Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a substrate, a nozzle forming member for forming on a principal surface of the substrate a nozzle comprising a flow passage of liquid and an orifice for ejecting the liquid, and a dummy pattern. The dummy pattern has substantially the same dimension as at least a part of the nozzle and is formed so that a cross-section of the dummy pattern is exposed at an end surface of the nozzle forming member.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a media transport unit to transport a print media along a print media transport path, at least one printhead assembly including an inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzles to print on a select portion of the print media, the inkjet printhead forming a print region adjacent to the nozzles in an area between the printhead assembly and a print portion of the print media transport path, and at least one of an electrostatic discharge unit to neutralize a resulting electrical charge on at least the select portion of the print media before the at least select portion of the print media enters the print region and a neutralization unit to neutralize an electric field in the print region.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises: a fixed electrode formed on a substrate; a movable electrode placed at an position opposing the fixed electrode via a predetermined gap; a driving unit giving the movable electrode a displacement by generating an electrostatic force between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode: and an insulation film made of HfxAlyOz formed on an opposing surface of at least one of the fixed electrode and the movable electrode.

Abstract: Dielectric heating is used to cause explosive nucleation of ink in an ink reservoir to expel a drop of ink from an inkjet print head. Conductive plates generate an alternating electric field at microwave frequencies across an ink reservoir causing the ink to heat. Since the ink is heated without heating the conductive plates, less heat dissipation of the inkjet print head is necessary.

Abstract: A drop on demand printer is provided having: an ink ejection location for ejecting ink droplets, the ejection location having an associated ejection electrode for causing electrostatic ejection of the droplets from the ejection location; an intermediate electrode spaced from the ejection location, and in use disposed between the ejection location and a substrate onto which the droplets are printed in use; wherein either the ejection electrode or the intermediate electrode is coated with a film, the film being formed from a blend of a polymer insulating host and a conducting polymer dopant.

Abstract: A head includes a common ink chamber, a plurality of individual electrodes which communicate with the common ink chamber, and a plurality of ink channels through which, an ink supplied from the common ink chamber flows. Each ink channel is provided with a first electrode which is common for the individual electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes corresponding to the individual electrodes respectively, and an insulating layer which covers the first electrode and the second electrodes. Furthermore, the individual electrode of each ink channel is associated with an individual electrode of another ink channel, and the corresponding second electrodes are in electrical conduction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a cost of an electrical system by reducing the number of wirings which are connected to electrodes provided to each of the liquid channels.

Abstract: In a liquid ejecting apparatus using the electrostatic attraction method or electric field assist method, a liquid ejecting apparatus where discharging of a nozzle plate is securely performed and appropriate liquid ejecting is possible is provide. The liquid ejecting apparatus is provided with an electrode; a liquid ejecting head, having, a nozzle plate including a nozzle opposed to the counter electrode to eject liquid, a pressure generating device to rise a meniscus of liquid at a ejecting port of the nozzle, and a charging electrode opposed to the counter electrode via the nozzle plate, an electrostatic voltage applying device to apply electrostatic voltage onto the liquid in the nozzle; a discharging device to discharge the charged nozzle plate; and a control device to control the electrostatic voltage applying device and the discharging device; wherein the discharging device provides a conductive discharging member detachable to an whole area of the nozzle plate opposed to the counter electrode.

Abstract: Size reduction and high integration of each of the laminated substrates are achieved, while forming an excellent wiring which electrically connects the substrates to each other. A conductive ink, i.e., an ink, containing a conductive material is used, and in a state where a voltage is applied between a print head and a substrate unit, an ink droplet of the conductive ink is discharged from the print head, while relatively shifting the substrate unit and the print head substantially parallel to at least the upper surface of the substrate. Thus, a conductive layer which electrically connects electrodes to each other between the substrates is formed.

Abstract: A heater stack includes first strata configured to support and form a fluid heater element responsive to energy from repetitive electrical activation and deactivation to fire repetitive cycles of heating and ejecting fluid from an ejection chamber above the fluid heater element and second strata overlying the first strata and contiguous with the ejection chamber to provide protection of the fluid heater element. The first strata includes a substrate and a heater substrata overlying the substrate and including a resistive layer having lateral portions spaced apart, a central portion extending between the lateral portions and defining the fluid heater element, and transitional portions interconnecting the central portion and lateral portions and elevating the central portion relative to the lateral portions and above the substrate to form a gap between the lateral portions and between the central portion and substrate insulating the substrate from the fluid heater element.

Abstract: A method of detecting a fault within a micro electro-mechanical device is provided. The micro electro-mechanical device has a support structure and an actuating arm that is movable relative to the support structure because of thermal expansion of at least part of the actuating arm caused by heat inducing current flow through at least that part. The method comprises the steps of passing a first current pulse having a predetermined duration tp through at least the part of the actuating arm and determining movement of the actuating arm in response thereto.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head that has a conductive nozzle plate and discharges liquid from openings of the nozzle plate to recording material; an absorbing member that is arranged opposite the nozzle plate in a direction in which the liquid is discharged and has electrical conductivity to absorb liquid not attached to the recording material; an electrode member that is adjacent to a rear face of a face facing the nozzle plate in the absorbing member; and a potential difference generating means that generates a potential difference between the nozzle plate and the electrode member to electrically attract the liquid toward the electrode member.

Abstract: A pattern forming apparatus which forms a pattern of an electroconductive liquid on a printing medium includes a pattern forming substrate having an insulating substrate, a plurality of electrodes arranged on the insulating substrate, and an insulating layer which covers the electrodes, an electric potential controller which selectively applies an electric potential to the electrodes, and a transferring mechanism which transfers the pattern by bringing the electroconductive liquid formed as a predetermined pattern on the insulating layer, in contact with the printing medium. Accordingly, it is possible to form a fine pattern at a low cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid droplet ejection head that ejects droplets of high viscosity ink. A liquid droplet of an electrically conductive liquid in the liquid droplet ejection head is ejected from the head, which is provided with difference in potential between the head and an opposing medium, toward the medium. Electricity is conducted between the head and the medium through a tail of the liquid droplet.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a nozzle plate including a plurality of nozzle holes may include the step of forming a plurality of through-holes extending through a plate member in a thickness direction of the plate member. The manufacturing method may also include the step of forming a water repellant film in a region of one surface of the plate member where apertures of the through-holes are not positioned. The manufacturing method may further include the step of pressing individual regions on the one surface of the plate member, the individual regions respectively including the apertures of the through holes, to separate at least portions of the water repellant film formed in the individual regions from the water repellant film formed on the one surface.

Abstract: A liquid droplet transporting apparatus includes a first electrode which is arranged on a surface of a substrate, a second electrode which is arranged apart from the first electrode on the surface of the substrate, an insulating layer which is arranged to cover each of the first electrode and the second electrode, and a liquid repellent property on a surface of the insulating layer changes according to an electric potential difference between the electrode and an electroconductive liquid droplet on the surface, and a third electrode which cooperates with the second electrode to detect the liquid droplet on the second electrode. Consequently, it is possible to transport a liquid droplet between two areas, and also to detect as to in which area out of the two areas, the liquid droplet exists.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head, having: an insulating nozzle plate provided with a nozzle having, a liquid supply port to supply liquid and an ejection port to eject the liquid supplied from the liquid supply port onto a substrate; a cavity communicating with the liquid supply port to reserve the liquid to be ejected from the ejection port; an electrostatic voltage applying device to generate an electrostatic attraction force by applying an electrostatic voltage between the liquid in the nozzle and the cavity, and the substrate; and a control device to control the electrostatic voltage applying device for conducting polarization relaxation operation by applying an electrostatic voltage having reverse polarity opposite to that of the electrostatic voltage applied in liquid ejection, wherein the nozzle is a flat nozzle and the control device.

Abstract: A liquid droplet transport apparatus, which is provided on a nozzle plate of an ink-jet head, including a first electrode and a second electrode which are arranged on a lower surface of the nozzle plate, a driver which applies electric potentials to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively, a resistor layer which is arranged on the lower surface of the nozzle plate and which makes electric conduction to both of the first electrode and the second electrode, and an insulating layer which covers the first electrode, the second electrode, and the resistor layer. Accordingly, the liquid droplet transport apparatus is provided, which makes it possible to transport liquid droplets over a long distance, while simplifying the arrangement for the liquid droplet transport.

Abstract: A contraction portion of a vibration pulse includes a first contraction element which occurs subsequent to an expansion portion, a contraction maintaining element which follows the first contraction element, and a second contraction element which follows the contraction maintaining element, and when a time from a start point time of the expansion portion to an end point time of the expansion portion is set as t1, a time from the end point time of the expansion portion to a start point time of the contraction portion is set as t2, and a natural vibration period of ink in an ink flow path including a pressure chamber is set as Tc, the start point time (t1+t2) of the contraction portion is set to be in the range of any one of the following expressions (1) and (2).

Abstract: A disclosed liquid discharge head includes plural nozzles configured to discharge droplets; plural chambers in communication with the respective nozzles; a vibration plate member having a deformable vibration area configured to form a part of a wall surface of the chambers, a first projection in the deformable vibration area, and a second projection in a part corresponding to a partition wall between the chambers; and a piezoelectric member having a drive pillar bonded to the first projection and a non-drive pillar bonded to the second projection. A width of a base of the first projection is greater than a width of a base of the second projection, and a width of the drive pillar is less than a width of the non-drive pillar.

Abstract: A nozzle and an electrostatic field induction ink-jet nozzle are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the nozzle includes a concave part, which is formed along an outer circumference of the nozzle and in which the outer circumference is adjacent to a liquid discharging surface. The discharging nozzle can minimize the overflow and damping by a liquid during a process of discharging the liquid and thus maintain the discharging performance constant despite an extended operation of the nozzle.

Abstract: A droplet discharge head including a nozzle substrate having nozzle openings, a cavity substrate having discharge chambers that communicate with the nozzle openings and discharge droplets from the nozzle openings, a reservoir substrate having a reservoir concave portion that serves as a reservoir which communicates commonly with the discharge chambers. The reservoir substrate is provided between the nozzle substrate and the cavity substrate and a resin thin film is formed on a whole inner face of the reservoir concave portion and on a bottom face of a second concave portion. The second concave portion is provided in a peripheral of the reservoir concave portion and has a depth which is smaller than the depth of the reservoir concave portion. The resin thin film is cut circularly so as to surround the reservoir concave portion, and a part of the resin thin film serves as a diaphragm buffering pressure variation. serves as a diaphragm buffering pressure variation.

Abstract: Provided are high-resolution electrohydrodynamic inkjet (e-jet) printing systems and related methods for printing functional materials on a substrate surface. In an embodiment, a nozzle with an ejection orifice that dispenses a printing fluid faces a surface that is to be printed. The nozzle is electrically connected to a voltage source that applies an electric charge to the fluid in the nozzle to controllably deposit the printing fluid on the surface. In an aspect, a nozzle that dispenses printing fluid has a small ejection orifice, such as an orifice with an area less than 700 ?m2 and is capable of printing nanofeatures or microfeatures. In an embodiment the nozzle is an integrated-electrode nozzle system that is directly connected to an electrode and a counter-electrode. The systems and methods provide printing resolutions that can encompass the sub-micron range.

Abstract: The present application is directed to electrostatic actuators, and methods of making electrostatic actuators. In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator of the present application comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is positioned in proximity to the first electrode so as to provide a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is capable of being deflected toward the second electrode. A dielectric structure comprising a dielectric landing post is positioned in the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, the dielectric structure extending over a greater surface of the gap than the landing post. The landing post protrudes out into the gap so as to limit the minimum contact spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: To achieve high-quality printing by controlling an ink-traveling direction by an electrostatic force so that the ink can be accurately applied on a printing medium, the ink ejected to areas outside edges of the printing medium is prevented from being attracted to the end portions in margin-less printing. This configuration includes: a platen, made of a conductive material, positioned immediately below the printing medium; an absorber positioned at a side of the edge; and a mesh conductive member disposed on the absorber. A first voltage is applied to the platen, causing polarization in the printing medium, and a second voltage higher than the first voltage is applied to the conductive member. Thereby, ink ejected outside the edges in the margin-less printing, travels straight-forwardly toward the conductive member without being attracted to the end portions, and is absorbed into the absorber via the conductive member.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid transporting apparatus which includes a substrate having an insulating surface, a plurality of liquid transporting channels, a common liquid chamber which supplies a liquid to the liquid transporting channels, a plurality of individual electrodes arranged on the plurality of liquid transporting channels respectively, an insulating layer which covers the individual electrodes, a plurality of wire portions which are connected to the individual electrodes respectively, and a driver IC which applies a driving electric potential to the individual electrodes. Accordingly, it is possible to make simple a structure of the liquid transporting apparatus, and to reduce a manufacturing cost.

Abstract: The invention provides for a printhead integrated circuit for an inkjet printer. The printhead integrated circuit includes a wafer substrate defining a nozzle outlet port. The printhead integrated circuit also includes an electromagnetic piston inside the chamber, the piston mounted to the wafer substrate via torsion springs, said piston operatively forced towards the outlet port when activated. Also included is a solenoid coil positioned on the wafer substrate about the piston to activate the piston when a current is passed through the coil.

Abstract: An inkjet drop ejection apparatus includes a chamber defined by a plunger spaced from an ejection nozzle; and an actuator for moving the plunger towards the nozzle, the actuator including a magnetic plate and a solenoid coil provided circumferentially between the magnetic plate and the plunger, the solenoid coil for inducing a magnetic field in at least one of the magnetic plate and the plunger. The plunger has defined therethrough a series of apertures arranged around a circumference of the plunger, the apertures substantially mapping a locus of the solenoid coil.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejection unit that ejects a liquid onto an ejection target medium, a conductive brush provided adjacent to the liquid ejection unit and whose tip opposes the ejection target medium, and a same potential formation unit that sets the conductive brush and a predetermined portion of the liquid ejection unit to the same potential.

Abstract: There is provided a flushing method for a fluid ejecting device that prevents clogging of a nozzle by ejecting a fluid of a set number of droplets at each set time interval in a fluid ejecting process from the nozzle of a fluid ejecting head toward a fluid receiving part that is disposed to face a nozzle opening face of the fluid ejecting head in a state of non-contacting the nozzle opening face. The flushing method includes applying an electric field between the nozzle opening face and the fluid receiving part, ejecting the fluid from the fluid ejecting head toward the fluid receiving part, detecting a voltage change based on electrostatic induction that occurs at a time when the fluid is ejected toward the fluid receiving part, and changing one between the set time interval and the set number of the droplets based on the voltage change.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head including: an insulating nozzle plate 5 provided with a nozzle having, a liquid supply port to supply liquid and a ejection port to eject the liquid supplied from the liquid supply port onto a substrate; a cavity in communication with the liquid supply port to reserve the liquid to be ejected from the ejection port; an electrostatic voltage application device to generate an electrostatic attraction force by applying the electrostatic voltage between the liquid in the nozzle and in the cavity, and substrate; and a control device to control application of the electrostatic voltage through the electrostatic voltage application device; wherein the nozzle is a flat nozzle not protruding from the nozzle plate and the control device control the electrostatic voltage application device so as to eject the liquid from the nozzle by applying a bipolar pulse which alternates between negative and positive polarity.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including an electric potential control unit capable of switching between an identical electric potential state which sets a predetermined region of the liquid ejection unit side and a predetermined region of the ejecting medium support unit side to the identical electric potential and an electric potential difference generating state which generates the electric potential difference between both of them, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a configuration in which, when the ejecting medium passes through a liquid ejecting area to which the liquid is ejected by the liquid ejection unit, the electric potential control unit forms the identical electric potential state, and when the ejecting medium does not pass through the liquid ejecting area, the electric potential control unit forms the electric potential difference generating state for at least a proper period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printhead for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes a nozzle defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with an ink ejection port. A static coil is fixed within the chamber. A movable coil is movably attached within the chamber. An actuator is configured to provide current to the coils so that the movable coil reciprocates relative to the static coil and ink in the chamber is ejected from the ink ejection port.

Abstract: There are provided a printing apparatus and printing method capable of collecting unwanted ink mist and achieving high-quality printing by fine ink droplets. According to the method, the charges of a printing medium are removed prior to printing, and an ink mist collecting unit having an electrode of a positive polarity is employed. Floating ink mist is collected such that ink mist generated from discharged ink droplets and negatively charged is moved toward the ink mist collecting unit by the electrostatic force.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a liquid ejecting head that has a conductive nozzle plate and discharges liquid from openings of the nozzle plate to recording material; an absorbing member that is arranged opposite the nozzle plate in a direction in which the liquid is discharged and has electrical conductivity to absorb liquid not attached to the recording material; an electrode member that is adjacent to a rear face of a face facing the nozzle plate in the absorbing member; and a potential difference generating means that generates a potential difference between the nozzle plate and the electrode member to electrically attract the liquid toward the electrode member.

Abstract: A liquid droplet transporting apparatus includes a first electrode which is arranged on a surface of a substrate, a second electrode which is arranged apart from the first electrode on the surface of the substrate, an insulating layer which is arranged to cover each of the first electrode and the second electrode, and a liquid repellent property on a surface of the insulating layer changes according to an electric potential difference between the electrode and an electroconductive liquid droplet on the surface, and a third electrode which cooperates with the second electrode to detect the liquid droplet on the second electrode. Consequently, it is possible to transport a liquid droplet between two areas, and also to detect as to in which area out of the two areas, the liquid droplet exists.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus electrifies ink in a nozzle, and ejects the ink from an ink ejecting hole onto a printing medium by a first electric field generated between the nozzle and the printing medium. The apparatus includes an ink catching device including an ink catching portion adjacent to the nozzle that catches an ejected substance. Between the nozzle and the ink catching portion, the apparatus applies a voltage for generating a second electric field which (i) causes an ejected substance, formed from the ink or the ink whose viscosity is changed, to be ejected from the nozzle, and (ii) causes the ink catching portion to attract the ejected substance. The apparatus, utilizes an electrostatic force to eject fluid, removes a clogging of an ejection head at any position, realizes less initial ejection fluctuation and improves the reliability of ejection.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing ink on a substrate includes a nozzle defining an outlet for the ink, with at least a portion of the nozzle being electrically conductive. A first voltage source applies a first potential to the outlet nozzle. One or more auxiliary electrodes are located adjacent the outlet nozzle, and a second voltage source applies a second potential to the auxiliary electrodes. The apparatus includes a piezo-electric or thermal actuator for expelling ink from the nozzle towards a target zone on a substrate, the ink comprising a liquid vehicle and pigment particles dispersed in the vehicle. At least the pigment particles are electrically charged, typically due to the applied potentials. In one embodiment, an auxiliary electrode is disposed coaxially around the electrode formed by the nozzle. In another embodiment, an auxiliary electrode located beyond the nozzle, on a common axis with the electrode formed by the nozzle.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits treatment liquid onto a recording medium, the treatment liquid containing a polymerization initiator and particles introducing electrorheological properties; an electric field application device which applies an electric field to the treatment liquid having been deposited on the recording medium; an ink ejection device which ejects ink toward the recording medium on which the treatment liquid has been deposited, the ink containing a coloring material and a radiation-curable polymerizable compound; and a radiation irradiation device which irradiates radiation to cure the ink having been deposited on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dispensing liquid are disclosed. The method includes the steps of storing one or more liquids in a thermal inkjet print head and providing a well plate having at least one well. At least one of the liquids is dispensed from the thermal inkjet print head into at least one well. The volume of the dispensed liquid is a fraction of the total required volume of the liquid in the at least one well, and the dispensing step is performed multiple times to dispense the required volume of the at least one liquid in at least one well.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head which can fly a minute high viscosity droplet with high precision by a low drive voltage in electric field assist system which exhibiting excellent maintainability such as cleaning. The liquid ejection head (2) comprises a nozzle plate (4) provided with a nozzle (5) having a liquid supply opening (9) for supplying a liquid (L), an ejection opening (11) for ejecting the liquid (L), and a liquid supply passage for supplying the liquid (L) from liquid supply opening (9) to the liquid ejection opening (11), a cavity (20) for storing the liquid (L), a pressure generating means for generating pressure in the cavity (20), and an electrostatic voltage generating means for generating an electrostatic attraction between the liquid (L) and a substrate.

Abstract: A printhead assembly is disclosed. The printhead assembly comprises a printhead formed from a silicon substrate, and a support member. The support member comprises a core element defining a plurality of ink reservoirs and a multilayer shell. Each ink reservoir is in fluid communication with the printhead. The multilayer shell is formed around at least part of the core element, and has an effective coefficient of thermal expansion which is comparable to that of silicon.

Abstract: On a transferring surface of a transferring body, lyophilic areas arranged in a scanning direction and in a circumferential direction of the transferring body, and a liquid repellent area which surrounds the lyophilic areas are formed. In a circumferential area between one of the lyophilic areas and the liquid repellent area, a proportion of the liquid repellent area increases progressively at positions away from a center of the lyophilic area. An ink droplet which is jetted from a nozzle, and is adhered to the circumferential area moves toward the center of the lyophilic area till a center of the liquid droplet coincides with the center of the lyophilic area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a position shift in a final adhering position.

Abstract: A liquid transporting apparatus includes a head which has individual channels. Individual electrodes and insulating layers which cover the individual electrodes respectively are provided on a channel-forming surface in which the individual channels are formed. When a predetermined electric potential is applied to the individual electrodes, an ink exists entirely in each of the individual channels, and a meniscus of the ink is formed in a discharge section corresponding to each of the individual channels. When a driver IC switches the electric potential of the individual electrodes to a ground electric potential, a part of the ink on a surface of the insulating layer moves toward the discharge section, and is discharged from the discharge section to outside of the head. Accordingly, there is provided a liquid transporting apparatus which is capable of stably discharging a liquid such as the ink in a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method for driving a liquid droplet ejecting head having plural liquid droplet ejectors that eject liquid droplets from nozzles according to respective voltage changes applied to plural piezoelectric elements electrically connected in a matrix, wherein a switching element being provided with respect to each piezoelectric element and capable of grounding one of a pair of terminals of the piezoelectric element, the method including: inputting, per unit of one column of the piezoelectric elements, a column controlling signal for switching on/off the switching element; inputting, per unit of one row of the piezoelectric elements, a row signal for switching the other of the pair of terminals of the piezoelectric element to a predetermined voltage applied state, a grounded state or an opened state; and ejecting the liquid droplet from the liquid droplet ejector by forming a voltage change between the pair of terminals of the piezoelectric element, is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inkjet printer including an inkjet head containing electrically conductive ink and having a nozzle for spraying the ink and a mask positioned on a side of the inkjet head, the mask having a number of slits formed so that the electrically conductive ink passes through the slits and an electromagnetic field is established. The electromagnetic field is used to control the direction of movement of sprayed ink for uniform ink spraying.

Abstract: A method of making a printhead comprises forming a resistor strip in a heating region of the printhead. In a first portion of the heating region, a resistive layer is formed including a central resistor region interposed between two spaced apart conductive elements. In the method, a conductive layer is removed from a bus region of the printhead while protecting the first portion of the heating region.

Abstract: In an ink-jet printing a succession of ink droplets are projected along a longitudinal trajectory at a target substrate. A group of droplets is selected from the succession in the trajectory, and this the group of droplets is combined by electrostatically accelerating upstream droplets of the group and/or decelerating downstream droplets of the group into a single drop.

Abstract: There are provided a printing apparatus and printing method capable of achieving high-quality printing by fine ink droplets, and collecting unwanted ink droplets. According to the method, ink droplets discharged from a printhead are negatively charged by the negative ions in printing. A printing medium is charged positively opposite to the polarity of ink droplets. By the electrostatic force, discharged ink droplets travel toward the printing medium, and the amount of ink droplets attached to the printing medium is increased. In addition, an ink mist collecting unit having a positive electrode is employed to collect floating ink mist.

Abstract: A method of separating an image is provided. The method comprises: running a bitmap image of at least one polygon comprising a plurality of pixels through a distance filter; skeletonizing the polygon formed after filtering by modulo arithmetic; logically ANDing the skeletonized image with two masks separately consisting of horizontal and vertical lines of 1 bit thickness at a particular frequency to form an image of the horizontal edges and an image of the vertical edges; and filtering the resulting image through a particle filter eliminating particles of size greater than 2.

Abstract: An inkjet head (1) has a liquid flow path section (3) for receiving liquid and, in response to application of a voltage, ejecting the liquid to an object on which a drawing is to be made. The degree of design freedom of the shape of the liquid channel section (3) or the shape of a liquid channel in the liquid channel section (3) can be improved because the liquid channel section (3) is formed on the upper surface of a substrate. Furthermore, the inkjet head can have a structure corresponding to the properties of liquid to be ejected or to an object to which the liquid is to be ejected.