JP2022058820A - Ink jet head and ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet head which can stabilize the discharge speed of multi-drops regardless of the drive state and perform high quality printing.

SOLUTION: An ink jet head comprises: a pressure chamber which stores ink; an actuator which is provided corresponding to the pressure chamber; a plate which has a nozzle communicating to the pressure chamber; and a drive circuit which drives the actuator. The drive circuit, before discharging the ink droplet from the nozzle communicating to the pressure chamber by applying an expansion pulse expanding the volume in the pressure chamber and a contraction pulse contracting the volume in the pressure chamber as a drive pulse signal to the actuator, applies an auxiliary pulse signal containing the expansion pulse and the contraction pulse to such an extent that the ink droplet is not discharged from the nozzle to the actuator.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an inkjet head and an inkjet printer using the head.

There is a type of inkjet head in which the partition wall of the pressure chamber adjacent to each other is used as an actuator. In this type of inkjet head, when a drive pulse signal including an expansion pulse and a contraction pulse is applied to the actuator, the partition wall is deformed in the direction of expanding or contracting the pressure chamber, and pressure vibration is generated in the pressure chamber. do. The volume of the pressure chamber changes due to this pressure vibration, and ink droplets are ejected from a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber.

As described above, since the inkjet head ejects ink droplets from the nozzles by deforming the partition wall of the pressure chamber, it is not possible to simultaneously eject the ink droplets from the adjacent nozzles communicating with each other in the pressure chambers adjacent to each other. Therefore, in the inkjet head, each pressure chamber is divided into, for example, three sets of every two, and the phase of the drive pulse signal is changed for each set. Therefore, depending on the image pattern, there is only one nozzle for ejecting ink, and either a state in which ink is not ejected from the other nozzles (hereinafter referred to as a single nozzle drive state) or one in which ink is ejected is one. A state in which ink is not ejected from nozzles belonging to another set (hereinafter referred to as a double nozzle simultaneous drive state), and a state in which ink is ejected from nozzles belonging to at least two sets in a time-divided manner. (Hereinafter referred to as a double nozzle continuous drive state) occurs.

The inkjet head employs a multi-drop method that adjusts the number of ink droplets ejected from one nozzle when performing gradation printing. When the multi-drop method is adopted, the ejection speed of the ink droplets after the second drop is increased due to the residual pressure vibration of the ink droplets ejected immediately before that. However, since the ink droplets of the first drop are subjected to pressure vibration from the state where the meniscus is stationary, the ejection speed is slower than that of the second and subsequent drops. There is a technique to increase the ejection speed of the first drop by adding an auxiliary pulse signal (boost pulse) for amplifying the pressure vibration of the pressure chamber before the drive pulse signal for ejecting the first drop.

When the multiple nozzles are simultaneously driven, the ejection speed of the second drop becomes slower than that of the first drop, and there is an adverse effect that the second drop separates from the first drop and lands.

JP-A-2007-022073

The problem to be solved by the embodiment of the present invention is to provide an inkjet head capable of stabilizing the ejection speed of the multi-drop regardless of the driving state and capable of high-quality printing, and an inkjet printer using the head. It is a thing.

In one embodiment, the inkjet head comprises a pressure chamber containing ink, an actuator provided corresponding to the pressure chamber, a plate having a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber, and a drive circuit for driving the actuator. The drive circuit applies a drive waveform consisting of an expansion pulse that expands the volume of the pressure chamber and a contraction pulse that contracts the volume of the pressure chamber as a drive pulse signal to the actuator once or a plurality of times in succession. An auxiliary pulse signal including an expansion pulse and a contraction pulse to the extent that the ink droplets are not ejected from the nozzle is applied to the actuator before ejecting one drop or a plurality of consecutive drops of ink from the nozzle communicating with the first drop. The discharge speed at the time of discharging 2 drops is made substantially equal to the discharge speed at the time of continuously discharging 2 drops.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of an inkjet head in an exploded manner. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front portion of the inkjet head. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the front portion of the inkjet head. The figure for demonstrating the operation principle of an inkjet head. The figure for demonstrating the operation principle of an inkjet head. A block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an inkjet printer. The block diagram which shows the specific structure of the head drive circuit in an inkjet printer. Schematic diagram of the buffer circuit and switch circuit included in the head drive circuit. The waveform diagram which shows the drive pulse signal in one Embodiment. The graph which shows an example of the ejection speed for every drop when the auxiliary pulse waveform is not added. The graph which shows an example of the ejection speed for every drop when only the 1st auxiliary pulse is applied. The graph which shows an example of the ejection speed for every drop when the 1st auxiliary pulse and the 2nd auxiliary pulse are added. The graph which shows an example of the ejection speed for every drop when the pulse width of the 1st auxiliary pulse and the 2nd auxiliary pulse is 0.2μs. The graph which shows an example of the ejection speed for every drop when the pulse width of the 1st auxiliary pulse and the 2nd auxiliary pulse is 0.3μs. The graph which shows an example of the ejection speed for every drop when the pulse width of the 1st auxiliary pulse and the 2nd auxiliary pulse is 0.4μs. The graph which shows an example of the ejection speed for every drop when the pulse width of the 1st auxiliary pulse and the 2nd auxiliary pulse is 0.5μs. The graph which shows an example of the ejection speed for every drop when the pulse width of the 1st auxiliary pulse and the 2nd auxiliary pulse is 0.6μs. The figure for demonstrating the operation principle of the actuator in the state of continuous drive of a double nozzle. The figure which shows the voltage waveform applied to the PZT test piece. The figure which shows the charge charge and the displacement amount when the voltage waveform of FIG. 18 is applied to a PZT test piece. The figure which shows the relationship between the voltage applied to a head and the charging current of an actuator. The figure which shows the equivalent circuit of a pressure chamber. The graph which shows the result of having performed the simulation by performing the equivalent circuit of FIG. The graph which shows the result of having performed the simulation by performing the equivalent circuit of FIG. The figure which shows the example which gives the auxiliary pulse only in the case of the maximum number of drops 3 and the number of drops 1. The figure which shows the example which gives an auxiliary pulse only when the maximum number of drops 3 and the number of drops is 2 or less.

Hereinafter, the inkjet head according to the embodiment and the inkjet printer using the head will be described with reference to the drawings. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the share mode / shared wall type inkjet head 100 (see FIG. 1) is exemplified as the inkjet head.

First, the configuration of the inkjet head 100 (hereinafter, abbreviated as head 100) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the head 100 in an exploded manner, FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front portion of the head 100, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the front portion of the head 100.

The head 100 has a base substrate 9. The head 100 joins the first piezoelectric member 1 to the upper surface on the front side of the base substrate 9, and joins the second piezoelectric member 2 on the first piezoelectric member 1. As shown by the arrows in FIG. 2, the joined first piezoelectric member 1 and the second piezoelectric member 2 are polarized in opposite directions along the plate thickness direction.

The base substrate 9 is formed by using a material having a small dielectric constant and a small difference in thermal expansion coefficient from the piezoelectric members 1 and 2. As the material of the base substrate 9, for example, alumina (Al203), silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon carbide (SiC), aluminum nitride (AlN), lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and the like are preferable. On the other hand, as the material of the piezoelectric members 1 and 2, lead zirconate titanate (PZT), lithium niobate (LiNbO3), lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) and the like are used.

The head 100 is provided with a large number of long grooves 3 from the front end side to the rear end side of the joined piezoelectric members 1 and 2. Each groove 3 has a constant spacing and is parallel. The tip of each groove 3 is open and the rear end is inclined upward.

The head 100 is provided with electrodes 4 on the side walls and the bottom surface of each groove 3. The electrode 4 has a two-layer structure of nickel (Ni) and gold (Au). The electrode 4 is uniformly formed in each groove 3 by, for example, a plating method. The method for forming the electrode 4 is not limited to the plating method. In addition, a sputtering method, a vapor deposition method, or the like can also be used.

The head 100 is provided with a drawer electrode 10 from the rear end of each groove 3 toward the rear upper surface of the second piezoelectric member 2. The extraction electrode 10 extends from the electrode 4.

The head 100 includes a top plate 6 and an orifice plate 7. The top plate 6 closes the upper part of each groove 3. The orifice plate 7 closes the tip of each groove 3. The head 100 forms a plurality of pressure chambers 15 by each groove 3 surrounded by the top plate 6 and the orifice plate 7. The pressure chambers 15 have a shape having, for example, a depth of 300 μm and a width of 80 μm, and are arranged in parallel at a pitch of 169 μm. Such a pressure chamber 15 is also referred to as an ink chamber.

The top plate 6 is provided with a common ink chamber 5 inside and behind the top plate 6. The orifice plate 7 is provided with a nozzle 8 at a position facing each groove 3. The nozzle 8 communicates with the facing groove 3, that is, the pressure chamber 15. The nozzle 8 has a tapered shape from the pressure chamber 15 side to the ink ejection side on the opposite side. The nozzles 8 are formed as a set corresponding to three adjacent pressure chambers 15 and are displaced at regular intervals in the height direction of the groove 3 (vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2).

The head 100 joins the printed circuit board 11 on which the conductive pattern 13 is formed to the upper surface on the rear side of the base substrate 9. The head 100 mounts a drive IC 12 on which a head drive circuit 101, which will be described later, is mounted on the printed circuit board 11. The drive IC 12 is connected to the conductive pattern 13. The conductive pattern 13 is bonded to each of the leader electrodes 10 by wire bonding with a conducting wire 14.

The set of the pressure chamber 15, the electrode 4, and the nozzle 8 included in the head 100 is referred to as a channel. That is, the head 100 has channels ch.1, ch.2, ..., Ch.N by the number N of the grooves 3.

Next, the operating principle of the head 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.
In FIG. 4A, the potentials of the electrodes 4 arranged on the wall surfaces of the central pressure chamber 15b and the adjacent pressure chambers 15a and 15c adjacent to the pressure chamber 15b are all ground potential GND. It shows a certain state. In this state, neither the partition wall 16a sandwiched between the pressure chambers 15a and 15b adjacent to each other and the partition wall 16b sandwiched between the pressure chambers 15b and 15c adjacent to each other are subjected to any straining action.

FIG. 4A (b) shows a state in which a negative voltage −V is applied to the electrode 4 of the central pressure chamber 15b and a positive voltage + V is applied to the electrodes 4 of the adjacent pressure chambers 15a and 15c. ing. In this state, an electric field twice the voltage V acts on the partition walls 16a and 16b in a direction orthogonal to the polarization direction of the piezoelectric members 1 and 2. By this action, each of the partition walls 16a and 16b is deformed outward so as to expand the volume of the pressure chamber 15b.

FIG. 4A (c) shows a state in which a positive voltage + V is applied to the electrode 4 of the central pressure chamber 15b and a negative voltage −V is applied to the electrodes 4 of the adjacent pressure chambers 15a and 15c. ing. In this state, an electric field twice the voltage V acts on each of the partition walls 16a and 16b in the direction opposite to that in FIG. 4B. By this action, each of the partition walls 16a and 16b is deformed inward so as to contract the volume of the pressure chamber 15b.

When the volume of the pressure chamber 15b is expanded or contracted, pressure vibration is generated in the pressure chamber 15b. Due to this pressure vibration, the pressure in the pressure chamber 15b increases, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 8 communicating with the pressure chamber 15b.

As described above, the partition wall 16a separating the pressure chambers 15a and 15b and the partition wall 16b separating the pressure chambers 15b and 15c are actuators for applying pressure vibration to the inside of the pressure chamber 15b having the partition walls 16a and 16b as the wall surface. Become. That is, each pressure chamber 15 shares an actuator with the adjacent pressure chamber 15. Therefore, the head drive circuit 101 cannot drive each pressure chamber 15 individually. The head drive circuit 101 divides each pressure chamber 15 into (n + 1) groups every n (n is an integer of 2 or more) and drives the pressure chambers 15. In the present embodiment, the case of so-called three-division drive in which the head drive circuit 101 divides each pressure chamber 15 into three sets every two and drives them is illustrated. The 3-split drive is just an example, and may be a 4-split drive, a 5-split drive, or the like.
By the way, in FIGS. 4A (a), (b) and (c), in order to eject ink from the nozzle corresponding to the central pressure chamber 15b, the electrode 4 of the central pressure chamber 15b and the pressure chambers 15a and 15c on both sides thereof are used. Voltages + V and −V having opposite polarities were applied to the electrode 4 of the above. That is, an electric field having a value obtained by dividing twice the voltage V by the thickness of the actuator was applied to the actuator. The example of ejecting ink from the nozzle corresponding to the central pressure chamber 15b is not limited to this.
In FIGS. 4B (a), (b), and (c), the electrodes 4 of the pressure chambers 15a and 15c on both sides are set to the ground potential GND, and −V and + V are applied only to the electrodes 4 of the central pressure chamber 15b. That is, the electric field of the value obtained by dividing the voltage V by the thickness of the actuator is applied to the actuator. In this case as well, if the applied voltage V is doubled, the operation of the actuator becomes exactly the same as in the case of FIG. 4A. Since the explanation is simpler in FIG. 4B, the case of FIG. 4B will be mainly described below.

Next, the configuration of the inkjet printer 200 (hereinafter, abbreviated as printer 200) will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. 5 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printer 200, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the head drive circuit 101, and FIG. 7 is a buffer circuit 1013 and a switch circuit 1014 included in the head drive circuit 101. It is a schematic circuit diagram of. The printer 200 is applied to, for example, an office printer, a bar code printer, a POS printer, an industrial printer, and the like.

The printer 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, an operation panel 204, a communication interface 205, a transfer motor 206, a motor drive circuit 207, a pump 208, and a pump drive. It includes a circuit 209 and a head 100. Further, the printer 200 includes a bus line 211 such as an address bus and a data bus. The printer 200 connects the CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 203, operation panel 204, communication interface 205, motor drive circuit 207, pump drive circuit 209, and head 100 drive circuit 101 directly or via an input / output circuit to the bus line 211, respectively. To connect.

The CPU 201 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The CPU 201 controls each part in order to realize various functions as the printer 200 according to the operating system and the application program.

The ROM 202 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The ROM 202 stores the above operating system and application programs. The ROM 202 may store data necessary for the CPU 201 to execute a process for controlling each unit.

The RAM 203 corresponds to the main storage portion of the computer. The RAM 203 stores data necessary for the CPU 201 to execute the process. The RAM 203 is also used as a work area where information is appropriately rewritten by the CPU 201. The work area includes an image memory in which print data is expanded.

The operation panel 204 has an operation unit and a display unit. The operation unit is arranged with function keys such as a power key, a paper feed key, and an error release key. The display unit can display various states of the printer 200.

The communication interface 205 receives print data from a client terminal connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). When an error occurs in the printer 200, for example, the communication interface 205 transmits a signal notifying the error to the client terminal.

The motor drive circuit 207 controls the drive of the transfer motor 206. The transfer motor 206 functions as a drive source for a transfer mechanism that conveys a recording medium such as printing paper. When the transport motor 206 is driven, the transport mechanism starts transporting the recording medium. The transport mechanism transports the recording medium to the printing position by the head 100. The transport mechanism discharges the printed recording medium to the outside of the printer 200 from an ejection port (not shown).

The pump drive circuit 209 controls the drive of the pump 208. When the pump 208 is driven, ink in an ink tank (not shown) is supplied to the head 100.

The head drive circuit 101 drives the channel group 102 of the head 100 based on the print data. As shown in FIG. 6, the head drive circuit 101 includes a pattern generator 1011, a logic circuit 1012, a buffer circuit 1013, and a switch circuit 1014.

The pattern generator 1011 generates a waveform pattern such as a discharge waveform, a discharge bilateral waveform, a non-discharge waveform, and a non-discharge bilateral waveform. The waveform pattern data generated by the pattern generator 1011 is supplied to the logic circuit 1012.

The logic circuit 1012 accepts the input of print data read out line by line from the image memory. When the print data is input, the logic circuit 1012 sets three adjacent channels ch. (I-1), ch.i, ch. (I + 1) of the head 100 as one set, and one of the channels, For example, it is determined whether the central channel ch.i is an ejection channel that ejects ink or a non-ejection channel that does not eject ink. When the channel ch.i is a discharge channel, the logic circuit 1012 outputs the pattern data of the waveform of the discharge to this channel ch.i, and the channels ch. (I-1), ch on both sides thereof are output. . (i + 1) Outputs the pattern data of the waveforms on both sides of the discharge. When the channel ch.i is a non-ejection channel, the logic circuit 1012 outputs the pattern data of the non-ejection waveform to this channel ch.i, and the channels ch. (I-1), ch on both sides thereof are output. . (i + 1) Outputs pattern data of non-discharged adjacent waveforms. Each pattern data output from the logic circuit 1012 is given to the buffer circuit 1013.

The buffer circuit 1013 connects a power supply having a positive voltage Vcc and a power supply having a negative voltage −V. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the buffer circuit 1013 includes prebuffers PB1, PB2, ..., PBN for each channel ch.1, ch.2, ..., Ch.N of the head 100. In FIG. 7, the prebuffers PB (i-1), PBi, and PB (i + 1) corresponding to the three adjacent channels ch. (I-1), ch.i, and ch. (I + 1), respectively. ) Is shown.

Each prebuffer PB1, PB2, ..., PBN has three first to third buffers B1, B2, B3, respectively. Each of the buffers B1, B2 and B3 is connected to a power supply having a positive voltage Vcc and a power supply having a negative voltage −V, respectively.

In each of the pre-buffers PB1, PB2, ..., PBN, the outputs of the first to third buffers B1, B2, B3 change according to the signal level of the pattern data supplied from the logic circuit 1012. From the logic circuit 1012, signals having different levels are transmitted depending on whether the corresponding channel ch.k (1 ≦ k ≦ N) is a discharge channel, a non-discharge channel, a discharge channel, or a channel adjacent to the non-discharge channel. Be supplied. The first to third buffers B1, B2, and B3 to which the high level signal is supplied output the signal of the positive voltage Vcc level. The first to third buffers B1, B2, and B3 to which the low level signal is supplied output the negative voltage −V level signal.

The outputs of the pre-buffers PB1, PB2, ..., PBN, that is, the output signals of the first to third buffers B1, B2, B3 are given to the switch circuit 1014.

The switch circuit 1014 connects a positive voltage Vcc power supply, a positive voltage + V power supply, a negative voltage −V power supply, and a ground potential GND. The positive voltage Vcc is higher than the positive voltage + V. As a typical value, the positive voltage Vcc is 24 volts, and the positive voltage + V is 15 volts. In this case, the negative voltage −V is −15 volts.
However, the appropriate values of positive voltage and negative voltage differ depending on the viscosity of the ink. The viscosity of the ink varies depending on the type of ink and the operating temperature. Therefore, the positive voltage + V and the negative voltage −V are selected in the range of about ± 15 volts to ± 30 volts depending on the type of ink and the operating temperature. At that time, since the positive voltage Vcc must be higher than the positive voltage + V, if the positive voltage + V and the negative voltage −V are up to ± 30 volts, the positive voltage Vcc is set to, for example, 39 volts.

As shown in FIG. 7, the switch circuit 1014 has drivers DR1, DR2, ..., DRN for each channel ch.1, ch.2, ..., Ch.N of the head 100. In FIG. 7, the drivers DR (i-1), DRi, and DR (i + 1) corresponding to the three adjacent channels ch. (I-1), ch.i, and ch. (I + 1), respectively. Is shown.

Each driver DR1, DR2, ..., DRN has a epitope type field effect transistor T1 (hereinafter referred to as the first transistor T1) and two MIMO type field effect transistors T2 and T3 (hereinafter referred to as the second transistor T2). A third transistor (referred to as T3) is included. Each driver DR1, DR2, ..., DRN connects a series circuit of the first transistor T1 and the second transistor T2 between the power supply of positive voltage + V and the ground potential GND, respectively, and further connects with the first transistor T1. The third transistor T3 is connected between the connection point with the second transistor T2 and the power supply having a negative voltage −V. Further, each driver DR1, DR2, ..., DRN connects the back gate of the first transistor T1 to the power supply of the positive voltage Vcc, and connects the back gates of the second transistor and the third transistor to the power supply of the negative voltage −V, respectively. do. Further, each driver DR1, DR2, ..., DRN connects the first buffer B1 of the corresponding prebuffers PB1, PB2, ..., PBN to the gate of the second transistor T2, and connects the second buffer B2 to the first transistor. It is connected to the gate of T1 and the third buffer B3 is connected to the gate of the third transistor T3. Then, each driver DR1, DR2, ..., DRN applies the potential of the connection point between the first transistor T1 and the second transistor T2 to the electrodes 4 of the corresponding channels ch.1, ch.2, ..., Ch.N, respectively. Apply.

Therefore, the first transistor T1 is turned off when a positive voltage Vcc level signal is input from the second buffer B2, and is turned on when a negative voltage −V level signal is input. The second transistor T2 is turned on when a positive voltage Vcc level signal is input from the first buffer B1 and turned off when a negative voltage −V level signal is input. The third transistor T3 is turned on when a positive voltage Vcc level signal is input from the third buffer B3, and is turned off when a negative voltage −V level signal is input.

In the drivers DR1, DR2, ..., DRN having such a configuration, when the first transistor T1 is turned on and the second transistor T2 and the third transistor T3 are turned off, the corresponding channels ch.1, ch.2, ..., A positive voltage + V is applied to the electrode 4 of ch.N. In the drivers DR1, DR2, ..., DRN, when the first transistor T1 and the third transistor T3 are turned off at the same time and the second transistor T2 is turned on, the corresponding channels ch.1, ch.2, ..., Ch.N The potential of the electrode 4 is defined as the ground GND level. In the drivers DR1, DR2, ..., DRN, when the first transistor T1 and the second transistor T2 are turned off at the same time and the third transistor T3 is turned on, the corresponding channels ch.1, ch.2, ..., Ch.N A negative voltage −V is applied to the electrode 4.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram of a drive pulse signal applied to the electrode 4 of the channel for ejecting ink (ejection channel ch.x). This drive pulse signal is a pulse signal according to the pattern data of the discharge waveform generated by the pattern generator 1011 of the head drive circuit 101. In FIG. 8, the section T1 shows a pulse waveform (discharge pulse waveform) for ejecting one drop of ink from the nozzle 8 of the ejection channel ch.x. The discharge pulse waveform includes the expansion pulse EP in the section D and the contraction pulse CP in the section P. The interval R between the expansion pulse EP and the contraction pulse CP maintains the ground potential GND. The time interval between the center of the expansion pulse EP and the center of the contraction pulse CP is equal to the resonance period 2AL of the ink. Incidentally, when the second drop is discharged by the multi-drop method, the same discharge pulse waveform as in the section T1 is repeated in the section T2 following the section T1. The same applies to the third and subsequent drops.

The extended pulse EP has the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x as a negative potential. That is, it is output from the buffer circuit 1013 to the switch circuit 1014 so that the first transistor T1 and the second transistor T2 are turned off at the same time and the third transistor T3 is turned on for the driver DRx corresponding to the discharge channel ch.x. The level of the signal changes. When the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x becomes a negative potential, the pressure chamber 15 of the discharge channel ch.x expands.

The contraction pulse CP has the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x as a positive potential. That is, it is output from the buffer circuit 1013 to the switch circuit 1014 so that the first transistor T1 is turned on and the second transistor T2 and the third transistor T3 are turned off for the driver DRx corresponding to the discharge channel ch.x. The signal level changes. When the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x becomes a positive potential, the pressure chamber 15 of the discharge channel ch.x contracts.

Between the expansion pulse EP and the contraction pulse CP, the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x is the ground potential GND. That is, it is output from the buffer circuit 1013 to the switch circuit 1014 so that the first transistor T1 and the third transistor T3 are turned off at the same time and the second transistor T2 is turned on for the driver DRx corresponding to the discharge channel ch.x. The level of the signal changes. When the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x becomes the ground potential GND, the pressure chamber 15 of the discharge channel ch.x that has been expanded or compressed is restored.

That is, in the section T1, the pressure chamber 15 of the discharge channel ch.x is first expanded, then restored, then contracted, and then restored again. Due to such a change in the volume of the pressure chamber 15, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 8 communicating with the pressure chamber 15. Similarly to the section T1, the ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 8 in the section T2 and thereafter by repeating expansion, restoration, contraction, and restoration.

Now, in the present embodiment, the output section T0 of the auxiliary pulse signal is added before the section T1 in which the ink droplet of the first drop is ejected. The auxiliary pulse signal includes a first auxiliary pulse SP1 applied immediately before the first drop extended pulse EP and a second auxiliary pulse SP2 applied prior to the first auxiliary pulse SP1. The section between the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP2 maintains the ground potential GND. The time interval between the center of the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and the center of the second auxiliary pulse SP2 is equal to the resonance period 2AL of the ink.

The first auxiliary pulse SP1 has the opposite polarity to the extended pulse EP and has a pulse width w1. The second auxiliary pulse SP2 has the opposite polarity to the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and has the same pulse width w1 as the first auxiliary pulse SP1. The pulse width w1 is sufficiently shorter than the pulse width of the extended pulse EP (section D) and the pulse width of the contraction pulse CP (section P).

The second auxiliary pulse SP2 has the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x as a negative potential. When the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x becomes a negative potential, the pressure chamber 15 of the discharge channel ch.x expands. That is, the second auxiliary pulse SP2 is an extended pulse.

The first auxiliary pulse SP1 has a positive potential at the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x. When the electrode 4 of the discharge channel ch.x becomes a positive potential, the pressure chamber 15 of the discharge channel ch.x contracts. That is, the first auxiliary pulse SP1 is a contraction pulse.

As described above, also in the auxiliary pulse signal output section T0, the pressure chamber 15 of the discharge channel ch.x is first expanded, subsequently restored, then contracted, and then restored again, as in the section T1. However, since the pulse width w1 of the first and second auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 is sufficiently shorter than the pulse width of the extended pulse EP (section D) and the pulse width of the contraction pulse CP (section P), the nozzle No ink droplets are ejected from 8. In other words, the pulse width w1 of the first and second auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 is set to a width such that ink droplets are not ejected from the nozzle 8.
Here, before explaining the action and effect by adding the auxiliary pulse signal, the single nozzle drive state, the double nozzle simultaneous drive state, and the double nozzle continuous drive state will be described once again.
The head 100 of the present embodiment shares the partition wall of the pressure chamber 15 with adjacent channels, and the nozzles 8 are arranged in a staggered manner in three rows. Then, each pressure chamber 15 is divided into three sets every two and driven separately, which is a so-called three-divided drive.
The single nozzle drive state means a state in which ink is ejected from only one of the nozzles 8. In the single nozzle drive state, there is only one channel for ejecting ink. Therefore, the pressure generated in the pressure chamber 15 of the channel from which the ink is ejected propagates to the surrounding channels, and the behavior of the pressure chamber 15 shows a slightly complicated behavior in the spatial direction.
The double nozzle simultaneous drive state means a state in which ink is ejected from a nozzle belonging to any one set and ink is not ejected from a nozzle belonging to the other set. In the multi-nozzle simultaneous drive state, ink is ejected from a plurality of channels arranged at regular intervals in the arrangement direction of the nozzles 8 at the same time, so that all the pressure chambers 15 behave uniformly. Therefore, the behavior of the pressure chamber 15 is the simplest.

The double nozzle continuous drive state is a state in which ink is ejected in a time division manner from nozzles belonging to at least two sets. In the multi-nozzle continuous drive state, when ink is ejected from an adjacent channel, the history of driving the actuator on one wall in the channel sharing the actuator with the adjacent channel remains. This history affects the operation of the actuator of the channel, and the behavior of the pressure chamber 15 shows a complicated behavior in the time direction.
For the above reasons, there are cases where only one drop is ejected from the same nozzle and cases where two or more drops are continuously ejected in each of the three modes of single nozzle drive state, double nozzle simultaneous drive state, and double nozzle continuous drive state. Then, the ejection speed of the ink droplet is evaluated. Incidentally, a grayscale printing method in which ink droplets are continuously ejected from the same nozzle and the size of the dot diameter on the print medium is adjusted depending on the number of ejected ink droplets is called a multi-drop method. In the multi-drop method, in order to obtain a stable ejection state, it is desirable that the change in ejection speed due to the number of consecutive ink droplets is small.

Next, the effects of adding the auxiliary pulse signal will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. 9 to 11 show when only one drop or 2 to 5 drops are continuously ejected by the multi-drop method in each of the single nozzle drive state, the double nozzle simultaneous drive state, and the double nozzle continuous drive state. An example of the discharge speed [m / s] is shown. In FIGS. 9 to 11, the numerical value on the vertical axis of the points plotted corresponding to the numerical value “1” on the horizontal axis is the discharge rate when only one drop is discharged. The numerical value on the vertical axis of the points plotted corresponding to the numerical value "2" on the horizontal axis is the ejection speed of the second drop when two drops are continuously ejected. The numerical value on the vertical axis of the points plotted corresponding to the numerical value "3" on the horizontal axis is the ejection speed of the third drop when three drops are continuously ejected. The numerical value on the vertical axis of the points plotted corresponding to the numerical value "4" on the horizontal axis is the ejection speed of the fourth drop when four drops are continuously ejected. The numerical value on the vertical axis of the points plotted corresponding to the numerical value "5" on the horizontal axis is the ejection speed of the fifth drop when 5 drops are continuously ejected. FIG. 9 is a graph when the auxiliary pulse waveform is not added, FIG. 10 is a graph when only the first auxiliary pulse SP1 is added, and FIG. 11 shows the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and the first auxiliary pulse SP1. It is a graph when the auxiliary pulse SP2 of 2 is added. In each figure, the solid line graph shows the discharge speed [m / s] in the single nozzle drive state. The dashed line graph shows the ejection speed [m / s] when the multiple nozzles are simultaneously driven. The broken line graph shows the discharge speed [m / s] in the double nozzle continuous drive state.

When the auxiliary pulse waveform is not added, as shown in FIG. 9, the ejection speed when only one drop is ejected in the single nozzle drive state and the double nozzle continuous drive state is when two or more drops are ejected continuously. It will be slower than the discharge rate of the final drop of. In particular, in the state of continuous drive of multiple nozzles, the ejection speed when only one drop is ejected is extremely slow, and stable print quality cannot be obtained.

When only the first auxiliary pulse SP1 is added as the auxiliary pulse waveform, as shown in FIG. 10, the ejection speed when only one drop is ejected becomes faster in the single nozzle drive state and the double nozzle continuous drive state. It is possible to suppress the change in the discharge speed depending on the number of drops that are continuously discharged. Even in the double nozzle simultaneous drive state, the discharge speed when only one drop is discharged by the first auxiliary pulse SP1 becomes high, but in the double nozzle simultaneous drive state, it does not necessarily suppress the change in the discharge speed. In the state of simultaneous drive of multiple nozzles, even if a drive waveform without an auxiliary pulse is given, as shown in FIG. 9, the discharge speed when only one drop is discharged and the second drop when two drops are continuously discharged are discharged. Originally there is not much difference with the speed. Therefore, when the first auxiliary pulse SP1 is inserted, the discharge speed of the second drop is relatively slower than that of the first drop, and the speed balance is rather lost. If two drops are continuously ejected in this state, there is a high possibility that the slow second drop will separate and land on the first drop, degrading the print quality.

When the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP2 are added as the auxiliary pulse waveforms, as shown in FIG. 11, the discharge when only one drop is discharged in the single nozzle drive state and the double nozzle continuous drive state. The speed becomes faster. However, the ejection speed when only one drop is ejected in the state where the multiple nozzles are simultaneously driven is not so fast, and is substantially the same as the ejection speed of the second drop when two drops are continuously ejected. Therefore, since the speed balance is not lost, the second drop does not land separately on the first drop.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as the auxiliary pulse signal, the second auxiliary pulse SP2 having the opposite polarity to the first auxiliary pulse SP1 is preceded by the first auxiliary pulse SP1 which has the same function as the conventional boost pulse. Add. By doing so, it is possible to stabilize the ejection speed of the multi-drop not only in the single-nozzle drive state and the double-nozzle continuous drive state, but also in the double-nozzle simultaneous drive state, and by extension, the inkjet head capable of high-quality printing. , And an inkjet printer using this head can be provided.

Here, the pulse widths w1 of the first and second auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 are verified with reference to FIGS. 12 to 16. The pulse width w1 of the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP2 is the same. Further, the pulse center distance between the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP2 is equal to the resonance period 2AL of the ink.

12 to 16 show the ejection speed [m] for each drop when 5 drops are continuously ejected by the multi-drop method in each of the single nozzle drive state, the double nozzle simultaneous drive state, and the double nozzle continuous drive state. / S] is shown as an example. FIG. 12 is a graph when the pulse width w1 is 0.2 μs. FIG. 13 is a graph when the pulse width w1 is 0.3 μs. FIG. 14 is a graph when the pulse width w1 is 0.4 μs. FIG. 15 is a graph when the pulse width w1 is 0.5 μs. FIG. 16 is a graph when the pulse width w1 is 0.6 μs. In each figure, the solid line shows the discharge speed [m / s] in the single nozzle drive state. The alternate long and short dash line indicates the ejection speed [m / s] when the multiple nozzles are simultaneously driven. The broken line indicates the discharge speed [m / s] in the state of continuous drive of multiple nozzles.

When the pulse width is 0.2 μs, as shown in FIG. 12, the first drop in the double nozzle continuous drive state among the single nozzle drive state, the double nozzle simultaneous drive state, and the double nozzle continuous drive state. Discharge speed is slow and varies. Moreover, in the double nozzle continuous drive state, the ejection speed of the first drop is still slower than that of the second drop, so that the ejection is unstable.

When the pulse width becomes 0.3 μs, as shown in FIG. 13, the discharge speed of the first drop becomes faster even in the double nozzle continuous drive state, and a large difference does not occur as compared with the second drop. Further, in each of the single nozzle drive state, the double nozzle simultaneous drive state, and the double nozzle continuous drive state, the discharge speed of the first drop is substantially the same. Therefore, a stable ejection effect can be obtained in any state.

When the pulse width becomes 0.4 μs, as shown in FIG. 14, the discharge speed of the first drop is substantially the same in each of the single nozzle drive state, the double nozzle simultaneous drive state, and the double nozzle continuous drive state. Further, the discharge speed of the first drop does not become significantly slower than that of the second drop. Rather, the discharge speed of the first drop is slightly faster than that of the second drop when the multiple nozzles are simultaneously driven, so that the speed balance is about to be lost.

When the pulse width becomes 0.5 μs, as shown in FIG. 15, the discharge speed of the first drop becomes faster than that of the second drop in the state of simultaneous drive of the multiple nozzles, and the speed balance is lost. This point is also remarkable when the pulse width becomes 0.6 μs as shown in FIG.

Therefore, in the case of the example shown in FIGS. 12 to 16, the pulse width w1 of the first and second auxiliary pulses is in the range of 0.3 μs to 0.4 μs, and the multi-drop is performed regardless of the driving state. It has the effect of stabilizing the discharge rate.

Next, the principle that the effect of this embodiment is produced will be described.
As described in the section of the background art, it has already been performed to make the ejection speed uniform by giving an auxiliary pulse signal, that is, a so-called boost pulse, to the extent that the ink droplets are not ejected before the ink droplets are ejected. By applying a boost pulse, the difference between the case where the pressure vibration is applied from the state where the meniscus is stationary and the case where the pressure vibration is applied when the residual pressure vibration of the ink droplet ejected immediately before that remains. It has the effect of compensating. However, the effect of using the second auxiliary pulse SP2 in combination with the first auxiliary pulse SP1 cannot be explained only by compensating for this difference. In order to understand the effect of the second auxiliary pulse SP2, it is necessary to understand the historical phenomenon caused by the hysteresis of the actuator. Therefore, first, regarding the difference in operation between the single nozzle drive state and the double nozzle simultaneous drive state and the double nozzle continuous drive state, the actuator based on the simple drive waveform having no auxiliary pulse, that is, the DRP waveform shown in the section T1 of FIG. It will be explained in operation.

In the single-nozzle drive state and the double-nozzle simultaneous drive state, ink is not ejected from the channel adjacent to the dot (collection of multiple drops) and the next dot. Therefore, the operation of the actuator always repeats (a) → (b) → (a) → (c) → (a) → (b) → (a) → (c) in FIG. 4B. In this repetition, two ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 8 communicating with the central pressure chamber 15b. Then, the actuator provided corresponding to the pressure chamber 15b always performs the operation of contracting by the contraction pulse CP before being expanded by the expansion pulse EP.

On the other hand, in the double nozzle continuous drive state, it is necessary to consider the movement of the adjacent pressure chamber 15.
In FIG. 17, before ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 8 communicating with the central pressure chamber 15b, ink droplets are first ejected from the nozzle 8 communicating with the pressure chamber 15a adjacent to the left, and then to the pressure chamber 15c adjacent to the right. The operation of the actuator corresponding to each pressure chamber 15a, 15b, 15c when the ink droplet is ejected from the communicating nozzle 8 is shown.

A1 to A4 are the operations of the actuator when ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 8 communicating with the pressure chamber 15a adjacent to the left, and when the ink droplets are continuously ejected, the operations of A1 to A4 are repeated.
A5 to A8 are the operations of the actuator when ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 8 communicating with the pressure chamber 15c adjacent to the right, and when the ink droplets are continuously ejected, the operations of A5 to A8 are repeated.
A9 to A16 are the operations of the actuator when ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 8 communicating with the central pressure chamber 15b, A9 to A12 are the operations of the first drop, and A13 to A16 are the operations of the second drop. .. When ejecting ink droplets after the third drop, the operations of A13 to A16 are repeated.

One partition wall 16a, which serves as an actuator for applying pressure vibration to the inside of the pressure chamber 15b, has a history in the left direction in the figure due to the operation of A4. And this history is maintained until the operation of A9. On the other hand, the other partition wall 16b, which is the same actuator, has a history in the right direction in the figure due to the operation of A8. And this history is maintained until the operation of A9. Therefore, when the partition walls 16a and 16b are deformed in the direction in which the partition walls 16a and 16b are expanded by the operation of A10, the directions of the deformation are the same directions as the history.

However, the situation changes when the second and subsequent drops are ejected from the nozzle 8 communicating with the central pressure chamber 15b. One partition wall 16a has a history in the right direction in the figure due to the operation of A12. And this history is maintained until the operation of A13. The other partition wall 16b has a history in the left direction in the figure due to the operation of A12. And this history is maintained until the operation of A13. Therefore, when the partition walls 16a and 16b are deformed in the direction in which the partition walls 16a and 16b are expanded by the operation of A14, the directions of the deformation are opposite to the history.

As described above, in the double nozzle continuous drive state, the orientation of the history when the actuator operates is different between the first drop and the second and subsequent drops. This difference in orientation is the cause of the large drop in discharge rate at the first drop. In order to understand the reason, next, the hysteresis characteristics of PZT (lead zirconate titanate) used as the piezoelectric members 1 and 2 will be described.

For the explanation of this hysteresis characteristic, a PZT test piece is used. The test piece is a rectangular parallelepiped having a height of 10 [mm], a width of 3 [mm], and a thickness of 0.2 [mm]. Then, this test piece is polarized in the height direction, and a voltage having a waveform shown in FIG. 18 is applied in the thickness direction. The voltage was set to 60 [V] because the thickness of the test piece was about 2.3 times the thickness of the partition wall of the head 100.

When the charge charge P1 [μC / cm2] injected into the test piece and the displacement amount d [nm] of the test piece were measured by applying the voltage of the waveform shown in FIG. 18, the result of FIG. 19 was obtained. That is, when the actuator had a history in the same direction, there was a displacement of 60 [nm] in the test piece due to a voltage change of 60 [V]. On the other hand, when the history was in the opposite direction, the test piece was displaced by 80 [nm] due to the voltage change of 60 [V]. That is, having a history in the opposite direction increases the displacement to 133% with respect to having a history in the same direction. As described above, the displacement amount of the test piece is smaller when it has a history in the same direction than when it has a history in the opposite direction. Therefore, it is considered that the discharge speed drops significantly in the first drop in the double nozzle continuous drive state having a history in the same direction.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 19, the displacement profile is similar to the charge charge profile. On the other hand, although it is difficult to measure the displacement of the actuator with the head 100 assembled, the charge charge can be relatively easily obtained from the current waveform. Therefore, next, the hysteresis characteristic of the actuator assembled on the head 100 is investigated by utilizing this charge charge. Specifically, the voltage shown in the waveform V1 of FIG. 20 is applied to the head 100, and the charging current of the actuator is measured. The capacitance of the actuator is about 400 [pF] due to the parallel partition wall 16a and the partition wall 16b.

The charging current was measured as shown in the waveform I1 of FIG. The area S1 of the waveform I1 represents the charge charge when the history is in the opposite direction, and the area S2 represents the charge charge when the history is in the same direction. Therefore, when the charge charge was measured from the areas S1 and S2, the charge charge measured from the area S1 was 4.2 [nC], and the charge charge measured from the area S2 was 3.1 [nC]. That is, even when the actuator is assembled to the head 100, it has a history in the opposite direction, so that 133% of the charge is injected as compared with the case where the actuator has a history in the same direction.

From the above results, since the displacement of the actuator is smaller when the history is in the same direction than when the history is in the opposite direction, the first drop in the double nozzle continuous drive state with the history in the same direction is It can be seen that the discharge speed drops significantly.

As described above, it can be said that the PZT used as the piezoelectric members 1 and 2 in the present embodiment has a hysteresis of about 33% under these test conditions. The magnitude of the hysteresis of the piezoelectric members 1 and 2 directly affects the magnitude of the displacement of the actuator. The magnitude of the displacement of the actuator affects the ejection speed and the ejection amount of ink droplets. Therefore, a hysteresis having a size of more than 30% cannot be ignored with respect to the print quality. Therefore, when a piezoelectric member having a hysteresis of a magnitude of more than 30% is used, it is advisable to control the history so as to always have a history in the opposite direction. By always having a history in the opposite direction, the ejection speed and the ejection amount of ink droplets are stabilized, and high-efficiency and high-quality printing results can be obtained. For example, a soft piezoelectric member having a small mechanical quality coefficient Qm and a large piezoelectric strain constant (d constant) generally has a large hysteresis. Rather than trying to avoid using such a piezoelectric member with a large hysteresis, it is possible to increase the displacement of the actuator and obtain a stable displacement by appropriately using the hysteresis as described above. It becomes.

From the above description, the effect of using the second auxiliary pulse SP2 together with the first auxiliary pulse SP1 in the double nozzle continuous drive state is as follows.

First, by giving the first auxiliary pulse SP1 to the head 100, a history in the reverse direction is added to the actuator before the ejection of the first drop, so that the effect of expanding the amplitude of the actuator using hysteresis and the liquid in advance are obtained. It has the effect of residual pressure vibration due to the vibration of. However, the effect of adding the history in the reverse direction to the actuator acts only on the first drop and does not act on the second and subsequent drops. On the other hand, by applying the residual pressure vibration, the pressure vibration at the end of the first drop changes. Therefore, as described with reference to FIG. 10, the first auxiliary pulse SP1 alone causes a decrease in the speed of the second drop.

Therefore, a second auxiliary pulse SP2 is given to the head 100 before the first auxiliary pulse SP1. The second auxiliary pulse SP2 is a pulse that gives an amplitude of the opposite phase one cycle before the first auxiliary pulse SP1. Therefore, by giving the second auxiliary pulse SP2, the pre-vibration given to the liquid by the first auxiliary pulse SP1 is reduced. However, since the history of the actuator is determined by the direction of the last pulse, it does not change even if the second auxiliary pulse SP2 is given. As a result, as described with reference to FIG. 11, by using the first auxiliary pulse S1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP2 in combination, the discharge speed of the second drop when two drops are continuously discharged is increased. The depression can be improved.

Based on this idea, as described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15, by adjusting the pulse width between the first auxiliary pulse S1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP2, the drop in the discharge speed of the second drop is suppressed. At the same time, it is possible to increase the discharge speed of the first drop.

In the present embodiment, the pulse widths of the first auxiliary pulse S1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP2 are the same, but it is also possible to finely adjust the balance between the two effects by making the pulse widths different. .. As the simplest example, a method of determining the waveforms of the auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 in the case of canceling the hysteresis without giving a prior vibration to the liquid will be described. In this method, the auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 can be tentatively determined, the influence of hysteresis can be canceled, and then the first auxiliary pulse SP1 can be further adjusted to give the liquid a prior vibration. In this explanation, an equivalent circuit simulating a pressure chamber is used.

FIG. 21 is an equivalent circuit 150 simulating a pressure chamber. In the equivalent circuit 150, one end of the resistor R (0.17Ω) is connected to the positive voltage terminal of the voltage source 151, one end of the capacitor C (0.83 μF) is connected to the other end of the resistor R, and the other end of the capacitor C is connected. One end of the inductor L (0.7 μH) is connected to the capacitor L, and the other end of the inductor L is connected to the negative voltage terminal of the voltage source 151. Then, the voltage of the voltage source 151 is measured by the first voltmeter 152, the voltage across the inductor L is measured by the second voltmeter 153, and the circuit current is measured by the ammeter 154. The voltage of the voltage source 151 corresponds to the drive voltage. The voltage across the inductor L corresponds to the pressure of the ink near the nozzle. The circuit current corresponds to the flow velocity of the ink near the nozzle. However, each numerical value of the drive voltage, the ink pressure, and the ink flow velocity is normalized to 1.

When a simulation is performed using this drive circuit, as shown in FIG. 22, the drive voltage waveform can be adjusted so as not to leave pressure vibration after ink ejection. In FIG. 22, the waveform V51 indicates the driving voltage, the waveform P51 indicates the pressure of the ink, and the waveform S51 indicates the flow velocity of the ink. In the drive voltage waveform V51, the negative potential period t1 is 2.4 [μs], the ground potential period t2 is 3.25 [μs], and the positive potential period t3 is 0.9 [μs]. .. Since the pressure vibration cycle of the pressure chamber of the head 100 is 4.8 [μs], the period t1 of the negative potential is set to the most efficient condition, that is, 1/2 hour of the pressure vibration cycle. Incidentally, the reason why the period t2 of the ground potential and the period t3 of the positive potential are different from the period t1 of the negative potential is due to the loss of the pressure chamber, that is, the resistance R.

Next, a simulation is performed when the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP2 are input before the drive voltage. As shown in FIG. 23, first, the second auxiliary pulse SP2 having a negative potential is input for the interval t4 = 0.8 [μs]. The section t4 is an arbitrary value short enough not to eject ink. However, if it is too short, the section t6 of the first auxiliary pulse SP1 to be input next becomes too small and the actuator does not respond, so about 0.8 [μs] is desirable.
Next, using a simulation, the ground potential section t5 and the positive potential first auxiliary pulse SP1 section t6 are adjusted so that the residual vibration in the ground potential section t7 after the first auxiliary pulse SP1 disappears. do. Here, if there is no residual vibration in the section t7, the waveforms of the ink pressure and the flow velocity generated by the subsequent drive voltage waveform should match the case without the auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2. In the case of FIG. 23, the section t4 = 0.8 [μs], the section t5 = 4.25 [μs], the section t6 = 0.45 [μs], the section t7 = 0.2 [μs], and the section t1 = 2. 4 [μs], interval t2 = 3.25 [μs], interval t3 = 0.9 [μs].

The sections t1 to t7 are adjusted so that the pressure vibration is canceled at the time of the section t7. Under the condition that the pressure vibration is canceled at the time of the section t7 due to the loss (resistance R) of the pressure chamber, “second auxiliary pulse SP2”> “first auxiliary pulse SP1”. At this time, the interval between the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP2 is slightly longer than the pressure vibration period. Looking at the waveforms after the auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2, the flow velocity and pressure of the ink are almost the same as those in the case where the auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 are not inserted. In this equivalent circuit, the hysteresis is not simulated, but the effect of the hysteresis is canceled because the history of this waveform always tends to contract the pressure chamber at the time of the section t7 and at the time after the section t3. .. Therefore, when the double nozzle continuous drive is performed using this waveform, the discharge speed of the first drop does not decrease extremely as shown in FIG. 9. Since this waveform does not give a prior vibration to the liquid, the discharge speeds of the single nozzle drive and the double nozzle simultaneous drive are the same as those in FIG. That is, this drive waveform is an improvement of only the discharge speed of the first drop at the time of continuous drive of the double nozzles with respect to the characteristic of FIG. 9 in which the auxiliary pulse is not given, and the first auxiliary pulse SP1 and the second auxiliary pulse SP1 and the second. This is a state in which the auxiliary pulse SP2 is tentatively determined as the cancellation condition of the hysteresis. For the optimum drive waveform, it is desirable to make the first drop a little faster than this. Therefore, in order to determine the drive waveform of the head, discharge observation may be performed with reference to this waveform, and the values in the sections t4, t5, and t6 may be finely adjusted. For example, if the first auxiliary pulse SP1 is lengthened based on this state, the liquid can be vibrated in advance to increase the discharge speed of the first drop.

By the way, there is a concern that the time required for the auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 lowers the maximum drive frequency that the head 100 can discharge. The maximum drive frequency is constrained by the time required to eject the maximum number of drops. Therefore, if the auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 are added prior to the discharge of the maximum number of drops, the required time becomes longer by the required time of the auxiliary pulse, and the maximum drive frequency drops. However, such concerns can be resolved by taking the following measures.

Generally, when the number of drops to be ejected is large, the droplets flying later are combined with the droplets ejected earlier, so that there is no problem even if the first drop is slow. On the other hand, the hysteresis of the actuator does not affect the ejection of ink after the second drop. Further, even if there is an influence of hysteresis, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 16, the discharge speed after the 3rd to 4th drops is usually stable. Therefore, the auxiliary pulse is not required when continuously ejecting 3 to 4 drops or more.

From these viewpoints, it is possible to adopt a control method in which an auxiliary pulse is added only when only one drop is ejected, and no auxiliary pulse is inserted when two or more drops are continuously ejected. By doing so, the upper limit of the drive frequency is not lowered because the required time is not increased when the ejection speed is increased when only one drop is ejected and when two or more drops are ejected.

When the maximum number of drops is 3 or more, auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 are added only when drops of N drops or less are continuously ejected, and auxiliary pulses SP1 and SP2 are added only when N + 1 drops or more are continuously ejected. By controlling so that it is not applied, it is possible to increase the speed of the drive frequency. However, N is 2 or more and (maximum number of drops-1) or less.

FIG. 24 is an example in which an auxiliary pulse is given only when the maximum number of drops is 3 and the number of drops is 1, and FIG. 25 is an example in which an auxiliary pulse is given only when the maximum number of drops is 3 and the number of drops is 2 or less.
The function of determining the number of drops to be ejected for each channel from the print data and determining the presence or absence of the auxiliary pulse can be realized in the logic circuit 1012.

In the above embodiment, FIGS. 12 to 16 are used to show the ejection speed for each drop when the pulse widths of the first auxiliary pulse and the second auxiliary pulse are varied, and the preferred pulse width is 0.3. Although it is set to about 0.4 μs, this value is merely an example and is not limitedly interpreted as a preferable value of the present invention. This value is replaced by the characteristics of the ink and the like, and an appropriate value is set for the head 100.

In addition, although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.
The inventions described in the claims at the time of filing the application of the present application are described below.
[C1] A pressure chamber containing ink and
An actuator provided corresponding to the pressure chamber and
A plate with a nozzle that communicates with the pressure chamber,
A drive circuit for driving the actuator is provided.
The drive circuit applies a drive waveform including an expansion pulse for expanding the volume of the pressure chamber and a contraction pulse for contracting the volume of the pressure chamber to the actuator once or continuously a plurality of times as a drive pulse signal. Before ejecting one drop or a plurality of consecutive drops of ink droplets from the nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber, an auxiliary pulse signal including the expansion pulse and the contraction pulse to the extent that the ink droplets are not ejected from the nozzle is transmitted. An inkjet head that is applied to an actuator and makes the ejection speed when ejecting the first drop substantially equal to the ejection speed when ejecting two drops continuously.
[C2] The inkjet head according to C1, wherein there are a plurality of the pressure chamber, the actuator, and the nozzle, and at least a part of the actuator is commonly used in the plurality of pressure chambers, and the actuator has a hysteresis characteristic.
[C3] The inkjet head according to C1 or C2, wherein the drive circuit first outputs an extended pulse as the auxiliary pulse signal, and then outputs a contraction pulse at intervals.
[C4] The inkjet head according to C3, wherein the drive circuit has a pulse center interval between the expansion pulse and the contraction pulse of the auxiliary pulse signal as the resonance period of the ink.
[C5] The inkjet head according to any one of C1 to C4, wherein the drive circuit has the same pulse width between the expansion pulse and the contraction pulse of the auxiliary pulse signal.
[C6] The auxiliary pulse signal is described by any one of C1 to C5 to be added when the number of continuous ink droplets is N (N is 1 or more and "maximum number of drops-1" or less) or less. Inkjet head.
[C7] The inkjet head according to any one of C1 to C6,
An inkjet printer including a transport mechanism for transporting a recording medium to a printing position by the inkjet head.

4 ... Electrodes, 7 ... Orifice plates, 8 ... Nozzles, 15 ... Pressure chambers, 16 ... Partitions, 100 ... Inkjet heads, 101 ... Head drive circuits, 200 ... Inkjet printers.

In one embodiment, the inkjet head comprises a piezoelectric actuator, a pressure chamber, a plate, and a head drive circuit. The piezoelectric actuator has a different displacement amount with respect to the applied voltage depending on whether the history of the previous drive direction is the same as the current drive direction or the opposite direction, and the history of the previous drive direction is opposite to the current drive direction. In the case of the direction, the charge charge for a predetermined applied voltage is larger than in the case of the same direction. The pressure chamber applies pressure to the contained ink by changing the internal volume due to the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator. The plate has a nozzle that communicates with the pressure chamber. The head drive circuit gives a first auxiliary pulse to the piezoelectric actuator to the extent that ink droplets do not eject from the nozzle, and ejects after resetting the history so that the history of the drive direction of the piezoelectric actuator is always unidirectional. A second auxiliary pulse is given to generate a pressure vibration in a direction that cancels the pressure vibration generated by the first auxiliary pulse prior to the first auxiliary pulse. Then, when the number of continuous ink droplets does not reach the maximum number of drops, the head drive circuit performs a first auxiliary pulse and a second auxiliary pulse before the main pulse for ejecting the first drop of the continuous ink droplets. Add one set of auxiliary pulses .

Claims (7)

The amount of displacement with respect to the applied voltage differs depending on whether the history of the previous drive direction is in the same direction as the current drive direction or in the opposite direction, and the history of the previous drive direction is in the opposite direction to the current drive direction. , A piezoelectric actuator with a larger charge charge for a predetermined applied voltage than in the same direction,
A pressure chamber that applies pressure to the contained ink by changing the internal volume due to the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator.
A plate with a nozzle that communicates with the pressure chamber,
A first auxiliary pulse is applied to the piezoelectric actuator so that ink droplets are not ejected from the nozzle, and the history is reset so that the history of the driving direction of the piezoelectric actuator is always unidirectional. A head drive circuit that gives a main pulse and gives a second auxiliary pulse that generates a pressure vibration in a direction that cancels the pressure vibration generated by the first auxiliary pulse prior to the first auxiliary pulse.
Inkjet head equipped with. The inkjet head according to claim 1, wherein the head drive circuit has a pulse center interval between the first auxiliary pulse and the second auxiliary pulse as a resonance period of the ink. The inkjet head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the head drive circuit equalizes the pulse widths of the first auxiliary pulse and the second auxiliary pulse. The first auxiliary pulse and the second auxiliary pulse are added to the first drop of the continuous ink droplets when the number of consecutive ink droplets does not reach the maximum number of drops, claim 1. The inkjet head according to any one of 3 to 3. Claim 1 that the piezoelectric actuator charges 30% or more more electric charge with respect to a predetermined applied voltage when the history of the previous drive direction is opposite to the current drive direction. The described inkjet head. The pulse width from the start to the end of the first auxiliary pulse and the pulse width from the start to the end of the second auxiliary pulse are different.
The head drive circuit maintains a potential for a period from the second auxiliary pulse to the start of the first auxiliary pulse, and after the first auxiliary pulse is applied, the main pulse is applied. The inkjet head according to claim 1. The inkjet head according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
An inkjet printer including a transport mechanism for transporting a recording medium to a printing position by the inkjet head.

Images