Patent ID: 8087742
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a head; a plurality of liquid discharge sections arrayed in the head; nozzles respectively associated with the liquid discharge sections; ink chambers respectively associated with the liquid discharge sections; discharge direction deflection means respectively associated with the liquid discharge sections, the discharge direction deflection means located within the ink chambers and below the nozzles, each discharge deflection means comprising two adjacent devices configured to emit energy; relative movement means configured to move said head relative to a liquid discharge target on which the liquid discharged from said nozzle of each of said liquid discharge sections is to land; distance detection means, on the side of the liquid discharge apparatus facing the liquid discharge target, said distance detection means configured (a) to emit a material wave to the liquid discharge target, (b) receive a resulting reflected wave, (d) detect the distance between the liquid discharge surface of each of said liquid discharge sections and the liquid landing surface of the liquid discharge target in accordance with the received reflected wave, and (e) sequentially detect said distance for each liquid discharge section while said relative movement means relatively moves said head and said liquid discharge target; a data table in which the discharge deflection amount of the liquid to be discharged from said nozzle in relation to said detected distance and a landing target position of the liquid to be discharged from said nozzle is defined; and discharge deflection amount determination means configured to (a) reference said data table and (b) determine the amount of liquid discharge deflection to be provided by said discharge direction deflection means, wherein,