IP Library Granted Patent US 12,459,253
Granted Patent B2
US 12,459,253 · App. 18/478,251 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Liquid discharge apparatus

Inventors: Masahiko Tsuyuki (Chino, JP); Makoto Takamuku (Matsumoto, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
B41J2/04553B41J2/04523B41J2/04541B41J2/04548B41J2/0455B41J2/04581B41J29/377
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,459,253
App. No.
18/478,251
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a print head; a substrate unit; and a control circuit that controls operations of the print head and the substrate unit, in which the print head includes a first discharge section that has a first piezoelectric element that is displaced by receiving a first driving signal and discharges a liquid by displacement of the first piezoelectric element, and a first connector, the substrate unit includes a second connector that is electrically coupled to the print head by being fitted to the first connector, a first drive circuit that outputs the first driving signal, a temperature sensor that acquires environmental temperature, and a wiring substrate provided with the first drive circuit and the temperature sensor, and the control circuit controls the first drive circuit and the print head based on the environmental temperature acquired by the temperature sensor.

Claims (44)

1 . A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:

a print head that discharges a liquid;

a substrate unit electrically coupled to the print head; and

a control circuit that controls operations of the print head and the substrate unit, wherein

the print head includes

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

a temperature sensor that acquires environmental temperature, and

a wiring substrate provided with the first drive circuit and the temperature sensor, and

the control circuit controls the first drive circuit and the print head based on the environmental temperature acquired by the temperature sensor,

the wiring substrate is a rigid flexible substrate including a plurality of rigid members provided with the first drive circuit and the temperature sensor, 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 and a second 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 first surface of the second region such that the second front surface extends along the first surface,

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

the temperature sensor is provided on the second rigid member.

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

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

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

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

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

the second drive circuit includes a transistor and is provided on the second rigid member,

the second rigid member includes a first side and a second side positioned facing the first side,

a shortest distance between the temperature sensor and the first side is shorter than a shortest distance between the temperature sensor and the second side, and

a shortest distance between the transistor and the second side is shorter than a shortest distance between the transistor and the first side.

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

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

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

the flexible member includes a fourth region and a fifth region,

the fifth region is positioned between the second region and the fourth region,

the plurality of rigid members include a third rigid member,

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

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

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 and the fifth region.

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

the control circuit stops operations of the first drive circuit and the print head based on the environmental temperature acquired by the temperature sensor.

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

the control circuit notifies a user of the environmental temperature acquired by the temperature sensor.

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

the environmental temperature includes a space temperature of the substrate unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2023
From: TSUYUKI, MASAHIKO; TAKAMUKU, MAKOTO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065076/0441 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-158887 · Sep 30, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240109302A1 · Apr 4, 2024
References Cited (3)
US 10265949B2 · Matsumoto · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20180272702A1 · Nitta · 2018 [cited by examiner]
JP 2018099835A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 12,666,874