JP2014172374A - Liquid discharge head, image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid discharge head capable of preventing a case in which, with increase of density, an adhesive protrudes to an adjoining thick wall part in a nozzle array direction, resulting in connection of adhesives together.SOLUTION: A vibration plate member 3 includes a thin wall part 30 containing a first layer only, and a thick wall parts 31, 32 in which a second layer and a third layer are formed in the first layer. A drive post of a piezoelectric member is jointed to the thick wall part 31 by an adhesive. A non-driving part is jointed to the thick wall part 32 by an adhesive. In the thick wall part 31, a split groove part 31c is formed in the nozzle array direction. In the direction orthogonal to the nozzle array direction, a plurality of island parts 31a, 31a are split-formed. At the thick wall part 32, an island part 32a is split-formed which is made independent by two split groove parts 32c.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head and an image forming apparatus.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying apparatus, a plotter, and a complex machine of these, for example, a liquid discharge recording type image forming apparatus using a recording head composed of a liquid discharge head (droplet discharge head) for discharging droplets An ink jet recording apparatus or the like is known.

  When an electromechanical conversion element, for example, a piezoelectric actuator such as a piezoelectric element, is used as the liquid discharge head, an island-shaped protrusion made of a thick part formed in a vibration area made of a thin part that forms the wall surface of an individual liquid chamber that communicates with the nozzle A piezoelectric element is bonded to the part with an adhesive.

  In this case, if the adhesive protrudes and the groove between the actuators is connected, the displacement of the actuator is hindered, the discharge amount varies, and the density of the image is uneven. It will be.

  In view of this, conventionally, an island-shaped convex portion composed of a thick portion to be bonded to the piezoelectric element is divided into a plurality of parts to reduce the protrusion of the adhesive (Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-053123 A

  However, since the nozzle arrangement density has been increased with the improvement in image quality, only the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above causes the adhesive to protrude from adjacent thick portions in the nozzle arrangement direction. There is a problem that the adhesives are connected to each other.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent adhesives that protrude between adjacent thick portions in the nozzle arrangement direction from being connected.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a liquid discharge head according to the present invention includes:
A flow path plate that forms a plurality of individual liquid chambers through which a plurality of nozzles that discharge liquid droplets communicate,
A diaphragm member that forms a vibration region to be a part of a wall surface of the plurality of individual liquid chambers;
An electromechanical conversion member including a drive unit that pressurizes the individual liquid chambers through the vibration region of the diaphragm member, and a column unit that corresponds to a partition wall between the individual liquid chambers,
The diaphragm member is composed of a thick part and a thin part,
The drive unit and the support column of the electromechanical conversion member are adhesively bonded to the thick part of the diaphragm member,
The thick part formed side by side in the nozzle arrangement direction of the diaphragm member is formed with one or a plurality of island parts divided by a dividing groove part,
The divided groove portions of the thick portions adjacent to each other in the nozzle arrangement direction are configured to be shifted in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can prevent that the adhesive agent protruded between the thick parts adjacent in a nozzle arrangement direction is connected.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram along a direction (liquid chamber longitudinal direction) orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the head for explaining an example of the liquid discharge head according to the present invention. It is a cross-sectional explanatory drawing showing the AA cross section of FIG. 1 which similarly follows a nozzle arrangement | sequence direction (liquid chamber short direction). It is principal part plane explanatory drawing which looked at the diaphragm member in 1st Embodiment of this invention from the piezoelectric actuator side. It is an explanatory plan view for explaining the positional relationship with the piezoelectric actuator. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing which looked at the diaphragm member in 2nd Embodiment of this invention from the piezoelectric actuator side. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing which looked at the diaphragm member in 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the piezoelectric actuator side. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing which looked at the diaphragm member in 4th Embodiment of this invention from the piezoelectric actuator side. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing which looked at the diaphragm member in 5th Embodiment of this invention from the piezoelectric actuator side. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing which looked at the diaphragm member in 6th Embodiment of this invention from the piezoelectric actuator side. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing which looked at the diaphragm member in 7th Embodiment of this invention from the piezoelectric actuator side. FIG. 4 is a side explanatory view of a mechanism portion for explaining an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of the mechanism part.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. An example of the liquid discharge head according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram along a direction (liquid chamber longitudinal direction) orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the head, and FIG. 2 represents an AA cross section of FIG. 1 along the nozzle arrangement direction (liquid chamber short direction). FIG.

  In this liquid discharge head, a nozzle plate 1, a flow path plate (liquid chamber substrate) 2, and a vibration plate member 3 as a thin film member are laminated and joined. And the piezoelectric actuator 11 which displaces the diaphragm member 3 and the frame member 20 are provided as a common flow path member.

  Liquid supply also serving as a fluid resistance unit for supplying liquid to the individual liquid chamber 6 and the individual liquid chamber 6 connected to the plurality of nozzles 4 for discharging droplets by the nozzle plate 1, the flow path plate 2 and the vibration plate member 3. A path 7 and a liquid introduction part 8 that is continuous with the liquid supply path 7 are formed.

  Then, the liquid is supplied from the common liquid chamber 10 serving as the common flow path of the frame member 20 to the plurality of individual liquid chambers 6 through the filter portion 9 formed on the diaphragm member 3 through the liquid introduction portion 8 and the liquid supply path 7. .

  Here, the nozzle plate 1 is formed of a nickel (Ni) metal plate and is manufactured by an electroforming method (electroforming). Not limited to this, other metal members, resin members, laminated members of resin layers and metal layers, and the like can be used. In the nozzle plate 1, for example, nozzles 4 having a diameter of 10 to 35 μm are formed corresponding to the individual liquid chambers 6 and bonded to the flow path plate 2 with an adhesive. Further, a liquid repellent layer is provided on the droplet discharge side surface (surface in the discharge direction: discharge surface or the surface opposite to the individual liquid chamber 6 side) of the nozzle plate 1.

  The flow path plate 2 is formed by etching the single crystal silicon substrate to form grooves that constitute the individual liquid chamber 6, the liquid supply path 7, the liquid introduction part 8, and the like. The flow path plate 2 can also be formed, for example, by etching a metal plate such as a SUS substrate with an acidic etching solution, or performing machining such as pressing.

  The diaphragm member 3 also serves as a wall surface member that forms the wall surface of the individual liquid chamber 6 of the flow path plate 2, and here, three layers of the first layer 3A, the second layer 3B, and the third layer 3C formed by Ni electroforming. It is formed with a structure (multi-layer structure). A deformable vibration region 30 that forms a part of the wall surface of the individual liquid chamber 6 is formed by the first layer 3 </ b> A of the vibration plate member 3.

  The piezoelectric actuator 11 includes an electromechanical conversion member as a driving means (actuator means, pressure generating means) for deforming the vibration region 30 of the diaphragm member 3 on the opposite side of the diaphragm member 3 from the individual liquid chamber 6. Is arranged.

  The piezoelectric actuator 11 has a plurality of laminated piezoelectric members 12 bonded with adhesive on a base member 13, and the piezoelectric member 12 is grooved by half-cut dicing to have a required number of piezoelectric members 12. Columnar piezoelectric elements (piezoelectric columns) are formed in a comb shape at predetermined intervals.

  The piezoelectric columns 12A and 12B of the piezoelectric member 12 are the same, but the driving column 12A is a driving column that is driven by giving a driving waveform, and the driving column 12A is a non-piezoelectric column that is a simple column without giving a driving waveform. The driving column 12B is distinguished.

  The driving column 12A is joined to the vibration region 30 of the diaphragm member 3 to the thick portion 31 that is an island-shaped convex portion formed by the second layer 3B and the third layer 3C, and the non-driving column 12B is vibrated. Similarly, the plate member 3 is joined to a thick portion 32 which is a convex portion formed corresponding to the individual liquid chamber interval wall portion 6a.

  This piezoelectric member 12 is formed by alternately laminating piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes, and each internal electrode is pulled out to the end face to be provided with an external electrode, and can be used to supply a drive signal to the external electrode of the drive column 12A. An FPC 15 as a flexible wiring board having flexibility is connected.

  The frame member 20 is formed by injection molding using, for example, epoxy resin or thermoplastic resin such as polyphenylene sulfite, and a common liquid chamber 10 to which liquid is supplied from a head tank or a liquid cartridge (not shown) is formed.

  Further, a part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber 10 is a damper region 21 as a deformable region formed by one layer constituting the diaphragm member 3.

  In the liquid discharge head configured as described above, for example, the drive column 12A contracts by lowering the voltage applied to the drive column 12A from the reference potential, and the vibration region 30 of the diaphragm member 3 descends, so that the individual liquid chambers 6 As the volume expands, the liquid flows into the individual liquid chamber 6.

  Thereafter, the voltage applied to the drive column 12A is increased to extend the drive column 12A in the stacking direction, the vibration region 30 of the diaphragm member 3 is deformed in the nozzle 4 direction, and the volume of the individual liquid chamber 6 is contracted. The liquid in the individual liquid chamber 6 is pressurized, and droplets are ejected (jetted) from the nozzle 4.

  Then, by returning the voltage applied to the drive column 12A to the reference potential, the vibration region 30 of the diaphragm member 3 is restored to the initial position, and the individual liquid chamber 6 expands to generate a negative pressure. The liquid is filled into the individual liquid chamber 6 from the liquid chamber 10 through the liquid supply path 7. Therefore, after the vibration of the meniscus surface of the nozzle 4 is attenuated and stabilized, the operation proceeds to the next droplet discharge.

  Note that the driving method of the head is not limited to the above example (pulling-pushing), and it is also possible to perform striking or pushing depending on the direction to which the driving waveform is given.

  Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of the main part of the diaphragm member as viewed from the piezoelectric actuator side in the same embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view for explaining the positional relationship with the piezoelectric actuator.

  The diaphragm member 3 includes a thin portion having only the first layer 3A and a thick portion in which the second layer 3B and the third layer 3C are formed on the first layer 3A.

  As described above, the driving column 12A that is the driving portion of the piezoelectric member 12 that is the electromechanical conversion member is bonded to the thick portion 31 that is the island-shaped convex portion formed in the vibration region 30 of the diaphragm member 3. Agent bonded. Further, the non-driving portion 12B, which is a support portion of the piezoelectric member 12, is adhesively bonded to a thick portion 32 formed at a position corresponding to the liquid chamber interval wall 6a.

  Here, in the thick part 31 to which the drive column 12A is joined, one division groove part 31c is formed along the nozzle arrangement direction, and a plurality (two in this case) are formed in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction. Island portions 31a and 31a are divided and formed.

  The portion to be the divided groove portion 31c is formed up to the second layer 3B without forming the third layer 3C. Thereby, the thick part 31 has the part of the island part 31a and the part of the division | segmentation groove part 31c from which thickness differs. The dividing groove 31c is thicker than the thin portion (first layer 3A). By making the thickness of the dividing groove part 31c thicker than the thin part (first layer 3A), the pressure transmission to the individual liquid chamber 6 does not decrease.

  In addition, in the thick portion 32 where the non-driving column 12B is joined, independent island portions 32a are dividedly formed by two divided groove portions 32c along the nozzle arrangement direction.

  The portion to be the dividing groove 32c is also formed up to the second layer 3B without forming the third layer 3C. Thereby, the thick part 32 has the part of the island part 32a and the part of the division | segmentation groove part 32c from which thickness differs. Moreover, the thickness of the division | segmentation groove part 32c is thicker than the thin part (1st layer 3A).

  At this time, the divided grooves 31c and 32c of the adjacent thick portions 31 and 32 formed side by side in the nozzle arrangement direction are formed so as to be shifted in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction.

  In the present embodiment, the dividing grooves 31c and 32c of the thick portions 31 and 32 are staggered in the direction in which the island portions 31a and 32a of the thick portions 31 and 32 adjacent in the nozzle arrangement direction are orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction. It is formed in the position arrange | positioned.

  Therefore, when the drive column 12A is bonded to the thick portion 31 with an adhesive, a part of the adhesive flows into the divided groove portion 31c and the protrusion is reduced. Similarly, when the non-driving column 12B is bonded to the thick portion 32 with an adhesive, a part of the adhesive flows into the dividing groove 32c and the protrusion is reduced.

  And even if the adhesive that has flowed into the dividing groove portion 31c and the dividing groove portion 32c protrudes in the nozzle arrangement direction, the dividing groove portion 31c and the dividing groove portion 32c are formed with their positions shifted in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction. It is prevented that the adhesive which protrudes mutually is connected.

  Thus, the diaphragm member is composed of a thick part and a thin part, and the drive part and the support part of the electromechanical conversion member are bonded and joined to the thick part of the diaphragm member, and the nozzle arrangement direction of the diaphragm member In the thick part formed side by side, one or a plurality of island parts divided by the dividing groove part are formed, and the dividing groove part of the thick part adjacent in the nozzle arrangement direction is in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction. By setting it as the structure formed by shifting | deviating, it can prevent that the adhesive agent protruded between the thick parts adjacent in a nozzle arrangement direction is connected.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the diaphragm member in the same embodiment as viewed from the piezoelectric actuator side.

  In the present embodiment, two divided groove portions 31c are formed in the thick portion 31 to form three island portions 31a, and three divided groove portions 32c are formed in the thick portion 32 to form two island portions. 32a is formed.

  By increasing the number of dividing grooves in this manner, the amount of adhesive protruding in the nozzle arrangement direction can be further reduced, and the adhesives are less likely to be connected.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the diaphragm member in the same embodiment as viewed from the piezoelectric actuator side.

  In this embodiment, the width B2 of the thick portion 32 in the nozzle arrangement direction is wider than the width B1 of the thick portion 31 in the nozzle arrangement direction.

  And in the thick part 31, the one division | segmentation groove part 31c is formed and the two island parts 31a are formed. On the other hand, in the thick portion 32, six divided groove portions 32c are formed to form five island portions 32a.

  In this way, by increasing the number of the dividing groove portions 32a of the thick portion 32, the length C2 of the island portion 32a in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction is made larger than the length C1 of the island portion 31a of the thick portion 31. It is shortened.

  In other words, by increasing the width B2 of the thick part 32 in the nozzle arrangement direction, the amount of adhesive protruding when the adhesive is joined to the non-driving column 12B is increased. The amount of protrusion is reduced by shortening the length C2 of the island part 32a.

  Further, the length (groove width) D1 in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the divided groove portion 31c is made wider than the groove width D2 of the divided groove portion 32c.

  Thereby, the acceptance amount of the adhesive protruding from the island part 31a of the thick part 31 is increased.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the diaphragm member viewed from the piezoelectric actuator side in the same embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, contrary to the third embodiment, the width B1 of the thick portion 31 in the nozzle arrangement direction is wider than the width B2 of the thick portion 32 in the nozzle arrangement direction.

  And in the thick part 31, the five division | segmentation groove parts 31c are formed, and the six island parts 31a are formed. On the other hand, in the thick portion 32, two dividing groove portions 32c are formed to form one island portion 32a.

  In this way, by increasing the number of the dividing groove portions 31a of the thick portion 31, the length C1 of the island portion 31a in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction is made larger than the length C2 of the island portion 32a of the thick portion 32. It is shortened.

  In other words, by increasing the width B1 of the thick portion 31 in the nozzle arrangement direction, the amount of adhesive protruding when the adhesive is joined to the drive column 12A is increased. The amount of protrusion is reduced by shortening the length C1 of the portion 31a.

  Also here, when the width of the island is wide, the length of the island is shortened to further suppress the protrusion of the adhesive.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the diaphragm member viewed from the piezoelectric actuator side in the same embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the number of dividing groove portions 31c formed in the thick portion 31 is selected, and the thick portion 31 is formed with a plurality of island portions 31a having the same width B1 and length C1. Similarly, the number of the dividing groove portions 32c formed in the thick portion 32 is selected, and a plurality of island portions 32a having the same width B2 and length C2 are formed in the thick portion 32.

  By comprising in this way, the protrusion of an adhesive agent can be made uniform in a nozzle arrangement direction and the direction orthogonal to a nozzle arrangement direction, and it becomes difficult to connect adhesives in a nozzle arrangement direction further.

  In each of the above embodiments, the diaphragm member 3 has a three-layer structure, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a structure having four or more layers can also be used.

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the diaphragm member as viewed from the piezoelectric actuator side in the same embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the diaphragm member 3 having a two-layer structure of the first layer and the second layer of the first embodiment is used, for example.

  As in the first embodiment, island portions 31a are formed in the thick portion 31 by the dividing groove portions 31c, and island portions 32a are formed in the thick portion 32 by the dividing groove portions 32c.

  At this time, in the vibration region 30, the portion where the divided groove portion 31 c is formed becomes a thin portion 30 a and there is a thin portion 30 a that does not directly displace the individual liquid chamber 6. However, by reducing the groove width, The compliance of the part 30a can be reduced.

  Thereby, the pressure can be transmitted to the individual liquid chamber 6 as when the two island portions 31a and 31a are connected to each other.

  Moreover, the island part 31a of the thick part 31 and the island part 32a of the thick part 32 are staggered, so that the protruding adhesive is less likely to be connected.

  Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the diaphragm member as viewed from the piezoelectric actuator side in the same embodiment.

  This embodiment uses a piezoelectric column of the piezoelectric member 12 as a drive column 12A that is a drive unit, and eliminates a support column (the non-drive column 12B in each of the embodiments is also a drive column 12A). This is an example of a head. The diaphragm member 3 has a two-layer structure.

  In addition, an island portion 31a is formed by the dividing groove portion 31c in the thick portion 31A to be joined to the driving portion, and an island portion 31a is formed by the dividing groove portion 31c in the thick portion 31B to be joined to the driving portion.

  At this time, the thick part 31A and the thick part 31B that are adjacent in the nozzle arrangement direction form the dividing groove part 31c so that the island parts 31a and 31a are staggered.

  This makes it difficult for the adhesives protruding from the thick portions 31A and 31B adjacent in the nozzle arrangement direction to be connected.

  In each of the above embodiments, the diaphragm member 3 is a multilayer member made by Ni electroforming, but is not limited to Ni, and is not limited to electroforming. For example, a plurality of thicknesses of a thin part and a thick part can be formed by etching.

  Next, an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is an explanatory side view of the mechanism part of the apparatus, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory plan view of the main part of the mechanism part.

  This image forming apparatus is a serial type image forming apparatus, and a carriage 233 is slidably held in a main scanning direction by main and slave guide rods 231 and 232 which are guide members horizontally mounted on left and right side plates 221A and 221B. . Then, the carriage 233 is moved and scanned in the arrow direction (carriage main scanning direction) via a timing belt by a main scanning motor (not shown).

  The carriage 233 is mounted with a recording head 234 including the liquid ejection head according to the present invention for ejecting ink droplets of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). ing. The recording head 234 is mounted with a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and the ink droplet ejection direction facing downward.

  Each recording head 234 has two nozzle rows. Then, one nozzle row of one recording head 234a discharges black (K) droplets, and the other nozzle row discharges cyan (C) droplets. One nozzle row of the other recording head 234b discharges magenta (M) droplets, and the other nozzle row discharges yellow (Y) droplets. Here, a configuration in which droplets of four colors are ejected in a two-head configuration is used, but it is also possible to arrange four nozzle rows per head and eject each of the four colors with one head.

  Further, the ink of each color is replenished and supplied from the ink cartridge 210 of each color to the head tank 235 of the recording head 234 via the supply tube 236 of each color.

  On the other hand, as a paper feeding unit for feeding the paper 242 stacked on the paper stacking unit (pressure plate) 241 of the paper feed tray 202, a half-moon roller (feeding) that separates and feeds the paper 242 one by one from the paper stacking unit 241. Paper roller) 243 and a separation pad 244 facing the paper feed roller 243. The separation pad 244 is urged toward the sheet feeding roller 243 side.

  A guide 245 for guiding the paper 242, a counter roller 246, a conveyance guide member 247, and a tip pressure roller 249 are used to feed the paper 242 fed from the paper feeding unit to the lower side of the recording head 234. And a pressing member 248 having In addition, a transport belt 251 is provided as a transport means for electrostatically attracting the fed paper 242 and transporting it at a position facing the recording head 234.

  The conveyor belt 251 is an endless belt, and is configured to wrap around the conveyor roller 252 and the tension roller 253 so as to circulate in the belt conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction). In addition, a charging roller 256 that is a charging unit for charging the surface of the transport belt 251 is provided. The charging roller 256 is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface layer of the conveyor belt 251 and to rotate following the rotation of the conveyor belt 251. The transport belt 251 rotates in the belt transport direction when the transport roller 252 is rotationally driven through timing by a sub-scanning motor (not shown).

  Further, as a paper discharge unit for discharging the paper 242 recorded by the recording head 234, a separation claw 261 for separating the paper 242 from the transport belt 251, a paper discharge roller 262, and a paper discharge roller 263 are provided. A paper discharge tray 203 is provided below the paper discharge roller 262.

  A double-sided unit 271 is detachably attached to the back surface of the apparatus main body. The duplex unit 271 takes in the paper 242 returned by the reverse rotation of the transport belt 251, reverses it, and feeds it again between the counter roller 246 and the transport belt 251. The upper surface of the duplex unit 271 is a manual feed tray 272.

  Further, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 281 for maintaining and recovering the nozzle state of the recording head 234 is disposed in a non-printing area on one side in the scanning direction of the carriage 233. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 281 includes cap members (hereinafter referred to as “caps”) 282a and 282b (hereinafter referred to as “caps 282” when not distinguished) for capping the nozzle surfaces of the recording head 234. . The maintenance / recovery mechanism 281 includes a wiper blade 283 that is a blade member for wiping the nozzle surface, and idle discharge for discharging droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid. An empty discharge receiver 284 for receiving droplets is provided.

  Further, in the non-printing area on the other side in the scanning direction of the carriage 233, there is an empty space for receiving a liquid droplet when performing an empty discharge for discharging a liquid droplet that does not contribute to the recording in order to discharge the recording liquid thickened during the recording. A discharge receiver 288 is disposed. The idle discharge receiver 288 includes an opening 289 along the nozzle row direction of the recording head 234 and the like.

  In this image forming apparatus configured as described above, the sheets 242 are separated and fed one by one from the sheet feeding tray 202, and the sheet 242 fed substantially vertically upward is guided by the guide 245, and is conveyed to the conveyor belt 251 and the counter. It is sandwiched between the rollers 246 and conveyed. Further, the leading edge of the sheet 242 is guided by the conveying guide 237 and pressed against the conveying belt 251 by the leading end pressure roller 249, and the conveying direction is changed by about 90 °.

  When the paper 242 is fed onto the charged transport belt 251, the paper 242 is attracted to the transport belt 251, and the paper 242 is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the transport belt 251.

  Therefore, by driving the recording head 234 according to the image signal while moving the carriage 233, ink droplets are ejected onto the stopped paper 242 to record one line, and after the paper 242 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, Record the next line. Upon receiving a recording end signal or a signal that the trailing edge of the paper 242 has reached the recording area, the recording operation is finished and the paper 242 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 203.

  As described above, since the image forming apparatus includes the liquid discharge head according to the present invention as a recording head, a high-quality image can be stably formed.

  In the present application, “paper” is not limited to paper, but includes OHP, cloth, glass, a substrate, and the like, and can be attached to ink droplets and other liquids. This includes recording media, recording media, recording paper, recording paper, and the like. In addition, image formation, recording, printing, printing, and printing are all synonymous.

  The “image forming apparatus” means an apparatus that forms an image by discharging a liquid onto a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like. In addition, “image formation” not only applies an image having a meaning such as a character or a figure to a medium but also applies an image having no meaning such as a pattern to the medium (simply applying a droplet to the medium). It also means to land on.

  The “ink” is not limited to an ink unless otherwise specified, but includes any liquid that can form an image, such as a recording liquid, a fixing processing liquid, or a liquid. Used generically. For example, DNA samples, resists, pattern materials, resins and the like are also included.

  In addition, the “image” is not limited to a planar image, and includes an image given to a three-dimensionally formed image and an image formed by three-dimensionally modeling a solid itself.

  Further, the image forming apparatus includes both a serial type image forming apparatus and a line type image forming apparatus, unless otherwise limited.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Nozzle plate 2 Flow path plate 3 Vibration board member 4 Nozzle 5 Individual flow path 6 Individual liquid chamber 8 Liquid introduction part 10 Common liquid chamber 12 Piezoelectric member 12A Drive column (drive part)
12B Non-drive part (support part, non-drive)
20 Frame member 30 Vibration area (thin wall)
31, 31A, 31B, 32 Thick part 31a, 32a Island part 31c, 32c Dividing groove part 233 Carriage 234a, 234b Recording head

Claims (9)

A flow path plate that forms a plurality of individual liquid chambers through which a plurality of nozzles that discharge liquid droplets communicate,
A diaphragm member that forms a vibration region to be a part of a wall surface of the plurality of individual liquid chambers;
An electromechanical conversion member including a drive unit that pressurizes the individual liquid chambers through the vibration region of the diaphragm member, and a column unit that corresponds to a partition wall between the individual liquid chambers,
The diaphragm member is composed of a thick part and a thin part,
The drive unit and the support column of the electromechanical conversion member are adhesively bonded to the thick part of the diaphragm member,
The thick part formed side by side in the nozzle arrangement direction of the diaphragm member is formed with one or a plurality of island parts divided by a dividing groove part,
The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the divided groove portions of the thick portion adjacent in the nozzle arrangement direction are formed so as to be shifted in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction. A flow path plate that forms a plurality of individual liquid chambers through which a plurality of nozzles that discharge liquid droplets communicate,
A diaphragm member that forms a vibration region to be a part of a wall surface of the plurality of individual liquid chambers;
An electromechanical conversion member including a drive unit that pressurizes the individual liquid chamber through the vibration region of the vibration plate member,
The diaphragm member is composed of a thick part and a thin part,
The drive portion of the electromechanical conversion member is adhesively bonded to the thick portion of the diaphragm member,
The thick part formed side by side in the nozzle arrangement direction of the diaphragm member is formed with one or a plurality of island parts divided by a dividing groove part,
The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the divided groove portions of the thick portion adjacent in the nozzle arrangement direction are formed so as to be shifted in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction.   3. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the island portions of the thick portions adjacent in the nozzle arrangement direction are staggered in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction.   4. The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the divided groove portion of the thick portion is larger than that of the thin portion.   The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm member has a multilayer structure.   6. The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the island portion has the same length in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction and the same width in the nozzle arrangement direction.   6. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the island portions adjacent in the nozzle arrangement direction have different lengths in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction.   8. The liquid ejection according to claim 7, wherein the island portions adjacent in the nozzle arrangement direction have a shorter length in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction, with the island portion having a wider width in the nozzle arrangement direction. head.   An image forming apparatus comprising the liquid discharge head according to claim 1.

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