40th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 30 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090244137 | Printing apparatus - A printing apparatus forms dots of special ink and dots of ordinary ink on a printing medium, at least some of the dots of ordinary ink being superimposed on the dots of special ink, or the dots of special ink being superimposed on at least some of the dots of ordinary ink. The printing apparatus includes a head, a transport mechanism, and a print control section. The head has at least one special ink nozzle that ejects the special ink and at least one ordinary ink nozzle that ejects the ordinary ink. The transport mechanism transports the printing medium relative to the head. The print control section controls the head and the transport mechanism, thereby printing an image on the printing medium using the special ink and the ordinary ink. The at least one special ink nozzle and the at least one ordinary ink nozzle are offset from each other along the direction in which the printing medium is transported and are arranged in the order in which the dots of special ink and the dots of ordinary ink are superimposed. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244138 | RECORDING HEAD, DROPLET DISCHARGE DEVICE AND DROPLET DISCHARGE METHOD - A recording head includes plural nozzle groups and a second nozzle. Each of the nozzle groups includes plural nozzles that respectively form dots, which make up an image, on a recording medium by discharging droplets. The nozzles are arranged in a straight line that is inclined with respect to a main scan direction at a predetermined angle. The plural nozzle groups are arranged in a sub scan direction such that intervals in the sub scan direction between nozzles adjacent in the sub scan direction are substantially identical and positions in the sub scan direction of nozzles belonging to the respective nozzle groups are substantially aligned. The second nozzle is disposed at a substantially central portion in the main scan direction between adjacent nozzles of nozzle groups adjacent in the sub scan direction so as not to overlap with any other nozzle in the main scan direction. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244139 | LIQUID DROPLET EJECTING APPARATUS - An object of the invention is to provide a liquid droplet ejecting apparatus capable of determining a type of droplet to be ejected through each nozzle at an arbitrary ejection timing, with consideration of not only an influence of droplet ejections at preceding and following ejection timings, but also crosstalk between a nozzle column and another nozzle column. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244140 | PRINTING METHOD, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM, AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing method etc. capable of suppressing degradation in image quality of border sections between regions respectively printed by a plurality of nozzle rows that eject ink droplets is achieved. The printing method includes a step of setting, when at least two print heads that move in a movement direction intersecting a carrying direction and that include a plurality of nozzle rows each including a plurality of nozzles arranged in the carrying direction are moved in the movement direction, one ejecting method, of among a plurality of ejecting methods in which the nozzles for actually ejecting ink droplets are appropriately changed between an upstream-side nozzle and a downstream-side nozzle, for each of a plurality of aligned nozzle sections that are arranged such that the downstream-side nozzle of one print head and the upstream-side nozzle of the other print head, of the nozzle rows provided in different print heads, are aligned in the movement direction; and a step of ejecting ink droplets from the aligned nozzle sections according to the one ejecting method that has been set. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244141 | Orifice health detection device - An orifice health detection device includes a fixed array of ink ejecting orifices, the ink ejecting orifices configured to eject at least one ink drop, a light source that produces a light beam configured to scatter light from the at least one ejected ink drop, and a light detector configured to detect light scattered from the at least one ejected ink drop. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244142 | Water Based Ink For Ink-Jet Recording, Ink Cartridge, Ink-Jet Recording Apparatus, Method of Evaluating Water-Based Ink for Ink-Jet Recording, and Method of Producing Water-Based Ink for Ink-Jet Recording - A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a coloring agent, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent. In the water-based ink after drying, a phase (δ) obtained by a tan δ measured at about 25° C. is constantly about 45 degrees or more. In other words, the phase (δ) never becomes less than about 45 degrees at a strain amount of about 0.1% to about 100%. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244143 | INKJET PRINTER AND METHOD THEREOF FOR REGULATING PRINTING REGION - An inkjet printer and a method thereof for regulating a printing region are disclosed. The above-mentioned inkjet printer includes a paper-feeding device, a detecting device, a printer controller and an ink-jetting device. As the paper-feeding device feeds a paper, the detecting device detects the skew angle of the paper, and then, the printer controller expands the printing region for printing according to the skew angle of the paper and a look up table. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244144 | Liquid coating method, liquid coating device, and method of manufacturing radiation detector - The liquid coating method includes the step of ejecting droplets from nozzles of a recording head onto an imaging region of a surface of a substrate placed on a support plate, wherein a dot pitch φ that is an interval between landing positions of the droplets on the surface of the substrate satisfies a following condition: | 2009-10-01 |
20090244145 | RECORDING METHOD - A method for recording an image based on image data in a recording region of a recording medium being transported in a predetermined transportation direction includes forming a first reference mark in a recordable region, including the recording region, of the recording medium using a first colored liquid containing a colorant; supplying an uncolored liquid containing no colorant uniformly over the entire recordable region of the recording medium; forming a second reference mark in the recordable region of the recording medium using a second colored liquid containing a colorant; detecting the amount of misalignment between the first reference mark and the second reference mark; calculating the total amount, excluding the content of the colorant, of first colored liquid to be used to record the image based on the image data on the recording medium for each unit area of the recording region of the recording medium. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244146 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS - The image forming method forms an image on a medium by using ink and treatment liquid. The ink contains coloring material and thermoplastic resin particles in a solvent, and the treatment liquid contains a component which aggregates the coloring material. The image forming method includes: a treatment liquid deposition step of depositing the treatment liquid onto the medium to form a treatment liquid film on the medium; an ink droplet deposition step of ejecting and depositing droplets of the ink onto the medium to form an ink film on the medium on which the treatment liquid film has been formed; and an ink film drying step of heating and drying the ink film under conditions where T2009-10-01 | |
20090244147 | INK JET RECORDING APPARATUS - An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet head in which nozzles ejecting aqueous pigment ink in accordance with gradation are arrayed, a sub scanning driving unit which carries a recording medium having an image formed thereon with the ink, a heating unit which selectively heats an area divided into an integral multiple of a minimum recording pixel in the recording medium, and a heating control unit which determines presence and absence of an image based on image information recorded to the recording medium, and controls the heating unit. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244148 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head disposed on a transport path of a target to eject a liquid from nozzles at a nozzle forming surface, a liquid receptor transport unit transporting a liquid receptor for receiving the liquid ejected from the nozzles as a waste liquid such that the liquid receptor passes through a position opposite the nozzle forming surface on the transport path, and a control unit controlling a liquid ejection timing from the nozzles of the liquid ejecting head such that, when the liquid receptor to be transported by the liquid receptor transport unit passes through the position opposite the nozzle forming surface, the liquid is ejected from the nozzles within a predetermined range of liquid receiving area, which is set at a central portion, excluding edge portions in a movement direction, on a surface of the liquid receptor opposite the nozzle forming surface. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244149 | LANDING POSITION DETERMINING METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROCESSING-LIQUID EJECTION NOZZLES, AND INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS - A landing position determining method for processing-liquid ejection nozzles comprises: setting a specified processing liquid deposited pattern; ejecting the processing liquid from the processing-liquid ejection nozzles onto a recording medium to form the processing liquid deposited pattern; depositing the colored ink from a plurality of ink nozzles onto the processing liquid deposited pattern, and recording a plurality of linear colored ink images to form a processing liquid landing position determination pattern on the recording medium; detecting presence/absence of a change in at least one of densities and line widths of the plurality of linear colored ink images in the processing liquid landing position determination pattern, and determining, from at least one of density distribution and line width distribution in a linear colored ink image in which the change is present, a landing position for the processing-liquid ejection nozzle selected as the landing position determination targets. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244150 | IMAGE RECORDING METHOD AND IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - An image recording method comprises the steps of: acquiring first recording characteristic information of recording elements of a recording head by reading a first test pattern formed with ejecting ink droplet from the recording elements; obtaining first density unevenness correction information based on the first recording characteristic information; acquiring second recording characteristic information of the recording element by reading a second test pattern different from the first test pattern formed with ejecting ink droplet from the recording elements; obtaining second density unevenness correction information based on the second recording characteristic information; correcting image data based on the first and second density unevenness correction information to calculate density unevenness-corrected image data; and calculating an ejection pattern of the recording element based on the unevenness-corrected image data. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244151 | Orifice health detection device and method - A method of detecting orifice health includes moving a cap support into a drop detect position wherein a light source mounted on the cap support is positioned adjacent an array of fluid ejecting orifices, from the light source, projecting a light beam adjacent to the array of fluid ejecting orifices, ejecting at least one fluid drop from the array and through the light beam, and detecting scattered light from the at least one ejected fluid drop. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244152 | PIEZOELECTRIC HEAD INSPECTION DEVICE AND DROPLET JETTING DEVICE - The present invention provides an inspection device for a piezoelectric head. The piezoelectric head includes: a pressure chamber filled with liquid, a liquid supply channel that supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber, a nozzle at which droplets are jetted from the pressure chamber, and a piezoelectric element that applies pressure to the pressure chamber. The inspection device includes: a detection component that, when the piezoelectric element is driven on the basis of a predetermined detection signal, outputs a signal corresponding to behavior of an acoustic vibration system of the piezoelectric head; and a judgment component that, on the basis of the detection signal and the signal outputted by the detection component, judges for a cause of defective ejections at the piezoelectric head. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244153 | Method of calculating correction value and method of discharging liquid - A method of calculating a correction value including: forming a first test pattern on a medium by using a first nozzle group and a second nozzle group and a third nozzle group of a liquid discharging device, forming a second test pattern on the medium, setting the first test pattern in a scanner, setting the second test pattern in the scanner, acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the second nozzle group, and acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the third nozzle group from a read-out result of the second test pattern as a fourth read-out gray scale value, converting the first read-out gray scale value, the second read-out gray scale value, the third read-out gray scale value, and the fourth read-out gray scale value into corrected read-out gray scale values, and calculating a correction value based on the corrected read-out gray scale values. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244154 | Method of calculating correction value and method of discharging liquid - There is provided a method of calculating a correction value. The method includes forming a first test pattern on a medium by using a first nozzle group and a second nozzle group of a liquid discharging device including a nozzle row, in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid is aligned in a predetermined direction, having the first nozzle group, the second nozzle group, and a third nozzle group, forming a second test pattern on the medium by using the second nozzle group and the third nozzle group of the liquid discharging device, setting the first test pattern in a scanner, acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the first nozzle group from a read-out result of the first test pattern as a first read-out gray scale value, and acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the second nozzle group from a read-out result of the first test pattern as a second read-out gray scale value, setting the second test pattern other than the first test pattern in the scanner, acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the second nozzle group from a read-out result of the second test pattern as a third read-out gray scale value, and acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the third nozzle group from a read-out result of the second test pattern as a fourth read-out gray scale value, calculating an average gray scale value that is an average value of the second read-out gray scale value and the third read-out gray scale value, and calculating a correction value of the second nozzle group based on the average gray scale value. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244155 | Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method - A liquid ejecting apparatus for forming a multicolored image on a recording medium includes: a printing head for ejecting a plurality of colors; a head driving section that performs a main scanning for moving the printing head in a main scanning direction; a transporting section that transports the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction crossing the main scanning direction; and a dot control section that controls the head driving section and the transporting section so as to form an image on the recording medium by ejecting the liquids on the recording medium from the nozzle while repeatedly performing the main scanning for moving the printing head in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning for transporting the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244156 | Reduction of dependence of color appearance on light source - A look up table LUT with specific gray reproduction characteristics is used for converting RGB image data to multi-tone data of ink colors. The gray reproduction characteristics of LUT are set such that the color difference ΔE of a gray color area with an arbitrary tone level in the L*a*b* color system is kept at about 4 or less, assuming that the results are observed under two different light sources, such as standard light D50 and standard light A, respectively. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244157 | INKJET PRINTER AND PRINTING METHOD - An inkjet printer including an inkjet head unit having inkjet heads for ejecting UV inks, an UVLED unit having a UVLED for emitting ultraviolet light, and a control unit for controlling the inkjet head unit and the UVLED unit. The control unit controls the inkjet head unit and the UVLED unit to move in the scanning direction, controls the inkjet heads to eject UV inks, and controls the UVLED to emit ultraviolet light of a first light quantity. After that, the control unit controls the inkjet head unit and the UVLED unit to move in the direction opposite to the scanning direction and controls the UVLED to emit ultraviolet light of a second light quantity. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244158 | RECORDING METHOD - A recording method is provided for recording images based on image data on a recording area of a recording medium using a first color liquid and a second color liquid containing coloring material and a colorless liquid not containing the coloring material, the recording medium being transported along a predetermined transport direction, the method including: a consumption amount calculation step of calculating a consumption amount of the first color liquid consumed when recording the images based on the image data on the recording medium, the consumption amount being obtained by subtracting the content of the coloring material from a total consumption amount of the first color liquid, and the consumption amount being calculated for each unit area of the recording area of the recording medium. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244159 | INK JET RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INK JET RECORDING - A first image to be recorded on a first surface is divided into front and rear half regions. Obtained thereafter is front-side ink volume and rear-side ink volume necessary for recording these half regions on the first surface. Among these half regions, the one having more ink volume is recorded in the first place. In the event of recording the rear half region in the first place, the first image is turned upside down and recorded on the first surface of the recording paper being fed in a forward direction. Alternatively, the first image is recorded on the first surface of the recording paper being fed in a backward direction. After the ink has dried on the first surface, the recording paper is reversed back to front and fed in the forward direction, and a second image is recorded on a second surface. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244160 | PRINTER - A printer includes: a print head for ejecting ink on a print medium; a drying portion for blowing hot air to the printed print medium so as to expedite drying of the ink applied on the printed print medium, the drying portion including a blowing amount changing portion changeable a blowing amount of the hot air blown to the print medium; a detecting portion for detecting a feeding speed of the print medium; and a controller unit for controlling the blowing amount changing portion in response to the feeding speed of the print medium detected by the detecting portion. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244161 | INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINT HEAD RECOVERY METHOD - An ink jet printing apparatus and a print head recovery method are provided which effectively execute a preliminary ejection to eject ink not contributing to image printing from nozzle opening of the print head to maintain the ink ejection performance in good condition. The ink in the print head is heated to a first temperature, at which a first preliminary ejection is executed. Then, when the ink temperature falls to a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature, a second preliminary ejection is executed. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244162 | Printhead Controller For Controlling Printhead On Basis Of Thermal Sensors - A printhead controller is provided for supplying dot data to a printhead module having a plurality of nozzles for expelling ink. The printhead module includes a plurality of thermal sensors. Each of the thermal sensors is configured to respond to a temperature at or adjacent at least one of the nozzles. The printhead controller is configured to modify operation of at least some of the nozzles in response to the temperature rising above a first threshold. The printhead module is a thermal inkjet printhead module and each of the nozzles includes a thermal ink ejection mechanism. Each thermal sensor comprises at least part of one of the thermal inkjet mechanisms. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244163 | Drop detection mechanism and a method of use thereof - A drop detection mechanism and method of use thereof is disclosed. In an embodiment, a shaped laser beam is employed to scatter light off of ink drops that are fired from a plurality of nozzles. A low cost, high throughput detector is utilized to detect the individual drops and thereby calculate the drop count, drop velocity and other drop characteristics. Consequently, through the use of the below described embodiments, new levels of print image quality are enabled on a broad range of inkjet printers, including industrial and web printers. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244164 | Method Of Printing An Indication Of Defective Printing, An Inkjet Printer, A Printer Driver, And A Defective Printing Notification Method - A method of printing an indication of defective printing can print a defective printing mark indicating that printing was not completed normally on a printout containing unprinted or missing dots. When printing one page of print data on recording paper is completed but before a paper discharge command indicating a page break (step ST | 2009-10-01 |
20090244165 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image formation device that inspects for image irregularities caused by joining of inkjet head modules. The image formation device is equipped with a belt conveyance unit, a recording head, a print sensor and a system controller. The belt conveyance unit moves paper in a conveyance direction. At the recording head, modules including plural recording elements that eject ink droplets are joined up to a length corresponding to the width of the paper. The recording head ejects ink droplets at the paper being conveyed to form an image. The print sensor reads the image recorded on the paper, while moving in the width direction of the paper. On the basis of the image that is read, the system controller inspects the quality of the image recorded on the paper. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244166 | ATTACHABLE MEMBER-RECOGNITION DEVICE AND INK-JET PRINTER PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - An ink cartridge is formed with an information-engraved section formed to have a predetermined shape. A cartridge-attachment section, to which the ink cartridge is attached, includes a deformable section, a stress light-emitting section which emits light depending on the shape of the information-engraved section by means of a stress received when the deformable section makes contact with the information-engraved section, and a light-receiving sensor which receives the light emitted by the stress light-emitting section to generate a recognition signal corresponding to the information-engraved section. An attachable member-recognition device is provided, which has a relatively cheap and simple structure, which is capable of setting information about an attachable member including, for example, the ink cartridge and a printing paper tray, and which is capable of recognizing the information. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244167 | INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS, TEST IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An inkjet recording apparatus has: a head having a plurality of nozzles which eject an ink onto a recording medium; a conveyance device which conveys the recording medium; a droplet ejection control device which controls ink ejection of the head; a test image forming device that forms a test image on the recording medium by causing the ink to be ejected from every n (where n is a natural number equal to 2 or higher) nozzles in an X direction perpendicular to a direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, and causing the ink to be ejected so as to form vertical lines forming n columns which shift by one nozzle in the X direction and each extend continuously in terms of a Y direction parallel to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed; and a reading device which is provided on a conveyance path of the recording medium, reads in a test image on the recording medium and has an image reading structure covering a length corresponding to full width of the recording medium in a breadthways direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, wherein in the test image, an arrangement pitch in the X direction of the vertical lines is equal to or exceeding a reading pitch in the X direction of the reading device, an arrangement pitch in the Y direction of the vertical lines is N times a reading pitch in the Y direction of the reading device (where N is a natural number), and an interval corresponding to variation in a conveyance of the recording medium is provided between the vertical lines in such a manner that a length in the Y direction of each of the vertical lines is less than the reading pitch in the Y direction of the reading device. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244168 | Printing device and printing method - Provided is a printing device which prints an image using a metallic ink and a color ink, the device including: an input unit which inputs image data; a metallic dot formation unit which forms dot concentration dots on a printing medium using the metallic ink; and a color print unit which prints the image indicated by the image data using the color ink on the printing medium on which the dots using the metallic ink are formed. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244169 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - An ink jet printer has a carriage equipped with a recording head. The carriage is disposed downstream in a feeding direction of a recording medium. The carriage has an optical sensor for measuring dirt on a supply roller. When the supply roller is dirty, a cleaning operation is started to rotate the supply roller as being pressed onto a separation pad. The dirt on the supply roller is measured with the optical sensor, and the cleaning operation lasts until the dirt is removed from the supply roller. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244170 | INKJET PRINTER - An inkjet printer comprising a printhead for allowing ink to be ejected from a nozzle portion to form an image on a recording medium, a cap member switchable between a sealing position for sealing nozzle surfaces of the nozzle portion and a free position where the cap member is moved away from the nozzle surfaces, and a closing mechanism for closing an opening of the cap member located in the free position. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244171 | PRINTER HAVING ECCENTRICALLY CODED CAPPING MECHANISM - An inkjet printer has a body mounting first and second gear assemblies. The first assembly cooperating with a motor gear and having a code feature. The second assembly rotatably cooperating with the first assembly and a capper for capping a printhead. The code feature cooperates with a holding feature of a mounting arrangement used to mount the second assembly so that the cooperation maintains the first assembly at a predetermined position during the mounting of the second assembly. The first assembly has first and second gears connected by a common shaft. The first gear meshes with the motor gear and the second gear meshes with the second assembly. The second assembly has a third gear mounted to the body by a pin which meshes with the second gear. The third gear is an eccentric gear. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244172 | METHOD FOR PREVENTING NOZZLE CONTAMINATION DURING WARM-UP - A method of operating a print head comprises heating the print head from a first temperature below a melting temperature of the phase change ink to a second temperature above the melting temperature. The print head has a nozzle plate with plurality of nozzles for ejecting the phase change ink onto an ink receiver. A first pressure is applied to an interior of the print head as the temperature of the print head increases from the first temperature to the second temperature. The first pressure is configured to prevent phase change ink from entering into the print head through the nozzles of the print head. The first pressure is removed from the print head in response to the print head being at approximately the second temperature. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244173 | Nozzle plate, liquid ejection head and image forming apparatus - The nozzle plate has: a plurality of nozzles which eject a liquid; and a plurality of projecting sections formed in a broken line shape or an island shape about periphery of the plurality of nozzles on a liquid ejection surface of the nozzle plate. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244174 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - An image recording apparatus including an ink-jet head having four ink supply passages, manifold passages communicating with the respective ink supply passages, and individual ink passages extending from the common passages to nozzles open in an ink ejecting surface, wherein groups of the nozzles communicating with the respective manifold passages are open in respective unit areas u | 2009-10-01 |
20090244175 | INK JET PRINTER AND METHOD OF CLEANING PLATEN - An ink jet printer feeds a sheet of recording medium onto a platen, and record an image by ejecting droplets of ink from a print head attached to the platen. The ink jet printer has a media deforming section for deforming a part of the recording medium into a downward projection. The media deforming section includes a wedge above a recording media feeding path, and a wedge receiver below the feeding path to fit with the wedge. The wedge and the wedge receiver are joined together to press the recording medium from above and below, and form the downward projection. While the recording medium passes the platen, the downward projection wipes off ink stain on ribs of the platen. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244176 | DROPLET DISCHARGE DEVICE - A droplet discharge device includes an inkjet head including a nozzle plate having a nozzle, the inkjet head aligned so that a droplet of a function liquid discharged from the nozzle is placed on a surface of a target, a heater applying heat to the function liquid at the inkjet head, and an insulating member having an opening corresponding to the nozzle, the insulating member positioned between the target and the nozzle plate so as to prevent heat transmission from the inkjet head to the target. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244177 | IMAGE RECORDING DEVICE AND IMAGE RECORDING METHOD - An image recording device comprises: a transport unit for transporting a recording medium in an auxiliary scan direction; a recording head for drawing an image on the recording medium; a scanning unit for causing the recording head to scan the recording medium in a main scan direction that is normal to the auxiliary scan direction; and a control unit for controlling the transport unit, the recording head and the scanning unit to form an image in a same area of the recording medium extending in the main scan direction by shingling. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244178 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus for forming an appropriate test pattern is provided. A control section | 2009-10-01 |
20090244179 | LIQUID DROP EJECTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A liquid drop ejecting device includes a housing supporting a plurality of head units that are arranged in two rows to be partially overlapping along a main scanning direction in a staggered configuration. The head unit includes a flow path unit having an ink flow path, a piezoelectric actuator ejecting ink from nozzles in the flow path unit, and a reinforcement plate for reinforcing the flow path unit. In the reinforcement plate, a smaller-width portion and a larger-width portion are disposed along the main scanning direction, such that an end face of the smaller-width portion of the reinforcement member in one row contacts an end face of a reinforcement member in the adjacent row. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244180 | FLUID FLOW IN MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES - A microfluidic device comprising a monolithic superstructure, wherein the superstructure contains fluid channels, and in at least one of the fluid channels, in an area where the channel changes direction or intersects another channel, the channel is greater in cross-section than in other areas of said channel. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244181 | LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD AND RECORDING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A liquid discharge head includes a discharge port array having discharge ports for discharging liquid, a liquid chamber for supplying liquid to the discharge port array, and a liquid introduction passage for introducing liquid to the liquid chamber. A vertical cross section of the liquid chamber has an elongated shape. The liquid introduction passage is wider than the liquid chamber in a width direction of the elongated shape. A communicating portion is longer than a width of the liquid chamber and shorter than the liquid chamber, and is projecting from the liquid introduction passage for the liquid chamber. A bottom of the liquid introduction passage is disposed at a lower position than a top of the liquid chamber in the communicating portion, and a distance between the top and the bottom is longer than half of the width of the liquid chamber. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244182 | INJET JET STACK EXTERNAL MANIFOLD - An inkjet external ink manifold is provided that allows for use of a jet stack that does not internally contain ink manifolds. The external ink manifold has a manifold body that includes one or more ink manifold chambers and includes ports arranged to connect the chambers to one or more ink reservoirs. The external ink manifold further includes an adhesive layer overlying and sealing the ink manifold chambers. The adhesive layer includes a plurality of ports arranged to connect the external ink manifold chambers to the jet stack. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244183 | Inkjet Printer Having Funnelled Distribution To Nozzle ICS - An inkjet printer is provided having a plurality of nozzle integrated circuits, a support member having a plurality of longitudinally extending channels for carrying ink, and a plurality of ink distribution members via which ink is distributed from the channels of the support member to the nozzles of the nozzle integrated circuits. Each ink distribution member incorporates a laminated stack of layers, each layer having apertures for distributing ink from the channels to the nozzles of a respective one of the printhead integrated circuits. The apertures of each layer from the support member to the respective printhead integrated circuit are of successively smaller diameter. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244184 | Printhead With Nozzle Face Recess To Contain Ink Floods - An inkjet printhead that has a silicon wafer substrate that defines a plurality of ink inlet channels and a plurality of replicated nozzle arrangements positioned on the substrate to receive ink from the ink inlets and eject ink droplets onto a media substrate. Each of the nozzle arrangements has nozzle chamber walls, and a roof positioned on the nozzle chamber walls defining an ink ejection port. The roof defines a recess about the ink ejection port to inhibit ink spread from any nozzle face floods. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244185 | Printhead Having Commonly Supported Nozzle ICS - A printhead is provided having a support frame, a plurality of nozzle integrated circuits having printing fluid ejection nozzles, and a one-piece printing fluid distribution member commonly supporting the plurality of nozzle integrated circuits, the distribution member being removably engaged with the support frame. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244186 | WIRING UNIT AND FLUID DISCHARGING HEAD HAVING THE WIRING UNIT - A fluid discharging head includes a fluid channel unit, an actuator unit, and a wiring unit. The actuator unit includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first actuator area and a second actuator area, and driving electrodes on the first surface. The wiring unit includes a sheet substrate having an elongated portion, a first substrate area and a second substrate area positioned at opposite ends of the elongated portion of the sheet substrate, feeding terminals positioned at the first substrate area and the second substrate area, a driver positioned at a third substrate area between the first substrate area and the second substrate area, first lines extending from and electrically connecting the driver to the feeding terminals at the first substrate area, and second lines extending from and electrically connecting the driver to the feeding terminals at the second substrate area. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244187 | LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DRIVING LIQUID EJECTING HEAD - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head including pressure generation chambers communicating with nozzle openings for ejecting a liquid and pressure generation units which cause pressure variations in the pressure generation chambers. A driving unit supplies, to the pressure generation units, a driving signal including an expansion element for expanding the pressure generation chambers. A contraction element contracts the pressure generation chambers and a re-expansion element expands the pressure generation chambers before the liquid is ejected from the nozzle openings by the contraction element. The re-expansion element includes a primary expansion element at the contraction element side that expands the pressure generation chambers. A secondary expansion element has at least a variation portion having a voltage variation ratio different from a voltage variation ratio of the primary expansion element in continuation to the primary expansion element and expands the pressure generation chambers. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244188 | LIQUID DROPLET EJECTION HEAD AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid droplet ejection head capable of securing sealing of a common liquid chamber and realizing a high damper effect while suppressing a driving energy of the liquid droplet ejection head. A passage unit includes manifold plates, and a damper plate which is stacked on the manifold plates and has a damper wall facing a common liquid chamber. The damper plate is constituted by a base portion having a damping space at a position corresponding to the manifold holes in plan view, and a resin portion stacked on the base portion. The resin portion is formed to cover at least a portion above and around the damping space to constitute the damper wall, be smaller in a contour shape than the common liquid chamber in plan view, and be stored in the manifold holes. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244189 | NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT HAVING UNIFORM HEATER ELEMENT CONDUCTORS - A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. Each heater element includes an elongate conductor, in turn, having at least one arcuate portion. Each elongate conductor is of substantially uniform diameter and terminates in a pair of enlarged contacts at either end. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244190 | NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT HAVING CHAMBER WITH IN COLLECTION WELL - A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. The nozzle chamber structure defines a protruding rim bounding the aperture and an endless ink collection well surrounding the aperture. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244191 | NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT HAVING PARTIALLY EMBEDDED HEATER ELEMENTS - A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. The heater elements include legs embedded within the nozzle chamber structure and terminate in feet embedded within the substrate assembly. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244192 | DROPLET DISCHARGE DEVICE - A droplet discharge device includes an inkjet head including a nozzle plate having a nozzle, the inkjet head aligned so that a droplet of a function liquid discharged from the nozzle is placed on a surface of a target, a heater applying heat to the function liquid at the inkjet head, and an insulating member having an opening corresponding to the nozzle, the insulating member positioned between the target and the nozzle plate so as to prevent heat transmission from the inkjet head to the target. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244193 | INKJET PRINTHEAD AND PRINTHEAD NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT - A printhead for an inkjet printer comprises a wafer assembly defining a plurality of spaced apart groups of ink supply channels and a plurality of groups of ink ejection nozzle arrangements. Each ink ejection nozzle arrangement comprises a nozzle chamber structure mounted to the wafer assembly. Each ink ejection nozzle arrangement further comprises an anchor extending from the wafer assembly in a location external to the nozzle chamber; and an elongate thermal actuator mechanism extending from the anchor and into the nozzle chamber. The thermal actuator mechanism comprises an elongate arm which terminates in a free end within the nozzle chamber, and a pair of layers of conductive material located on either side of the elongate arm. One of the layers is connected to a current supply for causing a differential thermal expansion in the elongate thermal actuator mechanism. A pit is defined adjacent each nozzle chamber structure for catching ink. The ink ejection nozzle arrangements of each group are arranged in a pair of rows, with the elongate thermal actuator mechanism of ink ejection nozzle arrangements of a first row extending away from those of ink ejection nozzle arrangements of a second row. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244194 | Micro-Electromechanical Integrated Circuit Device With Laminated Actuators - A micro-electromechanical integrated circuit device comprises a substrate; drive circuitry positioned on the substrate; and a plurality of elongate actuators. Each actuator comprises a fixed end portion fast with the substrate, a free end portion that is spaced from the substrate, and a heating circuit that is connected to the drive circuitry to heat the actuator. A portion of the actuator is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion such that the material is capable of performing work by thermal expansion. The heating circuit is positioned to generate differential thermal expansion and contraction when heated and cooled to cause reciprocal displacement of the free end portion of the actuator. Each actuator is a laminated structure having a first metal layer and a dielectric layer, the first metal layer being interposed between the dielectric layer and the substrate and defining the heating circuit. The drive circuitry is operable to generate drive pulses of first and second widths, the pulses of the first width being sufficient to cause substantial displacement of the free end of the actuator, and the pulses of the second width being insufficient to cause substantial displacement of the free end of the actuator. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244195 | NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT HAVING ANNULUS SHAPED HEATER ELEMENTS - A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. Each heater element is shaped to define at least one broken annulus, in turn, comprising said at least one arcuate portion. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244196 | Ink Jet Printhead with Inner and Outer Heating Loops - An ink jet printhead comprising: a substrate; a plurality of chambers supported by the substrate for receiving therewithin bubble forming liquid; a nozzle aperture formed in a surface of each chamber; a beam suspended within each chamber, the beam comprising at least one respective heater element. The at least one respective heater element heats at least part of the bubble forming liquid to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble therein, thereby causing ejection of a drop of the bubble forming liquid through the nozzle aperture corresponding to the heater element. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244197 | Thermal Inkjet Printhead With Double Omega Shaped Heating Element - An inkjet printhead for ejecting printing fluid comprises a plurality of nozzles arranged in an array; a plurality of heater elements, each heater element corresponding to one of the nozzles respectively, each heater element having a double omega shape in which two gaps are defined at an outer circumference thereof at opposite sides of the heater element; and drive circuitry for sending each of the heater elements a pulse of electrical energy to form a vapor bubble in the printing fluid. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244198 | INK JET RECORDING HEAD, MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, AND ELECTRON DEVICE - An ink jet recording head includes a substrate, having a front surface and a back surface opposite from the front surface, provided above the front surface with an energy generating element for generating energy used for ejecting ink; an ink supply port provided so as to penetrate between the front surface and the back surface of the substrate; a first layer provided on or above the front surface of the substrate; a protection layer which is provided so as to coat a wall of the substrate defining the ink supply port and which continuously extends onto the first layer; and a second layer located above the front surface of the substrate and including a portion provided on the protection layer and another portion provided on the first layer by penetrating through the protection layer. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244199 | LIQUID DISCHARGING HEAD AND INKJET HEAD - A liquid discharging head includes a flow path unit having a common liquid flow path; an individual liquid flow path; and a plurality of plates that are stacked to form the common liquid flow path and the individual liquid flow path. The plurality of plates includes at least four manifold plates that include partial plates and support members, wherein the at least four manifold plates comprise: a first manifold plate that includes a first partial plate and a first support member that supports the first partial plate; a second manifold plate that includes a second partial plate and a second support member that is adjacent to the first support member in a direction in which the common liquid path extends, the second support member supporting the second partial plate; and at least one manifold plate that is interposed between the first manifold plate and the second manifold plate. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244200 | LIQUID DISCHARGING METHOD, LIQUID DISCHARGING HEAD, AND LIQUID DISCHARGING APPARATUS - A liquid discharging method includes applying pressure to liquid and discharging the liquid from a liquid discharging head. The viscosity of the liquid ranges from 8 to 20 millipascal seconds. The liquid discharging head includes a nozzle that discharges the liquid, a pressure chamber that causes a pressure change in the liquid so as to discharge the liquid from the nozzle, and a liquid supplying section that is in communication with, and supplies the liquid to, the pressure chamber. The pattern of the pressure change in the liquid varies to selectively control the amount of the liquid discharged from the nozzle between a predetermined amount and another smaller amount. The diameter of the nozzle ranges from 15 μm to 40 μm. The flow-channel length of the nozzle is set at a value that is smaller than the flow-channel length of the liquid supplying section multiplied by 0.2. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244201 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING LIQUID JET HEAD, A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT AND A LIQUID JET APPARATUS - In a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element which includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer including a plurality of piezoelectric films, and a second electrode formed opposite a surface of the piezoelectric layer, a step of forming the first electrode metal layer includes forming the first electrode metal layer so as to include one or more iridium layer and permit the iridium layer to have the total thickness in the range from 2 to 5 nm to form the first electrode metal layer; and forming the first electrode film by heating the piezoelectric film at a temperature in the range from 400 to 650° C. for 30 minutes or more after the first piezoelectric film is formed in the step of forming the piezoelectric layer to oxidize the iridium contained in the first electrode metal layer. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244202 | INK JET HEAD MANUFACTURING DEVICE, INK JET HEAD MANUFACTURING METHOD, AND INK JET DEVICE - In an ink jet head manufacturing device, first and second diodes are arranged on a path extending from a gate of a control unit to an individual electrode of an ink-pressure control part in an ink jet head, the first diode allowing a current from the individual electrode of the ink-pressure control part to flow into a first wiring, and the second diode allowing a current from a second wiring to flow into the individual electrode of the ink-pressure control part. A short-circuit unit is arranged to short-circuit the first wiring and the second wiring when depolarization or polarization of the ink-pressure control part is performed. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244203 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, AND LIQUID EJECTION HEAD - The method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator, includes the steps of: forming a lower electrode film on an insulating substrate; forming a piezoelectric film on the lower electrode film; forming a slit on the piezoelectric film to expose a portion of the lower electrode film on an upper surface side of the piezoelectric film; forming an insulating layer which covers a portion of the piezoelectric film; forming an upper electrode film so as to span the insulating layer and the piezoelectric film; forming, on the piezoelectric film, a lower wire in connection with the portion of the lower electrode film exposed through the slit; depositing a first metal film on the lower wire and thereby making a film thickness of the lower wire greater than a film thickness of the lower electrode film; and depositing a second metal film on a portion of the upper electrode film on the insulating layer and thereby making a film thickness of the portion of the upper electrode film on the insulating layer greater than a film thickness of a portion of the upper electrode film that has been deposited directly on the piezoelectric film. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244204 | LIQUID DROPLET JETTING APPARATUS AND LIQUID DROPLET JETTING HEAD - A piezoelectric actuator includes piezoelectric material layers, individual electrodes corresponding to pressure chambers, a first common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to outer peripheral portions of the pressure chambers, and a second common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to central portions of the individual electrodes. A plurality of first active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the second common constant electric potential electrode, and a plurality of second active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the first common constant electric potential electrode. Since the second common constant electric potential electrode has a mesh-shaped form, it is possible to reduce an impedance thereof. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244205 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, LIQUID TRANSPORTING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A piezoelectric actuator includes a first piezoelectric layer, a second piezoelectric layer stacked on the first piezoelectric layer, a first electrode arranged on the first piezoelectric layer, a second electrode arranged between the first and second piezoelectric layers, and a third electrode arranged on the second piezoelectric layer. A portion of the third electrode faces the second electrode, and another portion of the third electrode faces the first electrode. The first electrode does not face at least a portion of the second electrode. A portion, of the second piezoelectric layer, sandwiched between the second electrode and the third electrode is polarized in a first direction in a thickness direction thereof, and portions, of the first and the second piezoelectric layers, which are sandwiched between the first electrode and the third electrode and between which the second electrode is not arranged, are polarized in a direction opposite to the first direction. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244206 | PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD, PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, AND LIQUID JET HEAD - A piezoelectric element includes: a substrate; a lower electrode formed above the substrate; a piezoelectric layer formed above the lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed above and at least in a portion of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the piezoelectric layer has a first portion formed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode and a second portion formed outside and continuous with the first portion, the second portion covering at least a portion of the lower electrode, and having a film thickness that is thinner than a film thickness of the first portion. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244207 | LIQUID JET HEAD, A LIQUID JET APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A LIQUID JET HEAD - A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. Anti-deformation layers continue from the piezoelectric layers ad contain a less moisture-permeable component than the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layers and the anti-deformation layers are alternately and continuously disposed in the direction of the arrangement of the rows of the pressure generating chambers. The anti-deformation layers are disposed at least in regions opposing a partition member with the vibration plate therebetween. The piezoelectric layer is enclosed by the first electrode, the second electrode and at least either the vibration plate or the anti-deformation layer. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244208 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, AND ACTUATOR - A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage forming substrate that includes a plurality of pressure generating chambers juxtaposed to each other and each in communication with a nozzle for ejecting droplets, and piezoelectric elements disposed on the flow passage forming substrate with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The piezoelectric elements include a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode. The piezoelectric layer tapers downward at its ends. The lower electrode has a width smaller than the width of each of the pressure generating chambers. The piezoelectric layer has a larger width than the lower electrode to cover end faces of the lower electrode. The diaphragm has a top layer formed of a titanium oxide (TiO | 2009-10-01 |
20090244209 | Liquid Ejecting Head, Liquid Ejecting Apparatus, and Actuator - A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage forming substrate that includes a plurality of pressure generating chambers juxtaposed to each other and each in communication with a nozzle for ejecting droplets, and piezoelectric elements disposed on the flow passage forming substrate with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The piezoelectric elements include a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode. The piezoelectric layer tapers downward at its ends. The lower electrode has a width smaller than the width of each of the pressure generating chambers. The piezoelectric layer has a larger width than the lower electrode to cover end faces of the lower electrode. The diaphragm has a top layer formed of a titanium oxide (TiO | 2009-10-01 |
20090244210 | Liquid Ejecting Head, Liquid Ejecting Apparatus, and Actuator - A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage forming substrate that includes a plurality of pressure generating chambers juxtaposed to each other and each in communication with a nozzle for ejecting droplets, and piezoelectric elements disposed on the flow passage forming substrate with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The piezoelectric elements include a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode. The piezoelectric layer tapers downward at its ends. The lower electrode has a width smaller than the width of each of the pressure generating chambers. The piezoelectric layer has a larger width than the lower electrode to cover end faces of the lower electrode. The diaphragm has a top layer formed of a titanium oxide (TiO | 2009-10-01 |
20090244211 | LIQUID TRANSPORTING APPARATUS - A liquid transporting apparatus which transports a liquid includes a channel unit having a surface which is electroconductive and a liquid channel which includes a pressure chamber; a piezoelectric actuator applying a pressure to the liquid in the pressure chamber and having a piezoelectric layer arranged to face the surface of the channel unit and to cover the pressure chamber, electrodes which are arranged in the piezoelectric layer to face the pressure chamber, and a first isolating film arranged between the piezoelectric layer and the surface of the channel unit to cover the pressure chamber; and a deterioration detecting mechanism detecting a deterioration of the first isolating film and having a second isolating film which is electroconductive and stacked on a surface, of the first isolating film, on a side of the piezoelectric layer, and which is insulated from both the electrodes and the channel unit. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244212 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, AND ACTUATOR - A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage forming substrate that includes a plurality of pressure generating chambers juxtaposed to each other and each in communication with a nozzle for ejecting droplets, and piezoelectric elements disposed on the flow passage forming substrate with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The piezoelectric elements including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode. The piezoelectric layer tapers downward at its ends. The lower electrode has a width smaller than the width of each of the pressure generating chambers. The piezoelectric layer has a larger width than the lower electrode to cover end faces of the lower electrode. The diaphragm has a top layer formed of a titanium oxide (TiO | 2009-10-01 |
20090244213 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, AND ACTUATOR - A liquid ejecting head includes a flow passage forming substrate that includes a plurality of pressure generating chambers juxtaposed to each other and each in communication with a nozzle for ejecting droplets, and piezoelectric elements disposed on the flow passage forming substrate with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The piezoelectric elements include a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode. The piezoelectric layer tapers downward at its ends. The lower electrode has a width smaller than the width of each of the pressure generating chambers. The piezoelectric layer has a larger width than the lower electrode. The diaphragm has a top layer formed of a titanium oxide (TiO | 2009-10-01 |
20090244214 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT, AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid ejecting head includes a piezoelectric element in which a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode are laminated in this order, and a flow path forming substrate in which the piezoelectric element is formed above one surface thereof and a pressure generating chamber being communicated with a nozzle opening is provided, in which the upper electrode is formed so as to extend over an upper surface of the piezoelectric layer and an upper portion of side faces of the piezoelectric layer, and a protective film is formed above portions of the piezoelectric layer, which are not covered by the upper electrode. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244215 | PRINT HEAD UNIT WITH PRINTHEAD AND TRANSPORT ROLLERS - A print head unit has an elongate print head integrated circuit. An ink supply unit defines an elongate print head slot in which the print head integrated circuit is received. Ink supply vias supply ink to the print head slot. Longitudinally extending channels are in fluid communication with the print head integrated circuit through the vias and longitudinally extending aperture slots provide for the snap-in insertion of rollers for the transport of print media operatively with respect to the print head integrated circuit during printing. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244216 | Printing apparatus - A printing apparatus to form an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a first recording head, which is movable in a main scanning direction and ejects a specific-colored ink onto the recording medium, a first ink cartridge to store the specific-colored ink, a first ink conveyer, which connects the first recording head and the first ink cartridge to convey the specific-colored ink, and a first conveyer retainer, which is movable along with the first recording head and holds the first ink conveyer to extend there-along. The first conveyer retainer is arranged in a position higher than a connecting portion of the first ink conveyer with the first recording head and holds the first ink conveyer in a vertical range between a top level of the first conveyer retainer and a bottom level of the first ink cartridge. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244217 | INK CONTAINER AND INK JET RECORDING SYSTEM - An ink container for retaining ink includes an ink containing body, an elastically displaceable supporting member, a light emitting portion, a light receiving portion for receiving light from the light emitting portion, a display portion for displaying the received light, and a light guide portion for optically connecting the light receiving portion and the display portion so as to guide the light received by the receiving portion to the display portion. The supporting member at least partly functions as the light guide portion. The light receiving portion is located, with a gap with respect to the light emitting portion, so as to cover the light emitting portion. The light receiving portion approaches the light emitting portion when the supporting member approaches the ink containing body by being subjected to urging toward the ink containing body. The light receiving portion moves apart from the light emitting portion when the supporting member moves apart from the ink containing body by being released from the urging toward the ink containing body. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244218 | Refill Unit For Refilling One Of A Number Of Ink Compartments - An ink refill unit is provided for refilling a printer ink cartridge unit. The ink refill unit includes a base assembly that has ink refilling components and outlets for engaging a docking member connected to the ink storage compartments. Each outlet corresponds to a respective type of ink with only one of the outlets working. The ink refilling components include a syringe assembly coupled in fluid communication with the working outlet. A lid assembly covers the ink refilling components. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244219 | INK CARTRIDGE - The present invention provides an ink cartridge including a cartridge body defining an air vent at an upper section thereof and an ink discharge port detachably assembled to a lower section of the cartridge body. The cartridge body and/or the ink discharge port can be replaced separately when they are damaged and, thus, there is no need to replace the ink cartridge as whole. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244220 | INK JET CARTRIDGE HAVING AN INK CONTAINER COMPRISING TWO POROUS MATERIALS - An ink jet cartridge comprising an ink container which comprises a bottom portion and an upper portion, said bottom portion being in communication with the printhead through an ink supply port, and said upper portion being in communication with a vent hole, wherein said bottom portion comprises a first ink absorbing member, and said upper portion comprises a second ink absorbing member, wherein said first ink absorbing member is a compressible porous material and said second ink absorbing member is an incompressible porous material, and wherein the capillarity of said first ink absorbing member is higher than the capillarity of said second ink absorbing member. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244221 | LIQUID DROPLET DISCHARGING APPARATUSES AND LIQUID CARTRIDGES - A liquid cartridge has a liquid chamber configured to store liquid, and a liquid supply opening configured to supply liquid from an interior of the liquid chamber to an exterior of the liquid chamber. A first closing mechanism is configured to selectively cover and uncover the liquid supply opening. An air communication opening formed in the liquid cartridge is configured to place the interior of the liquid chamber in communication with an exterior of the chamber, in order to equalize a pressure in the liquid chamber with an atmospheric pressure. A second closing mechanism is configured to selectively cover and uncover the air communication opening. When the liquid cartridge is mounted to a cartridge mounting portion of a liquid discharging apparatus, a damper located in one of the liquid cartridge and the cartridge mounting portion is configured to oppose at least a portion of a mounting force applied to the liquid cartridge. During the mounting of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion, the first closing mechanism and the second closing mechanism are configured, such that the air communication opening is uncovered before the liquid supply opening is uncovered. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244222 | INK CARTRIDGES AND METHODS OF FORMING GROOVE IN INK CARTRIDGE - An ink cartridge includes a frame including a portion of a first chamber formed therein, and the first chamber is configured to store ink. The ink cartridge also includes a hollow portion positioned at a side wall of the frame. The hollow portion includes a second chamber formed therein, and the second chamber is continuous with the first chamber and extends from an inner surface of the side wall of the frame away from the first chamber. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member positioned in the second chamber and configured to move based on an amount of ink in the first chamber, and an inner surface of the hollow portion defining the second chamber has a groove extending toward the first chamber. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244223 | LIQUID CONTAINER AND MEMBRANE VALVE - A membrane valve having a membrane portion is used. The membrane valve can be formed using an elastomer. Also, the membrane valve can include N (N is an integer of 2 or greater) engaging portions that engage with the membrane support portion. Also, the membrane portion can also be affixed at a position closer to the first seal surface than the second seal surface in the seal portion. Here, the contact area of the first seal surface and the first member can be larger than the contact surface of the second seal surface and the second member. Also, in a first case where the end of the projecting portion is faced to a first plane and the membrane valve placed on the first plane, the end of the first support portion contacts the first plane and supports the membrane valve, and the end of the projecting portion can contact the first plane in a state with the membrane portion not deformed. Also, the projecting portion inserted inside the end of the coil spring can be arranged at the center axis side separated from the range of the position in which the projecting portion can contact the end of the coil spring by motion of the coil spring within the concave portion in the direction perpendicular to the center axis of the coil spring. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244224 | LIQUID JETTING SYSTEM, LIQUID CONTAINER, HOLDER, AND LIQUID JETTING APPARATUS HAVING HOLDER - A liquid jetting system includes a liquid container including a front wall, and a side wall having a bias-force receiving part, and a liquid jetting apparatus including a holder that receives installation of the liquid container through insertion of the liquid container in a prescribed insertion direction with the front wall facing forward. The holder further includes a liquid feed needle that receives feed of liquid from the liquid container when the liquid container has been installed, a holder-side electrode situated to a upper side from the liquid feed needle and adapted to electrically connect with the liquid container when the liquid container has been installed, and bias force part situated to a lower side from the liquid feed needle and adapted to exert a bias force on the bias-force receiving part of the liquid container in a prescribed biasing direction when the liquid container has been installed. The liquid container further includes a feed part having a liquid feed port that opens onto the front wall and that receives insertion of the liquid feed needle when the liquid container has been installed in the holder, and a container-side electrode that is to be secured at such a location as to electrically connect with the holder-side electrode when the liquid container has been installed in the holder. The biasing direction is established such that an extended line extending in the biasing direction from the bias-force receiving part is offset from the container-side electrode towards the side wall side. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244225 | Melting Device For Increased Production Of Melted Ink In A Solid Ink Printer - A solid ink printer is enabled to eject ink onto image substrates at rates that are greater than previously known solid ink printers. The solid ink printer includes a print head that ejects melted ink, a web of image substrate that moves past the print head to receive melted ink ejected from the print head, a pair of fixing rollers positioned downstream of the print head, the fixing rollers forming a nip through which the web of image substrate passes to fix the ink onto the web of image substrate, and a melting device coupled to the print head to provide melted ink to the print head. The melting device includes a housing having an opening to receive solid ink, a first rotatable member mounted within the housing, a second rotatable member mounted with the housing, the second rotatable member being proximate to, but spatially separated from the first rotatable member mounted within the melting housing, a heater located within the first rotatable member to heat the first rotatable member to a temperature at which the solid ink melts; and a motor coupled to the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member to rotate the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member within the housing to shear the solid ink as the solid ink melts against the heated first rotatable member. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244226 | LIQUID EJECTING DEVICE - Ink is supplied to a supply tank from a second buffer tank, and ink is pressure-fed from the supply tank to a head. Further, ink is supplied from the second buffer tank to a recovery tank, and ink is pressure-fed from the recovery tank to the head. In both pressure-feedings, ink containing air bubbles within the head is recovered at a first buffer tank. The ink, that contains the air bubbles and is recovered at the first buffer tank, is sent to the second buffer tank via an ink flow path. A degassing section is provided on the ink flow path, and a degassing process is carried out while ink is being fed. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244227 | FLUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE FLUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A fluid ejecting apparatus, contains: an ejecting head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a fluid and having a laminated structure in which a flow passage plate, in which a passage for the fluid is formed, is provided via an adhesive, in which the adhesive contains an adhesion resin, to which a lipophilic function agent that gives lipophilicity to the fluid is added in a proportion of from 0.25 wt % to 5.0 wt %. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244228 | LIQUID DISCHARGING HEAD AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A liquid discharging head is provided. The liquid discharging head has a flow path unit in which a common liquid flow path for supplying liquid to a nozzle which discharges liquid is formed by a plurality of plates being stacked together, the plurality of plates including a damper plate of which one surface defines at least a part of a wall surface of the common liquid flow path and an area on an other surface which is opposed to the common liquid flow path across the damper plate is not in contact with the plurality of plates other than the damper plate, wherein compression stress along the wall surface is applied to a portion of the damper plate which configure a wall of the common liquid flow path. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244229 | Color-filter manufacturing method and color-filter manufacturing apparatus - A color-filter manufacturing method includes a first step in which an ink jet method is used to eject liquid inks which contain color components to form a land pattern made up of lands of light transmitting materials and a second step in which after drying of the thus ejected liquid inks, the ink jet method is used to eject a liquid ink which contains a light blocking material and the ink is allowed to permeate into a clearance between the lands, thereby forming a black matrix pattern. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244230 | ULTRAVIOLET CURING INKJET PRINTER, PRINTING METHOD USED IN ULTRAVIOLET CURING INKJET PRINTER, AND HEAD - An ultraviolet curing inkjet printer includes a first ejecting device, a first ultraviolet light irradiation device, and a second ultraviolet light irradiation device. The first ultraviolet light irradiation device is configured to emit ultraviolet light of a first light quantity for temporarily curing the ultraviolet curable inks ejected from the first ejecting device. The first ultraviolet light irradiation device is disposed posterior to the first ejecting device in a first direction as a scanning direction. The second ultraviolet light irradiation device is configured to emit ultraviolet light of a second light quantity for finally curing the ultraviolet curable inks temporarily cured by the first ultraviolet light irradiation device. The second ultraviolet light irradiation device is disposed anterior to the first ejecting device in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and is a moving direction of a recording medium relative to the first ejecting device. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244231 | INKJET PRINTER - An inkjet printer includes: a printing part including a print head for ejecting ink to paper to print an image on the paper; a drying part including a heater for drying the ink adhering to the paper printed by the print head; and an agitator for agitating the air in the space in the printing part during a warm-up operation involving raising the temperature of the heater. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244232 | PRINTING APPARATUS, TARGET TRANSPORT DEVICE, AND TARGET TRANSPORT METHOD - A target transport device includes a transport belt that transports a target from an upstream side to a downstream side, a support member that supports the target transported by the transport belt over the transport belt, a heating unit that heats the support member, and a heat applying unit that applies heat from the heating unit to the support member so that a difference in temperature occurs on a surface of the supporting member supporting the target in a transport direction of the target. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244233 | INK JET RECORDING APPARATUS - An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet head on which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, a sub-scan driving unit which carries a recording medium on which an image is formed, a first carrying unit which is disposed on a downstream side of a carrying direction of the recording medium by the sub-scan driving unit and carries the recording medium on which an image is formed by the ink jet head, a second carrying unit which is disposed on a downstream side of the first carrying unit along a carrying direction of the recording medium, and a heating unit which is disposed between the first carrying unit and the second carrying unit. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244234 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING METHOD - A recording apparatus is provided which includes: a recording unit that performs a recording operation on a target by causing liquid to adhere onto the target; a drying unit that performs a drying operation on the target on which the liquid is adhered by the recording operation of the recording unit in a state where a restricting force is not substantially applied thereto; and a restricting unit that performs a restricting operation on the target which has been subjected to the drying operation by the drying unit while supporting the target on a supporting face of a support member capable of supporting a surface of the target having the liquid adhered thereon in a uniform planar state, the restricting operation applying a restricting force to the target, the restricting force being directed toward the supporting face. | 2009-10-01 |
20090244235 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD - The image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium by using an ink and a treatment liquid. The ink contains coloring material, and the treatment liquid contains a component which causes the coloring material to aggregate. The image forming apparatus includes: a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits the treatment liquid onto the recording medium; an ink droplet ejection device which ejects and deposits droplets of the ink onto the recording medium; a plurality of heat fixing devices which perform fixing process of the image formed on the recording medium by removing stepwise a solvent component contained in the image, the heat fixing devices being arranged sequentially in a conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a fixing control device which controls the fixing process with the heat fixing devices so as to satisfy the following condition: if W | 2009-10-01 |
20090244236 | INK JET PRINTER AND METHOD OF INK JET PRINTING - An ink jet printer prints an image by ejecting ink on recording medium. Information of an ink volume of the ink for application to the recording medium, for example, dot number, is specified. A first dryer dries the recording medium before forming the image. A memory stores a data table of a relationship between the ink volume and a drive condition of the dryer. A drive condition determiner determines a drive condition of the dryer from the ink volume according to the data table read from the memory. A CPU controls the dryer in the drive condition determined by the drive condition determiner. Preferably, the drive condition determiner, if the ink volume is lower than a first tolerable amount causing occurrence of cockle on the recording medium, disables the dryer. | 2009-10-01 |