# US 11,440,332 B2 · Recording head unit, recording device, and recording method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,332 B2 - Document ID: US11440332B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/159,261 - Filed: 2021-01-27 - Published: 2021-07-29 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-29 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Hiroki Sato; Masaaki Hagio; Keigo Yamasaki; Tomoyuki Nakano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440332B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/2132: {Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding (methods for local corrections by dot omission, image edge enhancement, or multi-pass mask selection G06K15/102; colour conversion H04N1/40)} - B41J 2/155: for line printing - B41J 3/543: {with multiple inkjet print heads (B41J2/17503, B41J2/2103 take precedence)} - B41J 11/005: {Guides in the printing zone, e.g. guides for preventing contact of conveyed sheets with printhead} - B41J 11/006: {Means for preventing paper jams or for facilitating their removal} - B41J 11/06: Flat page-size platens {or smaller flat platens having a greater size than line-size platens (B41J11/0085 takes precedence)} - B41J 2002/14362: {Assembling elements of heads} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A recording head unit includes a first line head and a second line head in which nozzles are provided in an X-axis direction. The first line head is arranged on one side of the second line head in a Y-axis direction intersecting the X-axis direction. The first line head includes a first windbreak member. The second line head includes a second windbreak member. A length by which the first windbreak member protrudes is smaller than a length by which the second windbreak member protrudes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A recording head unit, comprising: a first line head and a second line head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid are provided in a nozzle row direction, wherein the first line head is arranged on one side of the second line head in a head row direction intersecting the nozzle row direction, the first line head includes a first windbreak member, on the one side in the head row direction, along a width of the first line head in the nozzle row direction, the first windbreak member protruding, in a liquid ejection direction in which the liquid is ejected, with respect to a nozzle opening surface at which the plurality of nozzles included in the first line head are open, the second line head includes a second windbreak member between the second line head and the first line head along a width of the second line head in the nozzle row direction, the second windbreak member protruding, in the liquid ejection direction in which the liquid is ejected, with respect to a nozzle opening surface at which the plurality of nozzles included in the second line head are open, and a length by which the second windbreak member protrudes is smaller than a length by which the first windbreak member protrudes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The recording head unit according to claim 1, comprising: a third line head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid are provided in a nozzle row direction, wherein the third line head is arranged on another side of the second line head in the head row direction, the third line head includes a third windbreak member between the third line head and the second line head along a width of the third line head in the nozzle row direction, the third windbreak member protruding, in the liquid ejection direction in which the liquid is ejected, with respect to a nozzle opening surface at which the plurality of nozzles included in the third line head are open, and a length by which the third windbreak member protrudes is equal to or smaller than the length by which the second windbreak member protrudes. ### Claim 3 A recording device, comprising: a platen configured to support a recording medium; a first line head and a second line head facing the platen and in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid onto the recording medium supported by the platen are provided in a nozzle row direction; and a transport unit configured to transport the recording medium supported by the platen in a transport direction intersecting the nozzle row direction, wherein the first line head is arranged upstream of the second line head in the transport direction, the first line head includes a first windbreak member upstream thereof in the transport direction along a width of the first line head in the nozzle row direction, the first windbreak member protruding, toward the platen, with respect to a nozzle opening surface at which the plurality of nozzles included in the first line head are open, the second line head includes a second windbreak member between the second line head and the first line head along a width of the second line head in the nozzle row direction, the second windbreak member protruding, toward the platen, with respect to a nozzle opening surface at which the plurality of nozzles included in the second line head are open, and a length by which the second windbreak member protrudes is smaller than a length by which the first windbreak member protrudes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the second windbreak member is provided so that the length by which the second windbreak member protrudes toward the platen is changeable, and the recording device comprises a control unit configured to control the length by which the second windbreak member protrudes, based on attribute information of the recording medium and/or image data of an image to be recorded on the recording medium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the length by which the second windbreak member protrudes in both end regions in the nozzle row direction is smaller than the length by which the second windbreak member protrudes at a center in the nozzle row direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The recording device according to claim 3, comprising: a third line head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid are provided in a nozzle row direction, wherein the third line head is arranged downstream of the second line head in the transport direction, the third line head includes a third windbreak member between the third line head and the second line head along a width of the third line head in the nozzle row direction, the third windbreak member protruding toward the platen with respect to a nozzle opening surface at which the plurality of nozzles included in the third line head are open, and a length by which the third windbreak member protrudes is equal to or smaller than the length by which the second windbreak member protrudes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The recording device according to claim 6, wherein the second windbreak member and the third windbreak member are provided so that the lengths by which the second windbreak member and the third windbreak member protrude toward the platen are changeable, and the recording device comprises a control unit configured to control the lengths by which the second windbreak member and the third windbreak member protrude based on attribute information of the recording medium and/or image data of an image to be recorded on the recording medium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A recording method using the recording device according to claim 7, the recording method comprising: an accumulated liquid amount calculating step of calculating, based on the image data, an amount of accumulated liquid applied on the recording medium at each of positions where the line heads are arranged; and a controlling step of controlling the lengths by which the second windbreak member and the third windbreak member protrude, based on the amount of the accumulated liquid calculated for each of the positions where the line heads are arranged. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The recording device according to claim 6, wherein the lengths by which the second windbreak member and the third windbreak member protrude in both end regions in the nozzle row direction are smaller than the lengths by which the second windbreak member and the third windbreak member protrude at a center in the nozzle row direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the first windbreak member includes an anti-static brush that abuts against the recording medium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the first windbreak member includes a guide member configured to guide the recording medium to the platen.