US6089697A — Ink-jet head, ink-jet cartridge, printing apparat…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 207 words

An ink jet head assembly comprising: a first discharge portion being a first black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged; a second discharge portion having a liquid discharge nozzle from which print improving liquid is discharged; a third discharge portion being a second black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged; and a color ink discharge portion having ink discharge nozzles from which inks other than black are discharged; wherein said first, second, third, and color ink discharge portions are arranged in the order as listed in a scanning direction, penetration of the black ink from said first and third discharge portions into a printing medium is lower than that of the inks from said color ink discharge portion, a black image is formed on the printing medium by applying the black ink discharged from said first discharge portion nozzle, the liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle, and the black ink discharged from said third discharge portion nozzle in this order onto the printing medium, overlappedly, and the liquid contains a component which insolubilizes or flocculates a coloring material in the black ink from said first and third discharge portions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 207 words

An ink jet head assembly comprising: a first discharge portion being a first black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged; a second discharge portion having a liquid discharge nozzle from which print improving liquid is discharged; a third discharge portion being a second black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged; and a color ink discharge portion having ink discharge nozzles from which inks other than black are discharged; wherein said first, second, third, and color ink discharge portions are arranged in the order as listed in a scanning direction, penetration of the black ink from said first and third discharge portions into a printing medium is lower than that of the inks from said color ink discharge portion, a black image is formed on the printing medium by applying the black ink discharged from said first discharge portion nozzle, the liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle, and the black ink discharged from said third discharge portion nozzle in this order onto the printing medium, overlappedly, and the liquid contains a component which insolubilizes or flocculates a coloring material in the black ink from said first and third discharge portions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The ink jet head assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said color ink discharge portion includes a cyan ink discharge portion, a magenta ink discharge portion, and a yellow ink discharge portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The ink jet head assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and third ink discharge portions of said ink jet head assembly are arranged shifted from one another, in at least one of a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, by an odd number of times of 1/2 picture elements.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 41 words

The ink jet head assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, said ink jet head assembly having a head unit structure incorporating head chips constituting said first, second, and third discharge portions in an integral frame.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The ink jet head assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, said ink jet head assembly having a plurality of head unit structures incorporating head chips constituting said first, second, and third discharge portions in an integral frame which are combined.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 76 words

The ink jet head assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, said ink jet head assembly having an energy generating element generating heat energy for said first, second, third, and color ink discharge portion nozzles to discharge the black ink from said first discharge portion, the black ink from said third discharge portion, the inks from said color ink discharge portion, and the print improving liquid from said second discharge portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 81 words

The ink jet head assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein the print improving liquid contains a cationic substance of a low molecular weight component and a high molecular weight component having a molecular weight higher than that of the low molecular weight component, and the black ink from said first discharge portion, the black ink from said third discharge portion, and the inks from said color ink discharge portion contain an anionic coloring material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 85 words

The ink jet head assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein the print improving liquid contains a cationic substance of a low molecular weight component and a high molecular weight component having a molecular weight higher than that of the low molecular weight component, and the black ink from said first discharge portion, the black ink from said third discharge portion, and the inks from said color ink discharge portion contain at least an anionic compound and a pigment.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 233 words

An ink jet printing apparatus for making a print using an ink jet head assembly having a plurality of discharge portions arranged in a predetermined direction, said ink jet head assembly comprising: a first discharge portion being a first black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged; a second discharge portion having a liquid discharge nozzle from which print improving liquid is discharged; a third discharge portion being a second black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged; and a color ink discharge portion having ink discharge nozzles from which inks other than black are discharged; wherein said first, seconds third, and color ink discharge portions are arranged in the order as listed in a scanning direction, penetration of the black ink from said first and third discharge portions into a printing medium is lower than that of the inks from said color ink discharge portion, a black image is formed on the printing medium by applying the black ink discharged from said first discharge portion nozzle, the liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle, and the black ink discharged from said third discharge portion nozzle in this order onto the printing medium, overlappedly, and the liquid contains a component which insolubilizes or flocculates a coloring material in the black ink from said first and third discharge portions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 233 words

An ink jet printing apparatus for making a print using an ink jet head assembly having a plurality of discharge portions arranged in a predetermined direction, said ink jet head assembly comprising: a first discharge portion being a first black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged; a second discharge portion having a liquid discharge nozzle from which print improving liquid is discharged; a third discharge portion being a second black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged; and a color ink discharge portion having ink discharge nozzles from which inks other than black are discharged; wherein said first, seconds third, and color ink discharge portions are arranged in the order as listed in a scanning direction, penetration of the black ink from said first and third discharge portions into a printing medium is lower than that of the inks from said color ink discharge portion, a black image is formed on the printing medium by applying the black ink discharged from said first discharge portion nozzle, the liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle, and the black ink discharged from said third discharge portion nozzle in this order onto the printing medium, overlappedly, and the liquid contains a component which insolubilizes or flocculates a coloring material in the black ink from said first and third discharge portions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for performing facsimile functions, said performing means generating signals for said ink jet head assembly to control discharge of ink.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for performing copier functions, said performing means generating signals for said ink jet head assembly to control discharge of ink.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for performing computer functions, said performing means generating signals for said ink jet head assembly to control discharge of ink.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 231 words

An ink jet printing apparatus comprising: a main unit including a mounting section detachably mounting an ink jet head assembly, the ink jet head assembly including, (a) a first discharge portion being a first black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged, (b) a second discharge portion having a liquid discharge nozzle from which print improving liquid is discharged, (c) a third discharge portion being a second black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged, and (d) a color ink discharge portion having ink discharge nozzles from which inks other than black are discharged, wherein said first, second, third, and color ink discharge portions are arranged in the order as listed in a scanning direction, penetration of the black ink from said first and third discharge portions into a printing medium is lower than that of the inks from said color ink discharge portion, a black image is formed on the printing medium by applying the black ink discharged from said first discharge portion nozzle, the liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle, and the black ink discharged from said third discharge portion nozzle in this order onto the printing medium, overlappedly, and said liquid contains a component which insolubilizes or flocculates a coloring material in the black ink from said first and third discharge portions.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 231 words

An ink jet printing apparatus comprising: a main unit including a mounting section detachably mounting an ink jet head assembly, the ink jet head assembly including, (a) a first discharge portion being a first black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged, (b) a second discharge portion having a liquid discharge nozzle from which print improving liquid is discharged, (c) a third discharge portion being a second black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged, and (d) a color ink discharge portion having ink discharge nozzles from which inks other than black are discharged, wherein said first, second, third, and color ink discharge portions are arranged in the order as listed in a scanning direction, penetration of the black ink from said first and third discharge portions into a printing medium is lower than that of the inks from said color ink discharge portion, a black image is formed on the printing medium by applying the black ink discharged from said first discharge portion nozzle, the liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle, and the black ink discharged from said third discharge portion nozzle in this order onto the printing medium, overlappedly, and said liquid contains a component which insolubilizes or flocculates a coloring material in the black ink from said first and third discharge portions.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 31 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a head unit structure incorporating head chips constituting said first, second, and third discharge portions in an integral frame.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 50 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, further comprising print control means for forming an image so that the print improving liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle is sandwiched between inks discharged from at least said first and third discharge portion nozzles.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 96 words

The-ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the black ink from said first discharge portion, the black ink from said third discharge portion, and the inks from said color ink discharge portion and the print improving liquid are discharged at picture elements arranged in main and sub-scanning directions, and the print improving liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle is disposed at a position shifted by 1/2 picture element relative to an ink picture element on the printing medium in at least one of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said print control means is capable of 1-pass bidirectional printing.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said print control means is capable of 1-pass unidirectional printing.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said print control means is capable of 2-pass bidirectional printing.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said print control means is capable of 2-pass unidirectional printing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said print control means is capable of N (N being a positive number)-pass bidirectional printing.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said print control means is capable of N (N being a positive number)-pass unidirectional printing.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 75 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the print improving liquid contains a cationic substance of a low molecular weight component and a high molecular weight component having a molecular weight higher than that of the low molecular weight component, and the black ink from said first discharge portion, the black ink from said third discharge portion, and the inks from said color ink discharge portion contain an anionic coloring material.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 79 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the print improving liquid contains a cationic substance of a low molecular weight component and a high molecular weight component having a molecular weight higher than that of the low molecular weight component, and the black ink from said first discharge portion, the black ink from said third discharge portion, and the inks from said color ink discharge portion contain at least an anionic compound and a pigment.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 21 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the inks sandwiching the print improving liquid have different compositions.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 45 words

The ink jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein, in the different compositions, one is a super-penetrating solvent composition penetrating rapidly into the printing medium, and one is an overlaying solvent composition penetrating more gradually into the printing medium than the super-penetrating solvent.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 233 words

An ink jet cartridge comprising: an ink jet head assembly; and an ink tank provided detachably on said ink jet head assembly, said ink jet head assembly including: (a) a first discharge portion being a first black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged, (b) a second discharge portion having a liquid discharge nozzle from which print improving liquid is discharged, (c) a third discharge portion being a second black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged, and (d) a color ink discharge portion having ink discharge nozzles from which inks other than black are discharged, wherein said first, second, third, and color ink discharge portions are arranged in the order as listed in a scanning direction, penetration of the black ink from said first and third discharge portions into a printing medium is lower than that of the inks from said color ink discharge portion, a black image is formed on the printing medium by applying the black ink discharged from said first discharge portion nozzle, the liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle, and the black ink discharged from said third discharge portion nozzle in this order onto the printing medium, overlappedly, and the liquid contains a component which insolubilizes or flocculates a coloring material in the black ink from said first and third discharge portions.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 233 words

An ink jet cartridge comprising: an ink jet head assembly; and an ink tank provided detachably on said ink jet head assembly, said ink jet head assembly including: (a) a first discharge portion being a first black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged, (b) a second discharge portion having a liquid discharge nozzle from which print improving liquid is discharged, (c) a third discharge portion being a second black ink discharge portion having an ink discharge nozzle from which black ink is discharged, and (d) a color ink discharge portion having ink discharge nozzles from which inks other than black are discharged, wherein said first, second, third, and color ink discharge portions are arranged in the order as listed in a scanning direction, penetration of the black ink from said first and third discharge portions into a printing medium is lower than that of the inks from said color ink discharge portion, a black image is formed on the printing medium by applying the black ink discharged from said first discharge portion nozzle, the liquid discharged from said second discharge portion nozzle, and the black ink discharged from said third discharge portion nozzle in this order onto the printing medium, overlappedly, and the liquid contains a component which insolubilizes or flocculates a coloring material in the black ink from said first and third discharge portions.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-18	2004-01-17	2004-07-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-18	2008-01-17	2008-07-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-18	2012-01-17	2012-07-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ink-jet head, ink-jet cartridge, printing apparatus, and ink-jet printing method

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