Fluid ejection device and method to control fluid ejection device

Abstract

A fluid ejection device includes a pulsating flow generation section adapted to eject a fluid in a pulsed manner; a fluid supply section adapted to supply the pulsating flow generation section with the fluid; a fluid supply tube having flexibility adapted to communicate the pulsating flow generation section and the fluid supply section with each other; and a drive control section adapted to perform drive control of the pulsating flow generation section and the fluid supply section, wherein the drive control section starts up the pulsating flow generation section, makes the fluid supply section supply the fluid at a first flow rate for a predetermined time period, and then makes the fluid supply section supply the fluid at a second flow rate lower than the first flow rate after the predetermined time period elapses.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A fluid ejection device comprising:
 a pulsating flow generation section configured to eject a fluid in a pulsed manner from a nozzle;   a fluid supply section configured to supply the fluid to the pulsating flow generation section;   a fluid supply tube having flexibility configured to communicate with the pulsating flow generation section and the fluid supply section; and   a drive control section configured to control the pulsating flow generation section and the fluid supply section,   wherein the pulsating flow generation section has an entrance channel which communicates with the fluid supply tube and an exit channel which communicates with the nozzle,   wherein an inertance of the entrance channel is larger than an inertance of the exit channel,   wherein the drive control section starts up the pulsating flow generation section, makes the fluid supply section supply the fluid to the pulsating flow generation section at a first flow rate for a predetermined time period,   and then makes the fluid supply section supply the fluid to the pulsating flow generation section at a second flow rate lower than the first flow rate after the predetermined time period elapses,   wherein both the first flow rate and the second flow rate are positive flow rates.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid ejection device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the drive control section determines the predetermined time period and the first flow rate using tube information including at least one of a material, an outside diameter, a length, and a thickness of the fluid supply tube, and the second flow rate.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid ejection device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the pulsating flow generation section having a bubble generating unit.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid ejection device according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the bubble generating unit having a laser unit which is configured to radiate a laser.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid ejection device according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect an expansion of the fluid supply tube.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid ejection device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the fluid supply tube is configured to be expanded when inner pressure of the fluid supply tube is increased.   
     
     
         11 . A method to control a fluid ejection device comprising:
 providing a pulsating flow generation section configured to eject a fluid in a pulsed manner from a nozzle, a fluid supply section configured to supply the pulsating flow generation section with the fluid, a fluid supply tube having flexibility configured to communicate the pulsating flow generation section and the fluid supply section;   starting up the pulsating flow generation section, and making the fluid supply section supply the fluid to the pulsating flow generation section at a first flow rate for a predetermined time period; and   making the fluid supply section supply the fluid to the pulsating flow generation section at a second flow rate which is lower than the first flow rate after the predetermined time period elapses,   wherein the pulsating flow generation section has an entrance channel which communicates with the fluid supply tube and an exit channel which communicates with the nozzle,   wherein an inertance of the entrance channel is larger than an inertance of the exit channel,   wherein both the first flow rate and the second flow rate are positive flow rates.   
     
     
         12 . The method to control the fluid ejection device according to  claim 11 , wherein the pulsating flow generation section having a bubble generating unit.