IP Library Granted Patent US 9,604,460
Granted Patent B2
US 9,604,460 · App. 15/082,479 · Granted Mar 28, 2017

Suction device, suction method, and ejection device

Inventor: Katsumi Shinkai (Fujimi-machi, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
B41J2/16505B41J2/1652B41J2/16523B41J2/16532B41J2/16547
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,604,460
App. No.
15/082,479
Granted
Mar 28, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A suction device for an ejection head provided with a nozzle includes a cap capable of sealing a nozzle surface provided with the nozzle, a decompression pump serving as a decompression device, and a suction passage provided between the cap and the decompression pump. The negative pressure level of the suction passage set by the decompression pump are controlled on the basis of a volume of the suction passage such that a liquid with which the ejection head has been filled is sucked out from the nozzle.

Claims (33)

1. A suction device, comprising:

a cap that is configured to seal a nozzle surface provided with the nozzle,

a decompression device,

a suction passage provided between the cap and the decompression device,

a first valve provided in the suction passage between the cap and the decompression device,

a second valve provided in the suction passage between the first valve and the decompression device,

the first valve and the second valve being provided in the suction passage such that a volume, which includes a volume in the cap sealing the nozzle surface and a volume of the suction passage between the cap and the first valve, is less than a volume of the suction passage between the first valve and the second valve.

2. The suction device according to claim 1 , including

a third valve provided in the suction passage between the first valve and the second valve.

3. The suction device according to claim 1 , including

the suction passage being connected to a plurality of caps that is capable of sealing a plurality of nozzle surfaces respectively,

a volume, which includes a volume of the caps sealing the nozzle surfaces respectively and the volume of the suction passage between the caps and the first valve, being less than the volume of the suction passage between the first valve and the second valve.

4. An ejection device, comprising:

an ejection head, and

the suction device according to claim 1 .

5. A manufacturing method of an organic electroluminescence element including

forming a light emitting layer by using the ejection device according to claim 4 .

6. An organic electroluminescence element including

a light emitting layer formed with the manufacturing method according to claim 5 .

7. A suction device, comprising:

a cap that is configured to seal a nozzle surface provided with the nozzle,

a suction passage provided connected to the cap;

a second valve provided in the suction passage;

a first valve provided in the suction passage between the cap and the second valve;

wherein the suction passage between the first valve and the second valve is configured to be decompressed by an external decompression device when the decompression device is connected to the suction passage, and

the first valve and the second valve are provided in the suction passage such that a volume, which includes a volume in the cap sealing the nozzle surface and a volume of the suction passage between the cap and the first valve, is less than a volume of the suction passage between the first valve and the second valve.

8. A suction device, comprising:

a cap that is configured to seal a nozzle surface provided with the nozzle,

a suction passage provided connected to the cap;

a second valve provided in the suction passage;

a first valve provided in the suction passage between the cap and the second valve;

wherein the suction passage between the first valve and the second valve is configured to be decompressed by application of suction to the suction passage, and

the first valve and the second valve are provided in the suction passage such that a volume, which includes a volume in the cap sealing the nozzle surface and a volume of the suction passage between the cap and the first valve, is less than a volume of the suction passage between the first valve and the second valve.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2025
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: LUMITEK DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 071705/0176 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-020174 · Feb 5, 2013 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14712239 · May 14, 2015
Division 14167338 · Jan 29, 2014
Related Publication 20160207316A1 · Jul 21, 2016