Liquid discharge head, driving method therefor, and cartridge, and image forming apparatus

A method for driving a liquid discharge head which comprises a common liquid chamber supplied with liquid, said common liquid chamber being extended along a longitudinal direction, a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at a predetermined main interval respectively on both sides of said common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction, a plurality of auxiliary discharge ports arranged on both end sides of the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports, said auxiliary discharge ports being arranged at a predetermined auxiliary interval on both sides of said common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction, wherein the auxiliary interval is larger than the main interval, a plurality of liquid chambers to which said main and auxiliary discharge ports open and communicated with said common liquid chamber, and a plurality of discharge energy generating units provided for each liquid chamber corresponding to a main discharge port or an auxiliary discharge port to generate energy utilized for discharging liquid from said main discharge ports and said auxiliary discharge ports, said method comprising the following step of:

• discharging liquid simultaneously from at least two of said main discharge ports adjacent to each other with having one of said auxiliary discharge ports and said common liquid chamber between them, said step being executed one after another from one end side in the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports.

A method for driving a liquid discharge head which comprises a common liquid chamber supplied with liquid, said common liquid chamber being extended along a longitudinal direction, a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at a predetermined main interval respectively on both sides of said common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction, a plurality of auxiliary discharge ports arranged on both end sides of the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports, said auxiliary discharge ports being arranged at a predetermined auxiliary interval on both sides of said common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction, wherein the auxiliary interval is larger than the main interval, a plurality of liquid chambers to which said main and auxiliary discharge ports open and communicated with said common liquid chamber, and a plurality of discharge energy generating units provided for each liquid chamber corresponding to a main discharge port or an auxiliary discharge port to generate energy utilized for discharging liquid from said main discharge ports and said auxiliary discharge ports, said method comprising the following steps of:

• discharging liquid simultaneously from at least two of said main discharge ports adjacent to each other with having one of said auxiliary discharge ports and said common liquid chamber between them when liquid is discharged from said main discharge ports in order to restore the discharge condition of liquid from said main discharge ports, said step being performed plural times;
• operating liquid discharge from one of said discharge ports one after another from one end side in the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports;
• and
• operating liquid discharges from at least two of said main discharge ports adjacent to each other having said common liquid chamber between them on one end side and the other end side alternately in the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports.

A method for driving a liquid discharge head which comprises a common liquid chamber supplied with liquid, said common liquid chamber being extended along a longitudinal direction, a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at a predetermined main interval respectively on both sides of said common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction, a plurality of auxiliary discharge ports arranged on both end sides of the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports, said auxiliary discharge ports being arranged at a predetermined auxiliary interval on both sides of said common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction, wherein the auxiliary interval is larger than the main interval, a plurality of liquid chambers to which said main and auxiliary discharge ports open and communicated with said common liquid chamber, and a plurality of discharge energy generating units provided for each liquid chamber corresponding to a main discharge port or an auxiliary discharge port to generate energy utilized for discharging liquid from said main discharge ports and said auxiliary discharge ports, said method comprising the following steps of:

• discharging liquid simultaneously from at least two of said main discharge ports adjacent to each other with having one of said auxiliary discharge ports and said common liquid chamber between them when liquid is discharged from said main discharge ports in order to restore the discharge condition of liquid from said main discharge ports, said step being performed plural times;
• dividing said main discharge ports into a first group and a second group one after another alternately in the arrangement direction thereof from one end side in the arrangement direction thereof;
• operating liquid discharge from said auxiliary discharge ports one after another from one end side in the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports;
• selecting from said first group said first and last auxiliary discharge ports positioned on one end side in the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports, and at least two of said main discharge ports each discharging liquid simultaneously;
• and
• selecting from said second group at least one of said discharge ports other than said first and last auxiliary discharge ports positioned on one end side in the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports, and at least two of said main discharge ports discharging liquid simultaneously.

A method for driving a liquid discharge head which comprises a common liquid chamber supplied with liquid, said common liquid chamber being extended along a longitudinal direction, a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at a predetermined main interval respectively on both sides of said common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction, a plurality of auxiliary discharge ports arranged on both end sides of the arrangement direction of said main discharge ports, said auxiliary discharge ports being arranged at a predetermined auxiliary interval on both sides of said common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction, wherein the auxiliary interval is larger than the main interval, a plurality of liquid chambers to which said main and auxiliary discharge ports open and communicated with said common liquid chamber, and a plurality of discharge energy generating units provided for each liquid chamber corresponding to a main discharge port or an auxiliary discharge port to generate energy utilized for discharging liquid from said main discharge ports and said auxiliary discharge ports, said method comprising the following steps of:

• discharging liquid from at least all said main discharge ports as a first step when liquid is discharged from said main discharge ports in order to restore the discharge condition of liquid from said main discharge ports;
• and
• discharging liquid at least all said auxiliary discharge ports as a second step.