JP2011005690A - Liquid droplet discharging head and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid droplet discharging head and a printer which can shorten time to resumption of printing.SOLUTION: The liquid droplet discharging head 1 includes piezoelectric members 3 and 4 in which ink chambers 33 for storing an ink 31 are formed and which have opened discharge surfaces; and a nozzle plate 6 which includes at least a first nozzle layer 28 provided on the discharge surface side of the piezoelectric members 3 and 4, and formed with a nozzle opening part 28a, and a second nozzle layer 25 bonded separably to a surface of the discharge side of the first nozzle layer 28, and formed with a nozzle opening part 25a communicating with the nozzle opening part 28a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a droplet discharge head that discharges ink as droplets from a nozzle opening of a nozzle plate and a printing apparatus.

  Currently, a droplet discharge head that discharges ink as droplets by a piezoelectric member or the like is known.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid droplet ejection head that includes a flow path section through which ink is supplied and a plate-shaped nozzle section in which nozzle openings are formed. The nozzle portion is bonded to the bottom surface of the droplet discharge head with a thermoplastic adhesive.

  In this droplet discharge head, a voltage is applied to a piezo provided in the flow path portion to apply pressure to the ink inside the flow path portion. Thereby, the ink supplied to the flow path part is discharged as a droplet from the nozzle opening of the nozzle part. As a result, the droplets adhere to paper or the like and the image is printed.

  In such a droplet discharge head, a water-based ink having a volatile component, a hardly volatile oil-based ink, or the like is used. These inks dry as the solvent evaporates over time. As a result, ink deposits adhere to the ink ports. As a result, a droplet direction abnormal state occurs in which the direction of the droplet is shifted from a predetermined direction due to the deposit partially blocking the ink opening. In addition, a droplet non-ejection state or the like is caused by the deposit blocking the entire ink port. As a means for removing such stains such as ink deposits, it has been proposed to clean the nozzle portion. However, there has been a problem that the periphery of the nozzle opening is damaged due to scratches or the like due to cleaning.

  Therefore, in the technique of Patent Document 1, when ink or the like adheres to the nozzle portion as dirt, the adhesive is softened by heating. As a result, the adjuster removes the dirty nozzle portion and attaches another new nozzle portion. As a result, printing by the new nozzle unit is resumed.

JP 2007-245067 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, when the nozzle part is dirty, it is necessary to remove the dirty nozzle part and attach a new nozzle part in a heated state, so that it takes a long time to restart printing. There are challenges. Furthermore, when the nozzle part is attached at a position where it is difficult to remove, the above-mentioned nozzle part removal work may be performed after the droplet head is once removed from the printing apparatus. Cost.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a droplet discharge head and a printing apparatus capable of shortening the time until resumption of printing.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided on an ejection surface side of an ink chamber forming member in which an ink chamber for storing ink is formed and an ejection surface is opened, and the ink chamber forming member. A first nozzle layer having a first nozzle port, and a second nozzle port connected to the discharge side surface of the first nozzle layer in a peelable manner and connected to the first nozzle port. A nozzle plate having at least a second nozzle layer having a portion formed thereon.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the wall surface of the first nozzle port and the wall surface of the second nozzle port are continuous.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the nozzle plate is provided between the first nozzle layer and the ink chamber forming member, and has a base material that is harder than the first nozzle layer.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first nozzle port and the second nozzle port are formed in a tapered shape that decreases in the discharge direction. And a control unit that controls droplets ejected from the ink chamber forming member in accordance with the size of the opening of the first nozzle port or the second nozzle port. ing.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the ink chamber forming member includes a piezoelectric material, and the control unit controls droplets according to a voltage value of a voltage applied to the ink chamber forming member.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, dirt and the like can be removed together with the second nozzle layer by peeling the second nozzle layer from the first nozzle layer. As a result, the present invention can not only reduce the labor cost and the head cost when replacing the head, but also shorten the time to resume printing.

  According to invention of Claim 2, it becomes easy to process at the time of forming a nozzle, and it becomes difficult for a bubble and a solid foreign material to adhere between a 1st nozzle layer and a 2nd nozzle layer.

  According to invention of Claim 3, a deformation | transformation of a nozzle layer can be suppressed and peeling of a 2nd nozzle layer becomes easy.

  According to the invention of claim 4, even when the nozzle has a taper and the nozzle diameter changes, it can be easily handled.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to electrically cope with a change in the nozzle diameter.

1 is an overall perspective view of a droplet discharge head according to a first embodiment. It is sectional drawing along the II-II line of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the III-III line of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing of a nozzle opening vicinity. It is sectional drawing of the nozzle opening vicinity in the state which removed the 2nd nozzle layer. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of a droplet discharge head. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of a droplet discharge head. It is a schematic block diagram of the printing apparatus provided with a droplet discharge head. It is a flowchart explaining printing operation. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 illustrating a droplet discharge head according to a second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 illustrating a droplet discharge head according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 illustrating a droplet discharge head according to a fourth embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a droplet discharge head will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a droplet discharge head according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the nozzle. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the nozzle with the nozzle layer removed. In the following description, the vertical and horizontal directions indicated by the arrows in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the droplet discharge head 1 according to the first embodiment includes a substrate 2, a first piezoelectric member 3, a second piezoelectric member 4, a fixture 5, and a nozzle plate 6. A pair of electrodes 7 and 8 are provided. The piezoelectric members 3 and 4 correspond to the ink chamber forming member in the claims.

  The base material 2 consists of resin. The base material 2 includes a standing member 15, a hollow member 16, and a side wall member 17. In addition, the standing member 15, the hollow member 16, and the side wall member 17 are integrally formed.

  The standing member 15 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The standing member 15 is provided in the upper portion of the central portion in the horizontal direction of the droplet discharge head 1. The standing member 15 is configured to extend upward from the upper surface of the hollow member 16.

  The hollow member 16 is formed in a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape. The hollow member 16 is configured to cover the upper part of the second piezoelectric member 4. The lower surface of the hollow member 16 is in close contact with the upper surface of the second piezoelectric member 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an ink supply chamber 32 to which ink 31 is supplied from a main tank 41 described later is formed inside the hollow member 16. The lower surface and the left side surface of the ink supply chamber 32 are opened.

  The side wall member 17 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The side wall member 17 is configured to cover the right side surface of the droplet discharge head 1. An ink supply hole 17 a is formed in the central portion of the side wall member 17 in the front-rear direction. The ink supply hole 17 a connects the outside and the ink supply chamber 32. A supply pipe 35 is connected to the ink supply hole 17a. The supply pipe 35 supplies the ink 31.

  The first piezoelectric member 3 applies pressure to the ink 31 by deformation. The first piezoelectric member 3 is made of PZT having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The first piezoelectric member 3 is provided on the left side of the substrate 2 and the second piezoelectric member 4. The upper part of the right side surface of the first piezoelectric member 3 is fixed in close contact with the left side surface of the hollow member 16 of the substrate 2. As a result, the left side surface of the ink supply chamber 32 is closed by the upper right side surface of the first piezoelectric member 3. The lower part of the right side surface of the first piezoelectric member 3 is fixed in close contact with the left side surface of the second piezoelectric member 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a plurality of first grooves 21 are formed in the lower part of the right side surface of the first piezoelectric member 3. The plurality of first grooves 21 constitute part of the ink chamber 33 that stores the supplied ink 31. The plurality of first grooves 21 are formed at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. The first groove 21 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The right side surface and the lower surface of the first groove 21 are opened. On the other hand, the front and rear surfaces, the left side surface, and the upper surface of the first groove 21 are closed.

  The second piezoelectric member 4 applies pressure to the ink 31 by being deformed together with the first piezoelectric member 3. The second piezoelectric member 4 is made of PZT having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The second piezoelectric member 4 is the lower surface of the hollow member 16 of the substrate 2 and is provided between the side wall member 17 and the first piezoelectric member 4. The left side surface of the second piezoelectric member 4 is fixed in close contact with the lower right side surface of the first piezoelectric member 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of second grooves 22 are formed on the left side surface of the second piezoelectric member 4. The plurality of second grooves 22 constitute part of the ink chamber 33 that stores the supplied ink 31. The plurality of second grooves 22 are formed at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. The plurality of second grooves 22 are formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The left side surface of the second groove 22 is opened. The second groove 22 is formed at a position facing the first groove 21. As a result, when the first piezoelectric member 3 and the second piezoelectric member 4 are combined, the first groove 21 and the second groove 22 constitute an ink chamber 33. In other words, the ink chamber 33 is formed by the first piezoelectric member 3 and the second piezoelectric member 4. The lower surface of the second groove 22 is opened in the same manner as the lower surface of the first groove 21. Thereby, the lower surface (ejection surface) of the ink chamber 33 is opened so that the ink 31 can be ejected. The upper surface of the second groove 22 is opened. Thereby, the ink supply chamber 32 and the ink chamber 33 formed in the hollow member 16 of the substrate 2 are connected. On the other hand, the front and rear surfaces and the right side surface of the second groove 22 are closed.

  The fixture 5 fixes the base material 2 and the piezoelectric members 3 and 4. The fixture 5 is made of resin. The fixture 5 presses the right side surface of the substrate 2 and the left side surface of the first piezoelectric member 3 in the left-right direction. The fixture 5 presses the front surface and the rear surface of the base material 2 and the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the base material 2 and the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 are brought into close contact with each other. An opening 5 a for discharging the ink 31 is formed on the bottom surface of the fixture 5.

  The nozzle plate 6 is provided across the lower surface (discharge surface) of the first piezoelectric member 3 and the lower surface (discharge surface) of the second piezoelectric member 4. The nozzle plate 6 is formed in a substantially rectangular planar shape. A plurality of nozzle openings 6 a are formed in the nozzle plate 6. The nozzle port 6a is formed so as to penetrate the nozzle plate 6 in the vertical direction. The plurality of nozzle openings 6a are formed at equal intervals at positions corresponding to the ink chambers 33 in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the lower surface of each ink chamber 33 is penetrated from the outside by each nozzle port 6a. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of nozzle openings 6 a are formed so as to be alternately shifted left and right one by one in the left-right direction. That is, the nozzle port 6 a is formed at a position corresponding to either the first groove 21 or the second groove 22.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle plate 6 includes a protective layer 24, a second nozzle layer 25, an adhesive layer 26, a protective layer 27, and a first nozzle layer 28.

  The protective layer 24 repels the ink 31. The protective layer 24 is made of a fluorine coating agent. The protective layer 24 is formed on the lower surface of the second nozzle layer 25.

  The second nozzle layer 25 is made of a flexible resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyimide. The second nozzle layer 25 is formed in a substantially rectangular planar shape. A nozzle mouth portion 25 a is formed in the second nozzle layer 25. The nozzle opening 25 a is formed at a position corresponding to the lower surface of any one of the ink chambers 33. The nozzle opening 25a penetrates the second nozzle layer 25 in the vertical direction. The nozzle opening 25a is formed in a partial conical shape. Specifically, the nozzle opening 25a is formed in a tapered shape in which the lower diameter (= D1) is smaller than the upper diameter. That is, the nozzle opening 25a is configured to become smaller in the ejection direction. The nozzle opening 25a constitutes a part of the nozzle opening 6a.

  The adhesive layer 26 adheres the second nozzle layer 25 to the lower surface (discharge-side surface) of the first nozzle layer 28 via the protective layer 27. As shown in FIG. 6, the adhesive layer 26 is configured to be peelable from the first nozzle layer 28 together with the second nozzle layer 25. Thereby, the second nozzle layer 25 can be peeled off from the first nozzle layer 28 when dirt such as ink is attached. The adhesive layer 26 is made of an adhesive material that can easily peel the second nozzle layer 25 from the first nozzle layer 28 and has an adhesive strength that can suppress displacement due to vibration of the piezoelectric members 3 and 4.

  The protective layer 27 repels the ink 31. The protective layer 27 is made of a fluorine coating agent. The protective layer 27 is formed on the lower surface of the second nozzle layer 25.

  The first nozzle layer 28 is made of a flexible resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyimide. The first nozzle layer 28 is formed in the same shape as the second nozzle layer 25. A nozzle port portion 28 a is formed in the first nozzle layer 28. The nozzle port portion 28a is formed at a position corresponding to the nozzle port portion 25a so as to be continuous with any one of the nozzle port portions 25a. The nozzle mouth portion 28a penetrates the first nozzle layer 28 in the vertical direction. The nozzle opening 28a is formed in a partial conical shape. Specifically, the nozzle opening 28a is formed in a tapered shape in which the lower diameter (= D2) is smaller than the upper diameter. That is, the nozzle opening 28a is configured to become smaller in the discharge direction. The axis of the nozzle opening 28a and the axis of the nozzle opening 25a are formed so as to coincide with each other. The nozzle port portion 28a constitutes a part of the nozzle port 6a.

  Here, the inclination angle between the wall surface of the nozzle port portion 28a of the first nozzle layer 28 and the horizontal plane is formed at the same angle as the inclination angle between the wall surface of the nozzle port portion 25a of the second nozzle layer 25 and the horizontal surface. Has been. The diameter of the opening below the nozzle opening 28a is formed to be equal to the diameter of the opening above the nozzle opening 25a. Thereby, the wall surface of the nozzle port portion 28a of the first nozzle layer 28 and the wall surface of the nozzle port portion 25a of the second nozzle layer 25 are continuous.

  Note that holes are also formed in the protective layers 24 and 27 and the adhesive layer 26 at positions corresponding to the nozzle openings 25a and 28a. Thus, the nozzle opening 6a of the nozzle plate 6 is configured.

  The electrodes 7 and 8 apply a voltage to the piezoelectric members 3 and 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the electrodes 7 and 8 are formed on the inner surfaces of the first groove 21 and the second groove 22 constituting the ink chamber 33. In other words, the electrodes 7 and 8 are formed on the inner surfaces of the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 constituting the ink chamber 33. The electrodes 7 and 8 are alternately provided in the front-rear direction. The electrodes 7 and 8 are connected to a control unit 51 mounted on a printing apparatus 50 described later. A predetermined voltage for deforming the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 is applied between the electrode 7 and the electrode 8 by the control unit 51. Thereby, the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 in the region sandwiched between the electrode 7 and the electrode 8 are deformed, and pressure can be applied to the ink 31.

  Next, the manufacturing process of the droplet discharge head 1 will be described. 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating each process of the manufacturing process of the droplet discharge head.

  First, the base 2 and the first piezoelectric member 3 and the second piezoelectric member 4 on which the electrodes 7 and 8 are formed are assembled. Next, the base material 2 and the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 are fixed by the fixture 5. In this state, as shown in FIG. 7, the nozzle plate 6 in a state where the nozzle openings 6 a are not formed is bonded to the lower surfaces of the piezoelectric members 3 and 4.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, a laser beam 55 a is irradiated from a laser device 55 to a desired position of the nozzle plate 6, thereby forming a nozzle port 6 a.

  Next, the overall configuration of the printing apparatus provided with the droplet discharge head 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus provided with the droplet discharge head according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the printing apparatus 50, a main tank 41 in which the supply ink 31 is stored and a sub tank 42 in which the ink 31 is temporarily stored include droplets via pipes 35 and 44. Connected to the ejection head 1.

  A pump 45 for supplying the ink 31 to the droplet discharge head 1 is provided in the middle of a pipe 44 connecting the main tank 41 and the sub tank 42.

  The printing apparatus 50 includes a control unit 51 and an input unit 52. The control unit 51 includes a CPU that performs various calculations, a RAM that temporarily stores information and the like, a ROM that stores programs and the like, and an interface that connects these to the outside. The control unit 51 is connected to an input unit 52 for a user to make various settings.

  The controller 51 is connected to the pump 45 and the electrodes 7 and 8 of the droplet discharge head 1. The controller 51 controls on / off of the pump 45 when supplying the ink 31.

  In addition, during the printing operation, the control unit 51 applies an alternating voltage to the electrodes 7 and 8 to deform the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 to discharge droplets. Here, the control unit 51 controls the droplets in correspondence with the diameter D1 of the opening of the nozzle opening 25a and the diameter D2 of the opening of the nozzle opening 28a. Specifically, the control unit 51 applies an alternating current having a voltage value V1 to the electrodes 7 and 8 in a state where the second nozzle layer 25 is mounted. On the other hand, the control unit 51 applies an alternating current having a voltage value V2 to the electrodes 7 and 8 in a state where the second nozzle layer 25 is removed. Note that V1> V2. The voltage values V1 and V2 are alternating current effective values. As a result, the control unit 51 controls the pressure acting on the ink 31 so as to reduce the variation in droplet size.

  The input unit 52 is used by the adjuster to input various information. The input unit 52 is configured to be able to input the presence / absence of the second nozzle layer 25. The input unit 52 outputs the input presence / absence information LE of the second nozzle layer 25 to the control unit 51. The input unit 52 is configured to be able to input a print execution signal EX. The input unit 52 outputs a print execution signal EX to the control unit 51.

  Next, the printing operation by the droplet discharge head 1 of the first embodiment described above will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the printing operation.

  First, the control unit 51 determines whether or not the print execution signal EX is input from the input unit 52 (S1). When determining that the print execution signal EX has been input (S1: Yes), the control unit 51 executes the process of step S2.

  The control unit 51 determines the presence / absence of the second nozzle layer 25 based on the presence / absence information LE (S2). When it is determined that the second nozzle layer 25 is present (S2: Yes), the control unit 51 executes the first printing process in step S3.

  In the first printing process of step S3, first, the control unit 51 turns on the pump 45. As a result, the ink 31 is supplied from the main tank 41 and the sub tank 42 to the ink supply chamber 32 and the ink chamber 33 of the droplet discharge head 1. Next, the control unit 51 applies an alternating current of the voltage value V1 to the electrodes 7 and 8 according to the stored image data while conveying the printing paper. By applying a voltage between the electrodes 7 and 8, the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 are deformed. In the ink chamber 33 compressed by the deformation of the piezoelectric members 3 and 4, pressure acts on the ink 31. As a result, the ink 31 in the ink chamber 33 on which the pressure is applied is ejected from the nozzle port 6a of the nozzle plate 6 having the diameter D1 at the lower surface opening as shown in FIG. The ejected ink 31 becomes droplets and is applied to a printing paper to print an image. Thereafter, when a predetermined number of sheets are printed, the printing process ends.

  After this, the first printing process is performed many times, and as shown in FIG. 6, the nozzle opening 6a may be blocked by the dirt 31a or the like that the ink 31 is cured. In this state, the user peels the second nozzle layer 25 from the first nozzle layer 28. Next, the user inputs to the input unit 52 that the second nozzle layer 25 has been removed. Then, the input unit 52 outputs the presence / absence information LE of the second nozzle layer 25 to the control unit 51. Thereafter, when the user inputs the print execution signal EX, Steps S1 and S2 are executed, and then the second print process of Step S4 is executed.

  In the second printing process of step S4, an image is printed by executing the same process as the first printing process except that the AC voltage value applied to the electrodes 7 and 8 is V2. Here, the second printing process is performed in a state where the second nozzle layer 25 is peeled off from the first nozzle layer 28. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the second printing process is executed with the opening on the lower surface of the nozzle port 6a of the nozzle plate 6 having a diameter D2. As described above, the diameter D2 of the second printing process is larger than the diameter D1 of the first printing process. However, the alternating voltage value V2 applied to the electrodes 7 and 8 is smaller than the voltage value V1 applied in the first printing process. For this reason, in the second printing process, the droplets discharged from the nozzle openings 6a of the nozzle plate 6 have substantially the same shape and liquid volume as the droplets discharged in the first printing process.

  As described above, in the droplet discharge head 1 according to the first embodiment, the second nozzle layer 25 of the nozzle plate 6 is detachably bonded from the first nozzle layer 28. Thereby, when dirt 31a such as ink 31 adheres to the nozzle opening 6a and the nozzle opening 6a is blocked and printing becomes impossible, the second nozzle layer 25 is peeled off from the first nozzle layer 28, Printing can be resumed. As a result, the droplet discharge head 1 can shorten the time until the printing is resumed.

  In addition, since the droplet discharge head 1 can restart printing by peeling the second nozzle layer 25, the user can restart printing without removing the droplet discharge head 1 from the printing apparatus 50. Thereby, the user can easily cope with an abnormal discharge direction state, an undischargeable state, and the like.

  In addition, since the wall surface of the nozzle port portion 25a of the second nozzle layer 25 and the wall surface of the nozzle port portion 28a of the first nozzle layer 28 are continuous, the droplet discharge head 1 acts on the discharged droplets. Resistance can be reduced.

  In addition, since the droplet discharge head 1 is formed in a tapered shape in which the nozzle openings 25a and 28a become smaller in the discharge direction, the droplet discharge speed can be improved.

  In addition, since the droplet discharge head 1 includes the protective layers 24 and 27 that repel the ink 31, it is possible to suppress the contamination due to the ink 31 from adhering to the lower surfaces of the nozzle layers 25 and 28.

  In addition, the printing apparatus 50 includes a control unit 51 that controls the AC voltage value applied to the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 in accordance with the diameters of the openings of the nozzle openings 25a and 28a. Thereby, regardless of the presence or absence of the second nozzle layer 25, it is possible to suppress variations in the shape and the liquid amount of the ejected droplets.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment in which the droplet discharge head according to the above-described embodiment is changed will be described. FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the droplet discharge head of the second embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the droplet discharge head 1A according to the second embodiment, the shape of the nozzle opening 6Aa of the nozzle plate 6 is different from that of the first embodiment.

  Specifically, the diameter of the nozzle opening 25Aa of the second nozzle layer 25A according to the second embodiment and the diameter of the nozzle opening 28Aa of the first nozzle layer 28A do not change in the vertical direction. That is, the nozzle opening 6Aa of the nozzle plate 6A is formed in a cylindrical shape.

  In the second embodiment, the control unit 51 makes the voltage value applied to the piezoelectric members 3 and 4 constant regardless of the presence or absence of the second nozzle layer 25 by forming the nozzle port 6Aa in a cylindrical shape. it can. Thereby, the control part 51 can simplify control.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a description will be given of a third embodiment in which the droplet discharge head of the above-described embodiment is changed. FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the droplet discharge head of the third embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in the droplet discharge head 1B according to the third embodiment, the nozzle openings 6Ba of the nozzle plate 6B are not formed continuously.

  Specifically, the wall surface of the nozzle port portion 25Ba of the second nozzle layer 25B and the wall surface of the nozzle port portion 28Ba of the first nozzle layer 28B are formed in the same tapered shape. As a result, a step is formed between the nozzle opening 25Ba and the nozzle opening 28Ba.

  Also in the third embodiment, the control can be simplified for the same reason as in the second embodiment.

  Moreover, in the droplet discharge head 1B of the third embodiment, the second nozzle layer 25B and the first nozzle layer 28B can be formed in the same shape, so that the manufacturing process of the nozzle plate 6B can be simplified.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a description will be given of a fourth embodiment in which the droplet discharge head of the above-described embodiment is changed. FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the droplet discharge head of the fourth embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The nozzle plate 6C of the droplet discharge head 1C according to the fourth embodiment includes a first nozzle layer 28 including a base 29. The base 29 is made of a material harder than the second nozzle layer 25. The base 29 is fixed to the lower surfaces of the piezoelectric members 3 and 4. A nozzle opening 29 a is formed in the base 29. The nozzle port 6Ca is composed of nozzle port portions 25a, 28a, and 29a.

  In the fourth embodiment, the first nozzle layer portion 28 a is detachably bonded to the lower surface of the base 29 with an adhesive 30. That is, the base 29 is provided between the first nozzle layer portion 28 a and the piezoelectric members 3 and 4.

  Since the droplet discharge head 1 </ b> C of the fourth embodiment has the base 29 made of a hard material, the pressure of the ink 31 can be received by the base 29. Thereby, it can suppress that the nozzle layers 25 and 28 deform | transform with the pressure of the ink 31. FIG.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail using embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment described in this specification. The scope of the present invention is determined by the description of the scope of claims and the scope equivalent to the description of the scope of claims. Hereinafter, modified embodiments in which the above-described embodiment is partially modified will be described.

  The shape, numerical value, material, and the like in each of the embodiments described above can be changed as appropriate.

  For example, the base of the nozzle plate and the nozzle layer may be made of resin other than polyimide, metal, or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the nozzle plate in which the two nozzle layers are stacked has been described. However, the nozzle plate may be configured by stacking three or more nozzle layers.

  Moreover, although the control part of embodiment mentioned above changed the voltage value and made it respond | correspond to the change of the opening of a nozzle opening, you may comprise a control part so that it can respond to the opening of a nozzle opening other than a voltage value.

  In the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applied to a droplet discharge head having a piezoelectric member. However, the present invention is applied to a droplet discharge head that discharges ink by heat generation, a droplet discharge head that has a piezoelectric member of another structure, and the like. The present invention may be applied.

  In the above-described embodiment, the control unit controls the voltage value applied to the piezoelectric member based on the presence / absence information of the second nozzle layer input from the input unit. However, the detection unit detects the presence / absence of the second nozzle layer. And the voltage value to be applied may be controlled based on information from the detection means.

  Further, the surface roughness of the upper surface of the nozzle layer may be different from the surface roughness of the lower surface. Specifically, the surface roughness of the upper surface of the nozzle layer is preferably rough in order to improve adhesion. On the other hand, the surface roughness of the lower surface of the nozzle layer is preferably small in order to suppress adhesion of dirt such as ink.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C Droplet discharge head 2 Base material 3, 4 Piezoelectric members 6, 6A, 6B, 6C Nozzle plates 6a, 6Aa, 6Ba, 6Ca Nozzle ports 7, 8 Electrode 21 First groove 22 Second groove 24 Protective layer 25 Nozzle layer 25a, 25Aa, 25Ba Nozzle port 25, 25A, 25B Second nozzle layer 26 Adhesive layer 27 Protective layer 28, 28A, 28B First nozzle layer 28a, 28Aa, 28Ba Nozzle port 29 Base 29a Nozzle port Section 30 Adhesive 31 Ink 31a Dirt 33 Ink chamber 50 Printing device 51 Control section 52 Input section D1, D2 Diameter EX Print execution signal LE Presence / absence information V1, V2 Voltage value

Claims (5)

An ink chamber forming member in which an ink chamber for storing ink is formed and an ejection surface is opened;
The ink chamber forming member is provided on the discharge surface side, and is peelably adhered to the first nozzle layer in which the first nozzle port is formed, and the discharge side surface of the first nozzle layer, and A liquid droplet ejection head comprising: a nozzle plate having at least a second nozzle layer in which a second nozzle port portion connected to the first nozzle port portion is formed.
The droplet discharge head according to claim 1, wherein a wall surface of the first nozzle port and a wall surface of the second nozzle port are continuous.
The droplet discharge head according to claim 1, wherein at least the first nozzle layer has a substrate that is harder than the second nozzle layer.
The droplet discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first nozzle port and the second nozzle port are formed in a tapered shape that decreases in a discharge direction.
And a control unit that controls droplets ejected from the ink chamber forming member in accordance with the size of the opening of the first nozzle port or the second nozzle port. .
The ink chamber forming member includes a piezoelectric material,
The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the liquid droplets according to a voltage value of a voltage applied to the ink chamber forming member.