Refrigeration – Using electrical or magnetic effect – Thermoelectric; e.g. – peltier effect
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-10
2004-11-16
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Using electrical or magnetic effect
Thermoelectric; e.g., peltier effect
C062S003100, C062S003200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06817191
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature control device and a temperature control method that utilize a thermoelectric module to perform temperature control of an object of temperature control such as an ink-jet head, and an ink-jet recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in order to control an object of temperature control to remain at a fixed temperature, a temperature control device is used in various apparatuses. As an example of an object that is subject to temperature control by such a temperature control device, for example, an ink-jet head mounted on an ink-jet recording apparatus can be cited.
In the ink-jet head of the ink-jet recording apparatus, temperature changes due to a change in environmental temperature, heat at the time of driving, or the like, and ink filled inside the ink-jet head causes a temperature change. Since a viscosity of the ink in the ink-jet head changes in accordance with this temperature change, a temperature control device for controlling the ink-jet head to a predetermined temperature is provided in order to discharge ink drops from nozzle openings always with an identical ink viscosity to maintain an optimal ink discharge characteristic.
Here, a conventional temperature control device used in an ink-jet head will be described with reference to FIG.
13
. Note that
FIG. 13
is a schematic block diagram of a temperature control device in accordance with the prior art.
As shown in
FIG. 13
, one surface of a thermoelectric module
302
is air-tightly adhered and fixed with satisfactory heat conduction to an ink-jet head
301
of an ink-jet recording apparatus as an object of temperature control. A radiator (or heat sink)
303
is air-tightly adhered and fixed with satisfactory heat conduction to the other surface of the thermoelectric module
302
in the same manner.
In addition, a temperature sensor
304
is attached to the ink-jet head
301
. This temperature sensor
304
is connected to a temperature detection unit
305
and outputs temperature information of the ink-jet head
301
to a control unit
306
from the temperature detection unit
305
.
Here, the control unit
306
controls a driving unit
307
according to a temperature difference between a temperature of the ink-jet head
301
and a target temperature, thereby controlling a driving current flown to the thermoelectric module
302
to cause the thermoelectric module
302
to perform heating or cooling drive and control the temperature of the ink-jet head
301
to be the target temperature.
As described above, in the conventional temperature control device, the temperature sensor
304
is attached to an object of temperature control to measure a temperature, and the thermoelectric module
302
is air-tightly adhered and fixed to the object of temperature control to adjust an amount of its driving current, whereby a temperature of the object of temperature control is controlled to be a target temperature.
In the above-mentioned conventional temperature control device, since an object of temperature control is subjected to temperature control with high accuracy using a thermoelectric module, it is necessary to detect a temperature of the object of temperature control accurately. For this purpose, a temperature sensor has to be attached with satisfactory heat conduction in a place where a temperature of the object of temperature control can be detected accurately. In addition, the thermoelectric module has to be air-tightly adhered and fixed with satisfactory heat conduction to the object of temperature control.
However, if the thermoelectric module is air-tightly adhered and fixed with satisfactory heat conduction to the object of temperature control consisting of an ink-jet head or the like and the temperature sensor is further attached, since a place for attaching the temperature sensor is limited depending on a form and a dimension of the object of temperature control, the temperature sensor cannot be air-tightly adhered and fixed, with satisfactory heat conduction to, a place where a temperature can be detected accurately. Consequently, there is a problem in that a temperature of the object of temperature control cannot be detected accurately by the temperature sensor and the object of temperature control cannot be subjected to temperature control with high accuracy.
In this way, when temperature control of the object of temperature control cannot be performed with high accuracy, if the object of temperature control is an ink-jet head, there is a problem in that temperature control of ink in the ink-jet head cannot be performed with high accuracy by the temperature control device and a printing quality degrades.
Moreover, in order to prevent influence of an ambient temperature or influence of condensation, the temperature control device may be formed in a closed structure depending on an object of temperature control. However, there is a problem in that a place for attaching the temperature sensor is further limited by forming the temperature control device in a closed structure, a place for detecting a temperature accurately is eliminated, and a thermal resistance is further increased, so that target temperature control of high accuracy cannot be performed.
In particular, if the object of temperature control is an ink-jet head, since a difference between a temperature at the time when it is used and a temperature at the time when it is not used is large, condensation appears evidently, and the temperature control device may be formed in a closed structure in order to prevent influence of an ambient temperature and condensation. However, since a place for attaching the temperature sensor is further limited by forming the temperature control device in a closed structure and the temperature sensor cannot be air-tightly adhered and fixed with satisfactory heat conduction to the ink-jet head, there is a problem in that an ink temperature cannot be controlled to be a target temperate with high accuracy because a temperature cannot be detected accurately.
In addition, in an object of temperature control that is detachably attachable to an apparatus main body in order to replace the object of temperature control due to failure or the like, in the case where it is desired to reuse a temperature sensor, there is a problem in that, if the temperature sensor is attached to the object of temperature control, the temperature sensor has to be removed from the object of temperature control and the removal takes a long time.
In particular, in the case of an ink-jet head, the ink-jet head is replaced due to failure, wear or the like of it, and the ink-jet head itself is constituted to be detachably attachable to an apparatus main body. There is a problem in that, if a temperature sensor is attached to the ink-jet head, the temperature sensor is removed from the ink-jet head in order to reuse it and the removal takes time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a temperature control device and a temperature control method that are capable of applying temperature control of high accuracy to an object of temperature control and facilitating removal of the object of temperature control to reduce costs at the time of replacement, and an ink-jet recording apparatus.
A first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems resides in a temperature control device that is characterized by including a thermoelectric module having an object of temperature control air-tightly adhered to its one surface; driving means for flowing a driving current to the thermoelectric module; temperature difference detecting means for obtaining a Seebeck voltage, which is generated from a temperature difference on both the surfaces of the thermoelectric module when the driving current is not flowing, to output a temperature difference signal; temperature detecting means for outputting a temperature detection signal based on a signal of a tempera
Adams & Wilks
Doerrler William
SII Printek Inc.
Zec Filip
LandOfFree
Temperature control device and temperature control method,... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Temperature control device and temperature control method,..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Temperature control device and temperature control method,... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3360932