Inkjet head and inkjet printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131141-B2
Application number	US-201715414745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2017
Priority date	Apr 7, 2016
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, an inkjet head comprises a head section, a clock signal generator, a drive controller and a current measurement section. The head section applies a drive voltage to a wall surface of an ink chamber and ejects ink from the ink chamber. The clock signal generatorsends a clock signal to the head section. The drive controller stops the clock signal sent to the head section, and applies a predetermined drive voltage to the head section. The current measurement section measures a current flowing to the head section while the drive controller stops the clock signal sent to the head section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inkjet head, comprising:
a head section configured to apply a drive voltage to a wall surface of an ink chamber and eject ink from the ink chamber;
a clock signal generator configured to send a clock signal to the head section;
a drive controller configured to stop the clock signal sent to the head section, and apply a predetermined drive voltage to the head section; and
a current measurement section configured to measure a current flowing to the head section while the drive controller stops the clock signal sent to the head section, wherein a change in the measure of the current flowing to the head section indicates whether leakage current is generated in the head section.

2. The inkjet head according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a timing signal generator configured to send a timing signal indicating a timing corresponding to a division of the head section, wherein
the drive controller stops the clock signal sent to the head section after receiving the timing signal indicating the timing corresponding to a predetermined division.

3. The inkjet head according to claim 2 , wherein
the drive controller stops the clock signal sent to the head section if a delay time elapses after receiving the timing signal.

4. The inkjet head according to claim 1 , wherein
the drive controller sends the clock signal to the head section after the stop time elapses after stopping the clock signal sent to the head section.

5. The inkjet head according to claim 1 , wherein
the wall surface comprises at least one piezoelectric element.

6. The inkjet head according to claim 1 , wherein the clock signal sent is required to cause a change in volume of the ink chamber.

7. The inkjet head according to claim 3 , wherein
the delay time indicates time from a start time of a period during which a timing signal of a stop object division is sent to a moment the clock signal sent is stopped.

8. An inkjet printer, comprising:
an inkjet head; and
a conveyance section configured to convey a medium on which an image is formed by ink,
the inkjet head comprising:
a head section configured to apply a drive voltage to a wall surface of an ink chamber and eject ink from the ink chamber;
a clock signal generator configured to send a clock signal to the head section;
a drive controller configured to stop the clock signal sent to the head section, and apply a predetermined drive voltage to the head section; and
a current measurement section configured to measure a current flowing to the head section while the drive controller stops the clock signal sent to the head section, wherein the current flowing measured by the current measurement section is utilized to detect a leakage current generated in the head section.

9. The inkjet printer according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a timing signal generator configured to send a timing signal indicating a timing corresponding to a division of the head section, wherein
the drive controller stops the clock signal sent to the head section after receiving the timing signal indicating the timing corresponding to a predetermined division.

10. The inkjet printer according to claim 9 , wherein
the drive controller stops the clock signal sent to the head section if a delay time elapses after receiving the timing signal.

11. The inkjet printer according to claim 8 , wherein
the drive controller sends the clock signal to the head section after the stop time elapses after stopping the clock signal sent to the head section.

12. The inkjet printer according to claim 8 , wherein
the wall surface comprises at least one piezoelectric element.

13. The inkjet printer according to claim 8 , wherein
the clock signal sent causes a change in volume of the ink chamber.

14. An inkjet printing method, comprising:
applying a drive voltage to a wall surface of an ink chamber and ejecting ink from the ink chamber;
sending a clock signal to a head section;
stopping the clock signal sent to the head section, and applying a predetermined drive voltage to the head section; and
measuring a current flowing to the head section while stopping the clock signal sent to the head section, wherein the measuring the current flowing to the head section comprises evaluating the current flowing for a presence of a leakage current generated in the head section.

15. The inkjet printing method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
sending a timing signal indicating a timing corresponding to a division of the head section; and
stopping the clock signal sent to the head section after receiving the timing signal indicating the timing corresponding to a predetermined division.

16. The inkjet printing method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
stopping the clock signal sent to the head section if a delay time elapses after receiving the timing signal.

17. The inkjet printing method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
sending the clock signal to the head section after the stop time elapses after stopping the clock signal sent to the head section.

18. The inkjet printing method according to claim 14 , wherein
the wall surface comprises at least one piezoelectric element.

19. The inkjet printing method according to claim 14 , wherein
the clock signal sent causes a change in volume of the ink chamber.

20. The inkjet printing method according to claim 16 , wherein
the delay time indicates time from a start time of a period during which a timing signal of a stop object division is sent to a moment the clock signal sent is stopped.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Akimoto Manabu

Classifications

• B41J2/04543

  Block driving · CPC title

• B41J2/04581

  controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements · CPC title

• B41J2/04555

  detecting current · CPC title

• B41J2/04541

  Specific driving circuit · CPC title

• B41J2/04573 Primary

  Timing; Delays · CPC title