Fluid ejection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9566085-B2
Application number	US-201514683030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2015
Priority date	Apr 10, 2014
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit that ejects a fluid in a pulsed manner; a fluid accommodation portion that accommodates the fluid at a predetermined pressure or higher; a fluid supply unit that supplies the fluid accommodated in the fluid accommodation portion to the fluid ejection unit; a connection channel that connects the fluid ejection unit and the fluid accommodation portion, and acts as a channel through which the fluid flows; an opening and closing unit that opens and closes the connection channel; and a control unit that sends an open signal for opening the connection channel to the opening and closing unit, and sends an ejection signal for ejecting the fluid to the fluid ejection unit. The control unit sends the ejection signal after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the sending of the open signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid ejection device comprising:
a fluid ejection unit that ejects a fluid in a pulsed manner;
a fluid accommodation portion configured to accommodate the fluid at a predetermined pressure or higher;
a fluid supply unit that supplies the fluid accommodated in the fluid accommodation portion to the fluid ejection unit;
a connection channel that connects the fluid ejection unit and the fluid accommodation portion, and acts as a channel through which the fluid flows;
an opening and closing unit that opens and closes the connection channel; and
a control unit configured to send an open signal for opening the connection channel to the opening and closing unit, and send an ejection signal for ejecting the fluid to the fluid ejection unit,
wherein the control unit sends the ejection signal after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the sending of the open signal.

2. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 ,
wherein before the control unit sends the ejection signal after sending the open signal, the control unit supplies the fluid to the fluid ejection unit by driving a pressurizing unit provided in the fluid supply unit and configured to pressurize the fluid accommodation portion.

3. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a target pressure is set to be higher than the predetermined pressure,
wherein a first lower limit pressure is set to the predetermined pressure,
wherein a first upper limit pressure is set to be higher than the target pressure,
wherein a second lower limit pressure is set to be higher than the first lower limit pressure and lower than the target pressure,
wherein a second upper limit pressure is set to be lower than the first upper limit pressure and higher than the target pressure,
wherein a first pressure range is set to range from the first lower limit pressure to the first upper limit pressure,
wherein a second pressure range is set to range from the second lower limit pressure to the second upper limit pressure,
wherein when the target pressure is set to a center value of each of the first pressure range and the second pressure range, the control unit controls an inner fluid pressure of the fluid accommodation portion to be in the second pressure range, and
wherein when the inner fluid pressure of the fluid accommodation portion is in the first pressure range, the control unit sends the open signal and the ejection signal.

4. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit sends the open signal and the ejection signal upon a condition that the control unit receives a fluid supply signal instructive of the ejection of the fluid,
wherein in a case where the inner fluid pressure of the fluid accommodation portion is not the predetermined pressure or higher, even when the control unit receives the fluid supply signal, the control unit does not send the open signal, and
wherein in a case where the inner fluid pressure of the fluid accommodation portion is the predetermined pressure or higher, after the control unit receives the fluid supply signal, the control unit sends the open signal.

5. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 ,
wherein before the control unit sends the open signal, the control unit fills the connection channel up with the fluid, and
wherein after the fluid ejection unit ejects the fluid, the control unit controls the inner fluid pressure of the fluid accommodation portion to become the predetermined pressure or higher.

6. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 ,
wherein when the fluid ejection unit receives the ejection signal, the fluid ejection unit ejects the fluid using a piezoelectric element configured to be deformed in response to a change in voltage.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Asahi Tsunemori
• Gomi Masaki
• Uchida Kazuaki

Classifications

• A61M5/1458

  Means for capture of the plunger flange · CPC title

• A61B17/3203 Primary

  Fluid jet cutting instruments · CPC title

• A61M2205/0294

  Piezoelectric materials · CPC title

• A61B2017/00022

  Sensing or detecting at the treatment site · CPC title

• A61M2205/3386

  Low level detectors · CPC title