# US 2008/0186351 A1 · Fluid ejecting apparatus and method of controlling same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186351 A1 - Document ID: US20080186351A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/027,807 - Filed: 2008-02-07 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-07 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Nobuhito TAKAHASHI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186351A1 ## CPC - B41J 2/04588: {using a specific waveform} - B41J 2/04551: {using several operating modes} - B41J 2/04571: {detecting viscosity} - B41J 2/04581: {controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements} - B41J 2/16532: {by applying vacuum only} - B41J 2/16579: {Detection means therefor, e.g. for nozzle clogging} - B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer} - B41J 29/38: Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism - B41J 29/393: Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine {; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns} - G01N 2035/1041: {Ink-jet like dispensers} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A fluid ejecting apparatus includes an ejection head having an ejection face formed with an ejection nozzle that ejects fluid, a detection device having a detector that is arranged to face the ejection face with a predetermined gap provided therebetween and to which the fluid ejected from the ejection nozzle is supplied, the detection device outputting a detection signal in response to the fluid ejected from the ejection nozzle, a processing unit that obtains information on the viscosity of the fluid on the basis of the detection signal, a measurement device that measures an elapsed time from a reference time and outputting the measured value, a maintenance device capable of performing maintenance of the ejection head, and a control device that controls the maintenance device on the basis of the measured value output from the measurement device. The measurement device changes the measured value to be output on the basis of the information obtained by the processing unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising: an ejection head having an ejection face formed with an ejection nozzle that ejects fluid; a detection device having a detector that is arranged to face the ejection face with a predetermined gap provided therebetween and to which the fluid ejected from the ejection nozzle is supplied, the detection device outputting a detection signal in response to the fluid ejected from the ejection nozzle; a processing unit that obtains information on the viscosity of the fluid on the basis of the detection signal; a measurement device that measures an elapsed time from a reference time and outputting the measured value; a maintenance device capable of performing maintenance of the ejection head; and a control device that controls the maintenance device on the basis of the measured value output from the measurement device, wherein the measurement device changes the measured value to be output on the basis of the information obtained by the processing unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference time includes a completion time of a maintenance process performed earlier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls the maintenance device on the basis of the changed measured value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content of the maintenance process performed by the maintenance device is set in such a manner as to correspond to the elapsed time from the reference time, and wherein the control device sets the content of the maintenance process on the basis of the measured value, and controls the maintenance device on the basis of the set content. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the maintenance device is able to perform a maintenance process including an operation for discharging the fluid from the ejection nozzle in cooperation with the ejection head in order to maintain the ejection characteristics of the ejection head, and is able to perform the maintenance process in a plurality of modes in which the amounts of discharge of the fluid from the ejection nozzle differ from one another, and wherein, on the basis of the measured value, the control device selects a specific mode from the plurality of modes and controls the maintenance device so as to perform the maintenance process in the selected mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the maintenance process includes a process for performing a flushing operation for ejecting the fluid from the ejection nozzle in advance before the fluid from the ejection nozzle is supplied to a predetermined object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance device comprises a capping device having a cap member capable of forming a space with the ejection face, and a suction device capable of sucking fluid in the space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance device comprises the detector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection device supplies an electric field between the ejection face and the detector and outputs a change in a voltage value with respect to time based on electrostatic induction when the fluid is moved from the ejection nozzle to the detector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detection signal contains the voltage value for each of a first time, a second time after a first period of time has passed from the first time, and a third time after a second period of time has passed from the second time, the voltage value is a reference value from the first time to the second time, the voltage value starts to change at the second time, and the voltage value reaches an extreme value at the third time, and wherein the processing unit determines at least one of the first period of time, the second period of time, and the difference between the reference value and the extreme value, and obtains information on the viscosity of the fluid on the basis of the determined result. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a driving element that varies the pressure in the space connected to the ejection nozzle on the basis of a driving signal to be input in order to eject the fluid from the ejection nozzle, wherein the first time includes a time at which the driving signal is input to the driving element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second time includes a time at which the ejection of the fluid is started from the ejection nozzle, and the third time includes a time at which the fluid from the ejection nozzle reaches the detector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a storage device storing a reference signal that is output from the detection device on the basis of fluid in an initial state, wherein the processing unit obtains information on the amount of change in the viscosity of the fluid in the initial state on the basis of the detection signal and the reference signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the detection signal contains the voltage value for each of a first time, a second time after a first period of time has passed from the first time, and a third time after a second period of time has passed from the second time, the voltage value is a reference value from the first time to the second time, the voltage value starts to change at the second time, and the voltage value reaches an extreme value at the third time, wherein the reference signal contains the voltage value for each of a first time, a fourth time after a third period of time has passed from the first time, and a fifth time after a fourth period of time has passed from the fourth time, the voltage value is a reference value from the first time to the fourth time, the voltage value starts to change at the fourth time, and the voltage value reaches an extreme value at the fifth time, and wherein the processing unit determines at least one of information on the difference between the first period of time and the third period of time, information on the difference between the second period of time and the fourth period of time, and the difference between the extreme value of the detection signal and the extreme value of the reference signal, and obtains information on the viscosity of the fluid on the basis of the determined result. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a driving element that varies the pressure in the space connected to the ejection nozzle on the basis of a driving signal to be input in order to eject the fluid from the ejection nozzle, wherein the first time includes a time at which a driving signal is input to the driving element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second time and the fourth time include a time at which the ejection of the fluid is started from the ejection nozzle, and the third time and the fifth time include a time at which the fluid from the ejection nozzle reaches the detector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is liquid. ### Claim 18 A method of controlling a fluid ejecting apparatus including an ejection head having an ejection face formed with an ejection nozzle that ejects fluid, the method comprising: arranging a detector so as to face the ejection face with a predetermined gap provided therebetween, supplying the fluid ejected from the ejection nozzle to the detector, and obtaining a detection signal in response to the fluid ejected from the ejection nozzle by using the detector; obtaining information on the viscosity of the fluid on the basis of the detection signal; measuring an elapsed time from a reference time and outputting the measured value; and performing maintenance of the ejection head on the basis of the output measured value, wherein the output measured value is changed on the basis of the information on the viscosity.