Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an ink jet recording head utilizing ink bubbling by heating of an exothermic resistor to thereby eject ink and a method manufacturing the same, including the steps of: preparing a substrate provided with the exothermic resistor; applying such first resin on the substrate as to provide a first mold shape for forming the nozzle channel and the movable member; forming the first mold shape using the first resin; applying, on the substrate, second resin over the first mold shape for forming the nozzle channel and the movable member; and removing the first mold shape. By this method, the movable member is formed in the nozzle channel between the ink inlet and the exothermic resistor to thereby provide a high-density, high-accuracy ink jet recording head which can improve a frequency response while maintaining proper discharge performance.

Abstract: An ink jet print head comprises a substrate formed with a heating resistor, an ink path defining member for defining an ink supply path, and a orifice plate, and in the orifice plate, there is formed an ink outlet at the position opposing the heating resistor. Further, a heating zone surrounding the heating resistor is formed at the position corresponding to the heating resistor of the ink supply path. The channel resistance of the ink supply path is set so that a relationship is established between a quantity q of the discharged ink drop, a sectional area A of the ink outlet, and a maximal projection h that a meniscus of the ink has when it projects from the ink outlet after it has restored the exit level from a retreat position it had after the drop of the ink had been discharged, such that 0<h<0.3 q/A. Consequently, there is obtained a high-speed printing of high quality without dispersion.

Abstract: A method for eliminating reflected waves from a vibrating diaphragm surface within an acoustic chamber of an inkjet printer piezo-crystal driver. The first step involves generating an electro-acoustical driven pressure waveform from the piezo-crystal driver, the diaphragm initially acting on ink to release it, wherein the waveform is reflected from a nozzle plate disposed remotely from the diaphragm. Further steps include determining an instant when the reflected pressure waveform returns to the diaphragm surface and producing a matched pulse waveform causing a reverse motion in the diaphragm exactly at that instant, whereby the reverse motion reverses the initial diaphragm action, such that the matched pulse waveform absorbs and eliminates the reflected pressure waveform at the exact instant.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head that is capable of avoiding damages due to cavitation of an electrothermal converting element and thus extending its life is provided. The ink jet recording head comprises a plurality of ink discharge ports for discharging ink; a plurality of electrothermal converting elements provided to be associated with each of the ink discharge ports, respectively, for bubbling and discharging the ink; a plurality of pressure chambers for containing the electrothermal converting elements and providing spaces for heating and bubbling the ink; a common liquid chamber for supplying ink to the plurality of pressure chambers; and a plurality of ink flow paths for communicating the pressure chambers with the common liquid chamber. The ink flow paths are arranged such that central lines in a direction of ink supply to the pressure chambers are positioned offset from central lines of the electrothermal converting elements in the same direction.

Abstract: A fluid supply arrangement for a micro-electromechanical device includes a fluid supply unit that is connectable to the micro-electromechanical device with a suitable fluid distribution device. The fluid supply unit has a housing that defines at least one elongate storage chamber, for holding fluid for supply to said fluid distribution device, and a series of baffles spaced along the storage chamber. The baffles extend transversely so that consecutive baffles and the housing define a series of chamber portions. Each chamber portion is in fluid communication with a respective fluid inlet of the fluid distribution device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for constructing filter type features capable of entrapping particle contaminants to eliminate printing defects. These techniques utilize photo-imageable barrier material to fabricate various shapes and forms to reduce feature sizes. Several of these techniques utilize barrier material of height less than barrier materials used to fabricate ink feed channels and firing chamber walls. Another variation describes creation of a filter mesh from two layers of reduced height barrier materials.

Abstract: A printhead including a printhead substrate having at least one opening formed in a first surface to provide a fluid path through the substrate. The printhead further includes a thin film membrane formed on a second surface of the substrate. The thin film membrane includes a plurality of fluid ejection elements and has a floating section and a cantilevered section, which are detached and separated from one another by a gap.

Abstract: An ink print head has an ink container for storing fluid, a chip installed at a bottom of the ink container having a central slot for passing fluid, and a dry film formed on the chip having a plurality of ink chambers. The ink print head also has a nozzle plate formed below the dry film, a middle portion of the nozzle plate protruding above the nozzle plate so as to form a central refill chamber, a plurality of nozzles corresponding to the ink chambers of the dry film, and a plurality of heaters set on the chip for heating fluid inside the ink chambers so that the fluid can be ejected from the nozzles of the nozzle plate. The fluid inside the ink container will flow through the central slot into the central refill chamber and then into the ink chambers.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead and a manufacturing method thereof. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate, a substantially cylindrical ink chamber storing ink and formed in an upper portion of the substrate, and a manifold supplying ink to the ink chamber in a bottom portion of the substrate, a channel-forming layer disposed between the ink chamber and the manifold and having an ink channel communicating between the ink chamber and the manifold, a nozzle plate stacked on the substrate and having a nozzle at a location corresponding to the central part of the ink chamber, a heater formed to surround the nozzle of the nozzle plate, and electrodes electrically connected to the heater to supply current to the heater. Therefore, the quantity of ink stored in an ink chamber can be increased. Also, when bubbles grow, the cylindrical ink chamber confines an ink flow area to ink ejectors, thereby reducing a back flow of the ink.

Abstract: An ink supply unit for supplying separate color inks to a portable ink jet print head, the ink supply unit including: a slot for insertion of the printhead; a series of elongated chambers for the storage of the separate color inks, the chambers being interconnected with the slot for the supply of ink to the printhead; a series of conductive rails along the outside of the ink supply unit, each conductive rail interconnected to a power supply at a series of points along the conductive rail; a tape automated bonding strip along the outside of the ink supply unit having a series of control lines along one surface thereof for mating with a corresponding external series of control lines, the tape automated bonding strip further having a repeating series of interconnects to the printhead, the interconnects interconnecting the control lines and the conductive rails to the printhead. The unit can be detachable from the power supply and the external series of control lines.

Abstract: Acoustic filters for use in an ink jet print head are disclosed. The ink jet print head defines a plurality of operating plates held together in a superimposed relationship forming an ink jet print head defining a plurality of ink manifolds, ink inlets, ink drop-forming orifices and a plurality of acoustic filters. The acoustic filters are a plurality of compliant areas connected by an acoustic filter constriction aperture and a plurality of separate compliant areas all connected to ink manifolds for suppressing unwanted frequencies during print modes.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording head comprising a printing head unit which has one or more discharge portions for discharging one or more types of fluids for printing, a tank holder unit in which one or more tanks for storing one or more types of fluids to be discharged by the printing head unit are loaded, and a fluid supply path which is formed in the tank holder unit and communicates with the printing head unit and the tank, wherein a buffer chamber for keeping gas is connected to the fluid supply path.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus and method are described for accurately and reliably depositing biological materials on a microscope slide or other substrate. A preferred implementation includes a first mounting assembly that enables rotation of deposit elements around a first axis perpendicular to the substrate surface using one or more bearing surfaces concentric with the first axis. A second mounting assembly enables rotation of the deposit elements around a second axis parallel to the depositing surface, and a third mounting assembly enables rotation of the deposit elements around a third axis that is parallel to the depositing surface and perpendicular to the second axis. Various types of deposit elements may be used, such as pins, quills, or jetting elements.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand ink jet printing system includes an ink channel having a nozzle orifice through which ink droplets are ejected when ink in the ink channel is subjected to a momentary positive pressure wave. An ink feed passage opens into the ink channel to transport ink into the channel from an ink reservoir. A selectively-actuated valve, associated with the ink feed passage, restricts the flow of ink through the ink feed passage when actuated. The valve is actuated in timed association with the momentary pressure wave, whereby flow of ink past the valve from the ink channel towards the reservoir is inhibited.

Abstract: Ink feeding circuit device for a raster drawing machine comprising an ink jet printing head 1 moving in x and y direction over the drawing plane 20 of the drawing machine 10 and comprising a feed circuit including an ink supply reservoir 2 connected with the ink jet printing head 1 by a conduit 31 which communicates with a gas damper 9.

Abstract: Volume of fluid feed channels is adjusted for drop generators that are staggered with respect to a feed edge. In one embodiment, barrier islands are positioned, sized, and/or shaped to adjust the volume. In another embodiment, protrusions or walls thereof are positioned to adjust the volume.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead is provided with a high nozzle packing density. The printhead has ink feed holes for each firing chamber that are individually tuned such that the pressure drop from the reservoir to the firing chamber is held constant for all firing chambers on said printhead.

Abstract: Disadvantages relating to ink refill specific to an increase in a number of ink ejection openings in an ink jet print head is eliminated to provide a particularly excellent fast-response capability and ejection performance. More specifically, when an ink is supplied to a liquid chamber via an ink supply path and an ink supply opening formed in a support member and a print element substrate in a print head, and is then ejected from ejection openings, a pressure of an ink effected upon the ejection is transmitted to the ink supply path. This pressure, however, can be absorbed by air chambers via communication paths to reduce adverse effects of the pressure on ink refill in the liquid path after the ejection. In this case, since the air chambers and other components are structured to be closed with respect to the atmosphere, problems such as an increase in viscosity which are associated with communication of the air chambers and other components with the atmosphere can be prevented.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer for printing an image on a receiver and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head defining a first chamber and a second chamber therein. The first chamber contains a working fluid and the second chamber contains an ink body. A flexible membrane separates the first chamber and the second chamber. A first transducer is disposed in the first chamber and is in communication with the working fluid for inducing a first pressure wave in the working fluid that in turn flexes the membrane into the second chamber. When the membrane flexes into the second chamber, the membrane transmits the first pressure wave into the second chamber, so as to pressurizes the ink body. When the ink body is pressurized, an ink drop is ejected from the second chamber through an outlet that is in communication with the second chamber.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording head, an ink pool has a main flow path communicating with an ink supply port and a plurality of branch flow paths branching from the main flow path. Each ejector has a pressure chamber, a pressure generating unit and a nozzle. The pressure chamber communicates with the corresponding one of the branch flow paths. The pressure generating unit generates a pressure wave in ink charged into the pressure chamber. The nozzle ejects the ink from the pressure chamber compressed by the pressure wave. At least one wall surface forming each of the branch flow paths is formed of a damper member elastically deformable in accordance with the change of pressure in the branch flow path.

Abstract: An ink jet print head has plural electrothermal converting elements for generating energy used to discharge an ink droplet, plural ink discharging ports arranged above the electrothermal converting elements and discharging the ink droplet, plural ink flowing paths respectively communicated with the plural ink discharge ports and internally including the electrothermal converting elements, a substrate for arranging the plural electrothermal converting elements in a columnar shape and having an ink supplying port constructed by a through port which is connected with the ink flowing paths and extends along an arranging direction of the electrothermal converting elements, and a discharging port plate having the ink discharge ports. The ink flowing paths are formed between the substrate and the discharging port plate by junctioning the discharging port plate onto the substrate.

Abstract: This present invention is embodied in a low-cost printing system including a printhead and an ink composition that provides photographic-quality resolution. The printhead of the present invention includes a high-density array of drop generators that eject ink drops having a low drop weight and that operate at a high frequency. Further, high-resistance firing resistors are used to provide minimum energy dissipation and the firing resistors are preferably thin-film resistors to ensure that a minimal amount of energy is needed to eject ink drops. The stability of the ink drop volume is maintained by including an overdamped structure within the ink drop generators that allow the ink chambers to fill up with ink slowly. The ink composition of the present invention includes an ink additive that prevents decel from occurring during sustained high-frequency printing bursts.

Abstract: An apparatus for using the bubble as a virtual valve to eject ink comprises a chamber, orifice, and heaters. The chamber, having a top surface and a bottom surface, is connected to the ink reservoir by a manifold. Two heaters, connected in series to a common electrode, are located on the bottom surface of the chamber. One heater having higher resistance is positioned adjacent to the manifold, and the other heater having lower resistance is positioned away from the manifold. When an electrical pulse is applied to activate the heaters, the heater close to the manifold heats up first, and generates a first bubble to isolate the ink flow between the chamber and manifold, thereby reducing the effects of cross talk. Subsequently, the heater away from the manifold generates the second bubble to pressurize the ink in the chamber with the first bubble, and the ink is ejected through the orifice. Then, the first bubble collapses, and breaks the isolation between the manifold and the chamber.

Abstract: A head chip has a front face formed with nozzle orifices, and a rear face formed with at least one ink inlet. A damping chamber forming member is laminated on the rear face of the head chip. The damping chamber forming member has at least one damping chamber for dampening pressure fluctuation occurred therein, and an ink supply port for supplying ink from the damping chamber to the head chip through the ink inlet.

Abstract: A boundary nozzle which is contained in a block that has not been driven and is situated at the boundary with a driving block that is driven prior to the block containing the boundary nozzle contains a second stopper which has a length in a liquid flow direction longer than that of a first stopper contained in a driving nozzle in the driving block that is driven prior. A near-boundary nozzle adjacent to the boundary nozzle has a third stopper which has a length in a liquid flow direction longer than that of the first stopper but shorter than the second stopper. Thus, recording irregularities owing to meniscus regression are suppressed.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a plurality of nozzles constituting a row of nozzles, a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink, corresponding to the plurality of nozzles, the discharge ports communicating with the nozzles, respectively, an energy generating device for generating energy for discharging the ink from the discharge ports, a common liquid compartment in communication with the plurality of nozzles constituting the row of nozzles, a first filter provided at an end of at least one nozzle of the row of nozzles, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment, and a second filter that is provided at an end of a nozzle other than the nozzle provided with the first filter and that has a flow resistance lower than that of the first filter, the end being adjacent to the common liquid compartment.

Abstract: Acoustic filters for use in an ink jet print head are disclosed. The ink jet print head defines a plurality of operating plates held together in a superimposed relationship forming an ink jet print head defining a plurality of ink manifolds, ink inlets, ink drop-forming orifices and a plurality of acoustic filters. The acoustic filters are a plurality of compliant areas connected by an acoustic filter constriction aperture and a plurality of separate compliant areas all connected to ink manifolds for suppressing unwanted frequencies during print modes.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing ink to an ink jet print head. The apparatus includes a back pressure regulator for receiving ink from an ink reservoir and for delivering ink to the print head. The regulator has a compliant wall that responds to atmospheric pressure on one side and to the pressure of the ink in the regulator on the another side. Within the regulator is a valve that regulates the pressure of the ink delivered to the print head and is actuated by the wall. Also within the regulator is a compression spring that simultaneously pre-loads the valve shut and urges the compliant wall against the atmospheric pressure. In an other aspect, an apparatus is provided with a print head having two arrays of nozzles and two back pressure regulators that independently deliver inks of different hues to separate arrays of nozzles on the print head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid discharge head that comprises: a heat generator that generates a thermal energy for generating a bubble in a liquid; a discharge part as a portion to discharge the liquid; a flow path communicating with the discharge part and having a bubble generation region in which the bubble is generated; a movable member having a free end and is displaced with the growth of the bubble; and a restricting portion to define a displacement amount of the movable member, in which the flow path is formed by joining a substantially flat substrate provided with the heat generator the movable member and a top plate opposing to the substrate and including the restricting portion, and the liquid is discharged from the discharge part by an energy during generation of the bubble, in which the clearance between at least one sidewall of the flow path and the side edge portion of the restricting portion is larger than the clearance between the sidewall and the side edge portion of the movable member.

Abstract: This present invention is embodied in a low-cost printing system including a printhead and an ink composition that provides photographic-quality resolution. The printhead of the present invention includes a high-density array of drop generators that eject ink drops having a low drop weight and that operate at a high frequency. Further, high-resistance firing resistors are used to provide minimum energy dissipation and the firing resistors are preferably thin-film resistors to ensure that a minimal amount of energy is needed to eject ink drops. The stability of the ink drop volume is maintained by including an overdamped structure within the ink drop generators that allow the ink chambers to fill up with ink slowly. The ink composition of the present invention includes an ink additive that prevents decel from occurring during sustained high-frequency printing bursts.

Abstract: A fluid drop ejecting apparatus including a thin film stack including a plurality of heater resistors formed on a substrate having a feed edge, a patterned fluid barrier layer disposed on the thin film stack, respective fluid chambers formed in the barrier layer over respective heater resistors, fluid feed features formed in the barrier layer between the fluid feed edge and the ink chambers, and a thin film metal structure in a metal layer of the thin film stack and located between the ink feed edge and the fluid chambers.

Abstract: A microstructured element comprising a transparent substrate-having a major surface; an opaque layer formed in a certain pattern on the major surface of the transparent substrate; and a microstructured layer formed on or above the major surface of the transparent substrate in a pattern corresponding to the certain pattern of the opaque layer. The microstructured layer includes a slanted lateral face extending along an edge of the opaque layer in a direction intersecting the major surface at an oblique angle. The microstructured element is produced through the steps of providing a photosensitive layer entirely on the major surface of the transparent substrate and the opaque layer; exposing the photosensitive layer to light transmitted through the transparent substrate from a back surface opposite to the major surface at an oblique angle with the major surface; and developing the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a discharge port and a liquid passage provided with bubble-generating means and a movable member. The liquid passage has one side which is closed, and one side which communicates with the discharge port and with a liquid supply port. The movable member has a free end on the closed side of the liquid passage and a fulcrum on the other side. The bubble-generating means is disposed on a wall of the liquid passage facing the free end of the movable member and facing a wall in which the liquid supply port is provided. The movable member is separated from the discharge port by a gap in the liquid passage corresponding to the bubble-generating means. The projected area of the movable member on the liquid supply port is larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port.

Abstract: The ink outlet of a pressure damper connects reliably to the ink supply inlet of an ink-jet print head even if there are dimensional variations in the molded parts of the print head unit. A print head unit 10 includes an ink-jet print head 12 with an ink supply inlet 14; a carriage 11 for holding the ink-jet head 12; a pressure damper 21 for absorbing pressure variation in the ink supplied to the ink-jet print head; and a case 20 for housing the pressure damper 21. The pressure damper 21 is supported inside case 20 in the connect/disconnect direction of the ink outlet 22 to the ink supply inlet 14. A spring 31 pushes against the pressure damper 21 so that the ink outlet 22 is press fit to ink supply inlet 14.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a discharge port for discharging liquid, a liquid flow path communicating therewith and provided with a heat generating member for generating bubbles by heating the liquid, and a common liquid chamber for retaining the liquid to be supplied to the liquid flow path. A narrowed portion is provided in the liquid flow path between the common liquid chamber and the heat generating member. Between the narrowed portion and the heat generating member, a displaceable plate type movable member is provided. The movable member stands up from the surface of the liquid flow path having the heat generating member, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the liquid supplying direction. A first gap is provided between the narrowed portion and the movable member, and a second gap is provided between a free end of the movable member and a ceiling of the liquid flow path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pigmented fluid delivery system for an inkjet printing system. The pigmented fluid delivery system comprises a first printer component and at least a second printer component. The first printer component has a fluid outlet in fluid communication with a supply of pigmented fluid defined by particles suspended in a carrier fluid. The second printer component has a fluid inlet releasably connectable to the fluid outlet of the first printer component. The fluid inlet includes a filter compatible with the supply of pigmented fluid. The filter is an open weave screen defining a plurality of pores. The pores are sized to allow passage of the pigmented fluid while preventing clogging from flocculation of the particles and evaporation of the carrier fluid.

Abstract: An ink-jet system has an ink channel between an ink reservoir and a nozzle, and an electromechanical transducer which comprises an expansible member arranged adjacent to the ink channel for abruptly reducing the volume of the ink channel in order to eject an ink droplet through the nozzle. The depth of a portion of the ink channel between the expansible member and the nozzle is larger than both the depth of the portion adjacent to the expansible member and the height of the nozzle.

Abstract: A firing chamber configuration for the drop ejectors of inkjet printheads extends the life of the heat transducer by ensuring that bubble collapse (and attendant cavitation) occurs at a location well spaced from the heat transducer. The sidewalls of the firing chamber are shaped relative to the firing chamber entry in a manner such that a strong jet of inflow ink is provided for moving the collapsing vapor bubble from the center of the chamber and against a curved back wall of the firing chamber. In one preferred embodiment, the refill ink impinges on the back wall, divides, and is redirected away from the back wall toward pockets defined in chamber. The pockets are remote from the heat transducer. As a result, the refill ink urges the collapsing (bifurcated) bubble into the pockets where final collapse occurs away from the heat transducer.

Abstract: A printhead apparatus and method has a plurality of ink drop generators coupled to a source of ink. Each ink drop generator includes an orifice with a corresponding ink firing chamber and a heating resistor, and a single ink feed channel coupling the firing chamber to the source of ink. The geometry of the ink drop generator relative to the heating resistor is selected to introduce an asymmetry to create a rotational component in the ink fluid velocity following a drop ejection. This swirl, in turn changes the location or intensity of the steam bubble, lessening the damage this collapse causes on the resistor, and thereby increasing the resistor life for the printhead. The asymmetry can be the shifting of a pinch point in the ink flow channel relative to the centerline of the channel, by offsetting of the ink flow channel, or by introducing the asymmetry by the relative location of the orifice or firing chamber relative to the firing resistor.

Abstract: An inkjet recording head can compensate the drop volume change of ink droplets due to the cutting position deviation caused when nozzles are formed by cutting and can eject ink droplets having a constant drop volume stably regardless of the flow passage length. In manufacturing the head, less manufacturing processes are required and generation of off-specification products is suppressed, and the product is manufactured at low cost. The inkjet recording head is provided with individual flow passages having a pressure generation part with a pressure generation plane positioned in parallel to the flow of ink supplied in the nozzle direction having a nozzle at each end, which nozzle ejects ink droplets in the direction perpendicular to the normal line of the pressure generation plane.

Abstract: An ink supply unit for supplying a printhead containing an array of ink ejection nozzles, the supply unit including a first member formed having dimensions refined to a first accuracy and having a first cavity defined therein, a second member in the form of an ink distribution manifold having a second cavity defined therein, the second cavity being adapted for the insertion of a printhead, the second member being configured to engage the first cavity in the first member so as to define one or more chambers for the supply of ink to ink supply passages formed in the printhead, the second member being formed having dimensions refined to a second accuracy which is higher than the first accuracy. Preferably, the printhead is in the form of a printhead chip configured for use in a pagewidth inkjet printer.

Abstract: An inkjetting apparatus includes a nozzle module, a driving module, and a membrane. The nozzle module includes an ink chamber for reserving ink, and a nozzle hole for permitting ink in the ink chamber to be jetted therethrough. The driving module includes a working fluid chamber, and a heater located in the working fluid chamber. The membrane serves as a partition between the ink chamber and the working fluid chamber. The membrane includes an ink injecting hole for interconnecting an ink injecting passage through which the ink is fed from an external ink source, with the working fluid chamber, and an interconnecting hole for interconnecting the working fluid chamber with the ink chamber to permit ink in the working fluid chamber to be fed into the ink chamber. The ink injecting hole and/or the interconnecting hole have neck modules for narrowing the ink injecting hole and/or the interconnecting hole to a size smaller than the inner diameters of the ink chamber and the working fluid chamber, respectively.

Abstract: A structure includes a first substrate and a second substrate defining a fluid channel. A microvalve is formed on the first or second substrate. The microvalve includes a flap that is flexed by pressure exerted on the flap by the vapor on the fluid in the channel to prevent the fluid from flowing into portions of the channel. The microvalves can be formed in ink jet print heads. The microvalves can be formed in semiconductor materials by simplified methods utilizing a reduced number of masking levels.

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: In a liquid ejection head comprising a plurality of opened liquid flow passages arranged side by side and communicating with ejection orifices through which a liquid is ejected, and thermal energy generating elements for generating thermal energy utilized to eject the liquid through the ejection orifices and generating bubbles in the liquid, at least one closed liquid flow passage closed at one end corresponding to the ejection orifice is provided in at least one end side of the plurality of opened liquid flow passages communicating with the ejection orifices. Since the closed liquid flow passage is not communicated with open air, the liquid is relatively hard to flow into the closed liquid flow passage. Accordingly, a bubble having the function of absorbing a liquid vibration caused upon ejection of the liquid is formed to extend from the interior of the closed liquid flow passage rearward. Vibrations of liquid meniscuses at the ejection orifices can be suppressed with the presence of the bubble.

Abstract: An ink jet printer uses an ink tank storing ink to be supplied to a print head, an ink tube, an ink chamber mounted on a carriage to store ink to be supplied from the ink tank to the print head, and a connecting member that includes an ink outflow port connected to the ink chamber and an ink inflow port where ink flows from the ink tube. At an intersection of the ink inflow port and the ink outflow port, a direction of a flow of ink from the ink inflow port is changed. Further at the intersection, a cushion is provided to absorb pressure waves generated in the ink tube on an extended line in an initial direction where ink flows in the ink passage over the intersection.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber for connection within an ink supply line which is connected so as to supply ink from a stationary ink reservoir to at least one moving inkjet print head. The shock absorber includes a conduit having at least one wall defining an inlet, an outlet and a contained volume. At least part of the wall is readily deformed by variations in a pressure differential across the part of the wall so as to vary the contained volume. The shock absorber also includes a collapse prevention element, deployed within the conduit, which is configured to prevent deformation of the part of the wall in a manner which would obstruct passage through the conduit from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: An ink flow path of improved structure in an ink jet printer head includes a first ink channel formed at a right angle to an ink supply path in parallel relation with an ink chamber, a second ink channel formed at a right angle to the first ink channel in parallel relation with the ink supply path across the ink chamber, and a third ink channel connecting the second ink channel to a rear side of the ink chamber of which front side faces the ink supply path. Accordingly, a backflow of ink is prevented during the ink discharge through a nozzle hole, thus print quality is improved.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead composed of: a reservoir storing a quantity of printing ink, an ink manifold defining an ink supply volume in communication with the reservoir for holding a supply of ink received from the reservoir and a plurality of individually controlled ink jet delivery channels, each of the channels having an ink drop ejection transducer and an orifice to eject successive ink drops on demand in response to pressure pulses produced by the transducer, and each of the channels being in communication with the ink supply volume for receiving ink from the ink supply volume. The manifold is constructed to give the ink supply volume a large acoustic compliance to minimize propagation of pressure disturbances in the ink supply volume and acoustic signal crosstalk between the channels.

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.