The present disclosure pertains to an inkjet drive system comprising a plurality of pulse width modulators (PWMs), a plurality of waveform switching circuits, a plurality of drive circuits, a control signal output circuit, and a plurality of nozzle groups. Each PWM outputs a distinct pulse waveform and is connected to all waveform switching circuits. Each switching circuit, under control of the control signal output circuit, selects a PWM waveform and supplies it to its associated drive circuit, which actuates the corresponding nozzle. This configuration enables independent, precise nozzle control, energy-saving operation, rapid nozzle unclogging, and compatibility with various printing materials, offering broad applicability in inkjet devices.

There is provided a printing apparatus including: a head having a discharge surface in which a nozzle configured to discharge a liquid droplet in a first direction is opened; a light-emitter configured to emit light; a light-receiver configured to receive the light; a gradient adding member configured to add a gradient to a light intensity of an optical path of the light in each of second and third directions, the second and third directions intersecting the first direction, the second and third directions intersecting with each other; and a controller. The optical path intersects a flying area in which the liquid droplet from the nozzle flies at a position between the gradient adding member and the light-receiver. The controller is configured to detect a deviation of a flying direction of the liquid droplet based on an amount of the light received by the light-receiver.

A method for setting a drop shape in a printing process, including the steps of controlling (S101) a piezo element of a printing nozzle by a first voltage profile; detecting (S102) an electric current value averaged over the first voltage profile or a sound amplitude averaged over the first voltage profile; controlling (S103) the piezo element of the printing nozzle by a second voltage profile; detecting (S104) an electric current value averaged over the second voltage profile or a sound amplitude averaged over the second voltage profile; and selecting (S105) the voltage profile with the lower detected current value or the lower detected sound amplitude.

There is provided a driving method of a liquid ejecting apparatus in which a liquid ejects from a first nozzle by driving a first driving element with a first driving signal. The first drive signal includes a first ejection pulse having a first ejection waveform element that changes in potential to eject a liquid from a first nozzle, and a first micro-vibration pulse having a first micro-vibration waveform element that changes in potential to not eject the liquid from the first nozzle. The driving method includes: determining the first ejection pulse; and setting a potential change width of the first micro-vibration waveform element based on a maximum potential change width in the first ejection waveform element and a first upper limit threshold value. The first upper limit threshold value is a value of the potential change width with which the ejection of the liquid is stabilized.

A technique by which deterioration of a heat resistor can be detected more accurately is provided. There are included a printing head configured to eject an ink from a nozzle provided so that the nozzle corresponds to a heat resistor and perform printing by applying a pulse voltage to the heat resistor; an obtaining unit configured to obtain a prediction resistance value of the heat resistor according to a unique value of the heat resistor and a setting value to drive the heat resistor; a measurement unit configured to measure the resistance value of the heat resistor; and a determination unit configured to determine based on the prediction resistance value and the resistance value whether deterioration arises in the heat resistor.

A liquid discharge head includes: a discharging module which has a discharging drive element and a discharging heater capable of being electrically connected to the discharging drive element; a circulating module which is arranged in pair with the discharging module and has a circulating drive element and a circulating heater capable of being electrically connected to the circulating drive element; and a pulse width controller which differentiates a discharging pulse width for controlling the discharging drive element to a conductive state from a circulating pulse width for controlling the circulating drive element to a conductive state.

According to one embodiment, a driving device for liquid ejection heads includes a control unit configured to apply a multi-droplet waveform to a liquid ejecting element. The multi-droplet waveform is one of a plurality of preset patterns in which each droplet waveform in the multi-droplet waveform is one of a reference ejection waveform or a minute adjustment waveform. The reference ejection waveform causes a droplet of a nominal reference volume to be ejected by the liquid ejecting element. The minute adjustment waveform causes a droplet of less than the nominal reference volume to be ejected by the liquid ejecting element in variable volume increments.