JP2016168804A - Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge unit, and liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid discharge head for improving discharge property of air bubbles staying in a common liquid chamber.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge head includes: a frame member 102 as a common liquid chamber member for forming a common liquid chamber 20 to supply liquid to a plurality of individual liquid chambers to which a plurality of nozzles lead; and a damper member 103 having a deformable damper 131 for forming a part of a wall surface of the common liquid chamber 20. In the damper member 103, the wall surface of the common liquid chamber 20 is formed on a common liquid chamber longitudinal direction end section side, a thick section 133 is provided to be thicker toward the common liquid chamber longitudinal direction end section side, and the narrow shaped wall surface is formed by an inclined surface 133a of the thick section 133.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge unit, and an apparatus for discharging liquid.

  The liquid discharge head needs to suppress the influence on the discharge state due to the pressure propagation to the common liquid chamber that supplies the liquid to a plurality of individual liquid chambers, and the longitudinal end of the common liquid chamber (end in the nozzle arrangement direction) There is a need to reduce the retention of bubbles in

  Therefore, conventionally, a backing plate that is joined to the pressure chamber substrate to form a common liquid chamber, a damper support member to which the damper is joined, and a housing member are provided, and the damper support member is joined to the backing plate. A chamber formed by a damper on the opposite side of the chamber from the pressure chamber substrate is known (Patent Document 1).

  Further, there is known a constricted shape in which the opening cross-sectional area (cross-sectional area in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction) gradually decreases toward the end of the common liquid chamber in the longitudinal direction (patent) Reference 2).

JP 2014-030939 A JP 2007-307774 A

  By the way, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the wall surface of the common liquid chamber opposite to the individual liquid chamber side is formed with a deformable damper, the common liquid chamber member and the damper that form the common liquid chamber are provided. A corner portion is formed at the connecting portion with the damper member, and a stagnation portion is generated in which the flow of the liquid is slow.

  For this reason, there is a problem that bubbles mixed in the common liquid chamber stay in the stagnation part and the bubbles cannot be discharged even if the bubble discharging operation by suction discharge or pressure discharge is performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to improve the bubble discharge performance in the common liquid chamber.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a liquid discharge head according to claim 1 of the present invention includes:
A common liquid chamber member that forms a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to a plurality of individual liquid chambers that communicate with a plurality of nozzles that discharge liquid;
A damper member having a deformable damper that forms part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber, and
The damper member is provided with a wall portion of the common liquid chamber on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber, and a thick portion that increases in thickness toward the end side in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. It was set as the structure.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the bubble discharge performance in the common liquid chamber.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view along the nozzle arrangement direction of the liquid ejection head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is an expanded sectional explanatory view of a channel member portion of a direction of the head orthogonal to a nozzle arrangement direction. It is principal part cross-sectional explanatory drawing in alignment with the nozzle arrangement | sequence direction which also provides the effect | action description of the same embodiment. It is principal part sectional explanatory drawing in alignment with the nozzle arrangement | sequence direction used for description of a comparative example. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of an example of bubble discharge | emission operation | movement. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram along a nozzle arrangement direction of a liquid ejection head according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the damper member of the liquid discharge head which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the manufacturing process of the damper member. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the state joined to the support part of the frame member. It is explanatory drawing of the damper member of the liquid discharge head which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the manufacturing process of the damper member. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a main part along a nozzle arrangement direction of a liquid ejection head according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram in a direction orthogonal to a nozzle arrangement direction of a liquid ejection head according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram in a direction orthogonal to a nozzle arrangement direction of a liquid ejection head according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of an example of the apparatus which discharges the liquid which concerns on this invention. It is principal part side explanatory drawing of the apparatus. It is principal part plane explanatory drawing of the other example of the liquid discharge unit which concerns on this invention. It is front explanatory drawing of the further another 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. A liquid discharge head according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view along the nozzle arrangement direction of the head, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a flow path member portion in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the head.

  The liquid discharge head includes a flow path member 101 including a pressure generating unit, a frame member 102 that holds the flow path member 101 and also serves as a common liquid chamber member, and a supply member 105 that supplies liquid from the outside.

  The flow path member 101 includes a nozzle plate 1, a flow path plate 2, a vibration plate member 3, a piezoelectric element 4 as pressure generating means, and a holding substrate 5. The holding substrate 5 of the flow path member 101 and the frame member 102 are joined. Note that the flow path member 101 is not limited to one that is joined to the frame member 102 after the members are integrated into independent members (units).

  The nozzle plate 1 is formed with a plurality of nozzles 11 for discharging liquid. Here, an example having two nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles 11 are arranged is shown, but the number of rows other than two rows may be used.

  The flow path plate 2 includes, together with the nozzle plate 1 and the vibration plate member 3, an individual liquid chamber 12 that communicates with the nozzle 11, a fluid resistance portion 13 that communicates with the individual liquid chamber 12, and a liquid introduction portion (passage) 14 that communicates with the fluid resistance portion 13. Forming. The liquid introduction part 14 communicates with a common liquid chamber 20 formed by the frame member 102 via a passage (supply port) 15 and a flow path 5 a of the holding substrate 5.

  The vibration plate member 3 is a wall surface member that forms a deformable vibration region (referred to as a “vibration plate”) 30 that forms a part of the wall surface of the individual liquid chamber 12. The piezoelectric element 4 is provided integrally with the diaphragm 30 on the surface of the diaphragm 30 opposite to the individual liquid chamber 12, and the diaphragm 30 and the piezoelectric element 4 constitute a unimorph type piezoelectric actuator. A drive IC 41 for driving the element 4 is disposed between the two rows of piezoelectric elements.

  A concave portion 51 is formed in the holding substrate 5 in a region corresponding to the diaphragm 30. This recess 51 forms a space for protecting the piezoelectric element 4.

  The frame member 102 also serves as a common liquid chamber member. The frame member 102 is joined to a surface of the flow path member 101 opposite to the surface to which the nozzle plate 1 is joined, and a plurality of individual nozzles 11 through which a plurality of nozzles 11 for discharging liquid communicate. A common liquid chamber 20 for supplying liquid to the liquid chamber 12 is formed.

  Further, the frame member 102 is formed with a recess 121 that accommodates the damper member 103 and becomes the damper chamber 104. The recess 121 forms the common liquid chamber 20 and the damper chamber 104 disposed on the opposite side of the common liquid chamber 20 with the damper 131 interposed therebetween.

  In addition, the frame member 102 is provided with a connecting pipe portion 24 that constitutes a part of a supply pipe portion that supplies liquid from the outside to the common liquid chamber 20 on the end portion side of the recess 121 in the nozzle arrangement direction. A supply path 21 is formed in the connecting pipe portion 24.

  A connecting tube portion 154 of the supply member 105 is connected to the connecting tube portion 24 of the frame member 102 via a packing 106. A supply path 155 leading to the supply path 21 is formed in the connecting pipe portion 154, and a liquid is formed in the common liquid chamber 20 from the outside.

  The damper member 103 has a damper 131 made of a thin part that can be deformably deformed and forms a part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber 20 opposite to the individual liquid chamber side. Further, a peripheral thick part 132 having a thickness greater than that of the damper 131 for joining the frame member 102 which is a common liquid chamber member is provided at the peripheral part of the damper 131 of the damper member 103.

  The thick peripheral portion 132 of the damper member 103 is joined to the support portion 123 provided on the frame member 102, and the wall surface of the common liquid chamber 20 is formed by the damper member 103.

  Further, the damper member 103 is formed with a wall surface of the common liquid chamber 20 on the end portion side in the common liquid chamber longitudinal direction (nozzle arrangement direction), and the thickness increases toward the common liquid chamber longitudinal direction end portion side. A meat portion 133 is provided.

  Here, the wall surface of the thick wall portion 133 facing the common liquid chamber 20 extends from the surface of the damper member 103 to the wall surface 122 of the common liquid chamber longitudinal end portion of the frame member 102 at the longitudinal end portion of the common liquid chamber 20. The inclined surface 133a is gently inclined toward the surface.

  As a result, the common liquid chamber 20 narrows as the width (height) in the head height direction (the stacking direction of the frame member 102 and the flow path member 101) approaches the end on the end side in the nozzle arrangement direction (longitudinal direction). Will have a constricted shape.

  That is, the thick portion 133 is a wall surface that forms a constricted shape on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 20 that changes in a direction in which the thickness increases toward the end and the distance from the facing surface decreases. An inclined surface 133a is formed.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the damper member 103 is inclined at the corner portion between the damper 131 and the support portion 123 even in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction (the common liquid chamber short direction). A portion 134 is provided.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part along the nozzle arrangement direction for explaining the operation of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part along the nozzle arrangement direction for explaining a comparative example.

  First, the comparative example shown in FIG. 4 uses the damper member 103 that is not provided with the thick portion 133 in this embodiment.

  In the configuration of this comparative example, a corner is formed between the common liquid chamber side surface of the damper member 103 and the common liquid chamber wall surface 122 of the frame member 102.

  Therefore, when the liquid flows into the common liquid chamber 20 from the one end side in the nozzle arrangement direction and flows to the other end side as indicated by the arrow, the liquid flow 301 is generated between the damper member 103 and the wall surface 123a of the frame member 102. Since the flow velocity is slow at the corner portion, this portion becomes a stagnation portion.

  When the bubbles 302 generated in the liquid flow path enter the stagnation part, the bubbles 302 cannot easily get on the flow of the liquid with the buoyancy of the bubbles 302, and the bubbles 302 are likely to stay and the bubble discharge property is deteriorated.

  On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 20 has a narrowed shape formed by the inclined surface 133 a, so The stagnation part disappears.

  Therefore, when bubbles are generated in the liquid flow path, the bubbles can be discharged by the flow of the liquid, and the bubble discharge performance is improved.

  Here, an example of the bubble discharging operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the same.

  In the bubble discharging operation here, the nozzle surface 1a of the head is capped with a cap 482a. Then, a suction pump 485 which is a suction unit connected to the cap 482a via the discharge path 486 is driven to make the inside of the cap 482a have a negative pressure, whereby the liquid is sucked and discharged from the nozzle 11. As a result, a liquid flow 301 is generated in the common liquid chamber 20, and bubbles in the common liquid chamber 20 are discharged from the nozzle 11 together with the liquid.

  It should be noted that instead of suction discharge, or together with suction discharge, pressurization discharge can be performed by supplying a liquid to the common liquid chamber 20 by pressurization from the outside.

  Next, a liquid ejection head according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view along the nozzle arrangement direction of the head.

  In the present embodiment, the wall surface 122 of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber of the frame member 102 is substantially continuous with the inclined surface 133 a of the thick portion 133 of the damper member 103, and the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 20. An inclined surface 122a that forms a constricted portion is formed.

  The inclined surface 122a and the surface that supports the damper member 103 have a substantially vertical vertical 122b.

  Since configured in this way, the wall surface of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 20 becomes the inclined surface 122a, and the vertical surface is smaller than that in the first embodiment, so that a faster flow velocity can be generated. The bubble discharge performance is further improved.

  In this case, instead of forming the inclined surface 133a on the damper member 103, the inclined surface 122a on the frame member 102 side is directly extended to the surface of the damper member 103 to form a constricted shape (the vertical surface 122b is eliminated). The support portion 123 has a pointed shape and is likely to be chipped or cracked.

  Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the narrowed shape of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 20 is configured by the inclined surfaces 133 a and 122 a formed on the damper member 103 and the frame member 102.

  Thereby, the perpendicular | vertical surface 122b can be formed between the inclined surface 122a and the surface which supports the damper member 103, the thickness of the support part 123 can be given, and the chip | tip and crack of the support part 123 can be made. Can be reduced.

  Next, a liquid ejection head according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the damper member of the embodiment, FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining a manufacturing process of the damper member, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged explanatory view of a state where the damper member is joined to a support portion of the frame member.

  In the present embodiment, the damper member 103 is formed of a multilayer film, and the thick portion 133 has a shape that gradually increases in thickness toward the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber.

  Such a damper member 103 can be formed by, for example, nickel electroforming. As shown in FIG. 8A, the first layer 201 to be the damper 131 is formed, the masking material 200 is formed on the first layer 201 to form the second layer 202 to be the peripheral thick part 132, Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, a process of forming the third layer 203 by forming the masking material 200 including a part of the second layer 202 is repeated until a predetermined thickness is reached.

  Moreover, in the damper member 103 of this embodiment, the front-end | tip part 133b of the thick part 133 is formed in flat shape.

  Thereby, the chip | tips, such as a chip | tip and a crack of the thick part 133 of the damper member 103, can be reduced.

  That is, when the tip portion 133b of the thick portion 133 of the damper member 103 is sharpened at an acute angle as in the first embodiment, the thick portion 133 is handled during handling of the component (in the manufacturing process or the assembly process). It becomes easy to produce a defect | deletion in the front-end | tip part 133b. If the tip portion 133b is lost, in some cases, the missing portion in the flow path remains as a foreign substance, which may cause ejection failure.

  Therefore, the distal end portion 133b of the thick portion 133 (a portion farthest from the surface of the damper 131 in the stacking direction of the frame member 102 and the flow path member 101) is not an inclined surface but a flat surface so that an acute angle is obtained. Without forming a corner, a local width (thickness) of the thick portion 133 in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber is secured, and a shape in which a defect is not easily generated is obtained.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, when the height of the vertical surface 122b of the wall surface 122 of the frame member 102 is 0.2 mm, the thickness of one layer of the nickel electroformed film is 0.02 mm. Then, by laminating 10 layers of the nickel electroformed film, it is possible to cover the vertical surface 122b with the thick portion 133 and form an inclined portion continuous to the inclined surface 122a.

  As for the inclination of the thick portion 133, the thickness of one layer is reduced, and the number of stacked layers is increased, so that the step can be reduced and a substantially linear inclined portion can be obtained.

  In this way, even when the thick portion 133 is formed of a multilayer film, by reducing the film thickness (layer thickness) and reducing the level difference, a smooth liquid flow is generated and the retention of bubbles is reduced. Can do.

  Further, by reducing the thickness of one nickel current film, the edge portion has an R shape as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 9, so that it is difficult to inhibit the flow of liquid.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the adhesive 109 is thickened with the vertical surface 122 b of the wall surface 122 by joining the support portion 123 of the frame member 102 and the peripheral thick portion 132 of the damper member 103 with the adhesive 109. The gap is filled by going around the gap with the wall surface of the portion 133.

  Next, a liquid discharge head according to a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the damper member of the embodiment, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory view for explaining a manufacturing process of the damper member.

  In this embodiment, the damper member 103 is formed by forming a thick portion 133 of the same resin material on a film member made of a resin material to be the damper 131 by injection molding.

  This sets the resin film member 211 between the metal molds 251 and 252 as shown in FIG. Since the cavity 253 corresponding to the thick part 133 is formed in the mold 251, the molten resin 255 is poured through the sprue 254 to form the thick part 133 as shown in FIG.

  By injecting the same resin as the resin film member 211, the interface is melted and brought into close contact, and the thick portion 133 is integrated with the resin film member 211. As the resin material, a PPS resin or the like is preferable.

  Next, a liquid ejection head according to a fifth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view around the common liquid chamber of the embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the damper member 103 is joined to the side wall surface 122 of the frame member 102. And the thick part 133 which has the inclined surface 133a used as the wall surface which forms a constriction shape in the common liquid chamber longitudinal direction edge part side of the damper member 103 is provided.

  Even with such a configuration, the bubble discharge performance can be improved.

  Next, a liquid ejection head according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional explanatory view in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the head.

  In the present embodiment, a central supply configuration is provided in which liquid is supplied from the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 20. The wall surface configuration of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 20 is the same as the configuration of the second embodiment.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the damper member 103 is supported on the surface opposite to the common liquid chamber 20 by the support portion 123. Therefore, even in the central supply configuration, as shown in FIG. A stepped portion is formed in supporting the damper member 103 by the provided support portion 124. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are also applied to the end of the connecting pipe portion 24 of the damper member 103 on the support portion 124 side, the thick portion 135 is formed, and an inclined surface (inclined portion) inclined continuously or stepwise. 135a.

  Next, a liquid ejection head according to a seventh embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional explanatory view in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction of the head.

  This embodiment also has a central supply configuration as in the sixth embodiment, but supports (holds) the damper member 103 by joining the support portions 123 and 124 from the common liquid chamber 20 side.

  Therefore, in this case, unlike the sixth embodiment, the stepped portion between the support portion 124 and the damper member 103 provided in the connecting pipe portion 24 can be eliminated.

  Next, an example of an apparatus for ejecting liquid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 is an explanatory plan view of the main part of the apparatus, and FIG. 16 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.

  A liquid discharge unit 440 in which the liquid discharge head 404 and the head tank 441 according to the present invention are integrated is mounted on the carriage 403. The liquid discharge head 404 of the liquid discharge unit 440 discharges, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) liquids. The liquid ejection head 404 is mounted with a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles 11 arranged in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and the ejection direction facing downward.

  The liquid stored in the liquid cartridge 450 is supplied to the head tank 441 by the supply mechanism 494 for supplying the liquid stored outside the liquid discharge head 404 to the liquid discharge head 404.

  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 head tank 441 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 paper 410 and conveys it at a position facing the liquid ejection head 404. 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, on one side of the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 that performs maintenance / recovery of the liquid ejection head 404 is disposed on the side of the transport belt 412.

  The maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 includes, for example, a cap member 421 for capping the nozzle surface (surface on which the nozzle 11 is formed) of the liquid ejection head 404, 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 404 is driven in accordance with 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. 17 is an explanatory plan view of the main part of the unit.

  This liquid discharge unit includes a housing part composed of side plates 491A and 491B and a back plate 491C, a main scanning movement mechanism 493, a carriage 403, and a liquid among the members constituting the liquid discharge device. The discharge head 404 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.

  Next, still another example of the liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory front view of the unit.

  This liquid discharge unit includes a liquid discharge head 404 to which a flow path component 444 is attached, and a tube 456 connected to the flow path component 444.

  The flow path component 444 is disposed inside the cover 442. A head tank 441 may be included instead of the flow path component 444. In addition, a connector 443 that is electrically connected to the liquid ejection head 404 is provided above the flow path component 444.

  In the present application, the “apparatus for discharging liquid” is an apparatus that includes a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and drives the liquid discharge head to discharge liquid. 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 a “liquid ejecting device”, an image forming device that forms an image on paper by ejecting ink, a powder is formed in layers to form a three-dimensional model (three-dimensional model) 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.

  Further, the “device for ejecting liquid” includes both a serial type device that moves the liquid ejection head and a line type device that does not move the liquid ejection head, 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.

  A “liquid ejection unit” is a unit in which functional parts and mechanisms are integrated with a liquid ejection head, 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 a liquid discharge head.

  Here, the term “integrated” refers to, for example, a liquid discharge head, a functional component, and a mechanism that are fixed to each other by fastening, adhesion, engagement, etc., and one that is held movably with respect to the other. Including. Further, the liquid discharge head, 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 a liquid discharge head and a head tank are integrated, such as the liquid discharge unit 440 shown in FIG. Also, there are some in which the liquid discharge head and the head tank are integrated by being connected to each other by a tube or the like. Here, a unit including a filter may be added between the head tank and the liquid discharge head of these liquid discharge units.

  In addition, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a liquid discharge head and a carriage are integrated.

  In addition, there is a liquid discharge unit in which the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated by holding the liquid discharge head movably on a guide member that forms a part of the scanning movement mechanism. As shown in FIG. 17, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a liquid discharge head, a carriage, and a main scanning movement mechanism are integrated.

  Also, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a cap member that is a part of the maintenance / recovery mechanism is fixed to a carriage to which the liquid discharge head is attached, and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism are integrated. .

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 18, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a tube is connected to a liquid discharge head to which a head tank or a flow path component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and a supply mechanism are integrated. .

  The main scanning movement mechanism includes a guide member alone. The supply mechanism includes a single tube and a single loading unit.

  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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Nozzle plate 2 Flow path plate 3 Vibration board member 4 Piezoelectric element 5 Holding substrate 11 Nozzle 12 Individual liquid chamber 20 Common liquid chamber 101 Flow path member 102 Frame member 103 Damper member 122 Wall surface 122a Inclined surface 123 Support part 131 Damper 133 Thick wall Portion 133a Inclined surface 403 Carriage 404 Liquid discharge head 440 Liquid discharge unit

Claims (7)

A common liquid chamber member that forms a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to a plurality of individual liquid chambers that communicate with a plurality of nozzles that discharge liquid;
A damper member having a deformable damper that forms part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber, and
The damper member is provided with a wall portion of the common liquid chamber on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber, and a thick portion that increases in thickness toward the end side in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. A liquid discharge head characterized in that the liquid discharge head is provided. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the damper member is formed of a multilayer film, and the thick portion gradually increases in thickness toward an end portion in a nozzle arrangement direction. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the damper member is formed of a metal or a resin material. Having a common liquid chamber for supplying liquid to a plurality of individual liquid chambers communicated with a plurality of nozzles for discharging droplets;
A part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber is formed by a deformable damper,
On the end side in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber, there is a wall surface that forms a constricted shape that changes in a direction in which the distance from the opposing surface becomes shorter toward the end portion,
In the damper member having the damper, at least a part of the wall surface forming the constricted shape is formed on the longitudinal end portion side of the common liquid chamber, and the thickness increases toward the longitudinal end portion side of the common liquid chamber. A liquid discharge head characterized in that a thick-walled portion is provided to increase the thickness.   A liquid discharge unit comprising the liquid discharge head according to claim 1. A head tank for storing liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head, a carriage on which the liquid discharge head is mounted, a supply mechanism for supplying liquid to the liquid discharge head, a maintenance / recovery mechanism for maintaining and recovering the liquid discharge head, and the liquid 6. The liquid discharge unit according to claim 5, wherein the liquid discharge head is integrated with at least one of a main scanning movement mechanism that moves the discharge head in the main scanning direction.   An apparatus for ejecting liquid, comprising the liquid ejection head according to claim 1 or the liquid ejection unit according to claim 5 or 6.

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