# US 8,783,821 B2 · Liquid discharge device, testing method, and medium with recorded program

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- Number: US 8,783,821 B2
- Document ID: US8783821B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/488,896
- Filed: 2012-06-05
- Published: 2012-12-20
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-15
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Toshiyuki Suzuki; Osamu Shinkawa
- Inventors: Toshiyuki Suzuki; Osamu Shinkawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783821B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/04501: {Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits}
- B41J 2/0451: {for detecting failure, e.g. clogging, malfunctioning actuator}
- B41J 2/04541: {Specific driving circuit}
- B41J 2/04555: {detecting current}
- B41J 2/04571: {detecting viscosity}
- B41J 2/04581: {controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements}
- B41J 2/04588: {using a specific waveform}
- B41J 2/04596: {Non-ejecting pulses}
- B41J 2/16517: {Cleaning of print head nozzles (B41J2/16505, B41J2/1707 take precedence)}
- B41J 2/16579: {Detection means therefor, e.g. for nozzle clogging}
- 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}
- B41J 2/2135: {Alignment of dots}
- B41J 11/008: {Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins}
- B41J 2002/14354: {Sensor in each pressure chamber}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

There is provided a technique with which an abnormal discharge state in a discharge component can be determined on the basis of residual vibration. A printer includes a discharge component that discharges ink, a detector that detects residual vibration in the discharge component, and a tester that tests the discharge component on the basis of the change in the period of the residual vibration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid discharge device, comprising:
a discharge component configured to drive a drive element to discharge a liquid contained in a cavity from a nozzle that communicates with the cavity;
a detector configured to detect vibration produced by drive of the drive element; and
a tester configured to test the discharge component on the basis of change in a time period of one cycle of the vibration.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising a maintenance component for servicing the discharge component according to test result produced by the tester.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, wherein
the tester tests the discharge component on the basis of the change in the time period of one cycle of the vibration from a first time period to a second time period that is longer than the first time period.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, wherein
the tester tests the discharge component on the basis of not only the change in the time period of one cycle of the vibration, but also increase in amplitude of the vibration during the change in the time period of one cycle of the vibration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the tester tests the discharge component on the basis of whether or not a changed time period of one cycle of the vibration exceeds a second threshold, which is greater than a first threshold, after the time period of one cycle of the vibration has dropped below the first threshold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, wherein
the tester tests the discharge component on the basis of the change in the time period of one cycle of the vibration if an initial time period of one cycle in the vibration corresponds to a set period, and tests the discharge component on the basis of the initial time period if the initial time period is different from the set period.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, wherein
the discharge component includes the nozzle and the drive element that discharges the liquid from the nozzle by changing of a volume of the cavity.

### Claim 8

A testing method for testing a discharge component that drives a drive element to discharge a liquid contained in a cavity from a nozzle that communicates with the cavity, the method comprising:
detecting vibration produced by the drive of the drive element; and
testing the discharge component on the basis of change in a time period of one cycle of the vibration.

### Claim 9

A medium for recording a program that causes a computer to carry out a function of testing a discharge component that drives a drive element to discharge a liquid contained in a cavity from a nozzle that communicates with the cavity, the medium being readable by a computer that has recorded a program for carrying out:
a detection function of detecting vibration produced by the drive of the drive element; and
a testing function of testing the discharge component on the basis of change in a time period of one cycle of the vibration.