US 12,275,247 B2
Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus
Toshiaki Masuda, Kanagawa (JP); Keiji Ueda, Kanagawa (JP); Kaname Morita, Kanagawa (JP); Takahiko Kuroda, Hyogo (JP); Naoko Kitaoka, Kanagawa (JP); and Arata Suzuki, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Toshiaki Masuda, Kanagawa (JP); Keiji Ueda, Kanagawa (JP); Kaname Morita, Kanagawa (JP); Takahiko Kuroda, Hyogo (JP); Naoko Kitaoka, Kanagawa (JP); and Arata Suzuki, Kanagawa (JP)
Filed on Oct. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/959,301.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-164956 (JP), filed on Oct. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0108462 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. B41J 2/165 (2006.01); B41J 2/14 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/16535 (2013.01) [B41J 2/1433 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid discharge apparatus, comprising:
a liquid discharge head that includes a nozzle member, the nozzle member including:
a nozzle configured to discharge liquid; a deformable laminar member having an opening forming the nozzle; and
an electromechanical transducer disposed around the opening, the nozzle member being configured to be warped in a direction opposite to a liquid discharge direction with respect to a discharge-side plane of the nozzle member in a surrounding area of the nozzle when no voltage is applied to the electromechanical transducer;
a wiper configured to wipe a discharge face of the liquid discharge head; and
a voltage applier configured to apply a voltage to the electromechanical transducer of the liquid discharge head and warp the surrounding area of the nozzle in the liquid discharge direction when the wiper wipes the discharge face.