage, pulse width and number of pulses, and apply the selected number of pulses at the selected pulse voltage and pulse width to the heater element to disrupt the kogation deposits. An apparatus for removing kogation deposits or other materials from the heater elements of a thermal ink jet printer includes a controller and a voltage supply, such that the voltage supply is controlled by the controller to supply a selected number of pulses at a selected pulse voltage and a selected pulse width to the heater elements.