# US 2025/0083451 A1 · Deaeration device, droplet discharge device, deaeration performance deterioration determination method, and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0083451 A1 - Document ID: US20250083451A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/882,260 - Filed: 2024-09-11 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-12 - Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Inventors: Hiroshi AKITA; Akihiro OKUNO; Hiroshi SHIBATA; Eiji TABATA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250083451A1 ## CPC - B41J 2/19: for removing air bubbles - B01D 19/0031: {by filtration} - B01D 19/0063: {Regulation, control including valves and floats (for construction and details of valves F16K)} - B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Provided is a deaeration device that includes an external reflux-type deaeration module including a gas permeable membrane capable of removing dissolved gas in liquid, and a hardware processor. The deaeration module includes a first vacuum chamber that communicates with a first end of the gas permeable membrane, a second vacuum chamber that communicates with a second end of the gas permeable membrane, and an atmospheric vent valve that opens or closes an inside of the deaeration module to atmosphere. The hardware processor determines a deterioration in deaeration performance of the deaeration module based on a pressure difference between the first vacuum chamber and the second vacuum chamber when the atmospheric vent valve is closed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A deaeration device comprising: an external reflux-type deaeration module including a gas permeable membrane capable of removing dissolved gas in liquid; and a hardware processor, wherein the deaeration module includes a first vacuum chamber that communicates with a first end of the gas permeable membrane, a second vacuum chamber that communicates with a second end of the gas permeable membrane, and an atmospheric vent valve that opens or closes an inside of the deaeration module to atmosphere, wherein the hardware processor determines a deterioration in deaeration performance of the deaeration module based on a pressure difference between the first vacuum chamber and the second vacuum chamber when the atmospheric vent valve is closed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The deaeration device according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor determines the deterioration in the deaeration performance of the deaeration module based on the pressure difference and an influential factor that affects the pressure difference. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The deaeration device according to claim 2, wherein the influential factor is any one or more of a liquid flow rate, a degree of use of the deaeration device, an individual difference of the deaeration device, and an individual difference of an apparatus on which the deaeration device is mounted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The deaeration device according to claim 3, wherein the hardware processor acquires the liquid flow rate from a liquid flow rate sensor provided in a vicinity of the deaeration module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The deaeration device according to claim 3, wherein the hardware processor acquires the liquid flow rate based on a consumption amount of the liquid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The deaeration device according to claim 2, wherein the hardware processor corrects the pressure difference according to the influential factor, and compares the corrected pressure difference with a determination value to determine the deterioration in the deaeration performance of the deaeration module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The deaeration device according to claim 2, wherein the hardware processor corrects a determination value in accordance with the influential factor, and compares the pressure difference with the corrected determination value to determine the deterioration in the deaeration performance of the deaeration module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The deaeration device according to claim 6, wherein the determination value is based on the pressure difference in an initial state of the deaeration device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The deaeration device according to claim 6, wherein the hardware processor has a plurality of levels of the determination value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The deaeration device according to claim 6, wherein the hardware processor performs correction by a conversion formula created on a basis of a relationship between the liquid flow rate and the pressure difference. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The deaeration device according to claim 10, wherein the conversion formula is a linear function. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The deaeration device according to claim 10, wherein the conversion formula used by the hardware processor is different according to the degree of use of the deaeration device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The deaeration device according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifying section that outputs a message corresponding to a determination result of the hardware processor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The deaeration device according to claim 8, wherein the conversion formula used by the hardware processor is unique for each deaeration device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The deaeration device according to claim 1, wherein the deaeration module removes dissolved gas in UV ink. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A droplet discharge device comprising: a droplet discharge section that discharges droplets; and the deaeration device according to claim 1. ### Claim 17 A deaeration performance deterioration determination method of a deaeration device, wherein the deaeration device comprises: an external reflux-type deaeration module including a gas permeable membrane capable of removing dissolved gas in liquid, wherein the deaeration module includes a first vacuum chamber that communicates with a first end of the gas permeable membrane, a second vacuum chamber that communicates with a second end of the gas permeable membrane, and an atmospheric vent valve that opens or closes an inside of the deaeration module to atmosphere, wherein the deaeration performance deterioration determination method comprises: measuring a pressure deference between the first vacuum chamber and the second vacuum chamber when the deaeration module is atmospherically closed; and determining a deterioration in deaeration performance of the deaeration module based on the pressure difference. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The deaeration performance deterioration determination method according to claim 17, further comprising: determining the deterioration in the deaeration performance of the deaeration module based on the pressure difference and an influential factor that affects the pressure difference. ### Claim 19 A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for a computer of a deaeration device, wherein the deaeration device comprises: an external reflux-type deaeration module including a gas permeable membrane capable of removing dissolved gas in liquid, wherein the deaeration module includes a first vacuum chamber that communicates with a first end of the gas permeable membrane, a second vacuum chamber that communicates with a second end of the gas permeable membrane, and an atmospheric vent valve that opens or closes an inside of the deaeration module to atmosphere, wherein the program causes the computer of the deaeration device to function as: a controller that determines a deterioration in deaeration performance of the deaeration module based on the pressure difference when the atmospheric vent valve is closed.