IP Library Granted Patent US 12,409,649
Granted Patent B2
US 12,409,649 · App. 18/478,447 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Liquid discharge apparatus

Inventors: Masahiko Tsuyuki (Chino, JP); Makoto Takamuku (Matsumoto, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
B41J2/04581B41J2/0451B41J2/04541B41J2/04548
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,409,649
App. No.
18/478,447
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus, in which a substrate unit includes a first abnormality notification section that notifies an abnormality of the substrate unit, a wiring substrate having a plurality of rigid members and a flexible member, a first heat sink, and a second heat sink, the first heat sink is laminated on the second surface of the first region and positioned close to the second rigid member, the second heat sink is laminated on the second surface of the second region and positioned close to the fourth rigid member, and the first abnormality notification section is provided on a fourth rigid member.

Claims (39)

1. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:

a print head that discharges a liquid; and

a substrate unit electrically coupled to the print head, wherein

the print head includes

a discharge section that has a piezoelectric element that is displaced by receiving a driving signal and discharges a liquid by displacement of the piezoelectric element, and

a first connector electrically coupled to the substrate unit,

the substrate unit includes

a second connector that is electrically coupled to the print head by being fitted to the first connector,

a first abnormality notification section that notifies an abnormality of the substrate unit,

a wiring substrate provided with the second connector and the first abnormality notification section, and

a first heat sink and a second heat sink which are coupled to the wiring substrate,

the wiring substrate is a rigid flexible substrate including a plurality of rigid members provided with the second connector and the first abnormality notification section, and a flexible member more flexible than the plurality of rigid members,

the flexible member includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first region, a second region, and a third region,

the third region is positioned between the first region and the second region,

the plurality of rigid members include a first rigid member, a second rigid member, a third rigid member, and a fourth rigid member,

the first rigid member includes a first front surface, and is laminated on the first surface of the first region such that the first front surface extends along the first surface,

the second rigid member includes a second front surface, and is laminated on the second surface of the first region such that the second front surface extends along the second surface,

the third rigid member includes a third front surface, and is laminated on the first surface of the second region such that the third front surface extends along the first surface,

the fourth rigid member includes a fourth front surface, and is laminated on the second surface of the second region such that the fourth front surface extends along the second surface,

the first rigid member and the third rigid member are positioned such that the first front surface and the third front surface face each other when the flexible member is bent in the third region,

the first heat sink is positioned closer to the second rigid member than the first rigid member, the third rigid member, and the fourth rigid member,

the second heat sink is positioned closer to the fourth rigid member than the first rigid member, the second rigid member, and the third rigid member, and

the first abnormality notification section is provided on the fourth rigid member.

2. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the second heat sink has an opening, and

when the wiring substrate is viewed along a direction from the fourth rigid member to the third rigid member, the first abnormality notification section is positioned overlapping with at least a part of the opening.

3. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the substrate unit includes an FPGA that outputs a reference driving signal which is a basis of the driving signal, and

the FPGA is provided on the first rigid member.

4. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the first abnormality notification section notifies presence or absence of an abnormality in a power supply voltage supplied to the FPGA.

5. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the substrate unit has a second abnormality notification section that notifies an abnormality of the substrate unit.

6. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the substrate unit includes a drive circuit that outputs the driving signal,

the drive circuit is provided on the third rigid member, and

when the wiring substrate is viewed along a direction from the fourth rigid member to the third rigid member, the first abnormality notification section is positioned not overlapping with the drive circuit.

7. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the drive circuit includes a class D amplifier circuit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2023
From: TSUYUKI, MASAHIKO; TAKAMUKU, MAKOTO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065077/0544 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-158891 · Sep 30, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240109314A1 · Apr 4, 2024
References Cited (3)
US 10265949B2 · Matsumoto · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190126619A1 · Kitazawa · 2019 [cited by examiner]
JP 2018099835A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 12,666,874