The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 19, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1999
Jinichi Takizawa, Nagano-ken, JP;
Toshihisa Saruta, Nagano-ken, JP;
Hiroaki Tojo, Nagano-ken, JP;
Hironori Endo, Nagano-ken, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
A printing apparatus of the present invention includes a print head having a plurality of nozzles, from which ink droplets are ejected, a light detection unit that has a light emitting element and a light receiving element and determines the active or inactive state of the nozzles based on whether or not the light beam is intercepted by ink droplets, and a carriage that moves the print head relative to the light detection unit. The light beam emitted from the light emitting element has an optical axis that is inclined at a predetermined angle to a nozzle array. At least part of the plurality of nozzles are inspected while the print head is moving relative to the light detection unit at a fixed speed.