# US 12,109,817 B2 · Droplet discharge apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,817 B2 - Document ID: US12109817B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/992,408 - Filed: 2022-11-22 - Published: 2023-07-27 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-21 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Noriyasu Takeuchi - Inventors: Noriyasu Takeuchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109817B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/1652: {by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head} - B41J 2/185: Ink-collectors; Ink-catchers - B41J 2/1714: {Conditioning of the outside of ink supply systems, e.g. inkjet collector cleaning, ink mist removal (B41J2/08, B41J2/16517, B41J2/18 take precedence)} - B41J 2/17563: {Ink filters} - B41J 2025/008: {comprising a plurality of print heads placed around a drum} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A droplet discharge apparatus includes a discharger, a suction device, a connector, and a collector. The discharger discharges droplets. The suction device sucks generated matter when the discharger discharges droplets. The connector connects the discharger with the suction device and includes a path through which the generated matter is to be sent in a suction direction from the discharger toward the suction device. The collector in the path collects the generated matter. The collector has a larger cross-sectional area to collect the generated matter than a cross-sectional area of the connector in at least one of the suction direction or in a direction orthogonal to the suction direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A droplet discharge apparatus comprising: a head array to discharge droplets; a suction device to suck generated matter when the head array discharges the droplets from discharge ports; a duct disposed at the head array that defines a path through which the generated matter is to be sent in a suction direction from the discharge ports toward the suction device; and a filter disposed in the path formed by the duct to collect the generated matter; wherein the filter is disposed at a second position closer to a first position at which the head array discharges droplets than a third position at which the suction device is disposed in the path formed in the suction direction; wherein the filter has a shape such that an area of surfaces of the filter is larger than a cross-sectional area of the duct at the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment including the filter, the attachment together with the filter being attachable to and detachable from the duct, wherein the filter is disposed at the second position between the head array and the suction device in the path when the attachment together with the collector is attached to the connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the attachment is a holder to hold the filter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter has a surface that is not on a same plane, multiple surfaces, or a curved surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter is one folded or bent sheet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head array is to discharge the droplets to form an image on a recording medium, wherein the filter is to cause air to pass toward the suction device and collect the generated matter, wherein the generated matter is part of the droplets generated when the droplets are discharged onto the recording medium. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction device includes a fan. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head array includes a plurality of discharge heads. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction device and the filter are arranged outside a region in which the head array performs image formation on a sheet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction device and the filter are disposed outside a sheet upon which the head array performs image formation in a width direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the duct where the suction device and the filter are disposed has a width larger than an intake part adjacent to the head array. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the filter comprises one of a V-shape or a U-shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generated matter comprises mist or powder. ### Claim 14 A droplet discharge apparatus comprising: a head array to discharge droplets from discharge ports; a connector comprising a duct disposed at the head array, wherein the duct forms a path within the head array in a suction direction that extends from an intake port at a first position adjacent to where the head array discharges the droplets, to a suction device; and a filter disposed in the path formed by the duct; wherein the filter is disposed at a second position closer to the first position than a third position at which the suction device is disposed in the path formed in the suction direction; wherein the filter has a shape such that an area of surfaces of the filter is larger than a cross-sectional area of the duct at the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the filter comprises a single sheet that is folded into a V-shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the filter comprises a single sheet that is bent into a U-shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the head array is to discharge the droplets to form an image on a recording medium, wherein the filter is to cause air to pass toward the suction device and collect generated matter, and wherein the generated matter is part of the droplets generated when the droplets are discharged onto the recording medium. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the suction device includes a fan. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a part of the duct where the suction device and the filter are disposed has a width larger than the intake port. ### Claim 20 A droplet discharge apparatus comprising: a plurality of head arrays each comprising multiple heads arranged in a width direction; a duct disposed at each of the head arrays, wherein the duct forms a path in a suction direction that extends from an intake port disposed in the width direction at a first position adjacent to the multiple heads, to a suction device; and a filter disposed in the path formed by the duct; wherein the filter is disposed at a second position closer to the first position than a third position at which the suction device is disposed in the path formed in the suction direction; wherein the filter has a shape such that an area of surfaces of the filter is larger than a cross-sectional area of the duct at the second position.