JP2001270092A - Actuator apparatus, ink jet type recording apparatus and recording medium wherein program for driving them is stored - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an actuator apparatus enabling improvement in the yield thereof. SOLUTION: A drive signal of an ink jet type recording apparatus being one example of the actuator apparatus is made to comprise a discharge element 18 changing from an expansion potential VPS to a contraction potential VLS and making a pressure chamber in an expanded state contract to discharge an ink droplet, a second hold element 19 holding the contraction potential to hold the contracted state of the pressure chamber and a damping element 20 changing from the contraction potential to an intermediate potential Vm and making the pressure chamber held in the contracted state by the second hold element expand and return to a steady state. An added-up value of an impression time pwd1 of the discharge element and an impression time pwh2 of the second hold element is conformed to the free oscillation period Tc of a cavity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus represented by an actuator apparatus and an ink-jet printer driven by using a driving signal, and a recording medium storing a program for driving the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Actuator devices that are driven using drive signals have been applied to various applications. For example, in an ink jet recording head used in an ink jet recording device such as an ink jet printer which is an embodiment of an actuator device driven by using a drive signal, for example, a cavity (pressure chamber) is expanded and deformed by deformation of a piezoelectric vibrator.
It is known that the ink droplet is ejected from a nozzle opening by contracting and expanding / contracting the cavity.

This type of recording head has a resolution of, for example, 7
Since it is extremely high, such as 20 dpi or 1440 dpi, extremely high processing accuracy in μm units is required.

In this recording head, the free end of the piezoelectric vibrator deviates from the reference length due to a mounting error,
Due to the processing accuracy of the piezoelectric vibrator and the cavity, the ejection characteristics of ink droplets for each recording head vary. Therefore, by setting an optimum drive voltage for each recording head, the variation is corrected, and the ejection characteristics of ink droplets are made uniform. Thereby, the quality of the recording head is stabilized, and the yield is improved.

A drive signal generator for driving an ink-jet head, which is one form of an actuator, is capable of correcting a variation among printheads by programmably generating drive signals having different drive signals in accordance with the environmental temperature. The signal generation device is Japanese Patent No. 2940
No. 542.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an actuator device that can drive an actuator using various drive signals with a suitable drive signal. I do.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a highly flexible actuator device capable of flexibly setting a drive signal even when the characteristics of the actuator device vary.

[0008] Further, the present invention is characterized in that the production yield of the ink jet recording apparatus possessed by the ink jet recording apparatus required to drive the actuator accurately and precisely is improved.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above-mentioned object, and the present invention is directed to a piezoelectric vibrator which is deformed by a drive signal, and a method for deforming a piezoelectric vibrator. A pressure chamber expanded and contracted by the recording head, and a recording head including a nozzle opening communicating with the pressure chamber;
A driving signal generating means for generating a driving signal, and applying a driving signal to the pressure generating element to inflate and expand the pressure chamber.
In an ink jet recording apparatus configured to contract and eject ink droplets from a nozzle opening, the drive signal includes a change from an expansion potential for expanding and contracting the volume of the pressure chamber to a contraction potential, and a pressure in an expanded state. A discharge element for contracting the chamber to discharge ink droplets, a contraction hold element for holding the contraction potential to maintain the contraction state of the pressure chamber, and a change from the contraction potential to an intermediate potential, and contraction by the contraction hold element A vibration damping element that causes the pressure chamber in which the state is maintained to expand and return to a steady state, and adjusts the sum of the application time of the discharge element and the application time of the contraction hold element to the natural vibration cycle of the pressure chamber, Ejection time information storage means for holding a plurality of types of ejection application time information defining the application time of the ejection in association with the ejection time identification information; Discharge time identification information storage means for storing time identification information, the drive signal generating means refers to the discharge time identification information stored in the discharge time identification information storage means, An ink jet recording apparatus for generating a drive signal including a time ejection element.

[0010] Further, a contraction holding time information storage means for holding a plurality of types of contraction holding time information defining the application time of the contraction holding element in association with the contraction holding time identification information,
A contraction holding time identification information storage unit that stores contraction holding time identification information set for each recording head, wherein the drive signal generation unit refers to the contraction holding time identification information stored in the contraction holding time identification information storage unit Then, a drive signal including a second hold element for an application time defined by the contraction holding time identification information is generated.

[0011] Further, the present invention is characterized in that a potential difference from the contraction potential to the intermediate potential can be changed.

[0012] Further, damping voltage information storage means for holding a plurality of types of damping voltage information defining a potential difference from a contraction potential to an intermediate potential in association with damping voltage identification information, and a damping voltage set for each recording head. And damping voltage identification information storage means for storing the vibration voltage identification information, wherein the drive signal generation means refers to the vibration suppression voltage identification information stored in the vibration suppression voltage identification information storage means, And generating a drive signal set to a potential difference defined by

Further, the driving signal is a driving signal for continuously ejecting ink droplets of the same weight a plurality of times within the same driving cycle.

A recording head including a piezoelectric vibrator deformed by the driving signal, a pressure chamber expanded and contracted by the deformation of the piezoelectric vibrator, and a nozzle opening communicating with the pressure chamber; An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a driving signal generating means for generating a pressure signal; and applying a driving signal to the pressure generating element to expand and contract the pressure chamber, thereby ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle opening. A discharge element that changes from an expansion potential to expand and contract the volume of the pressure chamber to a contraction potential, contracts the expanded pressure chamber and discharges ink droplets, and a pressure element that holds the contraction potential and A contraction hold element that holds a contracted state, and the pressure chamber that changes from the contracted potential to the intermediate potential and is held in a contracted state by the contracted hold element is brought into a steady state. And a damping element for restoring tension, assigning unique information that is a unique value of the recording head across one or more of the elements of the drive signal, and storing the unique information of the recording head. And a drive signal generation unit that generates a drive signal including an element defined by the identification information with reference to the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit. .

More preferably, the specific information is information including a natural vibration period of the piezoelectric vibrator.

Further, the characteristic information is information including a characteristic vibration period of the cavity.

Further, the characteristic information is information including a characteristic vibration period of a meniscus.

Further, the characteristic information is information including both the characteristic vibration period of the piezoelectric vibrator and the characteristic vibration period of the cavity.

More preferably, the characteristic information is information including information corresponding to harmonics or sub-harmonics of the natural vibration period described above.

More preferably, the drive signal generator forms a waveform in a programmable manner.

[0021] Furthermore, a computer system including at least one computer for driving the ink jet recording apparatus is realized, and a program necessary for causing the computer system to generate a driving signal of the ink jet recording apparatus is recorded. Computer-readable recording media that have been protected are also protected by the present case.

The present application further provides an actuator device having an actuator operable by a drive signal,
An identification information storage unit for assigning unique information of a component constituting the actuator device to any one or a plurality of elements of the drive signal, and storing the unique information is provided. An actuator device that forms the drive signal as possible, further refers to the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit, and is driven by a drive signal including an element defined by the identification information. .

Further, the actuator device is driven by a drive signal generated by allocating unique information, which is a unique value of the recording head, to one or more of the elements of the drive signal. It is characterized by the following.

Further, the characteristic information is a characteristic vibration cycle of a component constituting the actuator device.

Further, the characteristic information is a characteristic vibration period of a component constituting the actuator.

Further, the characteristic information is a characteristic vibration period of the actuator.

Further, the characteristic information is information including information corresponding to harmonics or sub-harmonics of the natural oscillation period described above.

Further, in order to drive the actuator, the computer system is realized by a computer system including at least one computer, and a computer readable program which records a program necessary for causing the computer system to generate a drive signal of the actuator device is recorded. Recording media are also protected by this case.

Also, the program includes instructions for controlling a second program operating on a computer system including at least one computer, and is executed by the computer system to control the second program. A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for driving the above-described actuator in the computer system is also covered by the present invention.

Further, a computer-readable program which is realized by a computer system including at least one computer and records a program for driving the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11 in said computer system. Possible recording media are also subject to protection in this case.

The program further includes an instruction for controlling a second program that operates on a computer system including at least one computer, and is executed by the computer system to control the second program. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for driving the inkjet recording apparatus jet according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is recorded in the computer system is also protected by the present invention.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. An embodiment of the present invention will be described using an ink jet printer (hereinafter, referred to as a printer) as a typical ink jet recording apparatus as an example. As shown in FIG. 1A, the printer is schematically composed of a printer controller 1 and a print engine 2.

The printer controller 1 includes an external interface 3 (hereinafter referred to as an external I / F 3), a RAM 4 for temporarily storing various data, a control ROM 5 for storing a control program and the like, a CPU and the like. Control unit 6, an oscillation circuit 7 for generating a clock signal, a drive signal generation circuit 9 for generating a drive signal (COM) to be supplied to the recording head 8, and a development based on the drive signal and print data. And an internal interface 10 (hereinafter referred to as an internal I / F 10) for supplying the dot pattern data (bitmap data) and the like to the print engine 2.

The external I / F 3 receives print data including, for example, a character code, a graphic function, and image data from a host computer (not shown). In addition, a busy signal (BUSY) and an acknowledge signal (ACK) are output to the host computer and the like through the external I / F3.

The RAM 4 functions as a receiving buffer 4A, an intermediate buffer 4B, an output buffer 4C, and a work memory (not shown). The receiving buffer 4A temporarily stores the print data received via the external I / F 3, the intermediate buffer 4B stores the intermediate code data converted by the control unit 6, and the output buffer 4C stores the dot pattern data. Remember. The dot pattern data is composed of print data obtained by decoding (translating) gradation data.

The control ROM 5 stores font data, graphic functions, and the like in addition to a control program (control routine) for performing various data processing.

The control unit 6 performs various controls, reads out print data in the reception buffer 4A, and stores intermediate code data obtained by converting the print data in the intermediate buffer 4B. Further, it analyzes the intermediate code data read from the intermediate buffer 4B and develops it into dot pattern data with reference to font data and graphic functions stored in the control ROM 5. After performing the necessary decoration processing, the control unit 6 stores the dot pattern data in the output buffer 4C.

When one line of dot pattern data that can be printed is obtained by one main scan of the print head 8, this one line of dot pattern data is output from the output buffer 4C to the internal I / F 10C. Are sequentially output to the recording head 8. When one line of dot pattern data is output from the output buffer 4C, the expanded intermediate code data is deleted from the intermediate buffer 4B, and the expansion processing for the next intermediate code data is performed.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the drive signal generating circuit 9 stores a ROM 11 storing waveform pattern information and the like constituting a drive signal, and an ID number (described later) set for each recording head 8. EEPROM 12 and EEPROM
The recording head 8 refers to the waveform pattern information stored in the ROM 11 based on the ID number stored in the M12.
Signal generator 13 that generates a series of drive signals suitable for
And is configured.

The drive signal (COM) generated by the drive signal generator 13 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
m, an expansion element 16 that increases the potential at a constant voltage gradient from the expansion potential VPS, a first hold element 17 that holds the expansion potential VPS, and a contraction potential VLS from the expansion potential VPS.
A discharge element 18 whose potential drops at a constant voltage gradient up to
A pulse signal 21 (21A, 21B) composed of a second hold element (contraction hold element) 19 for holding the contraction potential VLS and a damping element 20 for increasing the potential with a constant voltage gradient from the contraction potential VLS to the intermediate potential Vm. , 21C) in series.

The above-described ROM 11 functions as a discharge time information storage unit, a contraction holding time information storage unit, a vibration suppression time information storage unit, a vibration suppression voltage information storage unit, and a drive voltage information storage unit according to the present invention. As
Application time pwd1 of ejection element 18 (ejection application time information)
, The application time pwh2 (shrinkage holding time information) of the second hold element 19, the application time pwc2 (damping time information) of the damping element 20, and the potential difference VcN from the contraction potential VLS to the intermediate potential Vm (damping voltage). Information) and the drive voltage VHN
(Drive voltage information) is stored. Further, the information of each item is composed of information of a plurality of types of application time and a plurality of types of potential differences, and each numerical information is held in a state corresponding to an ID number. That is, one piece of information is held with one ID number.

The EEPROM 12 functions as the ejection time identification information storage means, the contraction holding time identification information storage means, the vibration suppression time identification information storage means, the vibration suppression voltage identification information storage means, and the drive voltage identification information storage means in the present invention. And
An ID number for the ejection element 18 (ejection time identification information), an ID number for the second hold element 19 (shrinkage holding time identification information), an ID number for the damping element 20 (damping time identification information), The set value for each recording head 8 is stored for the ID number (damping voltage identification information) for the potential difference VcN and the ID number (drive voltage identification information) for the driving voltage VHN.

The drive signal generator 13 functions as a drive signal generator in the present invention, and
12 with reference to the ID number for the ejection element 18 and the ID number for the second holding element 19 stored in
Generates a drive signal specified by a number.

The information stored in the ROM 11 and the EEPROM 12 and the drive signal will be described later in detail.

The print engine 2 includes a paper feed mechanism 23
, A carriage mechanism 24 and the recording head 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed mechanism 23 comprises a paper feed motor 25 and a paper feed roller 26, etc., and interlocks a recording paper (a kind of recording medium) 27 with a recording operation by the recording head 8. And send them out sequentially. That is, the paper feed mechanism 23 moves the recording paper 27 in the recording paper feed direction which is the sub-scanning direction.

The carriage mechanism 24 is capable of mounting the recording head 8 and the ink cartridge 29 and is bridged between a driving pulley 32 and a driven pulley 33 while being movably attached to a guide member 30. A timing belt 34 connected to the carriage 31 and a pulse motor 3 for rotating the drive pulley 32
5 is provided.

In the carriage mechanism 24, the carriage 31 is reciprocated along the width direction of the recording paper 27 by the operation of the pulse motor 35. That is, the recording head 8 mounted on the carriage 31 is moved along the main scanning direction.

Next, the recording head 8 will be described. In the recording head 8 illustrated in FIG. 3, a comb-shaped piezoelectric vibrator 40 is inserted from one opening into a storage chamber 39 of a box-shaped case 38 made of, for example, plastic, and a comb-shaped tip 40a is formed.
To the other opening, the channel unit 41 is joined to the surface (lower surface) of the case 38 on the opening side, and the comb-shaped tips 40a are respectively fixed to the predetermined portions of the channel unit 41 by abutment. It is schematically configured.

The piezoelectric vibrator 40 is formed by cutting a plate-like vibrator plate in which common internal electrodes 43 and individual internal electrodes 44 are alternately laminated with a piezoelectric body 42 interposed therebetween in a comb-like shape corresponding to the dot formation density. The base end portion is joined to the fixing member 45 so as to be in a cantilever state.
Is joined to the wall of the storage room 39. By giving a potential difference between the common internal electrode 43 and the individual internal electrode 44, the free end portion of each piezoelectric vibrator 40, that is, the portion protruding outward from the overlapping end with the fixing member 45 is moved in the stacking direction. Expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator orthogonal to.

The flow channel unit 41 is constituted by laminating a nozzle plate 48 and an elastic plate 49 on both sides with a flow channel forming plate 47 interposed therebetween.

The flow path forming plate 47 communicates with a plurality of nozzle openings 50 formed in the nozzle plate 48, and a plurality of cavities (pressure chambers) arranged in rows with pressure chamber partition walls therebetween.
51 is a plate member formed with a long and narrow common ink chamber 53 communicating with a plurality of ink supply units 52 communicating with at least one end of each cavity 51. In the present embodiment, an elongated common ink chamber 53 is formed by etching a silicon wafer, and cavities 51 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the common ink chamber 53 in accordance with the pitch of the nozzle openings 50. And a common ink chamber 53, a groove-shaped ink supply section 52 is formed. Note that an ink supply unit 52 is connected to one end of the cavity 51, and the nozzle supply unit 52 is disposed near the end opposite to the ink supply unit 52. The common ink chamber 53 is a chamber for supplying the ink stored in the ink cartridge 29 to the cavity 51, and has an ink supply pipe 54 substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction.

The elastic plate 49 is laminated on the other surface of the flow path forming plate 47 on the opposite side of the nozzle plate 48, and is formed by laminating a polymer film such as PPS on the stainless plate 55 as an elastic film 56. It has a double structure. Then, the stainless plate 55 corresponding to the cavity 51
Is etched to form an island portion 57 for abutting and fixing the piezoelectric vibrator 40.

In the recording head 8 having the above configuration, the island portion 57 is pressed toward the nozzle plate 48 by extending the piezoelectric vibrator 40 in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator, and the elastic film 56 around the island portion 57 is formed. The cavity 51 contracts due to deformation. When the piezoelectric vibrator 40 is contracted in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator, the cavity 51 expands due to the elasticity of the elastic film 56. Then, by controlling the expansion and contraction of the cavity 51, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle openings 50.

The vibration system of the recording head 8 can be represented by an equivalent circuit shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the symbol M is the inertance [Kg / m ⁴ ] which is the mass of the medium per unit length, Ma is the inertance in the piezoelectric vibrator 40, Mn is the inertance in the nozzle opening 50, and Ms is the ink supply unit. The inertance at 52. The symbol R is a resistance [N · s / m ⁵ ] which is the internal loss of the medium, Rn is the resistance at the nozzle opening 50, and Rs is the ink supply unit 52.
Is the resistance at Symbol C is compliance [m ⁵ / N] which is a volume change per unit pressure, Cc is compliance in cavity (pressure chamber) 51, Ca is compliance in piezoelectric vibrator 40, and Cn is compliance in nozzle opening 50. is there. The symbol P is the pressure generated by the piezoelectric vibrator 40 over time, in other words, the voltage pulse applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 40 is converted into an equivalent pressure.

FIG. 5 shows an equivalent circuit of the piezoelectric vibrator system.
(A) can be expressed as shown in FIG.
It is known that a natural vibration period Ta of 0 can be calculated by the following equation (1). The natural vibration period Ta calculated based on the equation (1), that is, the theoretical value, was 4 μs in the recording head 8 of the present embodiment.

Ta = 2π√ (Ma · Ca) (1) Similarly, an equivalent circuit relating to ink in the cavity 51 can be represented as shown in FIG. 5B. It is known that the natural vibration period Tc can be calculated by the following equation (2). The natural vibration period Tc calculated based on the equation (2), that is, the theoretical value, was 8.5 μs in the recording head 8 of the present embodiment.

Tc = 2π√ [[(Mn × Ms) / (Mn + Ms)] × Cc] (2) Further, an equivalent circuit relating to the meniscus of the nozzle opening 50 is represented as shown in FIG. It is known from the figure that the natural vibration period Tm of the meniscus can be calculated by the following equation (3). Here, the meniscus is
The free surface of the ink exposed at the nozzle opening 50.

Tm = 2π√ [(Mn + Ms) Cn] (3) In the recording head 8 of the present embodiment, Ta <Tc <
The relationship of Tm is established, and the natural oscillation period Tm of the meniscus is about 10 times the natural oscillation period Tc of the cavity 51.

Next, the electrical configuration of the recording head 8 and the control for discharging ink droplets will be described.

This recording head 8 is, as shown in FIG.
Shift register 60, latch circuit 61, level shifter 6
2, a switch 63, a piezoelectric vibrator 40, and the like.
Further, as shown in FIG.
0, latch circuit 61, level shifter 62, switch 63
And the piezoelectric vibrators 40 are respectively provided with shift register elements 60A to 60A provided for each nozzle opening 50 of the recording head 8.
60N, latch elements 61A to 61N, level shifter elements 62A to 62N, switch elements 63A to 63N, and piezoelectric vibrators 40A to 40N.

In order for the recording head 8 to eject ink droplets, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 6 synchronizes with the clock signal (CK) from the oscillation circuit 7 to print data (S
I) is transmitted serially from the output buffer 4C and is sequentially set in the shift register elements 60A to 60N. The print data of all nozzle openings 50 minutes is stored in the shift register element 6
If 0A to 60N is set, the control unit 6 controls the latch circuit 61, that is, the latch element 61 at a predetermined timing.
A to 61N output a latch signal (LAT). With this latch signal, the latch elements 61A to 61N latch the print data set in the shift register elements 60A to 60N. The latched print data is supplied to the level shifter 62, which is a voltage amplifier, that is, the level shifter elements 62A to 62N.

When the print data is, for example, "1", each of the level shifter elements 62A to 62N boosts the print data to a voltage value at which the switch 63 can be driven, for example, several tens of volts. The boosted print data is applied to the switch 63, that is, the switch elements 63A to 63N, and the switch elements 63A to 63N are connected by the print data. The print data is, for example, “0”.
, The corresponding level shifter elements 62A-62
N does not boost. Each of the switch elements 63A-
63N includes a drive signal (CO) from the drive signal generation circuit 9.
M) is applied, and when the switch elements 63A to 63N are connected, a drive signal is supplied to the piezoelectric vibrators 40A to 40N connected to the switch elements 63A to 63N.

As described above, the drive signal is supplied to the piezoelectric vibrator 40 corresponding to the nozzle opening 50 in which the print data “1” is set. The piezoelectric vibrator 40 expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator in response to a drive signal, and expands and contracts the cavity 51. As the cavity 51 expands and contracts, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle opening 50.

On the other hand, since no drive signal is supplied to the piezoelectric vibrator 40 corresponding to the nozzle opening 50 where the print data "0" is set, the volume of the cavity 51 is maintained in a steady state and no ink droplet is ejected. .

Accordingly, the print data “1” is set for the nozzle openings 50 where dots are to be recorded, and the print data “0” is set for the nozzle openings 50 where dots are not to be printed. It is possible to control whether or not ink droplets are ejected every time.

Next, the above-described drive signal will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the drive signal of the present embodiment includes a first pulse 21A, a second pulse 21B, and a third pulse 21A.
The pulse 21C is constituted by a signal connected in series. Then, these first pulse 21A and second pulse 2A
By applying 1B and the third pulse 21C to the piezoelectric vibrator 40, ink droplets of the same weight are continuously ejected from the nozzle opening 50 three times to form normal dots on the recording paper 27.
Form on top.

The first pulse 21A and the second pulse 2
Since 1B and the third pulse 21C are pulses having the same waveform, the first pulse 21A will be described here.

The first pulse 21A holds the expansion element 16 for raising the potential at a constant voltage gradient from the intermediate potential Vm to the expansion potential VPS to expand the normal cavity 51 (pressure chamber), and the expansion potential VPS. The first hold element 17 for maintaining the expanded state of the cavity 51 by pressing
The discharging element 18 for lowering the potential at a constant voltage gradient from PS to the contraction potential VLS to contract the expanded cavity 51 to discharge the ink droplets, and maintains the contracted state of the cavity 51 by holding the contraction potential VLS. The second hold element (contraction hold element) 19 and the potential are increased by a constant voltage gradient from the contraction potential VLS to the intermediate potential Vm, and the cavity 51 maintained in the contracted state by the second hold element 19 is expanded and returned to the normal state. And a damping element 20.

When the expansion element 16 is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 40, the normal piezoelectric vibrator 40 contracts in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator and expands the volume of the cavity 51. When the application of the expansion element 16 is completed and the first hold element 17 is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 40, the contracted state of the piezoelectric vibrator 40 is maintained, and accordingly, the expanded state of the cavity 51 is also maintained. When the application of the first hold element 17 is completed and the ejection element 18 is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 40, the contracted piezoelectric vibrator 40 rapidly expands in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator, and contracts the volume of the cavity 51. . With this contraction, the ink pressure in the cavity 51 sharply increases, and the nozzle opening 5
An ink droplet is ejected from 0. After the application of the ejection element 18 is completed and the second hold element 19 is applied, the damping element 2
When 0 is applied, the piezoelectric vibrator 40 in the extended state contracts in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator to have a normal length. Accordingly, the cavity 51 in the contracted state expands and returns to the normal state. Due to the return of the expansion of the cavity 51, the ink pressure in the cavity 51 is reduced, and the vibration of the meniscus which tends to vibrate greatly by the application of the ejection element 18 is reduced.

In the present embodiment, the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18 and the application time pwd of the second hold element 19
The added value of wh2 is adjusted to the natural vibration period Tc of the cavity (pressure chamber) 51.

The application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18 and the application time pwc2 of the vibration damping element 20 are both the piezoelectric vibrator 4
The natural oscillation period Ta is set to zero.

Here, the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18
The reason why the added value of the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19 and the application time pwh2 is set to the natural oscillation period Tc will be described.

The piezoelectric vibrator 40 contracted by the application of the expansion element 16 and the first hold element 17 expands by the application of the ejection element 18. The expansion of the piezoelectric vibrator 40 causes the cavity 51 in the expanded state to rapidly contract, and accordingly, the meniscus vibrates greatly. At this time, since the vibration of the meniscus is strongly affected by the contraction of the cavity 51,
The vibration period is the natural vibration period Tc of the cavity 51.

With the start of the application of the discharge element 18, a large vibration starts at the natural vibration period Tc, and the expansion element 16
And application of the first hold element 17 to the cavity 5
The meniscus drawn into 1 moves in the ink discharge direction. Then, the meniscus vibrating at the natural oscillation period Tc reverses its moving direction after a lapse of time Tc / 2 from the start of the movement in the ink discharging direction, and moves in the pull-in direction. Thereafter, after the elapse of the time Tc, the moving direction is reversed again, and the meniscus tries to move in the ink discharging direction.

Here, the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18
And the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19 are adjusted to the natural vibration period Tc, so that the vibration damping element 20 is applied after the lapse of the time Tc from the start of application of the ejection element 18. Since the piezoelectric vibrator 40 contracts and the cavity 51 expands with the application of the damping element 20, the cavity 5
The pressure in the inside 1 becomes a negative pressure, and the moving force of the meniscus which moves in the ink ejection direction is reduced. Therefore, the vibration of the meniscus is suppressed.

As described above, the application time pw of the ejection element 18
By adjusting the sum of d1 and the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19 to the natural vibration period Tc, the vibration of the meniscus can be effectively suppressed.

Next, the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18 and the application time pwc2 of the damping element 20 are
The reason for matching the natural vibration period Ta will be described.

First, the application time pwd1 and the application time pw
When c2 is shorter than the natural vibration period Ta, the piezoelectric vibrator 40
A phenomenon occurs in which the expansion and contraction of the object cannot catch up. That is,
The expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric vibrator 40 does not follow the voltage change of the ejection element 18 and the vibration suppression element 20. For this reason,
The expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric vibrator 40 becomes unstable, and the cavity 51
It becomes difficult to control the expansion and contraction of the material. as a result,
Ink droplet ejection becomes unstable.

On the other hand, the application time pwd1 is changed to the natural oscillation period T
If the length is set to be longer than a, the flying speed of the ink droplets decreases, or the amount of the ink droplets becomes smaller than the regular amount. Then, the landing position of the ink droplet is deviated from the normal position due to the decrease in the flying speed of the ink droplet, and the image quality of the recorded image is reduced. Also, when the amount of ink droplets becomes small, the image quality of the recorded image also deteriorates. If the application time pwc2 is set to be longer than the natural vibration period Ta, the expansion speed of the cavity 51 becomes slow, and the effect of vibration suppression becomes weak. Further, since the time required for the pulse signal is also increased, the time required for forming one dot is also increased, and the recording speed is reduced.

As described above, the application time pwd1 and the application time p
By adjusting wc2 to the natural vibration period Ta, the expansion and contraction control of the piezoelectric vibrator 40 can be reliably performed. This makes it possible to secure the required flying speed of the ink droplets and maintain the recording speed at a high speed.

Incidentally, the piezoelectric vibrator 40 and the flow path unit 41 are minute components on the order of mm and are finely processed on the order of μm, so that the characteristics of each recording head 8 vary. .

For example, the length of the free end portion of the piezoelectric vibrator 40 protruding from the overlapped end of the fixing member 45 varies from one recording head 8 to another due to a very slight displacement during bonding. The vibration cycle Ta is different. In addition, the natural vibration period Tc varies for each recording head 8 due to a dimensional tolerance of the cavity 51 based on the processing accuracy.

In the present embodiment, such a recording head 8
The variation of each of the driving signals is represented by the driving voltage VHN (potential difference from the expansion potential VPS to the contraction potential VLS), the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18, the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19, and the application time pwc2 of the vibration damping element 20. ,
The correction is made by changing the potential difference VcN from the contraction potential VLS to the intermediate potential Vm.

Hereinafter, the variation correction will be described.

FIG. 9 shows the ROM 11 of the drive signal generation circuit 9.
FIG. 9A illustrates the application time pwd1 (ejection application time information) of the ejection element 18 and the corresponding ID number (ejection time identification information). FIG. 9B shows the second holding element 19.
Corresponding to the application time pwh2 (shrinkage holding time information)
It is a figure explaining a D number (shrinkage holding time discernment information).

First, referring to these figures, the discharge element 1
The correction of the application time pwd1 of No. 8 and the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19 will be described.

Regarding the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18,
In the present embodiment, 0.1 to 3.5 μs to 4.5 μs is used.
It is configured so that it can be set in μs steps. An ID number “0” is assigned to 4 μs, which is a theoretical value, and an ID number “1” is assigned to 3.5 μs, which is the shortest application time. Thereafter, I
D number is given, and the longest application time is 4.5.
μs is given an ID number “B”.

Similarly, regarding the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19, in the present embodiment, from 3.1 μs to 6.
It is configured so that it can be set up to 1 μs in 0.2 μs steps. An ID number “0” is given to the theoretical value of 4.5 μs, which is the shortest application time.
1 μs is assigned an ID number “1”. Thereafter, the ID numbers are assigned in ascending order of the application time, and the ID number “10” is assigned to the longest application time of 6.1 μs.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the sum of the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18 and the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19 is adjusted to the natural oscillation period Tc of the cavity 51. The application time pwd1 of 18 is adjusted to the natural vibration period Ta of the piezoelectric vibrator 40. The theoretical value of the natural vibration period Tc is 8.
5 μs, and the theoretical value of the natural oscillation period Ta is 4 μs.

Therefore, when the measured natural vibration period Ta and the measured natural vibration period Tc of the recording head 8 are the same as the theoretical values, the ID number corresponding to the first hold element 17 is “0” and the second hold element is “0”. The ID numbers corresponding to “19” are “0”, and these ID numbers are
(Discharge time identification information storage means and contraction holding time identification information storage means). The drive signal generation unit 13 (drive signal generation means)
Referring to the ID number stored in M12, the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18 is set to 4 μs, and the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19 is set to 4.5 μs,
A drive signal (COM) is generated in which the sum of the application time pwd1 and the application time pwh2 is 8.5 μs, which is the theoretical value of the natural oscillation period Tc.

The actual measurement of the natural vibration period Ta was performed by observing the vibration state of the piezoelectric vibrator 40 using a laser displacement meter. Also, the natural oscillation period Ta can be actually measured by measuring the back electromotive force generated when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 40. The actual measurement of the natural vibration period Tc is performed by adding a sinusoidal input signal to the piezoelectric vibrator 40,
The observation was performed by observing the behavior of the meniscus in the nozzle opening 50 at that time using a stroboscope that emits light in synchronization with the input. That is, an input signal was applied while changing the frequency, and the natural oscillation period Tc was measured by confirming that the ink meniscus greatly vibrated at a specific frequency. Further, it can be measured by observing the residual vibration of the ink meniscus after the ink is discharged by the normal driving.

On the other hand, the actually measured natural vibration period Ta is 4.2 μs, which deviates from the theoretical value, and the actually measured natural vibration period T
When c is 8.5 μs as the theoretical value, the ID number corresponding to the ejection element 18 is set to “8”. Also, the second
The ID number of the hold element 19 is “7”, which is an ID number corresponding to a time 4.3 μs obtained by subtracting 4.2 μs, which is the actual measurement value of the natural vibration period Ta, from the actual measurement value 8.5 μs of the natural vibration period Tc. These ID numbers are stored in the EEPROM 12 of the drive signal generation circuit 9.

Then, the drive signal generator 13 outputs the EEPR
With reference to the ID number stored in the OM 12, the ejection element 18
The application time pwd1 is set to 4.2 μs and the second
A drive signal in which the application time pwh2 of the hold element 19 is set to 4.3 μs is generated.

Further, in the case where the actually measured natural vibration period Ta is 3.5 μs, which greatly deviates from the theoretical value, and the actually measured natural vibration period Tc is 9.5 μs, the recording head 8 also deviates from the theoretical value, The ID number corresponding to the ejection element 18 is “1”, and the ID number of the second hold element 19 is “1”.
By setting the value to "0", a drive signal having an optimal waveform can be supplied to the recording head 8.

In the above example, the actually measured natural vibration period T
Both a and the measured natural vibration period Tc are within the range described in FIG. 9 (pwd = 3.5 μs to 4.5 μs, pwh2 =
Although examples of 3.1 to 6.1) have been described, it is apparent that the present invention can be realized by appropriately adjusting the table corresponding to FIG. 9 when the eigenvalue to be assigned deviates from this range. .

As described above, the sum of the application time pwd1 and the application time pwh2 is determined by the natural oscillation period T of the cavity 51.
By adjusting to c, even if the natural oscillation period Tc varies from one recording head 8 to another, a drive signal optimal for the natural oscillation period Tc can be given, and the vibration of the meniscus can be effectively suppressed. Further, the application time pw
By correcting d1 in accordance with the natural vibration period Ta of the piezoelectric vibrator 40, the expansion and contraction control of the piezoelectric vibrator 40 can be reliably performed even if the natural vibration period Ta varies.

Therefore, even if the recording head 8 has been conventionally treated as a defective product, it can be mounted on a product as a non-defective product, and the yield of the recording head 8 can be further improved. Cost, and thus the cost of the printer.

The above description is based on the application time p of the ejection element 18.
Although the setting of wd1 and the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19 has been described, other items, that is, the drive voltage VHN in the drive signal, the application time pwc of the damping element 20,
2. The potential difference VcN from the contraction potential to the intermediate potential can be similarly corrected.

For example, the application time pwc2 of the damping element 20
As for (2), an ID number (shrinkage holding time identification information) is set in the same manner as the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18, and the application time pwc2 is adjusted to the natural vibration period Ta of the piezoelectric vibrator 40. Then, the application time p of the damping element 20
By adjusting wc2 to the natural oscillation period Ta, even if the natural oscillation period Ta varies for each recording head 8,
It is possible to reliably control the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric vibrator 40 when damping the meniscus. As a result, the allowable range of the recording head 8 that can be mounted on a product as a non-defective product can be expanded, and the yield of the recording head 8 can be further improved.

With respect to the drive voltage VHN, the drive signal (first pulse 21A, second pulse 21B, third pulse 21C) is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 40 while changing the drive voltage VHN at a reference temperature (for example, 25 ° C.). The weight of the ink droplet ejected by the application of the drive signal is actually measured. Then, a voltage value at which the actually measured ink droplet amount matches the reference ink droplet amount (for example, 40 ng) is set by an ID number (drive voltage identification information).

As described above, by making the drive voltage VHN changeable, the amount of ink droplets that vary for each recording head 8 can be made uniform.

The potential difference VcN from the contraction potential to the intermediate potential
In the present embodiment, is configured such that a voltage value of a predetermined ratio of the drive voltage VHN is set as a potential difference VcN based on the drive voltage VHN. Therefore, the information of the potential difference VcN (damping voltage information) is a ratio to the drive voltage VHN. For example, the theoretical value is set to 25% of the driving voltage (that is, V
cN = “25”), and an ID is assigned to this “25”.
Number “0” is assigned. The ratio to the drive voltage VHN is stored in the ROM 11 in 1% steps so that the ratio can be changed from, for example, 15% to 50%, and different ID numbers are assigned to the respective ratios.

Then, the ink droplets are ejected while changing the potential difference VcN, and the vibration of the meniscus is observed by observing the residual vibration of the ink meniscus after the ink ejection. Then, the potential difference VcN having the most damping effect,
That is, the ID number (damping voltage identification information) of the potential difference VcN having a high damping effect is stored in the EEPROM 12.

As described above, when the potential difference VcN from the contraction potential to the intermediate potential (the potential difference from the application start potential to the application end potential of the damping element 20) can be changed according to the attenuation of the meniscus vibration, The degree of expansion of the cavity 51 with the application of the element 20 can be adjusted. That is, by making the potential difference VcN larger than the reference potential difference VcN, the degree of expansion of the cavity 51 can be made larger than the reference expansion rate.
Is smaller than the reference potential difference VcN, the cavity 5
The degree of expansion of 1 can be made smaller than the reference expansion rate.

Therefore, immediately after the ejection of the ink droplet, the potential difference VcN is changed to the potential difference VcN for the recording head 8 whose meniscus vibrates more than the reference recording head 8.
The potential difference VcN is set smaller than the reference potential difference VcN for the recording head 8 whose meniscus vibration is smaller than the reference recording head 8 by setting the expansion ratio of the cavity 51 larger than N. By reducing the expansion rate of the cavity 51, the vibration state of the meniscus of each recording head 8 can be made uniform.

As a result, the recording head 8 having the characteristic that the meniscus vibrates greatly immediately after the ink droplet is ejected.
Even in this case, the vibration of the meniscus can be suppressed in a short time. Therefore, even with such a recording head 8, the ejection operation based on the next drive pulse (for example, the second pulse 21B) can be stably performed, and the allowable recording head 8 that can be mounted on a product as a non-defective product is allowed. The range can be further expanded.

As described above, in the printer according to the present embodiment, regarding the drive signal (COM) applied to the recording head 8, the drive voltage VHN, the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18, the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19, the vibration suppression The application time pwc2 of the element 20, the potential difference V from the contraction potential to the intermediate potential
Since each item of cN is configured to be changeable, it is possible to correct the ejection characteristics of ink droplets that vary from one recording head 8 to another and to make the characteristics uniform.

The application time pw of the ejection element 18 is
Since d1, the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19, the application time pwc2 of the damping element 20, and the potential difference VcN from the contraction potential to the intermediate potential can be changed, the conventional correction using only the drive voltage VHN is not possible. In addition, the recording head 8 which has been treated as a defective product can be mounted on a product as a non-defective product, and the yield of the recording head 8 can be further improved.

Therefore, the cost of the recording head 8 can be reduced,
As a result, the cost of the printer can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the drive voltage VH
N, the application time pwd1 of the ejection element 18, the application time pwh2 of the second hold element 19, and the application time p of the damping element 20
For each item of wc2 and the potential difference VcN from the contraction potential to the intermediate potential, a plurality of values (information) are stored in the ROM 11 in association with the ID numbers, and based on the ID numbers of the eight recording heads set in the EEPROM 12. Since the configuration is such that a value suitable for the recording head 8 is selected, an optimal drive signal can be applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 40 only by storing the ID number in the EEPROM 12 at the time of shipping adjustment of the printer. For this reason, the correction work for each recording head 8 can be easily performed.

As the drive signal described above, a signal generated by a method using pulse width modulation may be applied, or a programmable drive signal generation method described in Japanese Patent No. 2940542 may be applied. Further, the driving signal generation method is not limited to these.

Although the embodiment has been described with respect to the embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus as the actuator apparatus, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, a drive signal in which a natural period of an energy generation unit constituting an actuator device is assigned as a part of a certain drive signal element is formed in a programmable manner, and the actuator is driven using the drive signal to drive the actuator appropriately. Can be. In addition, even if there is a variation in the natural period of the actuator, an actuator that can be originally out of the standard can be used as a practical actuator device by applying the drive signal according to the present invention, and as a result, the yield of the actuator device is improved. be able to. Examples of actuators to which the present invention can be applied include piezoelectric fans and VTRs.
Head, ultrasonic motor, impact printer head,
And so on. The details are described in, for example, “Application of Piezoelectric Ceramics” by Academic Co., Ltd., and thus the detailed description is omitted here.

In the above description, the natural period that is dominant in driving the actuator has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. It is apparent that the same effect can be obtained even if each element or element group of the drive signal is set in (subharmonics and harmonics).

In the above disclosed invention, a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer system to generate a drive signal including each of the above-described elements is also covered by the present invention.

Further, when each of the above elements is realized by a program such as an OS operating on a computer system, a recording medium storing a program including various instructions for controlling the program such as the OS is also covered by the present invention. Become.

In this embodiment, the piezoelectric vibrator 40 is moved in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the vibrator expands and contracts.
An example is shown in which a so-called longitudinal vibration mode comb-shaped vibrator is formed by laminating the piezoelectric bodies 42 and the internal electrodes 43 and 44 in the expansion and contraction direction of the vibrator. The present invention can also be applied to a stacked piezoelectric vibrator 40 in a so-called flexural vibration mode.

[0118]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects.

The present invention can provide an actuator device that can drive an actuator using various drive signals with a suitable drive signal.

Further, it is possible to provide a highly flexible actuator device that can flexibly set a drive signal even when the characteristics of the actuator device vary.

Further, the production yield of various actuator devices can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ink jet printer, and FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a drive signal generation circuit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal mechanism of the ink jet printer.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a recording head.

FIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit for explaining a vibration system in the recording head.

5A and 5B are equivalent circuits of a recording head, wherein FIG. 5A is an equivalent circuit of a piezoelectric vibrator system, FIG. 5B is an equivalent circuit of ink in a cavity, and FIG. 5C is an equivalent circuit of a meniscus of a nozzle opening. It is.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the recording head.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a drive signal in a recording head.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a drive signal in a recording head.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a part of waveform pattern information;
(A) is a diagram illustrating an ID number corresponding to the application time of the ejection element, and (b) is a diagram illustrating an ID number corresponding to the application time of the second hold element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer controller 2 Print engine 3 External interface 4 RAM 5 Control ROM 6 Control part 7 Oscillation circuit 8 Recording head 9 Drive signal generation circuit 10 Internal interface 11 ROM of drive signal generation circuit 12 EEPROM of drive signal generation circuit 13 Drive signal generation part Reference Signs List 16 expansion element 17 first hold element 18 discharge element 19 second hold element 20 damping element 21 pulse signal 23 paper feed mechanism 24 carriage mechanism 25 paper feed motor 26 paper feed roller 27 recording paper 29 ink cartridge 30 guide member 31 carriage 32 Drive pulley 33 Follower pulley 34 Timing belt 35 Pulse motor 38 Case 39 Storage chamber 40 Piezoelectric vibrator 41 Flow path unit 42 Piezoelectric body 43 Common internal electrode 44 Individual internal electrode 45 Fixed part 47 channel forming plate 48 nozzle plate 49 elastic plate 50 nozzle opening 51 cavity 52 ink supply unit 53 common ink chamber 54 ink supply tube 55 stainless plate 56 elastic film 57 island unit 60 shift register 61 latch circuit 62 level shifter 63 switch 201 Recording medium 202 reading device

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yuichi Nakamura 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko Epson Corporation F-term (reference) 2C056 EA01 EB59 EC07 EC28 EC42 FA04 2C057 AF07 AF30 AG47 AL12 AM21 AM22 AN10 BA03 BA14

Claims (22)

[Claims] A recording head including a piezoelectric vibrator deformed by a drive signal, a pressure chamber expanded and contracted by the deformation of the piezoelectric vibrator, and a nozzle opening communicating with the pressure chamber; An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a driving signal generating means for generating the driving signal; and applying a driving signal to the pressure generating element to expand and contract the pressure chamber to eject ink droplets from a nozzle opening. A discharge element that changes from an expansion potential to expand and contract the volume of the pressure chamber to a contraction potential, contracts the expanded pressure chamber and discharges ink droplets, and a pressure element that holds the contraction potential and A contraction hold element that holds a contracted state, and a pressure chamber that changes from the contraction potential to the intermediate potential and is held in a contracted state by the contraction hold element expands to a steady state; The application time of the ejection element and the application time of the contraction hold element in accordance with the natural vibration period of the pressure chamber, and discharge application time information defining the application time of the discharge element is discharged. A discharge time information storage unit for storing a plurality of types of discharge time information in association with the time identification information; and a discharge time identification information storage unit for storing the discharge time identification information set for each print head. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a drive signal including a discharge element for an application time defined by the discharge time identification information is generated by referring to the discharge time identification information stored in the identification information storage means. 2. A contraction holding time information storage means for holding a plurality of types of contraction holding time information defining an application time of a contraction holding element in association with contraction holding time identification information, and a contraction holding time set for each recording head. A contraction holding time identification information storage unit for storing identification information, wherein the drive signal generating unit refers to the contraction holding time identification information stored in the contraction holding time identification information storage unit and specifies the contraction holding time identification information. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a drive signal including a second hold element for the applied time is generated. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a potential difference from the contraction potential to an intermediate potential can be changed.
Or the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2. 4. A damping voltage information storage means for holding a plurality of types of damping voltage information defining a potential difference from a contraction potential to an intermediate potential in correspondence with damping voltage identification information, and a damping voltage set for each recording head. And damping voltage identification information storage means for storing vibration voltage identification information. The drive signal generation means refers to the vibration suppression voltage identification information stored in the vibration suppression voltage identification information storage means, and 4. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a driving signal set to a potential difference defined by the following is generated. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the drive signal is a drive signal for continuously ejecting the same weight of ink droplets a plurality of times within the same drive cycle. 6. A recording head including a piezoelectric vibrator deformed by a drive signal, a pressure chamber expanded and contracted by the deformation of the piezoelectric vibrator, and a nozzle opening communicating with the pressure chamber; An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a driving signal generating means for generating the driving signal; and applying a driving signal to the pressure generating element to expand and contract the pressure chamber to eject ink droplets from a nozzle opening. A discharge element that changes from an expansion potential to expand and contract the volume of the pressure chamber to a contraction potential, contracts the expanded pressure chamber and discharges ink droplets, and a pressure element that holds the contraction potential and A contraction hold element that holds a contracted state, and a pressure chamber that changes from the contraction potential to the intermediate potential and is held in a contracted state by the contraction hold element expands to a steady state; And a unique information that is a unique value of the printhead is assigned to one or more of the elements of the drive signal, and the unique information of the printhead is stored. An identification information storage unit, wherein the drive signal generation unit refers to the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit, and generates a drive signal including an element defined by the identification information. Expression recording device. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unique information is information including a natural oscillation period of the piezoelectric vibrator. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unique information is information including a natural oscillation period of the cavity. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the specific information is information including a natural oscillation period of a meniscus. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unique information is information including both a unique oscillation cycle of the piezoelectric vibrator and a unique oscillation cycle of the cavity. 11. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said unique information is information including information corresponding to harmonics or subharmonics of a natural oscillation period according to claim 7. 12. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive signal generator forms a waveform in a programmable manner. 13. An actuator device having an actuator operable by a drive signal, wherein one or more of the components of the drive signal are assigned unique information of a component constituting the actuator device,
An identification information storage unit for storing the unique information, a drive signal generation unit programmably forms the drive signal,
Further, the actuator device is driven by a drive signal including an element specified by the identification information with reference to the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit. 14. The actuator device is driven by a drive signal generated by allocating unique information, which is a unique value of a printhead, across one or more of the elements of the drive signal. The actuator device according to claim 13, wherein: 15. The actuator device according to claim 13, wherein the unique information is a natural oscillation period of a component included in the actuator device. 16. The actuator device according to claim 13, wherein the unique information is a natural oscillation period of a component constituting the actuator. 17. The actuator device according to claim 13, wherein the specific information is a natural vibration period of the actuator. 18. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said unique information is information including information corresponding to harmonics or sub-harmonics of the natural oscillation period according to claim 15. 19. A computer-readable recording medium which is realized by a computer system including at least one computer and records a program for driving the actuator device according to claim 13 in the computer system. 20. An apparatus comprising instructions for controlling a second program running on a computer system including at least one computer, the instructions being executed by the computer system to control the second program, A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for driving the actuator according to claim 13 in the computer system. 21. A computer-readable computer which is realized by a computer system including at least one computer and records a program for driving the ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 in said computer system. Possible recording medium. 22. An instruction for controlling a second program running on a computer system including at least one computer, the program being executed by the computer system to control the second program, 2. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising:
A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for driving the inkjet recording apparatus jet according to any one of the preceding claims.