# US 10,864,739 B2 · Liquid discharge head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,739 B2 - Document ID: US10864739B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/661,317 - Filed: 2019-10-23 - Published: 2020-07-02 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-26 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Keita Sugiura; Shohei Koide; Keita Hirai; Hiroshi Katayama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864739B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} - B41J 2/14233: {of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm} - B41J 2/18: Ink recirculation systems - B41J 29/38: Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism - B41J 2002/14241: {having a cover around the piezoelectric thin film element} - B41J 2002/14419: {Manifold} - B41J 2002/14467: {Multiple feed channels per ink chamber} - B41J 2002/14491: {Electrical connection} - B41J 2202/12: with ink circulating through the whole print head - B41J 2202/21: Line printing - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A liquid discharge head includes an individual channel, a supply channel in communication with an inlet of the individual channel, and a return channel in communication with an outlet of the individual channel. The supply channel extends in a channel longitudinal direction, and communicates with a retaining chamber for retaining liquid via a supply port provided at one side with respect to the individual channel in the channel longitudinal direction. The return channel extends in the channel longitudinal direction, and communicates with the retaining chamber via a return port provided at the one side with respect to the individual channel in the channel longitudinal direction. The inlet and the outlet are located at the same position in the channel longitudinal direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid discharge head comprising: an individual channel; a supply channel in communication with an inlet of the individual channel; and a return channel in communication with an outlet of the individual channel, wherein the supply channel extends in a channel longitudinal direction, and communicates with a retaining chamber for retaining liquid, via a supply port provided at one side in the channel longitudinal direction with respect to the individual channel, wherein the return channel extends in the channel longitudinal direction, and communicates with the retaining chamber, via a return port provided at the one side in the channel longitudinal direction with respect to the individual channel, wherein the individual channel has: a nozzle; a pressure chamber in communication with the nozzle; a connecting channel connecting the pressure chamber and the nozzle; a first link channel having one end as the inlet and the other end linking to the pressure chamber; and a second link channel having one end as the outlet and the other end linking to the connecting channel, and wherein the inlet and the outlet are located at the same position in the channel longitudinal direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the supply channel and the return channel are arranged in a direction orthogonal to both of the channel longitudinal direction and a channel width direction which is orthogonal to the channel longitudinal direction and which is a width direction of each of the supply channel and the return channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the first link channel and the second link channel extend in a direction intersecting with both of the channel longitudinal direction and a channel width direction which is orthogonal to the channel longitudinal direction and which is a width direction of each of the supply channel and the return channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The liquid discharge head according to claim 3, wherein the one end of the first link channel is positioned at the one side in the channel longitudinal direction with respect to the other end of the first link channel, and wherein the one end of the second link channel is positioned at the one side in the channel longitudinal direction with respect to the other end of the second link channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the first link channel and the second link channel are arranged symmetrically in a channel width direction which is orthogonal to the channel longitudinal direction and which is a width direction of each of the supply channel and the return channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the first link channel has the same resistance as the second link channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein a damper film is provided on a side opposite to the outlet with respect to the return channel in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the channel longitudinal direction, and wherein the outlet is positioned at an end of the return channel in a direction orthogonal to both of the channel longitudinal direction and the orthogonal direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the individual channel is one of individual channels, and wherein in the return channel, outlets of the individual channels are arranged zigzag in the channel longitudinal direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is positioned at a center of the return channel in a channel width direction which is orthogonal to the channel longitudinal direction and which is a width direction of each of the supply channel and the return channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein a distance from the supply port to the inlet in the channel longitudinal direction is same as a distance from the outlet to the return port in the channel longitudinal direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein a channel resistance from the supply port to the inlet is same as a channel resistance from the outlet to the return port. ### Claim 12 A liquid discharge head comprising: an individual channel; a supply channel in communication with an inlet of the individual channel; and a return channel in communication with an outlet of the individual channel, wherein the supply channel extends in a channel longitudinal direction, and communicates with a retaining chamber for retaining liquid, via a supply port provided at one side in the channel longitudinal direction with respect to the individual channel, wherein the return channel extends in the channel longitudinal direction, and communicates with the retaining chamber, via a return port provided at the one side in the channel longitudinal direction with respect to the individual channel, wherein the individual channel has: a nozzle; a first pressure chamber in communication with the nozzle; a second pressure chamber in communication with the nozzle; a first connecting channel connecting the first pressure chamber and the nozzle; a second connecting channel connecting the second pressure chamber and the nozzle; a first link channel having one end as the inlet and the other end linking to the first pressure chamber; and a second link channel having one end as the outlet and the other end linking to the second pressure chamber, and wherein the inlet and the outlet are located at the same position in the channel longitudinal direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The liquid discharge head according to claim 12, wherein the supply channel and the return channel are arranged in a channel width direction which is orthogonal to the channel longitudinal direction and which is a width direction of each of the supply channel and the return channel, and wherein the individual channel links the supply channel and the return channel arranged in the channel width direction.