Abstract: A novel structure for a bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead is provided. A substrate is covered with a nozzle plate perforated by a predetermined number of nozzle holes a predetermined distance from said nozzle plate. The structure is surrounded by walls, within which form a common ink chamber. Each nozzle hole has, on the substrate underneath, a set of resistive elements. One of the resistive elements encircles an edge of a nozzle hole while another lyes directly underneath the perforation. During operation of the printhead, the encircling elements form a doughnut-shaped bubble forming an imaginary or virtual chamber within the doughnut from the rest of the common chamber. After formation of the doughnut-shaped bubble, the resister underneath the perforation forms a big bubble which causes ink to be ejected through the nozzle hole. The structure that allows for the above is easy to manufacture, and produces high quality print.

Abstract: A substrate for an ink-jet element of an ink-jet printing head which ejects ink through ejection openings includes heating elements provided for each of the ejection openings and which generate thermal energy for ejecting the ink, a data holding circuit for holding an image data for driving the heat generating elements, by holding the image data in the number of bits corresponding to the number of ejection openings, and a driving circuit for driving the heating elements in units of the plural heating elements provided for each of the plural ejection openings based on the image data. A selection circuit selects at least one of the plural of heating elements provided corresponding to each of the ejection openings for driving. An ink-jet printing head and ink-jet printing apparatus employ such a substrate.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead includes a substrate. Nozzle chamber walls are arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber. An ejection actuator is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to eject ink from the nozzle chamber. The ejection actuator includes an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement. A refilling actuator is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted on by the ejection actuator, subsequent to the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber. The refill actuator includes an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a plurality of ink channels for guiding ink to corresponding discharging ports, and discharging units, each including a discharging port, and a heating element, provided for the discharging port, for generating a bubble for discharging the ink by providing the ink within the corresponding ink channel with thermal energy. A plurality of discharging units having different amounts of ink discharge are provided at each of the ink channels. An ink-jet-head cartridge includes the above-described ink-jet head and an ink receptable for holding the ink to be supplied to the ink-jet head. An ink-jet apparatus includes the above-described ink-jet head and a recording-medium conveying unit for conveying a recording medium for receiving the discharged ink.

Abstract: Beneath electro-thermal conversion device layers having heaters, a common electrode layer electrically connected to heaters through branch connection parts is laminated through a protective film, and discrete electrodes are formed on an upper surface of the electro-thermal conversion device layers putting the branch connection parts between, respectively.

Abstract: A novel structure for a bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead is provided. A substrate is covered with a nozzle plate perforated by a predetermined number of nozzle holes a predetermined distance from said nozzle plate. The structure is surrounded by walls, within which form a common ink chamber. Each nozzle hole has, on the substrate underneath, a set of resistive elements. One of the resistive elements encircles an edge of a nozzle hole while another lyes directly underneath the perforation. During operation of the printhead, the encircling elements form a doughnut-shaped bubble forming an imaginary or virtual chamber within the doughnut from the rest of the common chamber. After formation of the doughnut-shaped bubble, the resister underneath the perforation forms a big bubble which causes ink to be ejected through the nozzle hole. The structure that allows for the above is easy to manufacture, and produces high quality print.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes a plurality of liquid flow paths for ejecting the ink; and a plurality of heat generating resistors for the respective liquid flow paths, the heat generating resistor being independently drivable; wherein adjacent ones of the heat generating resistors are spaced by not more than 8 microns.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead includes a substrate. An actuator is arranged on the substrate for facilitating the ejection of ink from a nozzle chamber of the nozzle arrangement. The actuator includes a plurality of actuating members that are mounted on the substrate and are operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber to define at least part of one of a roof wall, floor and side wall of the nozzle chamber. The actuating members are displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to reduce a volume of the nozzle chamber so that ink is ejected from the nozzle chamber. An actuating mechanism is provided for displacing the actuating members between the inoperative and operative conditions.

Abstract: A compact form of ink jet printer head is actuated upon interaction of an electromagnet with a magnetic plunger device. The magnetic plunger is located between a nozzle chamber and an ink supply reservoir and is surrounded by the electromagnetic device. Upon activation, the magnetic plunger is forced towards an ink ejection port resulting in ink ejection. The plunger is substantially circular and has a tapered rim adjacent portions of the electromagnetic device which is of a cylindrical shape with the plunger located in the center of the cylinder. The plunger is further connected to a spring device which causes the plunger to return to its original position upon deactivation of the electromagnetic device. The spring device is interconnected to a central portion of the plunger and radially spirals out to the side walls. It can be formed from the tensional release of a deposited material such as nitride.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid discharge head comprises a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a liquid flow path with one end constantly communicating with the discharge port and with a bubble generating area for generating a bubble in the liquid, a liquid supply port disposed in the liquid flow path and connected to a common liquid supply chamber for storing the liquid to be supplied to the liquid flow path, a plurality of bubble generating means, disposed in the liquid flow path, for generating the bubble in the liquid, and a plate-like movable member disposed in the liquid flow path with the side of the discharge port supported as a free end at a gap of 10 &mgr;m or less with respect to the liquid supply port on the side of the liquid flow path, and provided with a projection area larger than an opening area of the liquid supply port.

Abstract: An on-demand inkjet printhead includes an ink chamber provided with a plurality of nozzles and a single piezoelectric actuator for increasing pressure of ink within the chamber. Each nozzle is equipped with a heater element. Ink is ejected from selected nozzles of the printhead by energizing the heater elements of the selected nozzles to reduce surface tension and viscosity of ink at the selected nozzles, and applying an actuation voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to generate a pressure pulse in the ink within the ink chamber that ejects ink droplets from the selected nozzles but not from the non-selected nozzles. The ink chamber can also be provided with a plurality of piezoelectric actuators, each of which can be actuated independently.

Abstract: Segmented heater configurations for ejecting fluid on to a medium having heater segments, where area and power level dissipation of each heater segment in the heater configuration are chosen such that different sized drops of fluid are ejected depending on the pulse voltage and/or pulse width used. As the pulse voltage and/or pulse width applied to a particular channel is increased, more heating segments in that ejection channel nucleate bubbles and produce larger drops. As a result, drop volume and spot size of the ejected fluid can be increased as pulse voltage and/or pulse width increase. For side-shooting devices, the heaters and power densities are configured such that the segment closest to the orifice nucleates its bubble first. For devices which eject droplets perpendicular to the plane of the heater, the heater segments can be arranged into a two-dimensional array. Each segment has a different power density.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead is designed with different sets of firing chamber configurations on the same printhead. One set of firing chambers provides for relatively large-volume drops and rapid refill times to facilitate draft-mode printing. A second set of firing chambers provides smaller drop volumes and more controlled refill rates that are optimized for high-quality printing.

Abstract: An ink-jet textile printing system includes an ink-jet printing mechanism capable of textile printing on a printing object formed by a cloth product such as a T-shirt, a printing tray for holding a printing target range of the printing object flat, and conveying the printing object while positioning the printing target range with respect to the ink-jet printing mechanism, and a printing object formed by a cloth product such as a T-shirt having a partial pre-process portion obtained by partially pre-processing only the printing target range.

Abstract: An ink jet device for printing onto a print medium and a method for modulating the ink discharged from the ink jet device. The ink jet device has a first fluid path, a second fluid path, and a discharge opening provided between the first and second fluid paths. The first fluid path possesses at least one heat generating element to substantially heat and vaporize a portion of printer fluid located in the vicinity of the heat generating elements. By virtue of the printer fluid vaporization, pressure is created in the printer fluid to cause a portion of the printer fluid located upstream of the vaporized section to move in a direction generally toward the second fluid path. The at least one heat generating element is activated to push a desired section of the printer fluid toward the discharge opening. The flow of the printer fluid through the second fluid path may be substantially impeded to thus force a desired amount of printer fluid to be ejected through the discharge opening.

Abstract: A pump includes two opposing plates having a space there between to define a secondary fluid passage. A first aperture is formed through the first plate and a second aperture is formed in the second plate to define a primary fluid channel extending across the secondary fluid channel. A heater on the second plate moves primary fluid through the primary fluid channel due to the Marangoni type effect. A heater on the first plate causes a meniscus to enlarge to thereby form a drop of fluid ejected out of the primary fluid channel.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording method for recording on a recording medium, includes the steps of preparing an ink-jet recording head which has a plurality of electro-thermal conversion elements that can be independently driven in an ink channel communicating with an ejection orifice, and ejects ink from the ejection orifice by bubbling the ink upon driving the electro-thermal conversion elements and ejecting the ink from the ejection orifice by relatively shifting the bubbling timings defined upon driving of at least two electro-thermal conversion elements within the range in which the ejection characteristics of the ink do not deteriorate as compared to those obtained when the ink is bubbled by simultaneously driving the at least two electro-thermal conversion elements, when the ink is bubbled by driving the at least two electro-thermal conversion elements. Also, an ink-jet recording head using the ink-jet recording method, and an ink-jet recording apparatus using the ink-jet recording head are disclosed.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes ink ejection outlet for ejecting ink, a plurality of heat generating resistors for generating thermal energy contributable to ejecting the ink, and ink flow path comprising the plurality of the heat generating resistors and being in fluid communication with the ejection outlet, the heat generating resistors generating the thermal energy upon receiving a driving signal, so that a bubble is generated in the ink within the ink flow path to eject the ink through the ink ejection outlet; wherein the plurality of the heat generating resistors are arranged in parallel, relative to the ink ejecting direction, in the ink flow path, and the distances from the heat generating centers of the heat generating resistors to the ejection outlet are different.

Abstract: A liquid discharge method for discharging liquid by use of a liquid discharge head provided with liquid discharge nozzles having a plurality of electrothermal converting members capable of forming bubbles for discharging a liquid droplets comprises the step of using a driving condition in a range where the discharge speed of droplets is made substantially constant, while the amount of droplet is made changeable with the timing difference of driving when droplets are discharged by driving a plurality of the electrothermal converting members one after another. With the adoption of the method thus structured, high quality prints can be obtained without deviation of impact positions irrespective of the dot diameters, larger or smaller, for a significant enhancement of image representation.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type ink-jet printing head is provided. The ink-jet printing head includes a nozzle plate in which a plurality of nozzles, through which ink is ejected, are formed, a substrate for supporting the nozzle plate, on which a plurality of heaters having three-dimensionally concave surfaces oppose the plurality of nozzles, respectively, electrodes which are formed on the top surface of the substrate and electrically coupled to each heater so as to apply current to the heater, a plurality of ink chambers which are formed between the bottom of the nozzle plate and the surfaces of the corresponding heaters and filled with ink, and an ink feed channel, formed between the nozzle plate and the substrate so as to connect with the ink chambers, for supplying ink to the ink chambers. Each heater includes a hemispherical member and a flange disposed along the rim of the hemispherical member. The ink feed channel connects with the entire circumference of each ink chamber.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid injecting apparatus in which an actuator oscillates a nozzle plate disposed in an injecting tank for storing a heated image forming solvent so as to inject an image forming solvent from a plurality of nozzle holes disposed in the nozzle plate. The method includes the steps of: disposing the actuator, which is formed to be smaller than a mounting space formed in the injecting tank, in a recessed manner within the mounting space; next charging an adhesive into a gap between the injecting tank and the actuator which are in a state of being heated to a temperature higher than a temperature of the heated image forming solvent; and hardening the adhesive in a heated state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving ink-jet print quality uses a print head having an array using a plurality of nozzles in sets in each drop generator mechanism. Where a conventional ink-jet pen fires a single droplet of ink at a pixel per firing cycle, the present invention fires a plurality of droplets at different subdivisions of pixels. The particular array design may vary from ink-to-ink or pen-to-pen. Each drop generator of a print head array includes a plurality of nozzles wherein each of the nozzles has an exit orifice with an areal dimension, and produces an ink droplet that produces a dot on adjacent print media wherein the dot has an areal dimension, less than the areal dimension of a pixel to be printed. Dots are printed in a pattern for each pixel wherein print quality is achieved that approximates a higher resolution print made by conventional ink-jet methodologies.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead is provided. The printhead has an ink channel having a simple structure, thereby significantly suppressing clogging of nozzles by particles or solidified ink. The printhead is easy to design and manufacture due to its simple structure, thereby significantly reducing the manufacturing cost. In particular, its simple structure permits flexibility in selecting a wide range of alternative designs and thus patterns in which the nozzles are arranged. Furthermore, the printhead can be manufactured by a fabrication process for a typical semiconductor device, thereby facilitating high volume production.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head comprises a resistive heat generating element; and a non-linear type element having MIM type current voltage characteristics that present the resistive value thereof being higher at the time of applying lower voltage than the resistive value at the time of applying higher voltage for driving the resistive heat generating element without depending on polarity. Here, the resistive heat generating element and the non-linear type element are connected in series. For this ink jet recording head, the resistive heat generating element and the non-linear type element are both contributive to the generation of bubbles for discharging ink. Hence, in addition to heat generated by the resistive heat generating element for bubbling ink in the ink flow paths, the thermal energy generated by the non-linear type element, which has been discarded as heat loss conventionally, is utilized so as to prevent the reduction of the efficiency of the ink jet recording head.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead is provided. The bubble-jet type ink-jet printhead includes a substrate, a plurality of chamber walls arranged parallel to one another on the substrate for dividing a chamber into a plurality unit chambers having a predetermined height, which are ink flow areas, a bubble generating means, provided for each unit chamber, which includes two unit heaters spaced apart by a predetermined distance on the substrate, and a nozzle plate, combined above the substrate, in which a plurality of nozzles are formed, each nozzle corresponding to a region between the two unit heaters of each bubble generating means. In this case, ink is supplied from both sides of the unit chamber. The ink-jet printhead is constructed such that a unit chamber is provided for each nozzle and bubbles are generated chamber on both sides of a nozzle within the unit chamber, thereby effectively preventing a back flow of ink while facilitating adjustment of the size of ink droplet ejected through the nozzle.

Abstract: A heater of a bubble-jet type ink jet printhead enabling gray scale and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The heater includes two or more heating elements arranged concentrically around a nozzle. Each of the heating elements is formed in polygonal or annular shape and spaced apart by a different distance from the center of the nozzle. Each heating element is coupled to an electrode for applying heater drive power independently. Thus, the heater drive power is applied to each electrode selectively or in combination, thereby forming bubbles having different volumes.

Abstract: A bubble-jet type ink jet printhead and manufacturing method thereof are provided. In the printhead, a manifold for supplying ink and a concave ink chamber is integrated with a substrate by being recessed from the same surface of the substrate, and a nozzle palate on the substrate in which a nozzle is formed and a round-shaped heater surrounding the nozzle are integrated without a complex process such as bonding. Thus, this simplifies the manufacturing procedure and facilitates high volume production. Furthermore, the round-shaped heater forms a doughnut-shaped bubble to eject ink, thereby preventing a back flow of ink as well as formation of satellite droplets which may degrade image resolution.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead is provided. The ink-jet printhead includes: a substrate, on the rear surface of which a channel having a bottom is formed with a predetermined depth, wherein a plurality of ink feed holes are formed on the bottom of the channel; a nozzle plate which is coupled to a front surface of the substrate and on which a plurality of chamber-orifice complex holes are formed, wherein each chamber-orifice complex hole corresponds to one or more ink feed holes among the plurality of ink feed holes; and a plurality of heaters which is formed on the front surface of the substrate corresponding to the chamber-orifice complex holes, respectively. Accordingly, the ink-jet printhead can effectively increase ink ejection pressure by effectively suppressing a back flow of ink, while providing for a high resolution image by making the volume of a droplet uniform or very small.

Abstract: A liquid discharging method for discharging liquid, which uses the pressure exerted at the time of creating each of bubbles in liquid in a bubble generating area, is arranged to provide two bubble generating areas for generating bubbles in such a manner as to enable these areas to face each other at least partly, hence discharging liquid by means for the pressure thus exerted in the bubble generating areas. In this way, it becomes possible to increase the amount of liquid discharged, as well as to enhance the durability of the movable members, while stabilizing the discharge of liquid from each of the discharge openings.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes an ink jet head having a plurality of nozzles for respectively ejecting ink drops, a plurality of ink chambers communicating with the nozzles, and a plurality of electromechanical conversion elements corresponding to the respective nozzles. The volume of the ink chamber of the non-drive channel is increased by the influence of the drive channel adjacent thereto, and thereby undesired ejection of the ink drop occurs. To solve this problem, a drive energy set for ejecting the ink drop is applied to the piezoelectric elements of the drive chambers n−1, n+1 and a reduced drive energy set for not ejecting the ink drops is applied to the piezoelectric element of the non-drive channel n.

Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening, appropriate preliminary ejection is performed per each ejection amount mode set by a heater to be used among a plurality of heaters. Depending upon a set printing mode, printing is performed in one of large, medium and small ejection amount modes. For example, after printing is performed for a predetermined amount by the small ejection amount mode, preliminary ejection during printing is performed in the medium ejection amount mode, which is greater in ejection amount than the small ejection amount mode. By this, the interval between preliminary ejections during printing can be set to be longer to prevent lowering of throughput due to the preliminary ejection operations.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a plurality of ink channels for guiding ink to corresponding discharging ports, and discharging units, each including a discharging port, and a heating element, provided for the discharging port, for generating a bubble for discharging the ink by providing the ink within the corresponding ink channel with thermal energy. A plurality of discharging units having different amounts of ink discharge are provided at each of the ink channels. An ink-jet-head cartridge includes the above-described ink-jet head and an ink receptable for holding the ink to be supplied to the ink-jet head. An ink-jet apparatus includes the above-described ink-jet head and a recording-medium conveying unit for conveying a recording medium for receiving the discharged ink.

Abstract: A print head for an ink-jet printer has a nozzle member defining a plurality of ink channels arranged side-by-side and each terminating in a nozzle. A plurality of actuators are disposed on one side of the nozzle member and respectively face one of the ink channels for pressurizing the ink liquid therein, in order to expel ink droplets through the nozzles. A support for supporting the actuators on the side opposite to the ink channels is provided and a plurality of connecting portions mechanically connect the support to the nozzle member. At least one of the connecting portions is arranged between the actuators. The connecting portions are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the ink channels and are formed, for example, by bars extending transversely to the ink channels.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead includes a substrate. Nozzle chamber walls are arranged on the substrate to define a nozzle chamber. An ejection actuator is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to eject ink from the nozzle chamber. The ejection actuator includes an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement. A refilling actuator is operatively positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber and is displaceable between an inoperative condition and an operative condition to direct ink into a zone in which the ink can be acted on by the ejection actuator, subsequent to the ejection of ink from the nozzle chamber. The refill actuator includes an actuating mechanism to facilitate such displacement.

Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening, appropriate preliminary ejection is performed per each ejection amount mode set by a heater to be used among a plurality of heaters. Depending upon a set printing mode, printing is performed in one of large, medium and small ejection amount modes. For example, after printing is performed for a predetermined amount by the small ejection amount mode, preliminary ejection during printing is performed in the medium ejection amount mode which is greater in ejection amount than the small ejection amount mode. By this, the interval between preliminary ejections during printing can be set to be longer to prevent lowering of throughput due to the preliminary ejection operations.

Abstract: Each nozzle of an ink-jet head has heaters having different heating capacities, and in accordance with the heater driven, a diameter of an ink dot formed by ink which is discharged from the nozzle is changed, thereby printing a large dot or a small dot. When multi-value image data is inputted, the multi-value image data is modulated such that a pixel having high density is printed with both the large dot and small dot. On the basis of the modulated print data, any of the heaters included in each nozzle of the ink-jet head is driven, whereby printing an image having tones based on the multi-value image data.

Abstract: A liquid discharge method is disclosed which comprises a displacement step where a movable member is displaced by generating an electrostatic force between a substrate having a thermal energy generating element for generating thermal energy which is utilized to discharge a liquid through a discharge port and the movable member disposed opposite to the thermal energy generating element and having a free end on a downstream side in the flow direction of the liquid to thereby displace a liquid surface at the discharge port to an upstream side in the flow direction of the liquid; and a discharge step where the movable member is displaced owing to a bubble formed by the thermal energy generated by the thermal energy generating element to discharge the liquid through the discharge port. In addition, there are also herein disclosed a liquid discharge head, a manufacturing method of the head, a head cartridge, a liquid discharge device, and the like.

Abstract: This specification discloses an electrode type print head for the printing apparatus and the method for manufacturing the same. The print head is placed in the inkjet cartridge of an inkjet-printing device. The print head comprises a substrate and a flexible nozzle plate with an ink reservoir formed in between. The flexible nozzle plate is attached onto the substrate, and the electrode set of the flexible nozzle plate corresponds to that of the substrate. When currents of different polarities are provided thereon, an absorptive force is generated to pull the flexible nozzle plate closer to the substrate. A pushing force jets the ink out of the print head and onto a printing media to achieve the goal of inkjet printing.

Abstract: A method of directing fluid between a reservoir and a micro-orifice manifold includes the step of providing a piezoelectric actuating element operably associated with independent fluid containment chambers of said manifold. The piezoelectric actuating element is activated by applying a voltage to electrodes which produces fluid flow by changing its geometry inside the reservoir in response to an applied voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters for one ejection outlet, wherein the heaters and the outlet are disposed so as to satisfy a specific relationship, and thereby errors in the path of ejected ink droplets concerning the driving positions of the heaters can be restricted.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating an ink jet printhead by using pass transistors to generate heat and warm the substrate of the printhead. The ink jet printhead has a plurality of ink jet printhead nozzle. Each nozzle is controlled by a circuit. The circuit includes a drive transistor that is electrically coupled to a heating resistor, an enable transistor and a plurality of pass transistors.

Abstract: An image forming method including a print head having plurality of micromachined ink channel pistons, and method of assembling the method and print head. The method comprises a piston for pressurizing an ink body so that an ink meniscus extends from the ink body. An ink droplet separator is also provided for lowering surface tension of the meniscus as the meniscus extends from the ink body. The extended meniscus severs from the ink body to form an ink droplet as the droplet separator lowers the surface tension to a predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a bubble within a microchannel of a microinjector to function as a valve mechanism between the chamber and manifold, that provides for a high resistance to liquid exiting the chamber through the manifold during fluid ejection through an orifice and that also provides a low resistance to refilling of liquid into the chamber after ejection of fluid and collapse of the bubble. This effectively minimizes cross talk between adjacent chambers and increases injection frequency of the microinjector. The formation of a second bubble within the chamber coalesces with a first formed bubble between the chamber and manifold to abruptly terminate the ejection of fluid, thereby eliminating satellite droplets.

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

Abstract: This invention provides, in a novel liquid discharge method utilizing a movable member, a configuration for detecting presence or absence of liquid in the liquid path or discharge state of the liquid. In an embodiment of this invention, the element substrate of the liquid discharge head is rendered electrically conductive and a partition wall for separating a liquid path for the liquid to be discharged and a liquid path for generating energy for liquid discharge upon heating is also rendered electrically conductive, and a detecting pulse is applied to the partition wall to detect the difference in potential or the variation in electrostatic capacitance between the element substrate and the partition wall, whereby the presence or absence of liquid in the small liquid path is detected.

Abstract: Small dots and large dots are recorded with a sufficient difference between them by such structure that a plurality of heat generating elements are disposed inside of each nozzle. A single pulse is applied to one heat generating element for recording of a small dot, whereas a single pulse and a divided pulse are applied to two heat generating elements for recording of a large dot. When the divided pulse is applied to the heat generating element, a larger amount of the ink is ejected than upon application of the single pulse. Therefore, the sufficient difference can be generated between the sizes of dots by applying the driving pulses as described above.

Abstract: A ink transfer printer includes a thermal head having an array of heating elements, a film having through-holes facing the heating elements, an ink space formed between the thermal head and the film, and a mechanism which brings a recording medium in contact with the film. When the heating element generates heat, the ink is transmitted through the through-hole of the film and is transferred to the recording medium. An ink amount controller is provided in the ink space, which controls the amount of ink transmitted through the through-hole to the recording medium.

Abstract: Pagewidth image forming system and method. The system features a plurality of mechanically isolated transducers capable of pressurizing an ink body associated with each of plural nozzle so that an ink meniscus extends from the ink body. The transducers are operated such that the ink bodies are uniformily intermittently pressurized. An ink droplet separator is also provided for lowering surface tension of the meniscus. In this regard, the droplet separator lowers the surface tension of the meniscus at a selected nozzle as the meniscus extends from the ink body, so that the meniscus forms a neck portion thereof. The extended meniscus severs from the ink body at the neck portion as the droplet separator lowers the surface tension to a predetermined value so as to form an ink droplet.

Abstract: In accordance with a feature of the present invention, an ink jet printing assembly includes a plurality of nozzles having a respective ink-ejection opening arranged to form at least one nozzle group. The ink-ejection opening of each of the nozzles that form a nozzle group has a size essentially equal to a corresponding size of the ink-ejection openings of all other nozzles of the group. Each of the nozzles of a group are respectively adapted to produce a different print density when actuated by an input signal.

Abstract: There have been desired a liquid discharge method, a liquid discharge head and a liquid discharge apparatus capable of sufficient temperature adjustment for maintaining the viscosity of the discharge liquid within an appropriate range, there by maintaining constantly stable liquid discharge. In this invention, the movable member provided with a heating member simultaneously or individually controls the temperatures of the liquid in the first liquid path and that in the second liquid path.