EP2145768A1 - Fehlerdetektionsgerät für Flüssigkeitsausstoß und Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät - Google Patents

Fehlerdetektionsgerät für Flüssigkeitsausstoß und Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2145768A1
EP2145768A1 EP08160421A EP08160421A EP2145768A1 EP 2145768 A1 EP2145768 A1 EP 2145768A1 EP 08160421 A EP08160421 A EP 08160421A EP 08160421 A EP08160421 A EP 08160421A EP 2145768 A1 EP2145768 A1 EP 2145768A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light
discharge
liquid
detecting apparatus
failure detecting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP08160421A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2145768B1 (de
Inventor
Hirotaka Hayashi
Kazumasa Ito
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ricoh Elemex Corp
Original Assignee
Ricoh Elemex Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ricoh Elemex Corp filed Critical Ricoh Elemex Corp
Priority to EP20080160421 priority Critical patent/EP2145768B1/de
Priority to ES08160421T priority patent/ES2371509T3/es
Publication of EP2145768A1 publication Critical patent/EP2145768A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2145768B1 publication Critical patent/EP2145768B1/de
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/07—Ink jet characterised by jet control
    • B41J2/125—Sensors, e.g. deflection sensors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
    • B41J2/2132—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
    • B41J2/2142—Detection of malfunctioning nozzles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a technology for detecting a liquid discharge failure in an inkjet recording apparatus.
  • a typical inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head having minute nozzles that discharge minute ink droplets.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus records an image on a recording medium, such as a sheet of paper, by discharging ink droplets from the inkjet head while relatively moving the inkjet head with respect to the recording medium.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus is widely used because of its advantages including high speed operation, low noise, various types of recording media that can be employed, and ability to perform color printing.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus has drawbacks due to the smallness of the nozzles.
  • the ink in the nozzles easily dries when the recording apparatus is not in operation, dust such as paper dust attaches to the nozzles when they are moist with the ink, or air enters into the nozzles.
  • These drawbacks can cause ink discharge failure.
  • Such ink discharge failure can include non-discharge of the ink, discharge of the ink in a wrong direction, and non-desired size of the ink droplet. As a result, a dead dot or a white line is left on the recording medium, resulting in low image quality.
  • a technology for improving the image quality is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-280461 . More specifically, a light-emitting element emits a laser light to a light-receiving element in a direction perpendicular to a line on which an inkjet head moves over a recording medium, the inkjet head moves in a main printing direction without any recording medium fed in the inkjet recording apparatus, and the inkjet head discharges an ink droplet toward an optical axis of the laser light.
  • a virtual landing spot is obtained by optically detecting the ink droplet, and a timing of discharging the ink is corrected based on the virtual landing spot.
  • a liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus that detects a liquid discharge failure of a nozzle being arranged on an inkjet head surface and discharging droplets of a liquid.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus includes a light-emitting element that emits a beam onto a droplet discharged from the nozzle from a direction opposite to a direction of discharge of the droplet; a light-receiving element that receives a scattered light generated by scattering of the beam by the droplet; and a failure detecting unit that detects the liquid discharge failure from data of the scattered light received by the light-receiving element.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention incorporated in an inkjet recording apparatus.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet head 10 having an inkjet head surface 11 facing down.
  • a plurality of nozzles n1, n2, ..., nN, ..., and nX are linearly arranged in a one-dimensional nozzle array along the inkjet head surface 11. Although only one nozzle array has been shown in Fig. 1 , four nozzle arrays in yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, can be arranged in parallel with one another along the inkjet head surface 11.
  • the nozzles n1, n2, ..., nN, ..., and nX discharge ink droplets downward.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus includes a light-emitting element 14 and a collimating lens 16 arranged below the inkjet head surface 11 at a certain distance.
  • the light-emitting element 14 is, for example, a laser diode.
  • the collimating lens 16 collimates a laser light emitted by the light-emitting element 14 to form a beam 15.
  • the beam 15 is emitted from a direction opposite to a direction of discharge of the droplet. In the first embodiment, the beam 15 is emitted upward.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus further includes a light-receiving element 17, such as a photodiode, arranged off from the beam 15 with a light-receiving surface 18 of the light-receiving element 17 facing in the direction of discharge of the droplet, i.e., facing down.
  • the light-receiving element 17 is preferably as close to the beam 15 and the inkjet head surface 11 as possible. In this manner, the light-receiving element 17 receives an intense forward-scattered light with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), resulting in an efficient detection.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • Ink droplets are discharged from the nozzle nN onto the beam 15 to generate scattered lights S, which are received by the light-receiving element 17, and it is determined whether there is any liquid discharge failure based on data of the scattered lights S received by the light-receiving element 17.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining generation of the scattered lights S when an ink droplet 13 is discharged onto the beam 15.
  • the scattered lights S including scattered lights S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, and S7 are generated.
  • the scattered light S1 which is a forward-scattered light in a direction of emission of the beam 15, is most intense among the scattered lights S.
  • Fig. 3 is a graph of optical intensity of the beam 15.
  • the curve represents a Gaussian distribution.
  • the optical intensity is highest at the center of the beam 15, and it decreases toward the circumference of the beam 15.
  • the beam 15 is relatively moved with respect to the inkjet head surface 11 in parallel with the nozzle array to perform the detecting process of droplet from a next nozzle n(N+1).
  • the light-emitting element 14 and the collimating lens 16 are moved with respect to the inkjet head 10 in a direction indicated by an arrow B to perform the detecting process on the other nozzles n1, n2, ..., and nX.
  • the light-emitting element 14 and the collimating lens 16 can be fixed and the inkjet head 10 can be configured to move in directions indicated by an arrow A.
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining how to determine whether an ink droplet is correctly discharged.
  • a correctly discharged ink droplet traces an arrow a, and an incorrectly discharged ink droplet traces a dotted arrow b.
  • Fig. 5A is a graph of optical power received by the light-receiving element 17 when the ink droplet is correctly discharged
  • Fig. 5B is a graph of the optical power when the ink droplet is incorrectly discharged.
  • the ink droplet 13 is discharged from a point X0 at time t 0 .
  • a certain level of voltage Vb is measured due to an external disturbing light and the like.
  • the ink droplet 13 passes a point X1, which is lower than the light-receiving element 17, at time t 1 .
  • the light-receiving element 17 receives a forward-scattered light from the ink droplet 13, and therefore the optical power increases as shown in Fig. 5A .
  • a voltage level at X1 is assumed to be V1.
  • the ink droplet 13 passes through the center of the beam 15, where the optical intensity is highest, and therefore the voltage level of the scattered light received by the light-receiving element 17 remains VI even at lower points X2 and X3.
  • a curve of the voltage level when the trace of the ink droplet 13 bends from X1 in a direction parallel with the nozzle array is shown in Fig. 5B .
  • the voltage level is same as the correctly discharged droplet at X1.
  • the ink droplet 13 departs from the center of the beam 15 before it reaches X2, and the optical power decreases accordingly.
  • the ink droplet 13 is off from the beam 15, and therefore the optical power returns to Vb.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus is capable of detecting a trace bending in any direction, such as a trace bending at a right angle to the nozzle array and a spiral trace, based on decrease of the optical power received by the light-receiving element 17. For example, when the ink droplet 13 is off from the beam 15, the optical power is low or null. Moreover, with the distribution of the optical intensity of the beam 15, misalignment of the ink droplet 13 from the center of the beam 15 can be calculated from the optical power.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus can be configured to discharge liquids other than ink, such as a clear liquid or a cleaning solution in the detecting process. In this manner, stains by scattered droplets can be prevented.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention incorporated in an inkjet recording apparatus.
  • the light-receiving element 17 is arranged with the light-receiving surface 18 facing the inkjet head surface 11.
  • the inkjet head surface 11 is provided with a reflective coating. When the ink droplet 13 is discharged onto the beam 15, the intense forward-scattered light is reflected by the inkjet head surface 11 and then received by the light-receiving surface 18.
  • Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention incorporated in an inkjet recording apparatus.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus includes a light-transmissive member 20 arranged between the inkjet head surface 11 and the collimating lens 16.
  • the light-transmissive member 20 is, for example, a transparent glass plate, so that allows passage of the beam 15 emitted by the light-emitting element 14 and collimated by the collimating lens 16.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus further includes a cleaning unit (not shown) that cleans the light-transmissive member 20 before proceeding to checking the next nozzle.
  • the light-transmissive member 20 protects the collimating lens 16 and the light-emitting element 14 from stains by the ink droplet 13.
  • the cleaning unit cleans the light-transmissive member 20, for example, by operating a wiper, thereby preventing degradation of transmittance of the light-transmissive member 20 due to the ink droplet 13 and retaining efficiency of the light-transmissive member 20.
  • the light-transmissive member 20 is not absolutely necessary. Instead, for example, the light-transmissive member 20 can be tilted so that the ink droplet 13 on the light-transmissive member 20 flows down by gravity and automatically falls into a waste tank or the like. In this manner, the light-transmissive member 20 remains clean.
  • Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention incorporated in an inkjet recording apparatus.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus includes a light-reflective member 22 such as a prism or a mirror.
  • the light-reflective member 22 reflects the beam 15 to the inkjet head surface 11.
  • the ink droplet 13 falls on the light-reflective member 22 instead of the collimating lens 16. This prevents staining of the collimating lens 16 and the light-emitting element 14.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus can be made smaller because an optical path of the beam 15 is bent.
  • the light-reflective member 22 is moved in parallel with the nozzle array in a direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 8 . While the beam 15 moves in parallel with the nozzle array according to the move of the light-reflective member 22, the detecting process is performed on the nozzles n1, n2, ..., nN, ..., and nX one by one. In this manner, the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus sequentially performs the detecting process on the nozzles n1, n2, n3, ..., and nX. Alternatively, the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus can be configured to move the inkjet head 10 instead of the light-reflective member 22.
  • Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a light-reflective-member cleaning unit 23 that can be used to clean the light-reflective member 22.
  • the light-reflective-member cleaning unit 23 includes a movable plate 24, a first supporting cylinder 25, a second supporting cylinder 26, a holder 27, and a blade 28.
  • the movable plate 24 moves horizontally in directions of tilt of the light-reflective member 22.
  • the first supporting cylinder 25 stands on the movable plate 24 and slidably supports the second supporting cylinder 26.
  • the second supporting cylinder 26 supports the holder 27.
  • the holder 27 is a rectangular frame that supports the blade 28.
  • the blade 28 is made of rubber.
  • the second supporting cylinder 26 slides up and down to move the blade 28 in the tilting direction of the light-reflective member 22, thereby the blade 28 slides on a tilted reflective surface 29 of the light-reflective member 22 to remove the ink droplet 13.
  • the light-reflective-member cleaning unit 23 cleans the tilted reflective surface 29, thereby preventing degradation of reflectance of the light-reflective member 22 due to the ink droplet 13 and retaining efficiency of the light-reflective member 22.
  • the light-reflective-member cleaning unit 23 can employ a porous material such as sponge, and the porous material can be soaked with cleaning solution. Moreover, instead of moving the whole light-reflective-member cleaning unit 23, the light-reflective-member cleaning unit 23 can be fixed so that a cleaning material like the rubber blade or the porous material slides on the tilted reflective surface 29 when the light-reflective member 22 moves for sequential detecting process. In this manner, the light-reflective member 22 is cleaned without spending extra time for cleaning.
  • Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention incorporated in an inkjet recording apparatus.
  • the light-emitting element 14 and the light-receiving element 17 are mounted to a single substrate.
  • the forward-scattered light is reflected by the inkjet head surface 11, further reflected by the light-reflective member 22, and then received by the light-receiving surface 18 of the light-receiving element 17.
  • an electrical system including the light-emitting element 14 and the light-receiving element 17 is organized into one substrate.
  • Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of a liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention incorporated in an inkjet recording apparatus.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus further includes a shield plate 34 arranged in front of the light-receiving element 17 to limit a range of the forward-scattered light to be received by the light-receiving element 17. By limiting the range, a discharge speed V of the ink droplet 13 can be calculated.
  • Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining how to perform the detecting process on the ink droplet 13 from the nozzles n1, n2, n3, ..., and nX sequentially.
  • the parallel beam 15 is formed by the light-emitting element 14 and the collimating lens 16.
  • the beam 15 is emitted in parallel with the nozzle array, it radiates onto a mirror 32, and the mirror 32 reflects the beam 15 upward.
  • Two light-receiving elements 17A and 17B are arranged near the reflected beam 15.
  • the nozzles n1, n2, n3, ..., and nX sequentially discharges the ink droplet 13 onto the beam 15 emitted from the light-emitting element 14.
  • the forward-scattered light is generated.
  • the mirror 32 reflects the forward-scattered light and the light-receiving element 17A receives the reflected forward-scattered light, thereby performing the detecting process on the ink droplet 13 from each of the nozzles n1, n2, n3, ..., and nX.
  • Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining how to perform a more precise detecting process on a suspicious nozzle by moving the mirror 32 when a failure is detected in the sequential detecting process on the nozzles n1, n2, n3, ..., and nX.
  • the mirror 32 and the light-receiving element 17B move so that the beam 15 is reflected to the suspicious nozzle, and the suspicious nozzle discharges the ink droplet 13 for more precise measurement.
  • the mirror 32 and the light-receiving element 17B are preferably integrated to omit a need of positioning the light-receiving element 17B.
  • the precise detecting process can be performed sequentially.
  • Fig. 15 is a flowchart of detecting process of a liquid discharge failure explained above. This flowchart depicts a detecting process of a liquid discharge failure for one nozzle, therefore, this flowchart is repeated for the all the nozzle.
  • the light-emitting element 14 emits the beam 15 (Step S1).
  • the nozzle nN discharges the ink droplet 13, and the light-receiving element 17 measures the optical power of the forward-scattered light from the ink droplet 13 discharged from the nozzle nN (Step S2). Whether the optical power is equal to or more than a first value is determined (Step S3). When the optical power is equal to or more than the first value (YES at Step S3), whether speed of the ink droplet 13 is equal to or more than a second value is determined (Step 4). When the speed of the ink droplet 13 is equal to or more than the second value (YES at Step S4), it is determined that the nozzle nN is good (Step S5), and the detecting process on the nozzle nN ends.
  • Step S6 When the optical power is less than the first value (NO at Step S3), an ID number of the nozzle nN is recorded as a faulty nozzle (Step S6) and whether the fault has been detected for n times or more is determined (Step S7).
  • Step S7 When the fault has been detected for less than n times (NO at Step S7), the nozzle nN is cleaned (Step S8) and the process returns to Step S1.
  • the detecting process on the nozzle nN ends.
  • Step S9 When the speed of the ink droplet 13 is less than the second value (NO at Step S4), the mirror 32 moves closer to the nozzle nN (Step S9).
  • the nozzle nN discharges the ink droplet 13, and the light-receiving element 17 measures the optical power (Step S10). Whether the optical power is equal to or more than the first value is determined and whether the speed of the ink droplet 13 is equal to or more than the second value are determined (Step S11). When the optical power is equal to or more than the first value and also the speed of the ink droplet 13 is equal to or more than the second value (YES at Step S11), it is determined that the nozzle nN is good (Step S5), and the detecting process on the nozzle nN ends.
  • Step S12 When the optical power is less than the first value or the speed of the ink droplet 13 is less than the predetermined value (NO at Step S11), it is determined that the nozzle nN is faulty (Step S12). The ID number of the nozzle nN is then recorded (Step S13), and whether the fault has been detected for n times or more is determined (Step S7). When the fault has been detected for less than n times (NO at Step S7), the nozzle nN is cleaned (Step S8) and the process returns to Step S1. When the fault has been detected for n times or more (YES at Step S7), the detecting process on the nozzle nN ends. The same procedure is then repeated for the other nozzles.
  • liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus that precisely detects a bending trace of a liquid discharged from a nozzle in any direction.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus can sequentially perform a detecting process on a plurality of nozzles along a nozzle array.
  • a light-receiving element can receive the optical power of the scattered light with a high SNR without being affected by optical power of a beam.
  • the light-receiving element can receive an intense forward-scattered light after being reflected by an inkjet head surface.
  • an electrical system is organized into one substrate.
  • the stains by scattered droplets can be more efficiently prevented.
  • a light-transmissive member can protect the light-emitting element from stains by an ink droplet without interrupting a detecting process.
  • the light-transmissive member can be tilted so that the ink droplet on the light-transmissive member flows down by gravity and automatically falls into a waste tank or the like to keep the light-transmissive member clean.
  • the light-emitting element can be prevented from being stained by the ink droplet and the size of the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus can be small because an optical path of the beam is bent.
  • a light-reflective-member cleaning unit that cleans the light-reflective member prevents degradation of reflectance of the light-reflective member due to the ink droplet and retains efficiency of the light-reflective member.
  • the liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus can sequentially perform the detecting process on the nozzles.
  • a discharge speed of the ink droplet can be calculated.
  • an inkjet recording apparatus including a liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus that precisely detects a bending trace of a liquid discharged from a nozzle in any direction based on decrease of the optical power of the scattered light received by a light-receiving element.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP20080160421 2008-07-15 2008-07-15 Fehlerdetektionsgerät für Flüssigkeitsausstoß und Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät Expired - Fee Related EP2145768B1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20080160421 EP2145768B1 (de) 2008-07-15 2008-07-15 Fehlerdetektionsgerät für Flüssigkeitsausstoß und Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
ES08160421T ES2371509T3 (es) 2008-07-15 2008-07-15 Aparato de detección de fallos de descarga de líquido y aparato de grabación de inyección de tinta.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20080160421 EP2145768B1 (de) 2008-07-15 2008-07-15 Fehlerdetektionsgerät für Flüssigkeitsausstoß und Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2145768A1 true EP2145768A1 (de) 2010-01-20
EP2145768B1 EP2145768B1 (de) 2011-10-05

Family

ID=40015430

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20080160421 Expired - Fee Related EP2145768B1 (de) 2008-07-15 2008-07-15 Fehlerdetektionsgerät für Flüssigkeitsausstoß und Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2145768B1 (de)
ES (1) ES2371509T3 (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012030344A1 (en) 2010-09-02 2012-03-08 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Drop detector assembly and method
US8770707B2 (en) 2010-07-13 2014-07-08 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Drop detector assembly and method
US8864289B2 (en) 2011-03-20 2014-10-21 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Drop detection
WO2017102016A1 (en) * 2015-12-17 2017-06-22 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Droplet detection

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0110634A2 (de) * 1982-11-22 1984-06-13 Sperry Corporation Tintenstrahldrucker
US4510504A (en) * 1982-10-07 1985-04-09 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Method and device for detecting deflection amount of ink jet in ink jet printer
EP0671272A2 (de) * 1994-03-10 1995-09-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
JP2000280461A (ja) 1999-03-31 2000-10-10 Seiko Epson Corp 印刷装置、印刷装置の調整方法、および記録媒体
JP2007005363A (ja) 2005-06-21 2007-01-11 Nikon Corp 露光装置及びデバイス製造方法
JP2007011578A (ja) 2005-06-29 2007-01-18 Canon Inc 情報処理装置及び情報処理方法

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4510504A (en) * 1982-10-07 1985-04-09 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Method and device for detecting deflection amount of ink jet in ink jet printer
EP0110634A2 (de) * 1982-11-22 1984-06-13 Sperry Corporation Tintenstrahldrucker
EP0671272A2 (de) * 1994-03-10 1995-09-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
JP2000280461A (ja) 1999-03-31 2000-10-10 Seiko Epson Corp 印刷装置、印刷装置の調整方法、および記録媒体
JP2007005363A (ja) 2005-06-21 2007-01-11 Nikon Corp 露光装置及びデバイス製造方法
JP2007011578A (ja) 2005-06-29 2007-01-18 Canon Inc 情報処理装置及び情報処理方法

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8770707B2 (en) 2010-07-13 2014-07-08 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Drop detector assembly and method
WO2012030344A1 (en) 2010-09-02 2012-03-08 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Drop detector assembly and method
EP2611618A4 (de) * 2010-09-02 2018-04-04 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Tropfendetektormontage und verfahren
US8864289B2 (en) 2011-03-20 2014-10-21 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Drop detection
WO2017102016A1 (en) * 2015-12-17 2017-06-22 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Droplet detection
US10434790B2 (en) 2015-12-17 2019-10-08 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Droplet detection

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2371509T3 (es) 2012-01-04
EP2145768B1 (de) 2011-10-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP4027179B2 (ja) 液体収納容器、および液体収納容器内の液体量検知方法
US7815280B2 (en) Liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus and inkjet recording apparatus
US6513900B2 (en) Detection of non-operating nozzle by light beam passing through aperture
US7621616B2 (en) Ink jet recording apparatus and method and program for checking nozzles thereof
US9200942B2 (en) Liquid consumption device and liquid residual determination method
JP2003291364A (ja) 液体収納容器、液体収納容器の識別方法、および液体吐出記録装置
EP2145768B1 (de) Fehlerdetektionsgerät für Flüssigkeitsausstoß und Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
US7862141B2 (en) Liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus and inkjet recording apparatus
US6641246B2 (en) Detection of non-operating nozzle by light beam passing through aperture
US7845752B2 (en) Liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus and inkjet recording apparatus
JP5986122B2 (ja) 吐出検出装置、吐出検出方法、及び印刷装置
JP6019757B2 (ja) 液体消費装置
JP2020020674A (ja) 印刷物濃度測定装置、印刷装置、及び印刷物濃度測定方法
US20090309920A1 (en) Liquid-spray-failure detecting device and ink-jet recording apparatus
JP4880487B2 (ja) 液吐出不良検出装置、およびインクジェット記録装置
US20150151547A1 (en) Liquid Consuming Apparatus
JP2000326524A (ja) 吐出インク検出装置
US8189182B2 (en) Semiconductor integrated circuit device, optical scanner using same, image forming apparatus using optical scanner, and return light identification method
US20150177136A1 (en) Device and method for detecting state of discharged liquid droplet and image forming device incorporating such device
JP2000280461A (ja) 印刷装置、印刷装置の調整方法、および記録媒体
US9205660B2 (en) Liquid consuming apparatus with a movable holder having an inclined face
US20230391076A1 (en) Printing apparatus, control method thereof, and recording medium
JP2014019048A (ja) 液体消費装置
JP5716314B2 (ja) 液吐出不良検出装置、その調整方法、およびインクジェット記録装置
JP2003039699A (ja) インク残量検出手段の調整治具およびこれを用いたインク残量検出手段の調整方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20090324

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA MK RS

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: RICOH ELEMEX CORPORATION

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20100602

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT NL

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT NL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602008010214

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20111215

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2371509

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

Effective date: 20120104

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: T3

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20120706

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602008010214

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20120706

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 602008010214

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: SCHWABE SANDMAIR MARX, DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: SD

Effective date: 20130612

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 602008010214

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., JP

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: RICOH ELEMEX CORP., NAGOYA, JP

Effective date: 20130508

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 602008010214

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: SCHWABE SANDMAIR MARX, DE

Effective date: 20130508

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 602008010214

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., JP

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: RICOH ELEMEX CORP., NAGOYA, AICHI, JP

Effective date: 20130508

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 602008010214

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: SCHWABE SANDMAIR MARX PATENTANWAELTE RECHTSANW, DE

Effective date: 20130508

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: TP

Owner name: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., JP

Effective date: 20130618

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20130815 AND 20130821

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: PC2A

Owner name: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.

Effective date: 20130916

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 9

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 10

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20180725

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20180719

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20180829

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20180724

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20180723

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20180719

Year of fee payment: 11

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602008010214

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20190715

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200201

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190801

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190715

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20190801

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190731

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190715

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20201130

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190716