JP2016074201A - Head unit, device, liquid discharge unit and device for discharging liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a head unit that can reduce adhesion of an adhesive to an area other than a joining face at the time of joining a head to a head holding member.SOLUTION: One or a plurality of heads 101 are joined to a head holding member 102, and the heads 101 and the head holding member 102 have: reference faces 110 and 120 that contact each other; first opposing faces 111 and 121 that oppose to each other and form a first space 131; and second opposing faces 112 and 122 that oppose to each other and form a second space 132 respectively. An interval of the second space 132 is made narrower than an interval of the first space 131, in a mounting direction. To the first space 131 and the second space 132 are joined the heads 101 and the head holding member 102 with filled adhesives 103 and 104 respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a head unit, an apparatus, a liquid ejection unit, and an apparatus for ejecting liquid.

  As a head unit used in an image forming apparatus, a head unit (also referred to as a head chip) is known that is held on a head holding member by adhesive bonding.

  For example, an ink jet head having a function of ejecting ink and a base substrate for fixing the ink jet head are provided. The abutting portion where the ink jet head and the base substrate are in contact with each other, and the ink jet head and the base at different positions. There is known an inkjet head unit that includes an adhesive portion that is bonded to a substrate via an adhesive (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-195689

  As described above, when the head and the head holding member are fixed with an adhesive, in order to obtain a sufficient bonding strength, for example, in a state where the head and the head holding member are positioned and temporarily fixed, a large bonding strength is obtained. Fixing with the resulting adhesive is required.

  When such bonding is performed, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, adhesion of the adhesive to the outside of the bonding surface, such as having to apply an adhesive for temporary fixing around the head, is performed. There is a problem of increasing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce adhesion of an adhesive to the outside of a joining surface when joining a head and a head holding member.

In order to solve the above problems, a head unit according to the present invention is:
One or more heads are bonded to the head holding member;
The head and the head holding member are respectively
Reference planes that touch each other and contact,
A first opposing surface that forms a first space opposite to each other;
A second opposing surface that forms a second space opposite to each other,
When the direction in which the reference surface of the head is brought into contact with the reference surface of the head holding member is the mounting direction,
The second space is narrower in the mounting direction than the first space,
The head and the head holding member are joined with adhesives filled in the first space and the second space, respectively.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce adhesion of the adhesive to the outside of the joining surface when joining the head and the head holding member.

It is a perspective explanatory view of an example of a head unit concerning the present invention. It is an exploded perspective view similarly. It is the perspective explanatory view which looked at the head used for description of the joining structure of a head and a head support member from the joining surface side. It is a plane explanatory drawing similarly. It is the perspective explanatory drawing seen from the holding surface side of a head holding member. It is a plane explanatory drawing similarly. FIG. 7 is an explanatory cross-sectional view in a state where a head and a head support member corresponding to a cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. 6 are joined together. Similarly, it is a schematic enlarged explanatory view of the reference plane, the first space, and the second space portion of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a schematic enlarged explanatory view of FIG. 8 excluding the adhesive in the first space and the second space. It is explanatory drawing explaining the positional relationship of the reference surface of a head side, a 1st opposing surface, and a 2nd opposing surface similarly. Similarly, it is an explanatory view for explaining the positional relationship between the reference surface on the head holding member side, the first facing surface and the second facing surface. It is explanatory drawing explaining the positional relationship of the reference surface by the side of a head in 1st Embodiment of this invention, a 1st opposing surface, and a 2nd opposing surface. Similarly, it is an explanatory view for explaining the positional relationship between the reference surface on the head holding member side, the first facing surface and the second facing surface. It is explanatory drawing explaining the positional relationship of the reference surface by the side of a head in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, a 1st opposing surface, and a 2nd opposing surface. Similarly, it is an explanatory view for explaining the positional relationship between the reference surface on the head holding member side, the first facing surface and the second facing surface. It is a typical expanded explanatory view of the reference plane, the 1st space, and the 2nd space part in a 4th embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective explanatory drawing of an example of the liquid discharge head which comprises a head. It is a principal part section explanatory drawing which follows a direction which intersects perpendicularly with a nozzle arrangement direction. It is a principal part sectional view similarly along a nozzle arrangement direction. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same liquid discharge head frame member. FIG. 21 is a perspective cross-sectional explanatory view along the nozzle arrangement direction of FIG. 20. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of an example of the apparatus which discharges the liquid which is an example of the apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a principal part side surface explanatory drawing of the apparatus similarly. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of the other example of the liquid discharge unit which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. An example of the head unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the head unit, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the head unit.

  The head unit 100 includes two heads 101 and a head holding member 102 obtained by bonding each head 101 with an adhesive. The head 101 may include an intermediate member that is attached to the head holding member 102. Further, the number of heads 101 held by one head holding member 102 may be one or three or more.

  Next, the joining structure of the head and the head support member will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of the head viewed from the joining surface side, FIG. 4 is also a plan explanatory view, FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of the head holding member viewed from the holding surface side, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram in a state where the head and the head support member corresponding to the cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. 6 are joined. FIG. 8 is a schematic enlarged explanatory view of the reference plane, the first space, and the second space portion of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of FIG. 8 except that the adhesives of the first space and the second space portion are removed. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the reference surface on the head side, the first opposing surface, and the second opposing surface, and FIG. 11 is the positional relationship between the reference surface on the head holding member side, the first opposing surface, and the second opposing surface. It is explanatory drawing explaining these.

  The head 101 is inserted into the opening 102A of the head holding member 102 and joined with adhesives 103 and 104 as shown in FIG.

  Here, the head 101 and the head holding member 102 are provided with a head-side reference surface 110 and a holding member-side reference surface 120 that are in contact with each other.

  Here, in a state where the head 101 is bonded to the head holding member 102 with the adhesives 103 and 104, the reference surfaces 110 and 120 are merely in contact with each other. Thus, by not interposing the adhesive between the reference surfaces 110 and 120, the inclination of the reference surfaces 110 and 120 and the inclination of the nozzle surface caused by interposing the adhesive do not occur.

  The head 101 and the head holding member 102 are provided with first facing surfaces 111 and 121 that form a first space 131 facing each other.

  Furthermore, the head 101 and the head holding member 102 are provided with second facing surfaces 112 and 122 that form a second space 132 facing each other.

  Here, the distance D2 in the mounting direction of the second space 132 formed between the second facing surfaces 112 and 122 is the distance in the mounting direction of the first space 131 formed between the first facing surfaces 111 and 121. It is formed so as to be narrower than D1.

  That is, a direction in which the reference surface 110 of the head 101 is brought into contact with the reference surface 120 of the head holding member 102, that is, a direction in which the head 101 is inserted into the opening 102A of the head holding member 102 is referred to as an “attachment direction”.

  In the present embodiment, in the head 101 that is one of the head and the head holding member, the reference surface 110 and the second opposing surface 112 are provided at the same position in the direction along the mounting direction, and the first opposing surface 111 is the reference surface 110. It is provided in the position which becomes a dent.

  Further, the head holding member 102, which is the other of the head and the head holding member, has the first facing surface 121 and the second facing surface 122 in the same position in the direction along the mounting direction where the first facing surface 121 and the reference surface 120 are recessed. Is provided.

  Therefore, in a state where the reference surface 110 of the head 101 is in contact with the reference surface 120 of the head holding member 102, the distance D2 between the second facing surfaces 112 and 122 is narrower than the distance D1 between the first facing surfaces 111 and 121. Become.

  Further, the head holding member 102 is provided with a groove 123 for releasing the adhesive at the boundary between the reference surface 120 and the first facing surface 121 and at the boundary between the first facing surface 121 and the second facing surface 122. ing.

  With this configuration, when the head 101 is bonded to the head holding member 102 with an adhesive, for example, an ultraviolet curable adhesive is used as the adhesive 104 that fills the second space 132, and the first space 131 is used. A thermosetting adhesive is used as the adhesive 103 to be filled.

  That is, the adhesive 103 filled in the first space 131 and the adhesive 104 filled in the second space 132 are of different types.

  In the present embodiment, the adhesive 104 filled in the second space 132 is an adhesive having a faster curing rate than the adhesive 103 filled in the first space 131.

  Here, the reason why the second space 132 having a narrower gap width than the first space 131 is filled with the adhesive 104 having a high curing speed is that the thickness of the filled adhesive is reduced and the adhesive is faster. This is because the adhesive 104 is cured and the displacement between components until the adhesive 103 for main bonding is cured is suppressed.

  Thereby, for example, the head 101 and the head holding member 102 are positioned, and the ultraviolet curable adhesive 104 is cured with ultraviolet rays, thereby fixing the head 101 and the head holding member 102 in a predetermined positional relationship. Can do.

  Thereafter, the thermosetting adhesive 103 is cured, so that sufficient bonding strength between the head 101 and the head holding member 102 can be ensured.

  At this time, since the adhesives 103 and 104 are filled in the first space 131 and the second space 132 formed by the facing surfaces of the head 101 and the head holding member 102, the adhesives 103 and 104 go out of the head 101. Adhesion of the adhesive can be reduced.

  In the longitudinal direction of the head 101 (nozzle arrangement direction), the first facing surface 111 of the head 101 is formed at a position sandwiched between second facing surfaces 112 formed at both ends of the head 101. Similarly, the first facing surface 121 of the head holding member 102 is formed at a position sandwiched between the second facing surfaces 122 formed at both ends of the head holding member 102 in the longitudinal direction of the head 101.

  Here, since the second opposing surfaces 112 and 122 are fixed by the adhesive 104 having a faster curing speed than the adhesive 103, the first opposing surfaces 111 and 121 are fixed before the first opposing surfaces 111 and 121 are fixed by the adhesive 103. The two opposing surfaces 112 and 122 are fixed.

  Thereby, until the adhesive 103 between the 1st opposing surfaces 111 and 121 hardens | cures, the both sides will be in the fixed state. Therefore, a predetermined positional relationship between the first opposing surface 111, the second opposing surface 112, and the reference surface 110 on the head 101 side, and the first opposing surface 121, the second opposing surface 122, and the reference surface 120 on the head holding member 102 side. The head 101 can be fixed to the head holding member 102 while maintaining the above.

  In the present embodiment, the head holding member 102 is provided with a groove portion 123 that allows the adhesive to escape at a boundary portion between the reference surface 120 and the first facing surface 121 and at a boundary portion between the first facing surface 121 and the second facing surface 122. As a result, the protrusion of the adhesives 103 and 104 can be more reliably suppressed. In addition, the depth of the groove part 123 is formed deeper than the first space 131.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the reference surface on the head side, the first facing surface, and the second facing surface in the same embodiment, and FIG. 13 is also the reference surface on the head holding member side, the first facing surface, and the second facing surface. It is explanatory drawing explaining the positional relationship of an opposing surface.

  In the present embodiment, contrary to the first embodiment, the head 101 which is one of the head and the head holding member is configured such that the first facing surface 111 and the second facing surface 112 are the reference surface 110 in the direction along the mounting direction. Are provided at the same position at a position that is a recess.

  On the other hand, in the head holding member 102 which is the other of the head and the head holding member, the reference surface 120 and the second facing surface 122 are provided at the same position in the direction along the mounting direction, and the first facing surface 121 is formed on the reference surface 120. It is provided in the position which becomes a dent with respect.

  Therefore, when the reference surface 110 of the head 101 is in contact with the reference surface 120 of the head holding member 102, the distance between the second facing surfaces 112 and 122 is narrower than the distance between the first facing surfaces 111 and 121.

  Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the reference surface on the head side and the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface in the embodiment, and FIG. 15 is also the reference surface on the head holding member side, the first opposing surface, and the second opposing surface. It is explanatory drawing explaining the positional relationship of an opposing surface.

  In the present embodiment, the head and the head holding member differ in the positions of the reference surface, the first facing surface, and the second facing surface in the direction along the mounting direction.

  That is, the head 101 which is one of the head and the head holding member is a position where the first facing surface 111 and the second facing surface 112 are recessed with respect to the reference surface 110 in the direction along the mounting direction. The surface 112 is provided between the reference surface 110 and the first facing surface 111.

  On the other hand, the head holding member 102 which is the other of the head and the head holding member is a position where the first facing surface 121 and the second facing surface 122 are recessed with respect to the reference surface 120 in the direction along the mounting direction. The two opposing surfaces 122 are provided between the reference surface 120 and the first opposing surface 121.

  Therefore, when the reference surface 110 of the head 101 is in contact with the reference surface 120 of the head holding member 102, the distance between the second facing surfaces 112 and 122 is narrower than the distance between the first facing surfaces 111 and 121.

  Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a schematic enlarged explanatory view of a reference plane, a first space, and a second space portion in the same embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the same adhesive 105 is filled in the first space 131 and the second space 132.

  As described above, since the first space 131 and the second space 132 are different from each other, the curing time can be varied even when the same adhesive 105 is used, and the second adhesive layer is usually thin. The adhesive 105 on the space 132 side can be cured first.

Next, an example of the liquid discharge head constituting the head 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid discharge head, FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the main part along the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction, and FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the main part along the nozzle arrangement direction.
It is.

  The liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate 1, a flow path plate 2, a vibration plate 3, a piezoelectric element 11 that is a pressure generating unit, a holding substrate 50, and a frame member 70 that also serves as a common liquid chamber member. Yes. In the present embodiment, a portion constituted by the flow path plate 2, the vibration plate 3 and the piezoelectric element 11 is referred to as an “actuator substrate 20”. However, this does not mean that an independent member is formed as the actuator substrate 20 and is joined to the nozzle plate 1, the holding substrate 50, and the frame member 70.

  A plurality of nozzles 4 for discharging droplets are formed on the nozzle plate 1. Here, four nozzle rows in which the nozzles 4 are arranged are arranged.

  The flow path plate 2, together with the nozzle plate 1 and the vibration plate 3, form an individual liquid chamber 6 that communicates with the nozzle 4, a fluid resistance portion 7 that communicates with the individual liquid chamber 6, and a liquid introduction portion (passage) 8 that communicates with the fluid resistance portion 7. doing. These individual liquid chamber 6, fluid resistance portion 7, and liquid introduction portion 8 are combined to form an individual flow path 5.

  The liquid introducing portion 8 communicates with the common liquid chamber 10 formed by the opening 10 </ b> A of the holding substrate 50 and the frame member 70 through the filter portion 9 formed in the diaphragm 3. The opening 10A is a part of the common liquid chamber 10 described later. The filter unit 9 is composed of one or a plurality of filter holes 91.

  The vibration plate 3 forms a deformable vibration region 30 that forms a part of the wall surface of the individual liquid chamber 6. A piezoelectric element 11 is provided integrally with the vibration region 30 on the surface of the vibration plate 3 opposite to the individual liquid chamber 6 in the vibration region 30, and a piezoelectric actuator is configured by the vibration region 30 and the piezoelectric element 11. Yes.

  The piezoelectric element 11 is configured by sequentially laminating a lower electrode 13, a piezoelectric layer (piezoelectric body) 12, and an upper electrode 14 from the vibration region 30 side. An interlayer insulating film 21 is formed on the piezoelectric element 11.

  The lower electrode 13 of the piezoelectric element 11 is drawn out through the common wiring 15 and connected to the connection pad 17. The upper electrode 14 is drawn out via the individual wiring 16 and connected to the connection pad 18 and is connected to a driving IC (driver IC) (not shown).

  The driver IC is mounted on the actuator substrate 20 by a method such as flip chip bonding or wire bonding so as to cover a region between the rows of piezoelectric element rows.

  On the actuator substrate 20, a recess (vibration chamber) 51 that accommodates the piezoelectric element 11 and a holding substrate 50 that forms a wiring space 52 are provided via the passivation layer 22.

  As described above, the holding substrate 50 also forms the opening 10A which is a part of the common liquid chamber. The holding substrate 50 is bonded to the diaphragm 3 side of the actuator substrate 20 with an adhesive.

  In this liquid discharge head configured as described above, by applying a voltage between the upper electrode 14 and the lower electrode 13 of the piezoelectric element 11 from the driver IC, the piezoelectric layer 12 expands in the electrode stacking direction, that is, the electric field direction, Shrink in a direction parallel to the vibration region 30.

  At this time, since the lower electrode 13 side is constrained by the vibration region 30, a tensile stress is generated on the lower electrode 13 side of the vibration region 30, and the vibration region 30 bends toward the individual liquid chamber 6 side and applies the internal liquid. By pressing, a droplet is discharged from the nozzle 4.

  Next, an example of the frame member will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 is a perspective explanatory view of the frame member, and FIG. 21 is a perspective cross-sectional explanatory view along the nozzle arrangement direction of FIG.

  The frame member 70 is bonded to the opposite side of the surface of the actuator substrate 20 to which the nozzle plate 1 is bonded, and a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to the plurality of individual liquid chambers 6 through which the plurality of nozzles 4 that discharge droplets communicate. 10 (having a concave portion that becomes the common liquid chamber 10).

  Further, the frame member 70 is formed with a recess 75 that accommodates the damper member 80 and serves as a damper chamber.

  In addition, the frame member 70 has a connecting pipe part that forms at least a part of a supply pipe part that supplies liquid from the outside to the common liquid chamber 10 at the central part of the concave part 75 in the longitudinal direction (nozzle arrangement direction) 76 is provided. A liquid supply path 71 is formed in the connecting pipe portion 76.

  The damper member 80 is disposed in a region between the wall portion of the frame member 70 constituting the connecting pipe portion 76 and the side wall of the recess in the common liquid chamber longitudinal direction.

  The damper member 80 includes a reversibly deformable damper 81 that forms a part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber 10 opposite to the individual liquid chamber side, and a holding member 82 that is joined to the damper 81 and holds the damper 81. It has. The holding member 82 has an opening 83 (which becomes a part of the damper chamber) that allows deformation of the damper 81.

  On the other hand, the flow path conversion member 90 is joined to the opening side of the recess 75 of the frame member 70.

  The connecting pipe part 76 of the frame member 70 and the connecting pipe part (not shown) of the flow path converting member 90 are connected via a packing.

  The frame member 70 is formed with the reference surface 110, the first opposing surface 111, and the second opposing surface 112 described above.

  Next, an example of an apparatus for ejecting a liquid according to the present invention, which is an example of an apparatus according to the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 22 is an explanatory plan view of the main part of the apparatus, and FIG. 23 is an explanatory side view of the main part of the apparatus.

  This apparatus is a serial type apparatus, and the carriage 403 reciprocates in the main scanning direction by the main scanning moving mechanism 493. The main scanning movement mechanism 493 includes a guide member 401, a main scanning motor 405, a timing belt 408, and the like. The guide member 401 spans the left and right side plates 491A and 491B and holds the carriage 403 so as to be movable. The carriage 403 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the main scanning motor 405 via the timing belt 408 spanned between the driving pulley 406 and the driven pulley 407.

  The carriage 403 is mounted with a head unit 500 according to the present invention having a liquid discharge head 501 for discharging a liquid as a head and a head holding member 502 to which the liquid discharge head 501 is attached.

  The liquid discharge head 501 of the head unit 500 discharges, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) liquids. Further, the liquid discharge head 501 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 discharge direction facing downward.

  The head unit 500 and the carriage 403 constitute a liquid discharge unit 440 according to the present invention.

  The liquid stored in the liquid cartridge 450 is supplied by a supply mechanism 494 for supplying the liquid stored outside the liquid discharge head 501 to the liquid discharge head 501.

  The supply mechanism 494 includes a cartridge holder 451 that is a filling unit for mounting the liquid cartridge 450, a tube 456, a liquid feeding unit 452 including a liquid feeding pump, and the like. The liquid cartridge 450 is detachably attached to the cartridge holder 451. Liquid is fed from the liquid cartridge 450 to the liquid discharge head 501 by the liquid feeding unit 452 via the tube 456.

  This apparatus includes a transport mechanism 495 for transporting the paper 410. The transport mechanism 495 includes a transport belt 412 serving as transport means, and a sub-scanning motor 416 for driving the transport belt 412.

  The conveyance belt 412 adsorbs the sheet 410 and conveys it at a position facing the liquid discharge head 501. The transport belt 412 is an endless belt and is stretched between the transport roller 413 and the tension roller 414. The adsorption can be performed by electrostatic adsorption or air suction.

  The transport belt 412 rotates in the sub-scanning direction when the transport roller 413 is rotationally driven by the sub-scanning motor 416 via the timing belt 417 and the timing pulley 418.

  Further, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 that performs maintenance / recovery of the liquid discharge head 501 is disposed on the side of the conveyance belt 412 on one side of the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction.

  The maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 includes, for example, a cap member 421 for capping the nozzle surface (surface on which the nozzle is formed) of the liquid discharge head 501, a wiper member 422 for wiping the nozzle surface, and the like.

  The main scanning movement mechanism 493, the supply mechanism 494, the maintenance / recovery mechanism 420, and the transport mechanism 495 are attached to a housing including the side plates 491A and 491B and the back plate 491C.

In this apparatus configured as described above, the paper 410 is fed and sucked onto the transport belt 412, and the paper 410 is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the transport belt 412.

Therefore, the liquid ejection head 501 is driven according to the image signal while moving the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, thereby ejecting liquid onto the stopped paper 410 to form an image.

Thus, since this apparatus includes the liquid ejection head according to the present invention, a high-quality image can be stably formed.

  Next, another example of the liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 24 is an explanatory plan view of the main part of the unit.

  The liquid discharge unit includes a casing portion composed of side plates 491A and 491B and a back plate 491C, a main scanning movement mechanism 493, a carriage 403, and a head among members constituting the device for discharging the liquid. The unit 500 is configured.

Note that a liquid discharge unit in which at least one of the above-described maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 and the supply mechanism 494 is further attached to, for example, the side plate 491B of the liquid discharge unit may be configured.

  In the present application, the “apparatus for ejecting liquid” is an apparatus that includes a head unit including a liquid ejection head, and that ejects liquid by driving the liquid ejection head of the head unit. The apparatus for ejecting liquid includes not only an apparatus capable of ejecting liquid to an object to which liquid can adhere, but also an apparatus for ejecting liquid toward the air or liquid.

This “apparatus for discharging liquid” may include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging a liquid to which liquid can adhere, as well as a pre-processing apparatus and a post-processing apparatus.

  For example, as an “apparatus that ejects liquid”, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by ejecting liquid, in order to form a three-dimensional model (three-dimensional model), powder is formed in layers There is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus (three-dimensional modeling apparatus) that discharges a modeling liquid onto the powder layer.

  Further, the “apparatus for ejecting liquid” is not limited to an apparatus in which significant images such as characters and figures are visualized by the ejected liquid. For example, what forms a pattern etc. which does not have a meaning in itself, and what forms a three-dimensional image are also included.

  The above-mentioned “thing to which liquid can adhere” means that liquid can adhere even temporarily. The material to which “the liquid adheres” may be any material as long as the liquid can temporarily adhere, such as paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics.

  “Liquid” also includes ink, treatment liquid, DNA sample, resist, pattern material, binder, modeling liquid, and the like.

  The “device for ejecting liquid” includes both a serial type device that moves the head unit and a line type device that does not move the head unit, unless otherwise specified.

  In addition to the “device for discharging liquid”, a processing liquid coating apparatus for discharging a processing liquid onto a sheet for applying a processing liquid to the surface of the sheet for the purpose of modifying the surface of the sheet, or a raw material There is an injection granulator for granulating raw material fine particles by spraying a composition liquid dispersed in a solution through a nozzle.

  The “liquid ejection unit” is a unit in which functional parts and mechanisms are integrated with a head unit in which a head is attached to a head holding member, and is an assembly of parts related to liquid ejection. For example, the “liquid discharge unit” includes a combination of at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance / recovery mechanism, and a main scanning movement mechanism with the head unit.

  Here, the term “integration” includes, for example, one in which the head unit, the functional component, and the mechanism are fixed to each other by fastening, adhesion, engagement, or the like, and one of which is held movably with respect to the other. . Further, the head unit, the functional component, and the mechanism may be configured to be detachable from each other.

  For example, there is a liquid discharge unit in which the head unit and carriage shown in FIG. 23 are integrated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 24, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a head unit, a carriage, and a main scanning movement mechanism are integrated.

The “liquid discharge head” is not limited to the pressure generating means to be used. For example, in addition to the piezoelectric actuator as described in the above embodiment (a multilayer piezoelectric element may be used), a thermal actuator using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor, a diaphragm and a counter electrode are included. An electrostatic actuator or the like may be used.

In addition, the terms “image formation”, “recording”, “printing”, “printing”, “printing”, “modeling” and the like in the terms of the present application are all synonymous.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example whose apparatus which concerns on this invention is an apparatus which discharges a liquid, it is not restricted to this. For example, when a head other than the liquid discharge head, such as a thermal head, is used as the head of the head unit, the apparatus according to the present invention is, for example, a thermal printer.

2 Flow path plate 3 Vibration plate 4 Nozzle 6 Individual liquid chamber 11 Piezoelectric element 50 Holding substrate 70 Frame member 100 Head unit 101 Head 102 Head holding member 103 Adhesive 104 Adhesive 110 Reference surface 111 First opposing surface 112 Second opposing surface DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 Reference surface 121 1st opposing surface 122 2nd opposing surface 131 1st space 132 2nd space 403 Carriage 440 Liquid discharge unit 500 Head unit 501 Liquid discharge head 502 Head holding member

Claims (12)

One or more heads are bonded to the head holding member;
The head and the head holding member are respectively
Reference planes that touch each other and contact,
A first opposing surface that forms a first space opposite to each other;
A second opposing surface that forms a second space opposite to each other,
When the direction in which the reference surface of the head is brought into contact with the reference surface of the head holding member is the mounting direction,
The second space is narrower in the mounting direction than the first space,
The head unit, wherein the head and the head holding member are joined with an adhesive filled in each of the first space and the second space. One of the head and the head holding member is
In the direction along the mounting direction, the reference surface and the second opposing surface are provided at the same position, and the first opposing surface is provided at a position that is recessed with respect to the reference surface,
The other of the head and the head holding member is
2. The head unit according to claim 1, wherein in the direction along the mounting direction, the first facing surface and the second facing surface are provided at the same position at a position that is recessed with respect to the reference surface. . 2. The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the reference surface, the first facing surface, and the second facing surface are all provided at different positions in a direction along the mounting direction. At least one of a boundary portion between the reference surface and the first facing surface, a boundary portion between the reference surface and the second facing surface, a boundary portion between the first facing surface and the second facing surface, The head unit according to claim 1, wherein a groove is provided. 5. The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive filled in the first space and the adhesive filled in the second space are of different types. The head unit according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive filled in the second space is an adhesive having a faster curing rate than the adhesive filled in the first space. The head unit according to claim 6, wherein the adhesive filled in the second space is an ultraviolet curable adhesive. The head unit according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the adhesive filled in the first space is a thermosetting adhesive. An apparatus comprising the head unit according to claim 1. A head unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The head of the head unit is a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid;
A head tank that stores liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head of the head unit, a carriage on which the liquid discharge head is mounted, a supply mechanism that supplies liquid to the liquid discharge head, and maintenance recovery that performs maintenance recovery of the liquid discharge head A liquid discharge unit comprising: at least one of a mechanism and a main scanning movement mechanism for moving the liquid discharge head in a main scanning direction and the head unit. A head unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
An apparatus for ejecting liquid, wherein the head of the head unit is a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid. An apparatus for discharging a liquid, comprising the liquid discharge unit according to claim 10.

Images