Patent ID: 6467865
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet recording head comprising:a pressure chamber for holding ink, the pressure chamber having a nozzle having a diameter within a range of 20 to 40 &mgr;m; a pressure generation means having a driving voltage control unit for generating first and second driving voltages, a vibration plate bonding to said pressure chamber for changing a volume of said pressure chamber on the basis of vibration, and an actuator for vibrating said vibration plate upon receiving the first and second driving voltages, for generating a pressure change in said pressure chamber to eject an ink droplet from the nozzle, the ink droplet having a minimum total diameter of not more than 20 &mgr;m; a temperature detection unit for detecting ambient temperature; and a correction means for correcting the first and second driving voltages generated by said driving voltage control unit in accordance with a change in the ambient temperature detected by said temperature detection unit, wherein said pressure generation means retracts a meniscus indicating an ink liquid surface of a nozzle opening to change a meniscus shape into a concave shape by causing the driving voltage control unit to generate the first driving voltage having a level smaller than the absolute value of an offset voltage applied to the actuator that is not being operated and larger than 0V to operate the nozzle, before ejecting the ink droplet from the nozzle, and then ejects the ink droplet from the nozzle by causing said driving voltage control unit to generate the second driving voltage having a level larger than the absolute value of the offset voltage to operate said actuator, and wherein said correction means corrects the first and second driving voltages generated by the driving voltage control unit at the same magnification in accordance with a viscosity change of the ink depending on the change in the ambient temperature.