CN112477435A - Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus - Google Patents
Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CN112477435A CN112477435A CN202010645840.9A CN202010645840A CN112477435A CN 112477435 A CN112477435 A CN 112477435A CN 202010645840 A CN202010645840 A CN 202010645840A CN 112477435 A CN112477435 A CN 112477435A
- Authority
- CN
- China
- Prior art keywords
- flow path
- liquid ejection
- actuator
- channel
- ejection head
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
- B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
- B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
Landscapes
- Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
- Ink Jet (AREA)
Abstract
The invention provides a liquid ejection head and a liquid ejection apparatus capable of arranging nozzles at high density. A liquid ejection head according to an embodiment includes a liquid ejection portion including: three or more actuator units each including a pressure chamber row having a plurality of pressure chambers; two inherent flow paths communicating with the pressure chambers of the actuator portion at both ends in the parallel direction; and a plurality of common flow paths that communicate with the pressure chambers of the plurality of actuator units.
Description
Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a liquid ejection head and a liquid ejection device.
Background
Liquid discharge heads used in various liquid discharge apparatuses include, for example: a liquid ejecting section that ejects liquid; an inflow path connected to the primary side of the liquid ejecting section; an outflow path connected to a secondary side of the liquid ejecting section; and a circuit board on which a drive IC connected to the liquid ejecting unit is mounted. The liquid discharge unit includes, for example: an actuator having a plurality of grooves constituting pressure chambers; a frame constituting a common chamber communicating with the pressure chamber; and a nozzle plate having nozzles communicating with the respective pressure chambers of the actuators. It is known that such a liquid ejection head includes a plurality of rows of nozzles and pressure chambers.
Disclosure of Invention
The present invention addresses the problem of providing a liquid ejection head and a liquid ejection device in which nozzles can be arranged at high density.
A liquid ejection head according to an embodiment includes a liquid ejection portion including: three or more actuator units each including a pressure chamber row having a plurality of pressure chambers; two inherent flow paths communicating with the pressure chambers of the actuator portion at both ends in the parallel direction; and a plurality of common flow paths that communicate with the pressure chambers of the plurality of actuator units.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a front view showing the structure of a liquid ejection head according to a first embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a liquid ejection portion of the liquid ejection head.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of a liquid ejection portion of the liquid ejection head.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of a liquid ejection portion of the liquid ejection head.
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a liquid ejection portion of the liquid ejection head.
Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a liquid ejection apparatus using the liquid ejection head.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a liquid ejecting section of a liquid ejecting head according to a second embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a liquid ejecting section of a liquid ejecting head according to a third embodiment.
Description of the reference numerals
1 … liquid ejection head; 10 … liquid ejection part; 11. 11A, 11B, 11C … actuator plates; 11a … pressure chamber; 11b … wiring; 12A, 12B … frame members; 12a … recess; 13. 13A, 13B … cover plates; 13a … recess; 14 … a nozzle plate; 14a … nozzle; 15A, 15B …; 15a, 15b … into the tube portion; 16A, 16B … outflow ports; 16a, 16b … outflow tube portion; 17 … laminated piezoelectric body; 17a … groove; 17b … driving element part; 20 … base part; 21 … base frame; 22A, 22B … into the conduit part; 22a … into the flow path; 23A, 23B … outflow conduit part; 23a … outflow path; 24 … supply tube; 24a … supply path; 25 … recovery tube; 25a … recovery route; 26 … circuit substrate; 27 … driver IC; 28 … flexible wiring substrate; 100 … liquid ejection device; 111 … frame body; 112 … media supply; 112a … paper supply cassette; 113 … an image forming section; 114 … media discharge; 114a … paper discharge tray; 115 … conveying device; 116 … control section; 116a … CPU; 117 … support portions; 118 … conveyor belt; 119 … a support plate; 120 … belt rollers; 121 a-121 h … guide plate pairs; 122a to 122h …; 130 … head element; 132 … supply tank; 133 … connecting the flow paths; 133a … supply flow path; 133b … recovery flow path; 134 … circulating pump; a delivery route a1 …; c1, C2, C3 … pressure chamber columns; c4 and C5 … share a flow path; c6 and C7 ….
Detailed Description
[ first embodiment ]
Next, a liquid ejection head 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 5. Fig. 1 is a front view of a liquid ejection head 1 according to a first embodiment, and fig. 2 is a perspective view of a liquid ejection portion 10 of the liquid ejection head 1. Fig. 3 and 4 are sectional views of the liquid ejecting section 10, and fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid ejecting section 10. Note that arrows X, Y, Z indicate three directions orthogonal to each other in the drawing. In this embodiment, X is along the first direction, Y is along the second direction, and Z is along the third direction. In the drawings, the structures are shown enlarged, reduced, or omitted as appropriate for the purpose of explanation.
As shown in fig. 1, the liquid ejection head 1 includes a liquid ejection portion 10 and a base portion 20. The liquid ejection head 1 is, for example, a shared mode (shared mode) shared wall type inkjet head, and is provided in a liquid ejection apparatus 100 such as an inkjet recording apparatus shown in fig. 6, for example. The liquid ejection head 1 is a circulation type head that is connected to a supply tank 132 and circulates ink with the supply tank 132, where the supply tank 132 serves as a liquid containing portion provided in the liquid ejection apparatus 100. The liquid discharge head 1 is disposed in a posture in which the nozzle 14a of the liquid discharge portion 10 faces downward, for example. The liquid ejection head 1 includes, for example, three nozzle rows in parallel in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the nozzle rows include a plurality of nozzles 14a in parallel in the first direction.
As shown in fig. 1 to 5, the liquid ejecting section 10 includes: a plurality of actuator plates 11A, 11B, 11C (actuator components), a plurality of frame members 12A, 12B (frame components), a pair of cover plates 13A, 13B (cover components), and a nozzle plate 14.
The liquid ejecting section 10 has stacked in the second direction: three actuator plates 11A, 11B, 11C having a plurality of pressure chambers 11A; two frame members 12A, 12B respectively disposed between the actuator plates 11A, 11B and between the actuator plates 11B, 11C; and cover plates 13A, 13B disposed to face the outer sides, i.e., one sides, of the actuator plates 11A, 11C. The liquid ejecting section 10 includes: three pressure chamber rows C1, C2, and C3 each having a plurality of pressure chambers 11a arranged in parallel in the first direction; two common flow paths C4, C5 extending in the first direction and supplying liquid to the pressure chambers 11a in two rows of the pressure chamber rows C1, C2, C3; and two unique flow paths C6, C7 extending in the first direction and supplying the liquid to each pressure chamber 11a in any one of the pressure chamber rows C1, C3.
The common flow path C5 and the specific flow path C6 have inflow ports 15A and 15B formed at first direction one end, the common flow path C4 and the specific flow path C7 have outflow ports 16A and 16B formed at first direction other end, and the common flow paths C5 and C4 and the specific flow paths C6 and C7 have ink flowing from the first direction one end having the inflow ports 15A and 15B toward the other end having the outflow ports 16A and 16B.
The plurality of actuator plates 11A, 11B, and 11C are configured in a plate shape having a pair of main surface portions extending in the first direction and the third direction. The actuator plates 11A, 11B, and 11C include a piezoelectric multilayer body 17 as an actuator unit on end surfaces thereof facing the nozzle plate 14.
The piezoelectric multilayer body 17 is formed by, for example, stacking a pair of polarized piezoelectric members, and has a comb-like shape in which a plurality of grooves 17a constituting the pressure chambers 11a and a plurality of wall-like drive element portions are alternately arranged in parallel. As the piezoelectric member, for example, PZT (lead zirconate titanate) is used. A plurality of driving element portions are formed at the end portion of the actuator plate 11 on the nozzle plate 14 side, and pressure chambers 11a are formed between the adjacent driving element portions, respectively. A plurality of grooves 17a constituting the pressure chamber 11a are arranged in the first direction. Each groove 17a extends over the entire length in the second direction, and communicates with any two of the common flow paths C4 and C5 or the unique flow paths C6 and C7 arranged on both sides in the second direction. The pressure chambers 11a communicate with nozzles 14a of the nozzle plate 14 disposed to face each other.
Specifically, the actuator plate 11A (first actuator unit) is disposed between the first common flow path C4 and the first specific flow path C6, and the plurality of pressure chambers 11A of the actuator plate 11A communicate with the first common flow path C4 and the first specific flow path C6. The actuator plate 11B (second actuator unit) is disposed between the first common flow path C4 and the second common flow path C5, and the plurality of pressure chambers 11a of the actuator plate 11B communicate with the first common flow path C4 and the second common flow path C5. The actuator plate 11C (third actuator unit) is disposed between the second common flow path C5 and the second unique flow path C7, and the plurality of pressure chambers 11a of the actuator plate 11C communicate with the second common flow path C5 and the second unique flow path C7.
Electrodes are formed on the inner wall of each groove 17a, that is, the inner wall of the pressure chamber 11 a. The electrodes are electrically connected to the driver IC27 on the circuit board 26 via the wiring 11B formed on the main surface of each of the actuator boards 11A, 11B, and 11C.
The pair of frame members 12A, 12B are configured in a plate shape extending in the first direction and the second direction. The pair of frame members 12A, 12B are disposed between the actuator plates 11A, 11B and between the actuator plates 11B, 11C, respectively.
The frame members 12A and 12B are formed with recessed portions 12A that constitute common channels C4 and C5 extending in the X direction. The recess 12a has a bottom surface portion extending in the first direction and the second direction. Common flow paths C4, C5 communicating with one end sides of the plurality of grooves 17a are formed between the frame members 12A, 12B and the actuator plates 11A, 11B, 11C. The common flow paths C4, C5 are constituted by the bottom surface portions of the recesses 12A of the frame members 12A, 12B, the main surface portions of the actuator plates 11A, 11C, and the nozzle plate 14. In the common channels C4 and C5, the cross-sectional shape of the channel perpendicular to the first direction, which is the ink flow direction, is rectangular, and the cross-sectional area of the channel is constant in the regions adjacent to the plurality of pressure chambers 11 a.
An outlet pipe portion 16a constituting a first outlet flow path is formed on the other end side in the first direction of the recess 12A of the frame member 12A. The outflow pipe portion 16a is connected to the first outflow conduit portion 23A of the base 20.
An inflow tube portion 15a constituting a second inflow channel is formed at one end side in the first direction of the recess portion 12a of the frame member 12B. The inflow pipe portion 15a is connected to the second inflow conduit portion 22B of the base portion 20.
The pair of cover plates 13A and 13B are formed in a plate shape extending in the first direction and the second direction. The pair of cover plates 13A, 13B are disposed facing the outer main surfaces of the two actuator plates 11A, 11C disposed at both ends in the stacking direction, respectively.
A recess 13A is formed in the facing surface of each cover plate 13A, 13B facing the actuator plate 11A, 11C. The recess 13a has: a bottom surface portion extending in a first direction and a second direction; and a side surface portion extending in the first direction and the third direction and opposing the outer side surface of the actuator plate. Between the cover plate 13 and the actuator plate 11, specific flow paths C6, C7 are formed that communicate with one end sides of the plurality of grooves 17 a. The intrinsic flow paths C6 and C7 are constituted by the bottom and side surfaces of the recess 13A of the cover plates 13A and 13B, the main surfaces of the actuator plates 11A and 11C, and the nozzle plate 14. That is, in the intrinsic flow paths C6 and C7, the cross-sectional shape of the flow path perpendicular to the first direction, which is the ink flow direction, is rectangular, and the cross-sectional area of the flow path is configured to be constant in the regions adjacent to the plurality of pressure chambers 11 a.
The one cover plate 13A includes an inflow pipe portion 15a, and the inflow pipe portion 15a forms a first inflow passage communicating with the first direction one end portion of the concave portion 13A and communicating with the first inflow conduit portion 22A of the base portion 20.
The other cover plate 13B includes an outflow pipe portion 16B, and the outflow pipe portion 16B forms a second outflow channel communicating with the other end portion in the first direction of the recess portion 13a and communicating with the second outflow conduit portion 23B of the base portion 20.
As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the nozzle plate 14 is formed in a plate shape having a pair of main surfaces extending in the first direction and the second direction. The nozzle plate 14 has a nozzle row of three rows of a plurality of nozzles 14a juxtaposed in the first direction. Each nozzle 14a is a through hole penetrating the nozzle plate 14 in the third direction.
As shown in fig. 1, the base 20 includes: the base frame 21 includes a plurality of inflow conduit parts 22A and 22B, a plurality of outflow conduit parts 23A and 23B, a supply pipe 24, a recovery pipe 25, and a plurality of circuit boards 26, and the base frame 21 is made of a material such as resin or aluminum alloy.
The inflow conduit portions 22A, 22B are tubular members that are provided on one end side of the base portion 20 in the first direction, are connected to the inflow conduit portions 15a, 15B, and extend in the third direction. The inflow conduit parts 22A, 22B constitute an inflow channel 22A communicating with the supply pipe 24. In the inflow channel 22a, the channel cross-section perpendicular to the ink flow direction is rectangular, and the channel cross-section is configured to be constant.
The outflow conduit portions 23A, 23B are tubular members that are provided on the other end side in the first direction of the base portion 20, are connected to the outflow conduit portions 16a, 16B, respectively, and extend in the third direction. The outflow conduit parts 23A and 23B constitute an outflow channel 23A communicating with the recovery pipe 25. In the outflow channel 23a, the channel cross-section perpendicular to the ink flow direction is rectangular, and the channel cross-section is configured to be constant.
The supply pipe 24 is a tubular member provided at one end side in the first direction of the base 20 and connected to the primary sides of the two inflow conduit portions 22A, 22B. The supply pipe 24 extends in the third direction and forms a supply passage 24a having a circular flow passage cross section. The supply channel 24a has one end connected to the supply tank 132 via the connection channel 133, and the other end branched into two channels and connected to the pair of inflow channels 22 a.
The recovery pipe 25 is a tubular member provided on the other end side in the first direction of the base 20 and connected to the secondary sides of the two outflow conduit parts 23A and 23B. The recovery pipe 25 extends in the third direction and forms a recovery passage 25a having a circular flow passage cross section. One end of the recovery channel 25a is connected to the supply tank 132 via a connection channel 133, and the other end is connected to the pair of outflow channels 23 a.
The circuit board 26 is a rectangular wiring board held by the base frame 21. In the present embodiment, three circuit boards 26 are disposed above the three rows of actuator plates 11A, 11B, and 11C. A plurality of flexible wiring boards 28 are arranged in parallel on each circuit board 26, and a driver IC27 is mounted on each flexible wiring board 28. In the flexible wiring board 28, one end side in the second direction is connected to the circuit board 26, and the other end side is connected to the actuator plate 11.
The plurality of driver ICs 27 are connected to the wiring on the circuit board 26 and are electrically connected to the electrodes of the pressure chambers 11A via the flexible wiring board 28 and the wiring 11B on the actuator boards 11A, 11B, and 11C.
In the liquid ejection head 1 configured as described above, a drive voltage is applied from the drive IC27, and a potential difference is applied between the electrode in the pressure chamber 11a to be driven and the electrode immediately adjacent thereto. Then, the pair of piezoelectric materials constituting the laminated piezoelectric body are deformed in opposite directions to each other, and the driving element section 17b is bent and deformed. Then, the volume of the pressure chamber 11a is increased or decreased by alternately repeating bending deformation in different directions, and thereby liquid droplets are discharged from the nozzle 14a facing the pressure chamber 11 a.
In the liquid ejection head 1, the ink reaches the first unique flow path C6 and the second common flow path C5 from the supply tank 132 through the plurality of inflow conduit portions 22A, 22B from the supply path 24 a. Then, the ink flowing into the first unique flow path C6 flows into the pressure chamber row C1 of the actuator plate 11A, and is discharged from the nozzles 14a arranged to face the pressure chambers 11A of the pressure chamber row C1. On the other hand, the ink that has not been ejected is recovered from the pressure chamber row C1 through the first common flow path C4, the outflow tube portion 16a, the outflow conduit portion 23A, and the recovery path 25a, and is circulated in the supply tank 132.
The ink flowing into the second common flow path C5 flows into the pressure chamber rows C2 and C3 of the actuator plates 11B and 11C, and is discharged from the nozzles 14a arranged to face the pressure chambers 11a of the pressure chamber rows C2 and C3. The ink not ejected from the pressure chamber row C2 passes through the first common flow path C4, passes through the outflow conduit portion 23A and the recovery path 25a, is recovered by the supply tank 132, and is circulated. The ink that has not been ejected from the pressure chamber row C3 is recovered from the pressure chamber row C3 through the second unique flow path C7, the outflow tube portion 16B, the outflow conduit portion 23B, and the recovery path 25a, and circulated in the supply tank 132.
In the liquid ejecting section 10, the unique flow paths C6 and C7 communicate with the pressure chambers 11a of the adjacent one of the pressure chamber rows C1 and C3, respectively, whereas the common flow path C4 communicates with the pressure chambers 11a of the pair of pressure chamber rows C1 and C2 on both sides, and the common flow path C5 communicates with the pressure chambers 11a of the pressure chamber rows C2 and C3, respectively. Here, it is important to equalize the flow rates passing through the plurality of pressure chamber rows C1, C2, and C3. Therefore, the flow rate of the common flow paths C4 and C5 is twice that of the specific flow paths C6 and C7, and therefore the pressure difference between the adjacent actuator units can be eliminated as much as possible. That is, in the present embodiment, the flow resistance of the common flow paths C4 and C5 in the first direction along the length of the pressure chamber rows C1, C2, and C3 is set to be in the range of 45% to 55%, preferably 50%, of the flow resistance of the intrinsic flow paths C6 and C7.
Here, the fluid is usually ρ: density, λ: coefficient of friction of pipe, L: length of tube, d: diameter of tube, V: the average flow velocity in the tube is then the friction-based pressure loss from the following darcy wheatstone equation.
[ formula 1]
[. DELTA.P: friction loss pressure (Pa), λ: coefficient of friction of pipe, L: tube length (m), ρ: fluid Density (kg/m)3) V: flow velocity (m/s), D: diameter of tube (m)]
For example, when the flow path is a circular tube:
[ formula 2]
[ Re: reynolds number)
[ formula 3]
[ formula 4]
[ formula 5]
[ formula 6]
[ formula 7]
[ formula 8]
[ Q: flow rate (m)3/s)]
[ formula 9]
[ formula 10]
When the flow rates through the pressure chambers C1, C2, and C3 in a row are the same, the flow rate of the common flow path (diameter: D1) is 2 times the flow rate of the intrinsic flow path (diameter: D2). When the length and the viscosity are the same, the following relationship may be maintained so that the pressure loss is equal.
[ formula 11]
[ formula 12]
D1 4＝2D2 4… (formula 12)
When the flow path is not a circular tube, the hydraulic diameter may be used, and when the area of the non-circular cross section is a and the circumferential length is C, the hydraulic diameter Dh is:
[ formula 13]
Here, as shown in fig. 4, the common channels C4 and C5 and the unique channels C6 and C7 are configured to have the same length in the first direction, the lengths in the second direction are a1 and a2, respectively, and each have a rectangular channel cross section having a length in the third direction of b. Thus, when the flow path cross section is rectangular:
[ formula 14]
[ formula 15]
Therefore, as shown in fig. 4, the relationships between the unique flow paths C6 and C7 and the common flow paths C4 and C5 may satisfy the relationship of expression 15. For example, the conditions close to the relationship of equation 15 may be set such that the flow resistance of the common flow paths C4 and C5 is about 1/2 of the specific flow paths C6 and C7. Note that when the lengths of the channels are different or when there is a branch or a merge, correction according to the conditions may be performed.
The liquid discharge head 1 is configured such that the total flow path resistance of the specific flow path and the common flow path communicating with the pair of inflow tube portions 15a and 15b is equal to the total flow path resistance of the specific flow path and the common flow path communicating with the pair of outflow tube portions 16a and 16 b. For example, the total flow path resistance, which is the sum of the flow path resistances of the first specific flow path C6 communicating with the inlet tube portion 15a and the second common flow path C5 communicating with the inlet tube portion 15b, is configured to be equal to the total flow path resistance, which is the sum of the flow path resistances of the second common flow path C4 communicating with the outlet tube portion 16a and the second specific flow path C7 communicating with the outlet tube portion 16 b. That is, the sum of the resistances on the inflow side and the sum of the resistances on the outflow side are equal to or within a range of the same degree.
Next, the liquid ejection apparatus 100 having the liquid ejection head 1 will be described with reference to fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an inkjet printer as the liquid ejection apparatus 100. As shown in fig. 6, the liquid ejecting apparatus 100 includes a housing 111, a medium supply unit 112, an image forming unit 113, a medium discharge unit 114, a conveying device 115 as a support device, and a control unit 116.
The liquid ejecting apparatus 100 is an ink jet printer that ejects a liquid such as ink while conveying a recording medium, for example, a sheet P, which is an ejection target along a predetermined conveyance path a1, and performs an image forming process on the sheet P, wherein the conveyance path a1 reaches a medium discharge unit 114 from a medium supply unit 112 through an image forming unit 113.
The medium supply unit 112 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 112 a. The medium discharge unit 114 includes a discharge tray 114 a. The image forming unit 113 includes: a support portion 117 that supports the sheet; and a plurality of head units 130 arranged to face the upper side of the support portion 117.
The support portion 117 includes: a conveyor belt 118 that is formed in an endless belt shape in a predetermined region where image formation is performed; a support plate 119 for supporting the conveyor belt 118 from the back side; and a plurality of belt rollers 120 provided on the back side of the conveyor belt 118.
The head unit 130 includes: a plurality of liquid ejection heads, namely, liquid ejection heads 1; a plurality of supply tanks 132 as liquid tanks mounted on the liquid ejection heads 1, respectively; a connection flow path 133 connecting the liquid ejection head 1 and the supply tank 132; and a circulation portion, i.e., a circulation pump 134. The head unit 130 is a circulation type head unit that circulates liquid.
In the present embodiment, the present invention includes: liquid ejection heads 1C, 1M, 1Y, 1K of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are provided as the liquid ejection heads 1, and supply tanks 132C, 132M, 132Y, 132K are provided as the supply tanks 132 that respectively contain these respective inks. The supply tank 132 is connected to the liquid ejection head 1 through a connection channel 133. The connection channel 133 includes: a supply channel 133a connected to the supply channel 24a of the liquid ejection head 1; and a recovery channel 133b connected to the recovery channel 25a of the liquid ejection head 1.
A negative pressure control device such as a pump, not shown, is connected to the supply tank 132. Then, the negative pressure control device controls the negative pressure in the supply tank 132 in accordance with the level values of the liquid ejection head 1 and the supply tank 132, thereby forming the ink supplied to each nozzle of the liquid ejection head 1 into a meniscus having a predetermined shape.
The circulation pump 134 is a liquid feeding pump composed of, for example, a piezoelectric pump. The circulation pump 134 is provided in the supply flow path 133 a. The circulation pump 134 is connected to the control unit 116 by a wire, and is configured to be controllable by control of a cpu (central Processing unit)116 a. The circulation pump 134 circulates the liquid in a circulation flow path including the liquid ejection head 1 and the supply tank 132.
The transport device 115 transports the sheet P along a transport path a1, and the transport path a1 passes from the sheet cassette 112a of the medium supply unit 112 through the image forming unit 113 to a sheet discharge tray 114a of the medium discharge unit 114. The conveyance device 115 includes a plurality of guide plate pairs 121a to 121h and a plurality of conveyance rollers 122a to 122h arranged along the conveyance path a 1. The conveyance device 115 supports the sheet P so that the sheet P can move relative to the liquid ejection heads 1.
The control unit 116 includes: a CPU (central control unit)116a as an example of a processor; a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various programs and the like; a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores various variable data, image data, and the like; and an interface unit which inputs and outputs data from and to the outside.
In the liquid ejection head 1 and the liquid ejection device 100, when driving to eject the liquid from the nozzle 14a is performed, the control section 116 applies a driving voltage to the driving element section 17b via the driving IC 27. When a potential difference is applied between the electrode in the pressure chamber 11a driven by applying a voltage and the electrode in the immediately adjacent air chamber, the pair of piezoelectric members are deformed in the opposite directions in the driving element portion 17b, and the driving element portion 17b is bent and deformed by the deformation of the two piezoelectric members. For example, first, the driven pressure chamber 11a is deformed in the opening direction to form a negative pressure in the pressure chamber 11a, thereby introducing the ink into the pressure chamber 11 a. Next, the pressure chamber 11a is deformed in the closing direction to pressurize the pressure chamber 11a, thereby ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 14 a.
According to the liquid ejection head 1 and the liquid ejection device 100 of the present embodiment, the nozzles can be arranged at high density. That is, in the liquid ejection head 1 and the liquid ejection device 100 according to the present embodiment, the flow path shape is set in the liquid ejection portion 10 as follows: the pressure losses in the natural flow paths C6 and C7 of the pressure chambers 11a communicating with any one of the pressure chamber rows C1 and C3 are equalized with those in the common flow paths C4 and C5 communicating with two rows of the pressure chamber rows C1, C2, and C3, and the flow resistance of the common flow path is, for example, about 1/2 of the flow resistance of the natural flow path. Therefore, the three rows of nozzles can be arranged at high density while making the discharge pressure uniform, and high-precision printing can be achieved. Further, the common flow paths C4 and C5 communicating with the pressure chambers 11a of the pressure chamber rows C1, C2, and C3 are provided, so that the flow paths can be shared, and thus the size can be reduced.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and structural elements can be modified and embodied in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit thereof.
In the above embodiment, the example in which three pressure chamber rows C1, C2, and C3 are provided is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a configuration in which four or more pressure chamber rows are provided may be employed. For example, fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid ejection head 1A according to a second embodiment. The liquid ejection head 1A includes four rows of pressure chamber rows C1, C2, C3, and C8, three rows of common channels C4, C5, and C9, and a pair of unique channels C6 and C7. In the liquid ejecting section 10A, inflow tube portions 15a, 15b, and 15C are provided at one end portions of the pair of unique flow paths C6 and C7 and the center common flow path C5, and outflow tube portions 16a and 16C are provided at the other end portions of the common flow paths C4 and C9.
Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid ejection head 1B according to a third embodiment. The liquid ejection head 1B includes five rows of pressure chamber rows C1, C2, C3, C10, and C11, four rows of common flow paths C4, C5, C12, and C13, and a pair of unique flow paths C6 and C7. In the liquid ejecting section 10B, the inflow tube portions 15a, 15B, and 15d are provided at one end portions of the specific channel C6 and the two common channels C5 and C13, and the outflow tube portions 16a, 16d, and 16B are provided at the other end portions of the common channels C4 and C12 and the specific channel C7. In the liquid ejection heads 1A and 1B according to the embodiments, the pressure loss can be equalized and ink can be uniformly supplied to the rows of pressure chambers by setting the flow path resistance of the common flow path to about 1/2 which is the flow path resistance of the specific flow path.
In the above embodiment, the common flow paths C4 and C5 and the unique flow paths C6 and C7 have rectangular flow path cross sections and are set to have a condition close to the relationship of expression 15, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a special pipe other than a rectangular pipe. In the case of a special pipe other than a rectangular pipe, the hydraulic diameter is used, and the conditions for maintaining the relationship of (equation 11), (equation 12), and (equation 13) or the conditions close to these equations may be used.
The plurality of grooves 17a may be all pressure chambers 11a, or may be partially configured as dummy air chambers. That is, in the plurality of pressure chamber rows C1, C2, and C3, one or more air chambers may be arranged between the pair of adjacent pressure chambers 11 a.
The liquid to be ejected is not limited to ink for printing, and may be, for example, a device that ejects a liquid containing conductive particles for forming a wiring pattern of a printed wiring board.
In addition to the above, the liquid ejection head may have a structure in which a vibration plate is deformed by static electricity to eject ink droplets, a structure in which ink droplets are ejected from nozzles by thermal energy of a heater or the like, or the like.
In addition, although the liquid discharge head is used in the liquid discharge apparatus such as the ink jet recording apparatus in the above embodiment, the liquid discharge head is not limited to this, and can be used in, for example, a 3D printer, an industrial manufacturing machine, and a medical application, and can be reduced in size, weight, and cost.
According to at least one embodiment described above, a liquid ejection head and a liquid ejection device capable of arranging nozzles at high density can be provided.
Furthermore, while several embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.
Claims (10)
1. A liquid ejection head is provided with a liquid ejection portion,
the liquid ejecting section includes:
three or more actuator units each including a pressure chamber row having a plurality of pressure chambers;
two inherent flow paths communicating with the pressure chambers of the actuator portion at both ends in the parallel direction; and
and a plurality of common flow paths that communicate with the pressure chambers of the plurality of actuator units.
2. A liquid ejection head according to claim 1,
the common channel has a channel resistance of 45% to 55% of the channel resistance of the intrinsic channel,
the liquid ejection head has:
two or more inflow channels that communicate with the primary side of at least one of the intrinsic channel and the common channel; and
two or more outflow channels connected to the secondary side of at least one of the specific channel and the common channel,
total flow path resistance of the specific flow path and the common flow path communicating with the inflow flow path and total flow path resistance of the specific flow path and the common flow path communicating with the outflow flow path are configured to be equal.
3. A liquid ejection head according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:
a first actuator unit, a second actuator unit, and a third actuator unit arranged in parallel in a predetermined direction;
a first inherent flow path arranged on one side of the first actuator unit, the first actuator unit being arranged on one end portion in the parallel direction;
a first common flow path arranged between the first actuator section and the second actuator section, the second actuator section being arranged at a center in the parallel direction;
a second common flow path arranged between the second actuator unit and the third actuator unit, the third actuator unit being arranged at the other end in the parallel direction; and
a second specific flow path arranged on the other side of the third actuator section,
a first inflow channel is disposed at one end of the first inherent channel,
a first outflow channel is disposed at the other end of the first common channel,
a second inflow channel is disposed at one end of the second common channel,
a second outflow channel is disposed at the other end of the second unique channel.
4. A liquid ejection head according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:
a plurality of actuator plates provided with the actuator units;
one or more frame members disposed between the plurality of actuator plates and constituting the common flow path;
a pair of cover plates disposed outside the actuator plates at both ends and constituting the intrinsic flow path; and
and a nozzle plate disposed to face one end surface on which the actuator plate, the frame member, and the cover plate are stacked, and having a plurality of nozzles facing the plurality of pressure chambers.
5. A liquid ejection head according to claim 4,
the inner wall of the pressure chamber is formed with an electrode,
the electrode is electrically connected to a circuit board via a wiring formed on a main surface of the actuator plate.
6. A liquid ejection head according to claim 1 or 2,
the flow path resistance of the common flow path is 50% of the flow path resistance of the intrinsic flow path.
7. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes:
a liquid ejection head according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and
and a support device that supports the object so as to be movable relative to the liquid ejection head.
8. The liquid ejection device according to claim 7,
the image forming apparatus performs an image forming process on an object by discharging a liquid while conveying the object along a predetermined conveyance path.
9. The liquid ejection device according to claim 7,
the liquid ejecting apparatus further includes liquid tanks respectively mounted on the liquid ejecting heads.
10. The liquid ejection device according to claim 7,
the liquid ejection head ejects liquid containing conductive particles for forming a wiring pattern of a printed wiring substrate.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2019166524A JP7374681B2 (en) | 2019-09-12 | 2019-09-12 | Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection device |
| JP2019-166524 | 2019-09-12 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN112477435A true CN112477435A (en) | 2021-03-12 |
Family
ID=74861868
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202010645840.9A Withdrawn CN112477435A (en) | 2019-09-12 | 2020-07-07 | Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP7374681B2 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN112477435A (en) |
Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102310637A (en) * | 2010-06-30 | 2012-01-11 | 富士胶片株式会社 | Fluid ejection head and ink-jet recording apparatus |
| JP2013176883A (en) * | 2012-02-28 | 2013-09-09 | Kyocera Corp | Liquid ejection head and recording apparatus using the same |
| US20140267478A1 (en) * | 2013-03-12 | 2014-09-18 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus and actuator apparatus |
| JP2015085524A (en) * | 2013-10-28 | 2015-05-07 | 株式会社リコー | Droplet discharge head and image formation device |
| CN106956511A (en) * | 2016-01-08 | 2017-07-18 | 佳能株式会社 | Liquid discharge apparatus and fluid ejection head |
| CN107538910A (en) * | 2016-06-27 | 2018-01-05 | 柯尼卡美能达株式会社 | Ink gun and ink-jet recording apparatus |
| CN108025551A (en) * | 2015-09-18 | 2018-05-11 | 柯尼卡美能达株式会社 | Ink gun and ink-jet recording apparatus |
| CN109130515A (en) * | 2017-06-28 | 2019-01-04 | 佳能株式会社 | Fluid ejection head and recording equipment |
| CN109203698A (en) * | 2017-06-29 | 2019-01-15 | 佳能株式会社 | Fluid ejection head and liquid discharge apparatus |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB9710530D0 (en) * | 1997-05-23 | 1997-07-16 | Xaar Ltd | Droplet deposition apparatus and methods of manufacture thereof |
| JP2006130850A (en) * | 2004-11-08 | 2006-05-25 | Sharp Corp | Inkjet head and its manufacturing method |
| WO2014021812A1 (en) * | 2012-07-30 | 2014-02-06 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P. | Printhead including integrated circuit die cooling |
| JP5657035B2 (en) * | 2013-01-21 | 2015-01-21 | 東芝テック株式会社 | Inkjet head and inkjet recording apparatus |
| JP6251697B2 (en) * | 2015-02-17 | 2017-12-20 | 株式会社東芝 | Inkjet head and inkjet recording apparatus |
| JP2018051981A (en) * | 2016-09-29 | 2018-04-05 | エスアイアイ・プリンテック株式会社 | Liquid jet head, manufacturing method of liquid jet head, and liquid jet device |
| JP6950210B2 (en) * | 2017-03-15 | 2021-10-13 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | Liquid discharge head |
-
2019
- 2019-09-12 JP JP2019166524A patent/JP7374681B2/en active Active
-
2020
- 2020-07-07 CN CN202010645840.9A patent/CN112477435A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102310637A (en) * | 2010-06-30 | 2012-01-11 | 富士胶片株式会社 | Fluid ejection head and ink-jet recording apparatus |
| JP2013176883A (en) * | 2012-02-28 | 2013-09-09 | Kyocera Corp | Liquid ejection head and recording apparatus using the same |
| US20140267478A1 (en) * | 2013-03-12 | 2014-09-18 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus and actuator apparatus |
| JP2015085524A (en) * | 2013-10-28 | 2015-05-07 | 株式会社リコー | Droplet discharge head and image formation device |
| CN108025551A (en) * | 2015-09-18 | 2018-05-11 | 柯尼卡美能达株式会社 | Ink gun and ink-jet recording apparatus |
| CN106956511A (en) * | 2016-01-08 | 2017-07-18 | 佳能株式会社 | Liquid discharge apparatus and fluid ejection head |
| CN107538910A (en) * | 2016-06-27 | 2018-01-05 | 柯尼卡美能达株式会社 | Ink gun and ink-jet recording apparatus |
| CN109130515A (en) * | 2017-06-28 | 2019-01-04 | 佳能株式会社 | Fluid ejection head and recording equipment |
| CN109203698A (en) * | 2017-06-29 | 2019-01-15 | 佳能株式会社 | Fluid ejection head and liquid discharge apparatus |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP7374681B2 (en) | 2023-11-07 |
| JP2021041647A (en) | 2021-03-18 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CN111511559B (en) | Ink jet head and ink jet recording apparatus | |
| EP3351388B1 (en) | Ink jet head and ink jet recording apparatus | |
| JP7338205B2 (en) | liquid ejection head | |
| CN109693446B (en) | Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus | |
| JP2018202817A (en) | Inkjet head and inkjet recording device | |
| US20190118534A1 (en) | Fluid ejection head and fluid ejection apparatus | |
| CN112297624B (en) | Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus | |
| JP7055656B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge device | |
| CN114851711B (en) | Liquid ejection head | |
| CN112477435A (en) | Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus | |
| JP2019077168A (en) | Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge device | |
| JP7366586B2 (en) | Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection device | |
| JP2016055545A (en) | Liquid spray head and liquid spray device | |
| CN211617044U (en) | Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge device | |
| JP2019107777A (en) | Circulation mechanism and liquid jet recorder | |
| JP7215154B2 (en) | liquid ejection head | |
| CN111421958B (en) | Ink jet head, ink jet device, and method of manufacturing ink jet head | |
| JP7215155B2 (en) | liquid ejection head | |
| CN112638651B (en) | Ink jet head and ink jet recording apparatus | |
| US20200001606A1 (en) | Liquid ejection head and recording apparatus | |
| US11155089B2 (en) | Liquid ejection head | |
| JP7287155B2 (en) | Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection device | |
| JP2023032315A (en) | Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge device | |
| CN116160771A (en) | Liquid ejection head | |
| JP2023045592A (en) | Liquid discharge head |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PB01 | Publication | ||
| PB01 | Publication | ||
| SE01 | Entry into force of request for substantive examination | ||
| SE01 | Entry into force of request for substantive examination | ||
| WW01 | Invention patent application withdrawn after publication | ||
| WW01 | Invention patent application withdrawn after publication |
Application publication date: 20210312 |