Liquid surface imaging device and liquid discharge apparatus
A liquid surface imaging device includes an irradiator including a plurality of lightings, the irradiator configured to irradiate a liquid surface in a nozzle of a liquid discharge head with lights emitted from the plurality of lightings, and an imaging device configured to image the liquid surface. The plurality of lightings is arranged point-asymmetrically with a center of the imaging device as a point of symmetry.
1. A liquid surface imaging device comprising:
an irradiator including a plurality of lightings, the irradiator configured to irradiate a liquid surface in a nozzle of a liquid discharge head with light emitted from the plurality of lightings; and
an imaging device configured to image the liquid surface,
wherein the plurality of lightings is arranged point-asymmetrically with a center of the imaging device as a point of symmetry.
2. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of lightings is arranged in a polygonal shape.
3. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of lightings is arranged annularly.
4. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of lightings includes a plurality of belt-shaped lightings.
5. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the plurality of belt-shaped lightings is arranged concentrically.
6. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the plurality of belt-shaped lightings is arranged in a polygonal shape.
7. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the plurality of belt-shaped lightings is arranged annularly.
8. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of lightings is arranged around a periphery of the imaging device.
9. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the irradiator is movable toward or away from the liquid surface.
10. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a light source configured to emit light; and
a mirror configured to transmit the light emitted from the light source to the plurality of lightings of the irradiator.
11. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the irradiator further includes at least one lighting, and the at least one lighting and the plurality of lightings are arranged concentrically in a radial direction with the center of the imaging device as the point of symmetry.
12. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:
the liquid surface imaging device according to claim 1 ; and
the liquid discharge head including the nozzle, the liquid discharge head configured to discharge a liquid from the nozzle.
13. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 12 ,
wherein the nozzle includes a plurality of nozzles, the plurality of nozzles arrayed in a nozzle array direction, and
the imaging device is movable relative to the plurality of nozzles in the nozzle array direction.
14. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 12 ,
wherein the imaging device images the liquid surface in the nozzle of the liquid discharge head at a position at which the imaging device faces the nozzle.
15. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising:
circuitry configured to:
control the liquid surface imaging device to image the liquid surface; and
select one of a plurality of maintenance operations to be performed on the liquid discharge head according to an imaging result of the liquid surface imaging device.
16. A liquid surface imaging device comprising:
an irradiator including a plurality of lightings, the irradiator configured to irradiate a liquid surface in a nozzle of a liquid discharge head with light emitted from the plurality of lightings; and
an imaging device configured to image the liquid surface,
wherein the plurality of lightings is arranged point-symmetrically with a center of the imaging device as a point of symmetry, and
the irradiator is configured to individually turn off a part of the plurality of lightings and turn on the other part of the plurality of lightings.
17. The liquid surface imaging device according to claim 16 ,
wherein the irradiator is configured to select the part of the plurality of lightings to be turned off.
18. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:
the liquid surface imaging device according to claim 16 ; and
the liquid discharge head including the nozzle, the liquid discharge head configured to discharge a liquid from the nozzle.
19. A liquid surface imaging device comprising:
an irradiator including a belt-shaped lighting, the irradiator configured to irradiate a liquid surface in a nozzle of a liquid discharge head with light emitted from the belt-shaped lighting; and
an imaging device configured to image the liquid surface,
wherein the belt-shaped lighting has a shape point-asymmetric with a center of the imaging device as a point of symmetry.
20. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:
the liquid surface imaging device according to claim 19 ; and
the liquid discharge head including the nozzle, the liquid discharge head configured to discharge a liquid from the nozzle.