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:
Nov. 04, 2003
Filed:
May. 29, 2002
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The object is to provide a technique whereby a non-operating nozzle can be detected with higher accuracy. The present invention resides in a printer for printing images by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles, wherein an optical path in which light from a light-emitting element for emitting light is focused by a first focusing element , allowed to pass through a focusing aperture that is substantially circular and smaller than the area illuminate by the light, and transmitted through the focusing aperture to a light-receiving element for receiving light is laid out according to a configuration in which an intersection is formed with the path described by the ink droplets ejected by the nozzles. The light-emitting element is energized and caused to emit light. The nozzles are actuated and ink droplets are ejected in the direction of a space in which the intensity of light is greater than a prescribed level and which is part of the optical path between the focusing aperture and the light-receiving element . A non-operating nozzle is then detected based on the fact that the light received by the light-receiving element is blocked by the ink droplets thus ejected.