US 12,296,583 B2
Liquid ejecting apparatus and method for controlling liquid ejecting head
Takanori Aimono, Matsumoto (JP)
Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/178,797.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-034240 (JP), filed on Mar. 7, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0278331 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B41J 2/045 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/04516 (2013.01) [B41J 2/04573 (2013.01); B41J 2/04581 (2013.01); B41J 2/04588 (2013.01); B41J 2/04595 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising:
a liquid ejecting head having an ejecting portion, the ejecting portion including
a nozzle from which liquid droplets are ejected,
a pressure compartment that is in communication with the nozzle, and
a drive element that causes pressure changes in a liquid present inside the pressure compartment in accordance with a drive signal; and
a control unit that controls supply of the drive signal to the drive element, wherein
the drive signal includes
a first drive waveform, and
a second drive waveform posterior to the first drive waveform,
the first drive waveform includes
a first expansion waveform along which potential of the drive signal changes to a first level such that capacity of the pressure compartment expands, and
a first contraction waveform along which the potential of the drive signal changes from the first level to a second level such that the capacity of the pressure compartment contracts,
the second drive waveform includes
a second expansion waveform along which the potential of the drive signal changes to the first level such that the capacity of the pressure compartment expands, and
a second contraction waveform along which the potential of the drive signal changes from the first level to the second level such that the capacity of the pressure compartment contracts,
the first contraction waveform includes
a first segment waveform along which the potential of the drive signal changes from the first level to a first intermediate level between the first level and the second level,
a second segment waveform along which the potential of the drive signal is kept at the first intermediate level, and
a third segment waveform along which the potential of the drive signal changes from the first intermediate level to the second level,
the second contraction waveform includes
a fourth segment waveform along which the potential of the drive signal changes from the first level to a second intermediate level between the first level and the second level,
a fifth segment waveform along which the potential of the drive signal is kept at the second intermediate level, and
a sixth segment waveform along which the potential of the drive signal changes from the second intermediate level to the second level, and
due to the supply of the drive signal, the drive element operates to cause ejection of a first liquid droplet from the nozzle in accordance with the first drive waveform and operates to cause ejection of a second liquid droplet from the nozzle in accordance with the second drive waveform such that the second liquid droplet merges with the first liquid droplet before the first liquid droplet lands onto a medium.