Seiko Epson Corporation

Ko Ji Watanabe

Nobumasa Abe

Kiyoharu Momose

Yuichi Nakamura

Tsuneo Handa

Mitsutaka Nishikawa

An ink jet recording apparatus for ejecting droplets of ink from a plurality of nozzles is provided. The recording apparatus comprises a nozzle plate having the plurality of nozzles and a pressure generator associated with each of the plurality of nozzles. The nozzles and said pressure generators are disposed in at least three groups and each of the groups are associated with a single color ink. The ink associated with one group of nozzles and pressure generators is lighter, and the ink associated with one group of nozzles and pressure generators is darker than the ink associated with the other groups of nozzles and pressure generators. The group of nozzles and pressure generators associated with the ink of the lightest color is situated furthest from the group of nozzles and pressure generators associated with the ink of the darkest color. The recording apparatus also comprises first reservoir means for storing ink formed between the nozzle plate and the pressure generating means having a first cross-sectional area, support means for supporting the pressure generating means and having a slit having a second cross-sectional area for supplying ink to the first reservoir means, and second reservoir means in fluid communication with the slit for storing ink having a third cross-sectional area wherein the first cross-sectional area is smaller than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is smaller than the third cross-sectional area for promoting capillary action in ejecting droplets of ink through the plurality of nozzles.

Ink jet recording apparatus and method of manufacture

A thermal ink jet recording apparatus includes at least a substrate having at least a plurality of heating elements disposed in rows in at least two groups. Each group consists of two rows of heating elements, one row arranged on either side of the ink supply portion, each of the groups of the heating elements being associated with a single color ink. At least one nozzle plate has a plurality of nozzles disposed on the substrate where at least one nozzle plate and the substrate define a space between the nozzle plate and the substrate in registration with each group of heating elements and corresponding group of nozzles associated with a single color ink. Means are provided for independently delivering ink of one color from the ink reservoir to each of the spaces, whereby printing can be independently effected in at least two colors of ink.

Growing community of inventors

Nagano-ken, Japan

Ko Ji Watanabe