US Patent 7407254 Droplet discharge inspection apparatus and method

An inspection apparatus includes an inspection body that has a non-conductive substrate, a droplet receiving portion for receiving a droplet that is provided on the substrate, and a plurality of electrodes that are exposed on an inner surface portion of the droplet receiving portion. The droplet receiving portion has a size that corresponds to a droplet size in a state when a discharged droplet impacts normally. The inspection apparatus also includes a detector that is connected to the electrodes of the inspection body and detects a conductivity in the droplet receiving portion. The inspection apparatus makes it possible to inspect easily and in a short time period the discharge performance of a droplet discharge head of a droplet discharge apparatus. A droplet discharge inspection method is also provided.