1. Apparatus for supporting, during a testing operation, a leadframe formed with at least one row of non-singulated semiconductor devices, comprising a main body and a leadframe support member, the leadframe support member being connected to the main body; wherein said leadframe support member is formed with at least one groove for receiving said semiconductor devices such that, during the testing operation, test probes from a test probe head are electrically connected with leads extending from said semiconductor devices, the leads resting upon a surface of said support member.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said leadframe support member is formed with a plurality of parallel grooves.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each groove receives a plurality of semiconductor devices.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for releasably gripping a said leadframe so as to hold said leadframe in place.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said gripping means comprises a pair of gripping members disposed on respective sides of said groove.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein means are provided for moving said gripping members into and out of engagement with said leadframe.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said moving means is actuated by compressed air.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein a plurality of pairs of gripping members are provided, and wherein said compressed air is provided directly to one said pair and is distributed to the other said pairs by an air distribution assembly formed in the main body.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said gripping means extends through apertures formed in said leadframe support member.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main body is formed with locating pins for locating the leadframe support member on the main body.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main body is formed of a conducting material and includes holes for providing an electrical grounding.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the leadframe support member is formed of a high resistivity electrically insulating material.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main body is provided with identification means.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each groove receives a plurality of semiconductor devices.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body member includes a recess and the leadframe support member is located in the recess.
16. Apparatus for supporting during a testing operation a leadframe formed with at least one row of non-singulated semiconductor devices, comprising a main body, a leadframe support member, the leadframe support member being connected to the main body, wherein said leadframe support member is formed with at least one groove for receiving said semiconductor devices such that in use, test probes from a test probe head are electrically connected with leads extending from said semiconductor devices, the leads lying on a surface of said support member, and means for coupling said main body with a transport mechanism.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the means for coupling include a coupler rod having two ends, each end of the connector rod is coupled to a coupling block, and each coupling block is secured to the main body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:
a movable carriage for exchangeably mounting a recording discharging portion formed with a recording liquid discharging port for discharging a recording liquid, and a processing liquid discharging portion formed with a processing liquid discharging port for discharging a processing liquid to process said recording liquid,
a recording liquid recovery member dedicated for, when said carriage is halted, performing a recovery process on a face in which said recording liquid discharging port is formed, and
a processing liquid recovery member dedicated for, when said carriage is halted, performing a recovery process on a face in which said processing liquid discharging port is formed;
wherein said processing liquid recovery member is moved separately from said recording liquid recovery member in a direction that differs from a direction in which said carriage moves, so as to be retractable from said face in which said recording liquid discharging port is formed.
2. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement of said processing liquid recovery member in said different direction is a displacement in a plane substantially perpendicular to said direction in which said carriage is displaced.
3. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the displacement of said processing liquid recovery member in said different direction is a rotation of said processing liquid recovery means.
4. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an angle of said rotation of said processing liquid recovery means falls within a range of from 60 to 120.
5. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an angle of said rotation of said processing liquid recovery means falls within a range of from 80 to 100.
6. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an angle of said rotation of said processing liquid recovery means is almost 90.
7. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the displacement of said processing liquid recovery member in said different direction is a substantially linear displacement of said processing liquid recovery means.
8. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording liquid recovery member is a recording liquid capping member for capping a face in which said recording discharging port is provided, and said processing liquid recovery member is a processing liquid capping member for capping a face in which said processing liquid discharging port is provided.
9. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said processing liquid capping member communicates with a pump for sucking from said processing liquid discharging port.
10. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said recording liquid capping member does not communicate with said pump for sucking from said recording liquid discharge port, wherein, displacing said carriage causes a recording liquid capping member which differs from said recording liquid capping member and communicates with said pump to face said recording liquid discharging port, so that suction of liquid from said recording liquid discharge port is initiated.
11. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said recording liquid capping member communicates with a pump for sucking from said recording liquid discharging port.
12. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 or 8, wherein said recording liquid recovery member is a recording liquid wiping member for wiping said face in which said recording discharging port is provided, and said processing liquid recovery member is a processing liquid wiping member for wiping said face in which said processing liquid discharging port is provided.
13. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, displacing said carriage causes a wiping liquid capping member different from said recording liquid wiping member to perform wiping said recording liquid discharging port.
14. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing liquid insolubilizes a color material contained in said recording liquid with respect to a solvent.
15. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording liquid discharging portion includes a light-cyan discharging port array from which a light-cyan recording liquid is discharged, and forms a recording head together with a black discharging port array, from which a black recording liquid is discharged, and a light magenta discharging port array, from which a light magenta recording liquid is discharged, said black and light magenta discharging port arrays sandwiching said light cyan discharging port.
16. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 or 14, wherein said processing liquid discharging portion includes a processing liquid discharging port array from which said processing liquid is discharged, and forms a recording head together with a plurality of black discharging port arrays, from which a black recording liquid is discharged, said black discharging port arrays sandwiching said processing liquid discharging port.
17. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording liquid discharging portion and said processing liquid discharging portion are exchangeably mounted on said carriage, and wherein a recording head, which includes discharging port arrays from which cyan, magenta and yellow recording liquids are discharged, is mounted adjacent to recording heads including either of said discharging portions.
18. A liquid discharge apparatus, which employs a plurality of liquid discharge heads for recording on a recording medium, comprising:
a plurality of capping means for individually capping discharge faces of said liquid discharge heads; and
cap exchange means for selectively exchanging said capping means, at the same capping position defined for said capping means, in consonance with those liquid types that are to be discharged from said liquid discharge heads.
19. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a carriage on which said plurality of liquid discharge heads are mounted and that can move relative to said recording medium.
20. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 19, wherein at least one of said liquid discharge heads is exchanged, so that a liquid can be discharged that differs from the one employed before the replacement.
21. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for detecting the type of an exchangeable liquid discharge head, wherein, to exchange a cap, said capping means are operated in consonance with the result of the detection by the detecting means.
22. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for detecting the type of a liquid discharged from said exchangeable liquid discharge head, wherein, to exchange a cap, said capping means are operated in consonance with the result of the detection by the detecting means.
23. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, in said plurality of liquids, at least two liquids are included that react chemically or physically with each other.
24. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said exchangeable liquid discharge heads that are located at the same position on said carriage include a specific liquid discharge head for discharging a liquid containing color material, and another liquid discharge head for discharging a liquid containing a material that coheres with or insolubilizes said coloring material in said liquid discharged from said specific liquid discharge head.
25. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said cap exchange means exchanges a cap at the same position and in said direction in which said carriage is moved.
26. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said cap exchange operation is performed in a pivotal manner or a rotational manner.
27. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 26, wherein, by either a pivotal or rotational operation, said cap exchange means exchanges two types of capping means that are used, depending on said liquid type.
28. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said plurality of capping means corresponding to different liquid types is integrally formed.
29. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least one exchangeable capping means communicates with suction means for sucking and removing a liquid from said discharging ports of said liquid discharge heads.
30. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a liquid discharged from said liquid discharge head includes a liquid containing low molecular and macromolecular cationic materials, and a liquid containing anion dye.
31. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a liquid discharged from said liquid discharge head includes a liquid containing low molecular and macromolecular cationic materials, and a liquid containing at least an anion dye and a pigment.
32. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said liquid discharge head includes an electro-thermal converting element that generates, in order to discharge said liquid, thermal energy that causes film boiling of said liquid.
33. A liquid discharge apparatus, which employs a plurality of liquid discharge heads for recording on a recording medium, comprising:
a plurality of wiping means for individually capping discharge faces of said liquid discharge heads; and
wiper exchange means for selectively exchanging said capping means, at the same wiping position defined by said wiping means, in consonance with liquid types that are ejected from said liquid discharge heads.
34. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising a carriage on which said plurality of liquid discharge heads are mounted and that is displaceable relative to said recording medium.
35. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said liquid discharge heads is exchanged, so that a liquid can be discharged that differs from the one employed before the replacement.
36. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising means for detecting the type of an exchangeable liquid discharge head, wherein, to perform wiping the discharge faces of said liquid discharge heads, said wiping means are operated in consonance with the result of the detection by the detecting means.
37. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising means for detecting the type of a liquid discharged from said exchangeable liquid discharge head, wherein, to perform wiping the discharge faces of said liquid discharge heads, said wiping means are operated in consonance with the result of the detection by the detecting means.
38. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said exchangeable liquid discharge heads that are located at the same position on said carriage include a specific liquid discharge head for discharging a liquid containing color material, and another liquid discharge head for discharging a liquid containing a material that coheres with or insolubilizes said coloring material in said liquid discharged from said specific liquid discharge head.
39. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said wiper exchange means exchanges a cap at the same position and in said direction in which said carriage moves.
40. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said wiper exchange means exchanges said wiping means in a pivotal manner or a rotational manner.
41. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said wiper exchange means includes a support member for supporting all of said plurality of wiping means, and exchanges said wiping means by pivoting or rotating said support member.
42. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 39, wherein, by either a pivotal or rotational operation, said wiper exchange means is exchanged between two types of wiping means that are used, depending on said liquid type.
43. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of wiping means corresponding to different liquid types is integrally formed.
44. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, wherein specific wiping means for wiping a discharge face of a liquid discharge head for discharging a specific liquid is retractable relative to said discharge face.
45. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 44, wherein, when said specific wiping means is to be retracted from said discharge face of said liquid discharge head, a portion of said discharge face from which liquid has not been removed is wiped while the positional relationship between said plurality of liquid discharge heads and said plurality of wiping means is changed.
46. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 44, wherein a support member for supporting said specific wiping means is rotatably or pivotally attached to a support member for supporting said other wiping means.
47. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, wherein, of said plurality of wiping means corresponding to said plurality of liquid discharge heads, some of said wiping means and other of said wiping means independently perform a wiping process for said discharge faces of said liquid discharge heads.
48. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising:
a plurality of capping means for individually capping discharge faces of said liquid discharge heads, and
cap exchange means for selectively exchanging said capping means by pivoting or rotating in consonance with the type of said liquid that is discharged from said liquid discharge head at the same capping position of said capping means;
wherein said wiping means, which interact with the exchange process for said capping means and wipe said discharge faces of said liquid discharge heads, are selectively exchanged.
49. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said wiping means are displaced in a direction in which said discharging ports of said liquid discharge head are arranged.
50. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said liquid discharge heads are first to third liquid discharge heads, each of which has first to third nozzle groups; wherein black ink is discharged through said first and third nozzle groups of said first liquid discharge head, and a printing enhancement-liquid is discharged through said second nozzle group; wherein cyan, magenta and yellow inks are discharged through said first to said third nozzle groups of said second liquid discharge head; wherein black ink is discharged through either said first or said third nozzle group of said third liquid discharge head, and a second cyan ink and a second magenta ink, the dye densities of which are lower than those discharged from said second liquid discharge head, are discharged through either said first or said third nozzle group and said second nozzle group; and wherein provided are a first mode for forming a color image using said first and said second liquid discharge heads, and a second mode for forming a color image using said third and said second discharge heads.
51. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said first and said third liquid discharge heads are exchangeable.
52. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said second nozzle group of said first liquid discharge head is located between said first and said third nozzle groups.
53. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, wherein a liquid discharged from said liquid discharge head includes a liquid containing low molecular and macromolecular cationic materials, and a liquid containing anion dye.
54. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, wherein a liquid discharged from said liquid discharge head includes a liquid containing low molecular and macromolecular cationic materials, and a liquid containing at least anion dye and a pigment.
55. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said liquid discharge head includes a thermal energy generating element that generates, in order to discharge said liquid, thermal energy that causes film boiling in said liquid.
56. A liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said thermal energy generating member is an electro-thermal converting element for generating thermal energy that induces film boiling of said liquid.