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:
May. 26, 2009
Filed:
May. 11, 2006
Atsushi Hirota, Nagoya, JP;
Ayumu Matsumoto, Kokubu, JP;
Atsushi Hirota, Nagoya, JP;
Ayumu Matsumoto, Kokubu, JP;
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya-shi, Aichi, JP;
Kyocera Corporation, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, JP;
Abstract
An inkjet printer whose ink discharge characteristics will rarely change even when used for a long period of time is developed. The inkjet printer has a pressure chamber, a piezoelectric actuator forming a wall of the pressure chamber and a controller for applying voltage to the piezoelectric actuator. The controller applies a predetermined voltage in general, and the piezoelectric actuator is usually deformed to project toward the pressure chamber. Ink discharge signal comprises an advanced voltage change from the predetermined voltage to zero and a subsequent change from zero to the predetermined voltage. The characteristics of the piezoelectric actuator will change if the piezoelectric actuator is continuously deformed during ink non-discharge period. The controller applies an additional signal including an advanced change from the predetermined voltage to a lower voltage and a subsequent change from the lower voltage to the predetermined voltage. The piezoelectric actuator is periodically loosened from the deformed state during non-discharge period, and the change in the characteristics of the piezoelectric actuator over time can be reduced.