IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,657,415
Granted Patent B2
US 8,657,415 · App. 13/271,043 · Granted Feb 25, 2014

Liquid ejecting apparatus and control method thereof

Inventor: Toshio Kumagai (Shiojiri, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,657,415
App. No.
13/271,043
Granted
Feb 25, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a common liquid chamber which is common to each pressure chamber and stores ink, a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber which communicate with the common liquid chamber, a first nozzle which communicates with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle which communicates with the second pressure chamber, a first piezoelectric vibrator which causes pressure fluctuation in ink in the first pressure chamber and a second piezoelectric vibrator which causes pressure fluctuation in ink in the second pressure chamber, and a communication flow path which makes the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber communicate with each other, wherein the flow of ink is generated in the communication flow path by driving the first piezoelectric vibrator and the second piezoelectric vibrator.

Claims (36)

1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:

a common liquid chamber which is common to each pressure chamber and stores liquid;

a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber which communicate with the common liquid chamber;

a first nozzle which communicates with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle which communicates with the second pressure chamber;

a first pressure generation section which causes pressure fluctuation in liquid in the first pressure chamber and a second pressure generation section which causes pressure fluctuation in liquid in the second pressure chamber; and

a communication flow path which makes the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber communicate with each other,

wherein the flow of liquid is generated in the communication flow path by driving the first pressure generation section and the second pressure generation section,

wherein the direction of the flow of liquid in the communication flow path is changed by changing the driving order of the first pressure generation section and the second pressure generation section.

2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the communication flow path is opened to a side which is the opposite side to the common liquid chamber in each pressure chamber and communicates with the nozzle.

3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the central axis of the nozzle is not present on a virtual extended line from an opening of the communication flow path.

4. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flow of liquid is generated in the communication flow path by making the driving timings of the first pressure generation section and the second pressure generation section different from each other.

5. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a cap member which seals the nozzle,

wherein a stronger flow of liquid is generated in the communication flow path by driving each pressure generation section in a state where each nozzle has been sealed by the cap member.

6. A method of controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus which includes

a common liquid chamber which is common to each pressure chamber and stores liquid,

a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber which communicate with the common liquid chamber,

a first nozzle which communicates with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle which communicates with the second pressure chamber,

a first pressure generation section which causes pressure fluctuation in liquid in the first pressure chamber and a second pressure generation section which causes pressure fluctuation in liquid in the second pressure chamber, and

a communication flow path which makes the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber communicate with each other, the method comprising:

generating the flow of liquid in the communication flow path by changing the driving order of the first pressure generation section and the second pressure generation section.

7. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:

a common liquid chamber which is common to each pressure chamber and stores liquid;

a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber which communicate with the common liquid chamber;

a first nozzle which communicates with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle which communicates with the second pressure chamber;

a first pressure generation section which causes pressure fluctuation in liquid in the first pressure chamber and a second pressure generation section which causes pressure fluctuation in liquid in the second pressure chamber; and

a communication flow path which makes the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber communicate with each other, wherein the cross-sectional area of the communication flow path is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first and second nozzle,

wherein the flow of liquid is generated in the communication flow path by driving the first pressure generation section and the second pressure generation section.

8. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:

a common liquid chamber which is common to each pressure chamber and stores liquid;

a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber which communicate with the common liquid chamber;

a first nozzle which communicates with the first pressure chamber and a second nozzle which communicates with the second pressure chamber;

a first pressure generation section which causes pressure fluctuation in liquid in the first pressure chamber and a second pressure generation section which causes pressure fluctuation in liquid in the second pressure chamber; and

a communication flow path which makes the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber communicate with each other,

wherein the flow of liquid is generated in the communication flow path by driving the first pressure generation section and the second pressure generation section,

wherein the central axis of the first nozzle is not positioned on a virtual extended line of a direction of which the communication flow path is derived from an opening of the first pressure chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2011
From: KUMAGAI, TOSHIO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027045/0223 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-232279 · Oct 15, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120092417A1 · Apr 19, 2012