B41J2202/05

Liquid discharge device and liquid discharge apparatus incorporating same
11554586 · 2023-01-17 · ·

A liquid discharge device includes a head including a discharge port. The head discharges a liquid from the discharge port toward an object. The liquid discharge device further includes a liquid receiving surface to receive the liquid discharged from the discharge port, a liquid collector to collect the liquid received by the liquid receiving surface, and a moving unit to hold the liquid receiving surface and the liquid collector. The moving unit is movable at a facing position where the liquid receiving surface faces the discharge port without changing an inclination of the liquid collector with respect to a horizontal plane.

PRINTHEAD WITH PRINTER FLUID CHECK VALVE

In some examples, a printhead can include a main printer fluid line, a firing chamber in fluid communication with the main printer fluid line to receive printer fluid from the main printer fluid line, and a resistor positioned in the firing chamber. The resistor can, for example, receive an electronic current to cause the resistor to heat up and eject printer fluid droplets from the printhead. The printhead can further include a photolithographically fabricated check valve positioned in the firing chamber. The check valve can, for example, be openable to allow filling of the firing chamber with printer fluid and closeable to at least partially seal the main printer fluid line from printer fluid blowback caused by the resistor.

Liquid discharge head

There is provided a liquid discharge head, including: a pressure chamber connected to a nozzle from which a liquid is discharged; an actuator configured to apply discharge pressure to the liquid in the pressure chamber; a first supply channel which is connected to the pressure chamber, and through which a first liquid is supplied to the pressure chamber; a second supply channel, different from the first channel, which is connected to the pressure chamber, and through which a second liquid different from the first liquid is supplied to the pressure chamber; a first valve which is disposed in the first supply channel, and by which the first supply channel is opened and closed; and a second valve which is disposed in the second supply channel, and by which the second supply channel is opened and closed.

Pressure adjustment unit, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus
11529813 · 2022-12-20 · ·

A pressure adjustment unit includes a valve body including a base end portion, a shaft portion protruding in a first-direction from the base end portion, and an elastic member, and a casing that has a partition wall formed with a through hole into which the shaft portion is inserted, and a first-wall protruding in a second-direction opposite to the first-direction to define the first-chamber. On a first-chamber side of the partition wall, a valve seat, which is annular, is provided around the through hole to block a flow path by contacting with the elastic member, an outer periphery of the base end portion has a positioning region, and a distance between a first-direction-side end portion of the positioning region and a first-direction-side distal end of the shaft portion is shorter than a distance between the valve seat and a second-direction-side end portion of the first-wall.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID DROPLETS

A liquid dispensing element is provided. The element comprising; a dispensing plate comprising a plurality of orifices; the dispensing plate at least partially defining a fluid flow path; a plurality of piezoelectric transducers each comprising a piston configured to move perpendicular to the dispensing plate between a first position wherein the piston is close to the dispensing plate and a second position wherein the piston is further from the dispensing plate. The movement between the first and second positions results in the ejection of a droplet of fluid via a surface cavitation droplet ejection process such that the diameter of the droplet is less than a diameter of the orifice.

DISCHARGE HEAD, DISCHARGE UNIT, AND LIQUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS
20220379609 · 2022-12-01 ·

A discharge head includes a nozzle, a valve body, a piezoelectric element, and a first biasing unit. The nozzle is configured to discharge liquid. The valve body is configured to open and close the nozzle. The piezoelectric element is configured to drive the valve body. The first biasing unit is disposed in parallel with the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element is configured to drive the valve body in a direction to open the nozzle when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element. The first biasing unit is configured to bias the valve body in the direction to open the nozzle.

Applicator with a small nozzle distance

The disclosure relates to an applicator, in particular a printhead, for applying a coating agent, in particular a paint, to a component, in particular a motor vehicle body component or an add-on part for a motor vehicle body component, having at least one nozzle row with a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the coating agent in the form of a coating agent jet, the nozzles are arranged one behind the other in a nozzle plane along the nozzle row at a specific nozzle spacing, and having a plurality of actuators for controlling the release of coating agent through the individual nozzles, the actuators each having an outer dimension along the nozzle row. The disclosure provides that the nozzle distance between the adjacent nozzles of the nozzle row is smaller than the outer dimension of the individual actuators along the nozzle row.

Print head comprising a micro-pneumatic control unit
11612901 · 2023-03-28 · ·

A micro-pneumatic control unit comprising a plurality of control channels for generating the control pressures in a pneumatically actuated multi-channel coating head for coating components with a coating agent, a control channel being characterized by a valve element comprising a valve bore in a valve plate and a diaphragm layer which is below the valve plate and is configured as a diaphragm closing element in the region of the valve bore, the shape of which diaphragm closing element defined by recesses positioned laterally with respect to the valve bore, by a micro-actuator having a plunger that actuates the diaphragm closing element through the valve bore such that the valve element opens, by a second micro-pneumatic element connected in series with the valve element, the control pressure developing and a cavity located at the connection node thereof, which cavity is connected to at least one pneumatically operated coating agent ejector, and by a pneumatic pressurization of the micro-pneumatic control unit, which is directed such that, with respect to the valve element, there is a pressure gradient from the diaphragm closing element to the valve bore in the valve plate.

Sealing member, method of manufacturing the same, pressure adjustment mechanism, liquid ejection head, and liquid ejection apparatus
11613130 · 2023-03-28 · ·

Provided is a sealing member to be used as a valve in a pressure adjustment mechanism. The sealing member includes a base member having high strength, and has high reliability. The sealing member includes an elastic member (valve portion) having an annular abutment portion (valve distal end portion) formed as an annular protrusion and the base member (lever portion). When a held portion having a tubular shape extending from the annular abutment portion is held in an annular groove formed in the base member, the elastic member is fixed to the base member. A holding length over which an annular groove holds the held portion along a depth direction of the base member is set longer than a width of the annular groove.

Systems and methods for controlling operation of micro-valves for use in jetting assemblies

A marking system includes a valve body including an orifice plate including multiple orifices and multiple micro-valves. Each micro-valve includes an actuating beam movable from a closed position in which a corresponding one of the orifices is sealed by a portion of the actuating beam such that the micro-valve is closed, into a peak position in response to application of a control signal. A controller is configured to generate a control signal for each of the actuating beams, each control signal including a drive pulse having a predetermined voltage such that the actuating beam moves from the closed position into the peak position in which the corresponding orifice is open and returns to the closed position in a characteristic period, wherein the drive pulse has a duration that substantially corresponds to the characteristic period such that the actuating beam is in the closed position after the drive pulse is complete.