Patent ID: 6554405
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: B01J,B41J

Abstract:
A liquid-drop discharge device comprising a liquid storage tank and a liquid reservoir of a specified capacity connected by means of a check valve, liquid discharge means for discharging liquid from the liquid reservoir, and a reaction cell having a space into which liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge means, the liquid discharge means comprising a plurality of adjoining liquid-drop discharge units respectively connected to a liquid supply path communicating with the liquid reservoir, and each liquid-drop discharge unit comprising a liquid discharge nozzle opening into the reaction cell, a pressurizing chamber for pressurizing liquid to be discharged through the nozzle, an introducing hole for supplying liquid from the liquid supply path to the pressurizing chamber, and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element for pressurizing operations,wherein a differential regulating tube is provided between the liquid reservoir and the reaction cell to maintain a specified relationship between an internal pressure of the liquid reservoir and an internal pressure of the reaction cell, and wherein the differential regulating tube is, controlled to satisfy P1&gE;P2&gE;P3, with P1 being an internal pressure of the liquid storage tank, P2 being an internal pressure of the liquid reservoir, and P3 being an internal pressure of the reaction cell.