Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge method and liquid discharge apparatus
Abstract
A liquid discharge head comprises heating members for generating thermal energy to create bubbles in liquid, discharge ports forming the portions to discharge the liquid, liquid flow paths communicated with the discharge ports, at the same time, having bubble generation areas for enabling liquid to create bubbles, movable members arranged in the bubble generation areas to be displaced along with the development of the bubbles, and regulating members to regulate the displacement of each of the movable members within a desired range, and with energy at the time of bubble creation, the liquid being discharged from the discharge ports. For this liquid discharge head, each of the liquid flow paths holds bubbles at the time of bubbling, at the same time, being provided with gaps arranged on the sides of the movable member to allow the liquid on the upstream thereof to flow into the bubble generation area at the time of bubble disappearing. With the structure thus arranged, the meniscus is drawn into the liquid flow path quickly immediately after the bubble disappearing of bubble begins, and then, with a strong force of the meniscus, the trailing portion of the liquid column connected with the discharged droplet is cut off outside the discharge port, hence making the number of satellites smaller for the enhancement of the quality of prints.

Term
Term ended
Projected expiry passed 20 August 2019, 7.1 years ago.
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6 sheets
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Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office | Category | Cited during | Relevant claims |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0436047A1 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | DA | Search report | – |
| EP0721841A2 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | YA | Search report | 20,29-31,43,70,75,81 |
| EP0739734A2 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | A | Search report | 1,11,20,29-31,43,51,59,66,70,75,81 |
| EP0811492A2 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | A | Search report | 1,11,20,29-31,43,51,59,66,70,75,81 |
| EP0816087A2 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | YA | Search report | 51 |
| EP0819530A2 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | YA | Search report | 20,29-31,43,51,70,75,81 |
| US5278585A | Cites | United States of America | DA | Search report | – |
65 members in 8 offices
Priority claims28
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23611798 | Japan | A | |
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| 23612098 | Japan | A | |
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| 23612298 | Japan | A | |
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| 23612398 | Japan | A | |
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| 23612498 | Japan | A | |
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| 23612598 | Japan | A | |
| 23612598 | Japan | – | |
| 23612698 | Japan | A | |
| 23612698 | Japan | – | |
| 23611798 | – | – | – |
| 23612098 | – | – | – |
| 23612298 | – | – | – |
| 23612398 | – | – | – |
| 23612498 | – | – | – |
| 23612598 | – | – | – |
| 23612698 | – | – | – |
| JP19980236117 | – | – | – |
| JP19980236120 | – | – | – |
| JP19980236122 | – | – | – |
| JP19980236123 | – | – | – |
| JP19980236124 | – | – | – |
| JP19980236125 | – | – | – |
| JP19980236126 | – | – | – |
Members65
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2278982A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| CA2279022A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| EP0976561A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| EP0976562A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| AU4115499A | Australia | A | |
| AU4115699A | Australia | A | |
| CA2280547A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| KR20000012037A | Republic of Korea | A | |
| KR20000012045A | Republic of Korea | A | |
| JP2000062174A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062175A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062176A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062177A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062179A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062180A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062181A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062182A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062183A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062184A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062185A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062186A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062187A | Japan | A | |
| JP2000062188A | Japan | A | |
| EP0982136A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| AU4464599A | Australia | A | |
| CN1247802A | China | A | |
| CN1247803A | China | A | |
| KR20000017434A | Republic of Korea | A | |
| JP2000133302A | Japan | A | |
| CN1254646A | China | A | |
| EP0976562A3 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A3 | |
| EP0982136A3This record | European Patent Office (EPO) | A3 | |
| EP0976561A3 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A3 | |
| JP2001096748A | Japan | A | |
| US2002039530A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US6386832B1 | United States of America | B1 | |
| KR100337847B1 | Republic of Korea | B1 | |
| KR100337849B1 | Republic of Korea | B1 | |
| KR100340894B1 | Republic of Korea | B1 | |
| US6409317B1 | United States of America | B1 | |
| US6450776B1 | United States of America | B1 | |
| CN1106287C | China | C | |
| US6585491B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| CN1118373C | China | C | |
| AU766832B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| CA2279022C | Canada | C | |
| JP3495920B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP3495921B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| CN1160194C | China | C | |
| CA2280547C | Canada | C | |
| JP3706745B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP3706746B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| JP3706774B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| EP0976562B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| JP3869948B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| DE69934845D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| EP0982136B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| EP0976561B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| DE69934845T2 | Germany | T2 | |
| DE69936025D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| DE69936080D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| DE69936025T2 | Germany | T2 | |
| EP0976561B8 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B8 | |
| DE69936080T2 | Germany | T2 | |
| CA2278982C | Canada | C |
31 legal events, as 3 offices reported them to INPADOC
Over the term
Point at a mark for the eventEvents
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|---|---|---|---|
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Application deemed withdrawn, or ip right lapsed, due to non-payment of renewal feeWithdrawnR119 | R119 | DE | |
| Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal feeCeasedGBPC | GBPC | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| No opposition filedOpposition26N | 26N | EP | |
| No opposition filed within time limitOppositionORIGINAL CODE: 0009261PLBE | PLBE | EP | |
| Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patentGrantedSTATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMITSTAA | STAA | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Fr: translation not filedEN | EN | EP | |
| Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents actLapsedNLV1 | NLV1 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Corresponds to:REF | REF | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| European patent grantedGrantedFG4D | FG4D | GB | |
| (expected) grantORIGINAL CODE: 0009210GRAA | GRAA | EP | |
| Grant fee paidORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3GRAS | GRAS | EP | |
| Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patentORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1GRAP | GRAP | EP | |
| First examination report despatched17Q | 17Q | EP | |
| Designation fees paidDE ES FR GB IT NLAKX | AKX | EP | |
| Request for examination filed17P | 17P | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| Request for extension of the european patentAL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SIAX | AX | EP | |
| Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant7B 41J 2/14 A, 7B 41J 2/055 BRIC1 | RIC1 | EP | |
| Search report despatchedORIGINAL CODE: 0009013PUAL | PUAL | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| Request for extension of the european patentAL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SIAX | AX | EP | |
| Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phaseORIGINAL CODE: 0009012PUAI | PUAI | EP |
Numbers
- Publication
- 0982136
- Publication, DOCDB
- 0982136
- Publication, EPODOC
- EP0982136
- Application
- 99306611
- Application, DOCDB
- 99306611
- Application, EPODOC
- EP19990306611
Titles3
- German
- Flüssigkeitsausstosskopf, Flüssigkeitsausstossverfahren und Flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung
- English
- Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge method and liquid discharge apparatus
- French
- Tête pour l'éjection de liquide, procédé d'éjection de liquide et appareil d'éjection de liquide
Classification
- CPC, 2
- B41J2/14129
- B41J2/14048
- IPC, 2
- B41J2 05
- B41J2 14
Designated states2
- Contracting states, 1
- Sweden
- Extension states, 1
- Slovenia