Liquid discharge device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10518529-B2
Application number	US-201816113549-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2018
Priority date	Aug 29, 2017
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

The liquid discharge device includes a plurality of volume changing portions and at least one blocking portion. The plurality of volume changing portions are in combination with a plurality of pressure chambers which communicate with nozzles for discharging a liquid and which have inlets through which the liquid flows into the plurality of pressure chambers. The at least one blocking portion blocks communication at the inlets. The plurality of volume changing portions are arranged in a plurality of rows spaced from one another. In a direction along the plurality of rows, the plurality of rows of volume changing portions are staggered from one another. The liquid is discharged from the nozzles by using the plurality of volume changing portions in a state in which the inlets are blocked by the at least one blocking portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid discharge device comprising:
a plurality of volume changing portions that are in combination with a plurality of pressure chambers which communicate with nozzles for discharging a liquid and which have inlets through which the liquid flows into the plurality of pressure chambers and
that change volumes of the plurality of pressure chambers so as to apply pressure to insides of the plurality of pressure chambers, thereby discharging the liquid from the nozzles; and
at least one blocking portion that blocks communication at the inlets, the at least one blocking portion being configured to slide transversely to a direction in which the plurality of volume changing portions change volumes of the plurality of pressure chambers,
wherein the plurality of volume changing portions are arranged in a plurality of rows spaced from one another,
wherein, in a direction along the plurality of rows, the plurality of rows of volume changing portions are staggered from one another, and
wherein the liquid is discharged from the nozzles by using the plurality of volume changing portions in a state in which the inlets are blocked by the at least one blocking portion.

2. The liquid discharge device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the nozzles are arranged in a single row.

3. The liquid discharge device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one blocking portion includes a plurality of separate blocking portions that are independently movable, and
wherein the plurality of blocking portions are each able to block one or more inlets.

4. The liquid discharge device according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the pressure chambers together with a corresponding one of the nozzles that is in communication with the pressure chamber has an equal volume in the state in which the inlets are blocked by the at least one blocking portion.

5. The liquid discharge device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a flow resistance from each of the inlets to a corresponding one of the nozzles that is in communication with a corresponding one of the pressure chamber having the inlet is equal.

6. The liquid discharge device according to claim 1 , wherein a volume changing portion of the plurality of volume changing portions associated with one pressure chamber of the plurality of pressure chambers overlaps a nozzle that is connected to another pressure chamber adjacent to the one pressure chamber.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Sugai Keigo

Classifications

• B41J2/14274

  of stacked structure type, deformed by compression/extension and disposed on a diaphragm · CPC title

• B41J2/04501 Primary

  Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits · CPC title

• B41J2/04525 Primary

  reducing occurrence of cross talk · CPC title

• B41J2/14201

  Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements · CPC title

• B41J2/04588

  using a specific waveform · CPC title