Patent ID: 8147028
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A nozzle inspection device for inspecting presence of a defective nozzle in a fluid discharge apparatus including a discharge unit having nozzles which can discharge fluid to a target, comprising: an inspection electrode placed apart from the discharge unit with a gap therebetween; an inspection unit for inspecting the presence of the defective nozzle on the basis of a detection value obtained by detecting a change of an intensity of an electric field which is attributable to a discharge of the fluid by discharging the fluid with respect to the inspection electrode from the discharge unit in a state in which the electric field is generated by application of a voltage between the discharge unit and the inspection electrode; a detection unit for detecting whether the inspection unit is in a non-inspectable state, wherein the detection unit includes an electrode potential detection unit which detects a potential of the inspection electrode in a non-discharge state in which the fluid is not discharged before the inspection and a determination unit which determines that the inspection unit is in an inspectable state when the detection value detected by the electrode potential detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value and that the detection unit is in the non-inspectable state when the detection value is equal to or is less than the threshold value; and a gap adjustment unit for adjusting the gap by transferring either the discharge unit or the inspection electrode in a case in which the inspection unit is in the non-inspectable state, wherein the inspection unit inspects the presence of the defective nozzle after performing gap adjustment by using the gap adjustment unit.