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:
Jan. 06, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 15, 2001
Takahiro Katakura, Nagano, JP;
Koji Morikoshi, Nagano, JP;
Tsuyoshi Sano, Nagano, JP;
Kiyohiko Takemoto, Nagano, JP;
Kaoru Momose, Nagano, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A nozzle surface ( ) is sealed by a cap member ( ) in a state in which an ink solution is accumulated in a sealed hollow portion ( ). After the nozzle surface ( ) is sealed, piezoelectric vibrators ( ) are driven by applying thereto a high-frequency drive signal of a frequency higher than a drive frequency for ejecting the ink solution toward recording paper, thereby causing cavitation in the ink solution. The firmly adhering thickened ink and solidified ink occurring in nozzle openings ( ) are broken or exfoliated by bubbles caused by this cavitation. Subsequently, the suction operation is performed to remove the thickened ink and the solidified ink from the nozzle portions.