US 8,944,551 B2Granted

Liquid discharge apparatus

AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation

InventorsShuji Otsuka, Tadashi Kiyuna, Toshifumi Asanuma

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Abstract

A liquid discharge apparatus includes first and second discharge sections, first and second connection paths and a voltage generation section. Each of the first and second discharge sections has a nozzle configured and arranged to discharge a liquid, a pressure chamber in communication with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric element. The first connection path selection section is arranged so as to correspond to the first discharge section and configured to selectively supply a plurality of voltages to the first discharge section. The second connection path selection section is arranged so as to correspond to the second discharge section and configured to selectively supply a plurality of voltages to the second discharge section. The voltage generation section is configured to generate and supply the voltages shared by the first connection path selection section and the second connection path selection section.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:

a first discharge section and a second discharge section each having a nozzle configured and arranged to discharge a liquid, a pressure chamber in communication with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric element provided for the pressure chamber and configured and arranged to cause the liquid to be discharged from the nozzle by charging and discharging in accordance with a drive signal;
a first connection path selection section configured to selectively supply a plurality of voltages to the first discharge section, the first connection path selection section being arranged so as to correspond to the first discharge section;
a second connection path selection section configured to selectively supply a plurality of voltages to the second discharge section, the second connection path selection section being arranged so as to correspond to the second discharge section;
and
a voltage generation section configured to generate and supply the voltages shared by the first connection path selection section and the second connection path selection section.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/205,953Filed 12 Mar 2014
Priority: JP 2013-05950422 Mar 2013
Published: US 2014/0285553 A125 Sep 2014
Granted: 3 Feb 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H10N 30/802
Constructional details: circuitry or processes for operating piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices not otherwise provided for, e.g. drive circuits
B41J 2/04541
Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits: specific driving circuit
B41J 2/0455
Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits: details of switching sections of circuit, e.g. transistors
B41J 2/04581
Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits: controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements