IP Library Granted Patent US 7,950,785
Granted Patent B2
US 7,950,785 · App. 11/338,498 · Granted May 31, 2011

Method of controlling liquid droplet ejection apparatus, liquid droplet ejection apparatus, method of manufacturing electro-optical device, electro-optical device, and electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,950,785
App. No.
11/338,498
Granted
May 31, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of controlling a liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes: a pressure detecting step of detecting whether the pressure inside a functional liquid tank is below a lower-limit pressure of a working pressure or not; a step of confirming, when the pressure inside the functional liquid tank is below the lower-limit pressure, whether a functional liquid droplet ejection head is in imaging operation or not; and a pressurization control step of, upon confirmation that the functional liquid droplet ejection head is not in imaging operation, pressurizing the functional liquid tank to an upper-limit pressure of the working pressure.

Claims (20)

1. A method of controlling a liquid droplet ejection apparatus, the apparatus supplying a functional liquid to a functional liquid droplet ejection head from a functional liquid tank by pressurizing the functional liquid tank, the method comprising:

a step of confirming whether the functional liquid droplet ejection head is in an imaging operation; and

a step of:

while the functional liquid droplet ejection head is confirmed not to be in the imaging operation, pressurizing the functional liquid tank to a predetermined pre-set upper-limit pressure; and

while the functional liquid droplet ejection head is confirmed to be in the imaging operation, pressurizing the functional liquid tank to a pressure lower than the upper-limit pressure after the ink jet head goes out of the printing region.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a step of detecting a pressure inside the functional liquid tank;

wherein the functional liquid tank is pressurized when the pressure inside the functional liquid tank is below a lower-limit pressure of a working pressure.

3. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the functional liquid droplet ejection head ejects functional liquid droplets on an imaging region while relatively moving the functional liquid droplet ejection head and an imaging target, the functional liquid tank is pressurized after the functional liquid droplet ejection head goes out of the imaging region.

4. A liquid droplet ejection apparatus, the apparatus supplying a functional liquid to a functional liquid droplet ejection head from a functional liquid tank by pressurizing the functional liquid tank, the apparatus comprising:

an imaging operation confirmer that confirms a state of the functional liquid droplet ejection head as being in an imaging operation; and

a pressurization controller that:

while the functional liquid droplet ejection head is confirmed not to be in the imaging operation, pressurizes the functional liquid tank to a predetermined pre-set upper-limit pressure; and

while the functional liquid droplet ejection head is confirmed to be in the imaging operation, pressurizes the functional liquid tank to a pressure lower than the upper-limit pressure after the ink jet head goes out of the printing region.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a pressure detector that detects a pressure inside the functional liquid tank;

wherein the functional liquid tank is pressurized when the pressure inside the functional liquid tank is below a lower-limit pressure of a working pressure.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein the functional liquid droplet ejection head ejects functional liquid droplets on an imaging region while relatively moving the functional liquid droplet ejection head and an imaging target, the functional liquid tank is pressurized after the functional liquid droplet ejection head goes out of the imaging region.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2020
From: EAST WEST BANK, A CALIFORNIA BANKING CORPORATION
To: KATEEVA, INC.
Reel/Frame 051664/0802 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2019
From: KATEEVA, INC.
To: EAST WEST BANK
Reel/Frame 048806/0639 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2017
From: SEIKO EPSON CORP
To: KATEEVA, INC.
Reel/Frame 044719/0414 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2006
From: USUDA, HIDENORI; ARUGA, KAZUMI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017497/0753 →