Abstract: Approaches to remove objects from ink in an ink jet printer are described. An object separator for an ink jet printer includes one or more inlets configured to allow passage of ink that includes objects such as bubbles and particles into the object separator. The object separator has a number of stacked plates. Some of the plates have curved channels which are connected through other plates that include vias. The plates are arranged to form at least one cyclonic flow generator, the cyclonic flow generator configured to focus the objects into one or more focused flow streams. The object separator includes one or more object outlets that allow objects to exit the object separator and at least one ink outlet that allows the ink to exit the object separator.

Abstract: A container for holding a volume of fluid includes a first fluid chamber having an entry port and a bubble eliminator with at least one bubble-piercing protrusion for pricking bubbles as the volume of fluid flows through the bubble eliminator. The container further includes a second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber for receiving the volume of fluid from the first fluid chamber.

Abstract: Valve systems for managing air in a fluid ejection system are described herein. One example valve system includes an inlet chamber (206), a return chamber (208) in communication with the inlet chamber (206), and a filter-side chamber (236) in communication with the inlet chamber (206) and the return chamber (208). A first valve (242) controls fluid flow between the filter-side chamber (236) and the return chamber (208), and a second valve (244) controls fluid flow between the return chamber (208) and the inlet chamber (206).

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid ejecting head having a configuration in which a cross-sectional area of an intermediate passage is smaller than that of an upstream passage and a downstream passage to cause a flow speed of ink to be faster in the intermediate passage when the ink flows toward the downstream passage via the intermediate passage without passing through a filter, thereby making it possible to flow air bubbles staying on a face of the filter together with the ink.

Abstract: A printer includes an ink tank for retaining ink, nozzles for ejecting the ink, an ink flow passage for connecting the ink tank and the nozzles, and a filter chamber in which a filter is arranged. A first room is disposed downstream of the filter and a second room is disposed upstream of filter in the filter chamber. An ink discharge opening is disposed in the first room for supplying the ink to the nozzles. An ink supply opening to which the ink is supplied from the ink tank and an air bubble storage unit for storing air bubbles flowing with the ink are disposed in the second room. The ink supply opening and the ink discharge opening are displaced from each other in a horizontal direction. The air bubble storage unit is arranged upward of the ink discharge opening in such a manner as to sandwich the filter therebetween.

Abstract: A printing system is provided having a media width printhead, a plurality of ink containers fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a respective plurality of ink tubes, a plurality of gas vents fluidically interconnected with the printhead via a respective plurality of gas tubes, and a multi-channel valve arrangement for selectively moving a first pinch element into and out of pinching contact with the ink tubes so as to respectively block and allow fluid flow through the ink tubes and selectively moving a second pinch element into and out of pinching contact with the gas tubes so as to respectively block and allow fluid flow through the gas tubes.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of degassing ink in a fluid ejection device includes generating a localized nucleation site within an ejection chamber of a fluid ejection device. An air bubble is formed at the nucleation site, and the air bubble is prevented from venting into an ink supply slot using a bubble-impeding structure. The air bubble is vented through a nozzle associated with the ejection chamber and into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A printer includes a filter unit having a distribution flow path through which the introduced ink flows into a recording head, and an air bubble trap in which air bubbles which have entered ink in the distribution flow path are collected, the air bubble trap being provided with a waterproof member having a waterproof property and an air permeability that forms part of a wall of the air bubble trap. A printer includes an air bubble suction mechanism that suctions air bubbles collected in the air bubble trap through the waterproof member.

Abstract: When a printing head is filled with an ink, a circulating pump is controlled so that an ink equal to or greater than the entire volume of a circulating path circulates from a feeding path hole to a returning path hole via a printing head (in a forward direction), and after that, the circulating pump is controlled so that the ink equal to or greater than the entire volume of the circulating path circulates from the returning path hole to the feeding path hole via the printing head (in a reverse direction). By doing so, gas (bubbles) in the circulating path may be more securely discharged to a sub tank.

Abstract: A filter unit includes: a space portion, through which a liquid passes, whose outer cross-sectional shape when cut along the direction orthogonal to the axial direction is circular or polygonal; a filter provided at the surface on one end side of the space portion in the axial direction thereof; a protruding member, provided at the surface on the other end side of the space portion in the axial direction thereof, that protrudes toward a center area of the surface on the one end side of the space portion; an inflow channel that allows the liquid to flow into the space portion from a direction tangential to the side circumferential surface of the space portion; and an outflow channel that allows the liquid to pass through the filter and flow out from the space portion.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head having a liquid-flow space through which a liquid flows from a liquid supply source toward liquid-drop ejecting nozzles, a generally planar partition portion extending in a direction intersecting a vertical direction and partially defining the liquid-flow space, and further partially defining first and second chambers such that the two chambers are arranged in a horizontal direction on respective opposite sides of the partition wall, the first and second chambers having a larger dimension in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, in cross section taken in a plane parallel to the vertical direction and a direction of arrangement of the two chambers, and a planar filter fixed to the partition portion so as to extend in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction, along a surface of the partition portion and configured to capture foreign matters contained in the liquid in at least one of the two chambers.

Abstract: A degasifier includes a gas chamber, a degasification unit and a resistance applying unit. The gas chamber is separated from a liquid flow path by a transmission member capable of transmitting a gas dissolving in a liquid in the liquid flow path. The degasification unit expels the gas dissolving in the liquid from the liquid by discharging the gas in the gas chamber through a discharge path so that a pressure in the gas chamber is negative. The resistance applying unit applies an inflow resistance to atmosphere which flows into the discharge path so that the gas chamber is maintained at a pressure at which the liquid can be degasified at the time of the discharging by the degasification unit while the discharge path is open to the atmosphere at all times.

Abstract: A droplet discharging apparatus for discharging droplets of a recording fluid includes a negative pressure portion and a pressurizing portion connected to the negative pressure portion via a valve. The pressurizing portion is disposed upstream of the valve in a direction of a flow of the recording fluid. The pressurizing portion includes a bubble storing area configured to separate and store bubbles of the recording fluid.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head that ejects ink for printing, an ink tank from which ink is fed to the print head, a first channel provided between the print head and the ink tank to feed ink in the ink tank to the print head, a second channel through which the ink in the first channel is transferred, and a pump connected to the second channel to transfer the ink in the first channel. The pump allows air or the ink in the first channel to be discharged via the second channel.

Abstract: There is provided an ink cartridge including a first ink chamber, a second ink chamber, an ink-flow check portion and a pressure control portion. The first ink chamber is configured to store ink therein. The second ink chamber is in fluid communication with the first ink chamber via a first path, the second ink chamber defining therein a volume. The ink-flow check portion is configured to allow the ink to flow from the first ink chamber to the second ink chamber and block the ink from flowing from the second ink chamber to the first ink chamber. The pressure control portion is configured to control an internal pressure of the second ink chamber.

Abstract: A duplex printing machine 1 includes an inkjet head 27 with a piezoelectric element set for vibrations to propel out droplets of aqueous ink 50, an inkbottle 21 for supplying aqueous ink 50 to the inkjet head 27, a system of ink lines 28 having a lower tank 22, a circulation pump 23, a filter 25, and an upper tank 26, a degasser 24 having a degassing pump 24a for degassing flux of aqueous ink 50 being to be supplied to the inkjet head 27, and a controller 7 operable to control the degassing pump 24a, the controller 7 being adapted to operate, as a print time calculated from an image data set of a print job is equal to or greater than a prescribed value, for driving the degassing pump 24a to degas flux of aqueous ink 50.

Abstract: A fluid ejection assembly includes a fluid slot, a plurality of drop generators, and a fluid circulation pump to circulate fluid from the fluid slot through each drop generator individually and back into the fluid slot.

Abstract: In one example, a structure for supporting a printhead includes: a substrate having a first side and a second side; multiple inlets each protruding from the first side of the substrate through which liquids may be introduced into the structure from the outlets of liquid containers that can be attached to the structure; multiple openings through the substrate from the first side to the second side, each opening positioned near one of the inlets at a location exposed to the outlet of a corresponding one of the containers when the container is attached to the structure; and an air channel on the second side of the substrate connecting each of one or more of the openings to another opening.

Abstract: A method for passing a liquid from a first location to a second location in which gas is selectively vented, the method includes passing the liquid from the first location; receiving the liquid in a conduit having a vent covered by a membrane for permitting gas to be vented; an inlet for receiving the liquid from the first location; and an outlet for passing the liquid to the second location; and selectively permitting and inhibiting flow of gas to the vent; wherein when the liquid in the conduit is below a predetermined threshold, a movable element is placed at a venting position that allows flow of gas to the membrane, and when the ink in the conduit is at or above the predetermined threshold, the movable element is placed at a sealing position that does not allow flow of gas to the membrane.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head unit includes a liquid container tank storing a liquid and a head discharging liquid droplets from its nozzles. The head includes a common channel supplying the liquid to liquid-chambers communicating with the nozzles, and the common channel includes a supply port introducing the liquid and a discharge port discharging the liquid. The liquid container tank includes a container including upstream and downstream chambers separated via a filtering member, a supply path supplying the liquid from the downstream chamber to the supply port of the head, a discharge path discharging the liquid obtained from the discharge port of the head, a communication path via which the downstream chamber communicates with the discharge path, and a communication path via which the upstream chamber communicates with the discharge path, where a fluid resistance of the second communication path is higher than that of the first communication path.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet printing apparatus capable of achieving thorough stirring by producing a flow in a main tank and a sub tank. The inkjet printing apparatus includes a printing head, a main tank, and a sub tank. The apparatus includes an ink reservoir unit formed of a flexible member, disposed between the sub tank and the printing head. The ink is supplied from the sub tank to the printing head by increasing the volume of the ink reservoir unit, and air in the sub tank is sent to the main tank by reducing the volume of the ink reservoir unit.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes: a supply manifold having an inlet port to which a first main flow channel is connected, the liquid supplied from a tank through the first main flow channel being stored in the supply manifold, the supply manifold being connected to supply ports of head modules; a collection manifold having an outlet port to which a second main flow channel is connected, the liquid to be collected to the tank through the second main flow channel being stored in the collection manifold, the collection manifold being connected to discharge ports of the head modules; and a first bypass flow channel which connects the supply manifold to the collection manifold, wherein an end of the first bypass flow channel is connected to an upper side of an end of the supply manifold on a side opposite to a side where the inlet port is arranged.

Abstract: A printhead comprises a first ink chamber having an inlet port, to which ink from an ink supply source is supplied, a second ink chamber, to which the ink from the first ink chamber is supplied, a discharge orifice discharging ink from the second ink chamber, a first outlet port discharging fluid from the first ink chamber, a second outlet port discharging fluid from the second ink chamber, and an air-liquid separation unit which restricts liquid ejection and is provided between the first ink chamber and the first outlet port, or/and between the second ink chamber and the second outlet port. Flow resistance from the inlet port to the first outlet port is smaller than flow resistance from the inlet port to the second outlet port.

Abstract: A multi-channel gas vent apparatus for venting gas at ink containers which supply inks to a multi-channel printhead is provided having a body having a sidewalls and an interior surface, discrete chambers defined on one side of the interior surface by internal sidewalls and being sealed within the body, and a compartments defined on the opposite side of the interior surface by internal sidewalls and being sealed within the body. Each chamber is for connection to a gas port of a corresponding one of the ink containers. Each ink container has an ink port connected to a corresponding one of the ink channels. Each compartment is in fluid communication with the external atmosphere. The interior surface in each chamber has a recess in which apertures connect the chambers with one of the compartments through the interior surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing ink droplets generated by bursting bubbles within an ink developer includes a surface directing an ink flow into a channel; and a protrusion within the channel that reduces ink droplets generated by bursting bubbles entrained within the ink flow. An ink developer includes an ink source supplying ink to the ink developer; an electrode which develops a portion of the ink onto a developer roller; and a splash guard which directs an undeveloped ink flow into a channel which has a reduced cross-section area configured to reduce bubbles exiting the channel and bursting.

Abstract: A printer reduces the amount of ink wastefully consumed by purging bubbles from the ink supply path. The printer has a bubble collection unit 35 that holds bubbles in the ink supply path 21 and has at least two ink paths, a first channel 26 and second channel 27, formed in the ink supply path 21 through which ink flows to the nozzles that eject ink droplets. A bubble detection unit 37 detects if the amount of bubbles in the bubble collection unit 35 has reached a specific level. A bubble discharge unit 41 discharges bubbles from the bubble collection unit 35 based on the detection result from the bubble detection unit 37. When the bubble detection unit 37 discharge bubbles from the bubble collection unit 35, ink flows through both the first path and the second path. When printing on a print medium, ink only flows through the first path.

Abstract: A gutter line of a continuous inkjet printer which includes a variable flow restrictor fitted into the gutter line, and a pressure transducer for measuring the pressure in the gutter line downstream of the variable flow restrictor, where the variable flow restrictor is controlled in response to the output of the pressure transducer to maintain a downstream pressure substantially constant. Airflow along the gutter line has a lower flow resistance than a slug of ink. Accordingly, the system responds dynamically to restrict the flow of air along the gutter line when no ink is passing along it, thereby reducing the volume of air sucked along the gutter line while maintaining adequate suction to reliably clear ink away from the gutter so that the amount of solvent lost from the ink is reduced during operation of an inkjet printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head part configured to include plural heads configured to discharge liquid droplets and a head tank provided for the plural heads; a distribution member configured to distribute liquid to the respective heads of the recording head part via the head tank; a circulation path configured to return the liquid to the distribution member from the head tank of the recording head part; an air-liquid separation tank, provided in the circulation path, configured to separate air bubbles and the liquid; a circulation pump, provided in the circulation path, configured to send the liquid from the head tank to the distribution member; and a control part configured to control operations of removing air bubbles contained in the head tanks. The control part is configured to drive the circulation pump intermittently.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus ejecting droplets of a liquid, a valve unit is provided to connect a liquid tank with a discharge flow path connecting the valve unit with a waste liquid tank. The valve unit has a first valve having a communication path, a spring biasing the first valve to open, a valve sheet, and a second valve to open or close the discharge flow path in conjunction with movement of the first valve. When a discharging device is not driven, the first valve maintains an open state while the second valve maintains a close state. When the discharging device is driven, the second valve achieves an open state and air flows through the communication path. When the liquid flows through the communication path, the first valve is moved to achieve a closed state while the second valve maintains the open state, thereby closing the discharge flow path.

Abstract: Approaches to remove objects from ink in an ink jet printer are described. An object separator for an ink jet printer includes one or more inlets configured to allow passage of ink that includes objects such as bubbles and particles into the object separator. The object separator has a number of stacked plates. Some of the plates have curved channels which are connected through other plates that include vias. The plates are arranged to form at least one cyclonic flow generator, the cyclonic flow generator configured to focus the objects into one or more focused flow streams. The object separator includes one or more object outlets that allow objects to exit the object separator and at least one ink outlet that allows the ink to exit the object separator.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device, wherein air can be retained in an ink supply pipe by using a simple structure without applying substantial changes to the inkjet recording device, a variation in an ink supply pressure is mitigated by the retained air, and ink can be ejected with high stability. An inkjet recording device is provided with an inkjet head for ejecting ink, an ink flow path for supplying the ink, which is supplied from an ink supply source, to a pressure chamber of the inkjet head and having at least a portion thereof constructed from an ink supply pipe, and an air retaining member inserted in the ink supply pipe, with the ink allowed to pass through the air retaining member, and retaining air in at least a portion of a space formed between the air retaining member and the inner surface of the ink supply pipe.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead; an ink reservoir containing a supply of ink; and a pressure-regulating chamber for maintaining ink contained therein at a predetermined first level. The chamber includes: an inlet port connected to the ink reservoir via an ink supply line; an outlet port connected to an ink inlet of the printhead via an upstream ink line; an air vent open to atmosphere; and a float valve for maintaining the predetermined first level of ink. The float valve includes: an arm pivotally mounted about a pivot; a float mounted at one end of the arm; and a valve stem attached to the arm, said valve stem having a valve head for closure of a valve seat, the valve seat being positioned at the inlet port of the pressure-regulating chamber.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a head body; and a flow path member having a liquid flow path circulating a liquid, supplied from a liquid storage unit, and a bubble chamber formed in the middle of the liquid flow path and in which air bubbles are caused to stay, wherein a compliance section (a sealing film) displaced according to a volume change in the air bubbles inside the bubble chamber is formed at upstream side of the bubble chamber so that an amount of the volume change in the compliance section due to the displacement of the compliance section is larger than an amount of a volume change in the air bubbles due to a change in the ambient temperature.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus is capable of an operation of removing air bubbles in a recording head that includes the ink supply step, the ink ejection step, and the refilling step. The ink supply step supplies ink to a common flow-passage in the state in which movement of the ink inside a second ink-flow passage is tolerated with an inflow side valve, and movement of the ink inside a third ink-flow passage is restricted with an outflow side valve. The ink ejection step ejects the ink together with the air bubbles inside the common flow-passage from an outflow port into the third ink-flow passage by tolerating movement of the ink inside the third ink-flow passage with the outflow side valve. The refilling step refills the ink in the state in which movement of the ink inside the second ink-flow passage is restricted with the inflow side valve.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus efficiently recovers defective discharge while reducing the amount of waste ink, acquires position information of a defective discharge nozzle and, based on the position information, determines whether the defective discharge has been caused by a bubble or a dust particle, and selects an ink circulation mode or a wiping mode.

Abstract: The inkjet printer can discharge a bubble in an ink flow path while suppressing ink consumption. Ink in an ink tank is supplied to a printing head through a flow path and filter. Bubbles in the flow path and printing head are discharged by applying a negative pressure to an ejection port of the printing head. At this time, after a first negative pressure has been applied to the ejection port with an on/off valve provided between the ink tank and the filter being closed, the on/off valve is opened to discharge the ink from the ejection port. Further, after that, a second negative pressure at a level that makes it difficult for a bubble to pass through the filter is applied to the ejection port to discharge a bubble present at a location, which is closer to the printing head than the filter is to printing head, from the ejection port together with the ink.

Abstract: The droplet ejection head includes: a plurality of droplet ejection units which include ejection ports through which droplets of liquid are ejected, pressure chambers which are connected to the ejection ports through connection channels, drive elements which apply pressure to the liquid in the pressure chambers, supply channels through which the liquid is supplied to the pressure chambers, and return channels through which the liquid is returned from the connection channels; a common supply channel through which the liquid is supplied to the supply channels; and a common return channel through which the liquid is returned from the return channels, the common return channel including a stagnant flow region having a bubble collection section where bubbles are collected, wherein pressure variation occurring in each pressure chamber when ejecting a droplet of the liquid propagates more readily in the common return channel than in the common supply channel.

Abstract: An inkjet carriage printer includes a carriage for transporting an inkjet printhead in a carriage scan direction across the print region in reciprocating fashion, the carriage including an encoder sensor; a linear encoder disposed along the carriage scan direction; and a controller for controlling the motor on the basis of signals provided by the encoder sensor, the controller includes: a first motion control mode for damping carriage vibrations during a period when the carriage is in the print region; and a selectable second motion control mode for dislodging air bubbles for removal from the inkjet printhead, wherein the selectable second motion control mode is configured to decrease damping in order to set the carriage into oscillation.

Abstract: A wide format printer that has an ink supply, a feed line to the ink supply, a return line coupled to the ink supply, and a plurality of printheads collectively spanning a paper path more than 432 mm (17 inches) wide. Each printhead is fluidically coupled to the feed and the return via separate couplings. During printing, the printheads receives ink from both the feed and return lines.

Abstract: In a liquid jetting head unit, a tank case in a head tank includes a first connection path connecting a downstream chamber of the tank case and a discharge path, and a second connection path connecting an upstream chamber of the tank case and the discharge path. The discharge path includes a filter member provided between a first part of the discharge path connected to the first connection path and a second part of the discharge path connected to the second connection path.

Abstract: A method of operating an inkjet printer including an inkjet printhead having an ink inlet, the inkjet printhead mounted on a motor-driven carriage having an encoder sensor, the method including sending a signal from the encoder sensor to a controller to indicate a position of the motor-driven carriage; determining a velocity of the motor-driven carriage; implementing a first motion control mode during a period when the inkjet printhead is printing, wherein the first motion control mode includes a first signal for damping vibrations in order to provide a substantially constant velocity of the carriage; selectively implementing a second motion control mode when the inkjet printhead is not printing, wherein the second motion control mode includes a second signal for enhancing vibrations of the carriage in order to dislodge air bubbles in the printhead; and removing air corresponding to the air bubbles from the printhead.

Abstract: A multi-channel valve apparatus for a multi-channel printhead is provided having ink ports and gas ports defined through a body, first and second pinch elements, and a pinch drive arrangement for selectively moving the first and second pinch elements. Each ink port is configured to receive therethrough a respective one of ink tubes interconnecting ink containers with the printhead. Each gas port is configured to receive therethrough a respective one of gas tubes interconnecting gas vents with the printhead. The first pinch element is moved into and out of pinching contact with the ink tubes so as to respectively block and allow fluid flow through the ink tubes. The second pinch element is moved into and out of pinching contact with the gas tubes so as to respectively block and allow fluid flow through the gas tubes.

Abstract: Approaches to remove objects from ink in an ink jet printer are described. An object separator for an ink jet printer includes one or more inlets configured to allow passage of ink that includes objects such as bubbles and particles into the object separator. The object separator has a number of stacked plates. Some of the plates have curved channels which are connected through other plates that include vias. The plates are arranged to form at least one cyclonic flow generator, the cyclonic flow generator configured to focus the objects into one or more focused flow streams. The object separator includes one or more object outlets that allow objects to exit the object separator and at least one ink outlet that allows the ink to exit the object separator.

Abstract: A method of reducing air in an ink passageway in an inkjet printer by pressurizing a thermally actuated degassing unit that includes an air chamber, venting air through a check valve configured to allow air to vent from the air chamber to ambient when the pressure in the air chamber exceeds ambient air pressure by a predetermined amount The pressurizing is performed by heating an element inside the air chamber. A power supply is connected to the heating element, and power is applied to the heating element during a first time interval to increase the pressure in the air chamber above ambient pressure. Gas is vented from the check valve which allows the heating element to cool during a second time interval to reduce the pressure in the air chamber below ambient pressure. Gas is then drawn from the ink passageway through the membrane into the air chamber.

Abstract: A method of extracting air from an inkjet printhead includes using an air extraction chamber connected to the printhead. The air extraction chamber comprises an air chamber, a one-way relief valve having open and closed positions used in venting of the air chamber. A piston in the form of a disk is provided to vent a quantity of air from the air chamber through the one-way relief valve when it's pushed through a cylinder. The piston is moved in an opposite direction through the cylinder so that a reduced air pressure is applied to the printhead when the one-way relief valve is in its closed position.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly comprising an array of nozzles fed by a corresponding ink inlet. An ink chamber corresponding to the array of nozzles is fluidly connected to the ink inlet. An air extraction chamber includes an air chamber, a one-way relief valve having an open position that allows venting of the air chamber to ambient, and a closed position that does not allow venting of the air chamber to ambient. A piston in the form of a disk forces air to be vented from the air chamber through the one-way relief valve in its open position. It also applies a reduced air pressure to a membrane while the one-way relief valve is in its closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes a liquid jet head; a container main body; an air opening mechanism configured to open and close an air opening path in the container main body. The air opening mechanism includes a holding part, and an opening member movably provided at the holding part. The opening member includes an air communicating path, a filter member, and an air room. An opening cross-sectional area of the air room in a direction perpendicular to an air flow-in direction is greater than an opening cross-sectional area of the air communicating path in a direction perpendicular to an air flow-in direction.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead having a drop ejector array, an ink passageway for providing ink to the drop ejector array, and a thermally actuated degassing unit. The degassing unit itself includes a body enclosing an air chamber, a check valve configured to allow air to vent from the air chamber to ambient when the pressure in the air chamber exceeds ambient air pressure by a predetermined amount. The thermal degassing unit includes a thermally-induced pressure build-up time to increase the pressure in the air chamber. The air chamber is allowed to cool which causes internal pressure to drop below ambient and draws gas out of the ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plural heads each having a nozzle configured to discharge a droplet of a recording fluid; a distributing member to which the plural heads are attached, the distributing member having an inlet portion, a supply channel portion, and a common fluid chamber communicated with the inlet portion and configured to supply the recording fluid to the plural heads; and a fluid containing unit configured to supply the recording fluid to the distributing member via the inlet portion and the supply channel portion. The distributing member includes a flow-directing wall disposed between the supply channel portion and the common fluid chamber.

Abstract: A liquid jet head has an actuator with grooves arranged on a surface of a substrate. The actuator is configured to discharge liquid from nozzles communicating with respective ones of the grooves. A flow path member supplies the liquid to the grooves of the actuator. A damper member is provided between the actuator and the flow path member for coupling the actuator and the flow path member to each other. The damper member is bonded with an adhesive to each of the actuator and the flow path member.