# US 12,759,308 B2 · 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 12,759,308 B2 - Document ID: US12759308B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/743,415 - Filed: 2024-06-14 - Published: 2024-12-19 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-16 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiroshi Taira; Takeshi Murase; Sae Mogi; Hiroto Kango - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759308B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/18: Ink recirculation systems - B41J 2/16505: {Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out} - B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} - B41J 2/2103: {Features not dealing with the colouring process per se, e.g. construction of printers or heads, driving circuit adaptations} - B41J 2/2117: {Ejecting white liquids} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a nozzle capable of discharging a liquid, a circulation mechanism configured to circulate the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head, a heating element configured to perform temperature adjustment of the liquid circulated by the circulation mechanism, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the liquid circulated by the circulation mechanism, and a cap capable of capping the nozzle that discharges the liquid in the liquid discharge head. The circulation mechanism circulates the liquid based on a detection result of the temperature sensor in a state in which the nozzle is capped by the cap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a liquid discharge head including a nozzle capable of discharging a liquid; a circulation mechanism configured to circulate the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head; a heating element configured to perform temperature adjustment of the liquid circulated by the circulation mechanism; a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the liquid circulated by the circulation mechanism; and a cap capable of capping the nozzle that discharges the liquid in the liquid discharge head, wherein the circulation mechanism circulates the liquid based on a detection result of the temperature sensor in a state in which the nozzle is capped by the cap, the circulation mechanism circulates the liquid, after the liquid is heated by the heating element and reaches a target temperature, if an elapsed time from preceding circulation of the liquid satisfies a reference, the cap caps the nozzle based on whether the elapsed time satisfies the reference, and based on whether the elapsed time satisfies the reference, the heating element heats the liquid before or after the circulation of the liquid by the circulation mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid discharge head discharges the liquid after the circulation of the liquid by the circulation mechanism. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a time of circulation of the liquid by the circulation mechanism is adjusted based on a temperature of the liquid and/or an ingredient of the liquid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a target temperature of the liquid heated by the heating element is adjusted based on a temperature of the liquid and/or an ingredient of the liquid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when starting printing of an image, if a predetermined time has elapsed since the preceding circulation of the liquid, the circulation mechanism circulates the liquid in a state in which the nozzle is capped by the cap, and when starting printing of an image, if the predetermined time has not elapsed since the preceding circulation of the liquid, the circulation mechanism circulates the liquid in a state in which capping of the nozzle by the cap is canceled. ### Claim 6 A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a liquid discharge head including a nozzle capable of discharging a liquid; a circulation mechanism configured to circulate the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head; a heating element configured to perform temperature adjustment of the liquid circulated by the circulation mechanism; a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the liquid circulated by the circulation mechanism; and a cap capable of capping the nozzle that discharges the liquid in the liquid discharge head, wherein the circulation mechanism circulates the liquid based on a detection result of the temperature sensor in a state in which the nozzle is capped by the cap, when starting printing of an image, if a predetermined time has elapsed since the preceding circulation of the liquid, circulation of the liquid by the circulation mechanism is performed after temperature adjustment by the heating element is started, and when starting printing of an image, if the predetermined time has not elapsed since the preceding circulation of the liquid, temperature adjustment by the heating element is performed after circulation of the liquid by the circulation mechanism is started. ### Claim 7 A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a liquid discharge head including nozzles capable of discharging liquid; a circulation mechanism configured to circulate the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head; a heating element configured to perform temperature adjustment of the liquid circulated by the circulation mechanism; a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the liquid circulated by the circulation mechanism; and a cap capable of capping the nozzles that discharges the liquid in the liquid discharge head, wherein the circulation mechanism circulates the liquid based on a detection result of the temperature sensor in a state in which the nozzle is capped by the cap, the apparatus includes a nozzle capable of discharging black ink and a nozzle capable of discharging white ink, and when starting printing of an image, for the white ink, circulation of the liquid by the circulation mechanism is performed after temperature adjustment by the heating element is started, and for the black ink, temperature adjustment by the heating element is performed after circulation of the liquid by the circulation mechanism is started. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus further includes a nozzle capable of discharging a color ink, and when starting printing of an image, for the color ink, temperature adjustment by the heating element is performed after circulation of the liquid by the circulation mechanism is started.