# US 12,759,296 B2 · Liquid discharge module, liquid discharge head, and liquid discharge apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,296 B2 - Document ID: US12759296B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/602,083 - Filed: 2024-03-12 - Published: 2024-09-19 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-03-15 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Toru Nakano; Takaya Hanada; Ryohta Matsufuji - Inventors: Toru Nakano; Takaya Hanada; Ryohta Matsufuji - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759296B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/1433: {Structure of nozzle plates} - B41J 2/17596: {Ink pumps, ink valves} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A liquid discharge module includes a nozzle plate, a housing, a valve, and a mover. The nozzle plate has a first face, a second face opposite to the first face, and a nozzle hole. The nozzle hole has at least two different inner diameters between the first face and the second face. The housing has a liquid chamber facing the first face of the nozzle plate and communicating with the nozzle hole. The housing supports the nozzle plate. The valve is disposed in the liquid chamber. The valve contacts the first face of the nozzle plate to form a sealed portion between the valve and the nozzle plate to close the nozzle hole. The mover moves the valve in a contact-separation direction between a contact position at which the valve contacts the nozzle plate and a separation position at which the valve is separated from the nozzle plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid discharge module comprising: a nozzle plate including: a first face; a second face opposite to the first face; and a nozzle hole through which a liquid is discharged from the second face, the nozzle hole including at least two different inner diameters between the first face and the second face; a housing including a liquid chamber: facing the first face of the nozzle plate; and communicating with the nozzle hole, the housing supporting the nozzle plate; a valve in the liquid chamber, the valve to contact the first face of the nozzle plate to form a sealed portion between the valve and the nozzle plate to close the nozzle hole, wherein the valve includes: an elastic seal to elastically contact the first face of the nozzle plate to form the sealed portion, and a needle supporting the elastic seal at a leading end of the needle adjacent to the nozzle hole; and a mover to move the valve in a contact-separation direction between: a contact position at which the valve contacts the nozzle plate; and a separation position at which the valve is separated from the nozzle plate, wherein the elastic seal includes a recess facing the nozzle plate, the liquid discharge module further comprising: a bearing disposed between the valve and the housing; and a sealer disposed between the bearing and the valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge module according to claim 1, wherein: the sealed portion is outside a largest inner diameter of the nozzle hole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge module according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle hole includes: a first inner wall including: a first inner diameter; and a first length in the contact-separation direction; and a second inner wall including: a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter; and a second length longer than the first length in the contact-separation direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The liquid discharge module according to claim 3, wherein: the first inner wall extends in a direction parallel to the contact-separation direction, and the second inner wall is inclined toward the first inner wall at a predetermined angle and connected to the first inner wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The liquid discharge module according to claim 4, wherein: the first inner wall and the second inner wall meet at an obtuse angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The liquid discharge module according to claim 3, wherein: the first inner wall is closer to the second face than the second inner wall, and the second inner diameter increases toward the first face. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The liquid discharge module according to claim 3, wherein: the first inner wall and the second inner wall extend in a direction parallel to the contact-separation direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The liquid discharge module according to claim 3, wherein: the second inner wall is closer to the first face than the first inner wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The liquid discharge module according to claim 3, wherein: the second inner wall is closer to the second face than the first inner wall, and the second inner diameter decreases toward the first face. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The liquid discharge module according to claim 3, wherein the nozzle plate includes: a first component including the first inner wall; and a second component joined to the first component in the contact-separation direction and including the second inner wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The liquid discharge module according to claim 10, wherein: the first component and the second component are joined to each other to form a single unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The liquid discharge module according to claim 3, wherein: the sealed portion on the first face is disposed away from the nozzle hole on the second face for a predetermined distance equal to a sum of the first length of the first inner wall and the second length of the second inner wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The liquid discharge module according to claim 3, wherein: the second length is longer than the first length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge module according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes: a side wall defining the liquid chamber; and an end face joined to the first face of the nozzle plate around the liquid chamber, wherein: the side wall includes a projection adjacent to the end face of the housing, and the projection projects toward an interior of the liquid chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A liquid discharge head comprising multiple liquid discharge modules including the liquid discharge module according to claim 1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: the liquid discharge head according to claim 15; and a head holder holding the liquid discharge head to move the liquid discharge head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge module according to claim 1, wherein: the recess includes a tapered shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge module according to claim 1, wherein: the mover comprises a piezoelectric element; and the valve is connected to the piezoelectric element via a holder. ### Claim 19 A liquid discharge module comprising: a nozzle plate including: a first face; a second face opposite to the first face; and a nozzle hole through which a liquid is discharged from the second face, the nozzle hole including at least two different inner diameters between the first face and the second face; a housing including a liquid chamber: facing the first face of the nozzle plate; and communicating with the nozzle hole, the housing supporting the nozzle plate; a valve in the liquid chamber, the valve to contact the first face of the nozzle plate to form a sealed portion between the valve and the nozzle plate to close the nozzle hole, wherein the valve includes: an elastic seal to elastically contact the first face of the nozzle plate to form the sealed portion, and a needle supporting the elastic seal at a leading end of the needle adjacent to the nozzle hole; and a mover to move the valve in a contact-separation direction between: a contact position at which the valve contacts the nozzle plate; and a separation position at which the valve is separated from the nozzle plate, wherein the elastic seal includes a recess facing the nozzle plate, the liquid discharge module further comprising: a restrictor attached to the housing, wherein the mover is fixed by the restrictor on an end side opposite to the valve.