# US 12,109,825 B2 · Head unit and liquid ejecting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,825 B2 - Document ID: US12109825B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/979,798 - Filed: 2022-11-03 - Published: 2023-05-04 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-04 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Haruki Kobayashi; Taiki Hanagami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109825B2 ## CPC - B41J 29/02: Framework - B41J 29/377: Cooling or ventilating arrangements - B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} - B41J 29/13: Cases or covers - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A head unit includes: a circuit substrate, a casing including a cover for defining an accommodation space that accommodates the circuit substrate, and a flow passage member of which a part is disposed in the casing, including a flow passage coupling portion. The cover has an intake port for sucking air from an outside of the cover to the accommodation space and an exhaust port for exhausting the air passing through the accommodation space, and the flow passage coupling portion is disposed outside the casing and disposed closer to the intake port than to the exhaust port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A head unit configured to eject a liquid, comprising: a circuit substrate for driving the head unit; a casing including a cover for defining an accommodation space that accommodates the circuit substrate; and a flow passage member of which a part is disposed in the casing, including a flow passage coupling portion for coupling to a flow passage member outside the head unit, wherein the cover has an intake port for sucking air from an outside of the cover to the accommodation space and an exhaust port for exhausting the air passing through the accommodation space, and the flow passage coupling portion is disposed outside the casing and disposed closer to the intake port than to the exhaust port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the intake port faces the flow passage coupling portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The head unit according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the intake port and the flow passage coupling portion is equal to or more than a maximum width of the intake port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The head unit according to claim 2, wherein an opening of a flow passage formed in the flow passage coupling portion does not face the intake port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust port does not face the flow passage coupling portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the air sucked from the intake port moves in a first direction from the intake port to the exhaust port, and the flow passage coupling portion, the intake port, and the exhaust port are sequentially arranged in the first direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The head unit according to claim 6, wherein a longitudinal direction of the circuit substrate is the first direction, the intake port is located in one end side of a space from the intake port to the exhaust port regarding the first direction in the accommodation space, and the exhaust port is located in another end side of the space regarding the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The head unit according to claim 7, wherein the exhaust port exhausts the air in a second direction different from the first direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The head unit according to claim 7, wherein the head unit is a line head in which liquid ejecting heads are arranged in the first direction, and the circuit substrate is a circuit substrate common to the liquid ejecting heads. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The head unit according to claim 9, wherein the head unit has an ejection surface on which nozzles configured to eject the liquid are formed, and the flow passage coupling portion overlaps with the accommodation space with respect to a direction perpendicular to the ejection surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The head unit according to claim 10, wherein a thickness direction of the circuit substrate is the same as the direction perpendicular to the ejection surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The head unit according to claim 11, further comprising: a heat sink for dissipating heat of the circuit substrate, disposed in the accommodation space, wherein a part of the flow passage member is disposed in the accommodation space, and the circuit substrate is disposed between the part of the flow passage member disposed in the accommodation space and the heat sink. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a filter provided on the intake port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the air is introduced from the outside of the cover through the intake port by an air blowing mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: the head unit according to claim 1; and a liquid storage portion storing the liquid supplied to the head unit.