JP2023046759A - liquid ejection head - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a liquid ejection head in which wiring pitch can be prevented from being narrow and furthermore which can be prevented from increasing in the width of the liquid ejection head.SOLUTION: A liquid ejection head according to an embodiment comprises an actuator, a base plate, an orifice plate, a common liquid chamber, a supply port, a discharge port, and a partition wall. The actuator includes a plurality of pressure chambers arranged in one direction. The actuator is provided in the base plate. The orifice plate includes a plurality of ejection ports facing the plurality of pressure chambers. The common liquid chamber is formed adjacently to the actuator. The supply port is formed in the base plate and arranged in the common liquid chamber. The discharge port is formed in the base plate and arranged in the common liquid chamber. The partition wall partitions the common liquid chamber in between the supply port and the discharge port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of the present invention relate to liquid ejection heads.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a liquid ejection head such as an inkjet head, a technique is known in which an actuator forming a plurality of pressure chambers and a common liquid chamber are provided on one side of a base plate. Further, the liquid ejection head has a frame member covering the common liquid chamber and an orifice plate provided with ejection openings for ejecting ink. By covering the frame member with this orifice plate, a plurality of pressure chambers are formed in the actuator.

Each pressure chamber is provided with a drive electrode for driving the partition. For example, a liquid ejection head has two rows of actuators. The liquid ejection head has a supply hole for supplying ink between two rows of actuators, and has a discharge hole on the opposite side, so that the ink circulates through the manifold. In the case of liquid ejection with such a structure, since the discharge holes are present in the wiring lead-out area, the wiring must be formed so as to avoid the discharge holes, which may result in a portion where the wiring pitch becomes narrow. Moreover, since the discharge hole is arranged between the actuator and the frame member, the width of the liquid ejection head is increased.

JP 2013-43425 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection head that can prevent the wiring pitch from becoming narrower and the width of the liquid ejection head from becoming larger.

A liquid ejection head of an embodiment includes an actuator, a base plate, an orifice plate, a common liquid chamber, a supply hole, a discharge hole, and a partition wall. The actuator has a plurality of pressure chambers arranged in one direction. A base plate is provided with the actuator. The orifice plate has a plurality of outlets facing the plurality of pressure chambers. A common liquid chamber is formed adjacent to the actuator. A supply hole is formed in the base plate and arranged in the common liquid chamber. A discharge hole is formed in the base plate and located in the common liquid chamber. A partition wall separates the common liquid chamber between the supply hole and the discharge hole.

1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a liquid ejection head according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the head body according to the embodiment; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the head body according to the embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for manufacturing the partition wall of the head body according to the embodiment; 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment; FIG.

A liquid ejection head 1 according to an embodiment and a liquid ejection apparatus 2 using the liquid ejection head 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a liquid ejection head 1 according to an embodiment. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the head body 11, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the head body 11. As shown in FIG. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a method of manufacturing the partition wall 118 of the head body 11, and FIGS. In each figure, for the sake of explanation, the configuration is shown enlarged, reduced, or omitted as appropriate.

The liquid ejection head 1 is, for example, an inkjet head provided in a liquid ejection apparatus 2 such as the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. The liquid ejection head 1 is provided in a head unit 2130 including a supply tank 2132 as a liquid container provided in the liquid ejection device 2 .

The liquid ejection head 1 is supplied with ink as liquid stored in the supply tank 2132 . The liquid ejection head 1 may be a non-circulating head that does not circulate ink, or a circulating head that circulates ink. In this embodiment, the liquid ejection head 1 will be described using an example of a non-circulating head. Further, the liquid ejection head 1 may be connected to a temperature control device 2116 provided in the liquid ejection device 2 and supplied with temperature control liquid (temperature control water) for controlling the temperature of the ink.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the liquid ejection head 1 includes a head body 11, a manifold unit 12, and a circuit board 13. FIG. The liquid ejection head 1 may have a cover that covers the head main body 11 , the manifold unit 12 and the circuit board 13 . Note that the liquid ejection head 1 may be a four-row integral structure head having two sets of head bodies 11 each having a pair of actuators 113 .

The head body 11 ejects liquid. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the head body 11 includes a base plate 111, a frame member 112, an actuator 113, and an orifice plate 114. As shown in FIGS. The head body 11 also has a common liquid chamber 116 . In the example of this embodiment, an example in which one head body 11 has a pair of actuators 113 will be described.

The head body 11 has a partition wall 118 that partitions a portion of the common liquid chamber 116 . The head body 11 also has a plurality of electrodes 119 on the base plate 111 and the actuator 113 for driving the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 and the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 of the actuator 113 .

The base plate 111 is made of, for example, a ceramic material and has a rectangular plate shape. The base plate 111 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape elongated in one direction. The base plate 111 has one or more supply holes 1111 and one or more discharge holes 1112 . A pair of actuators 113 are provided on the base plate 111, and wiring patterns for driving the actuators 113 are formed. The supply hole 1111 and the discharge hole 1112 are through holes penetrating between the main surfaces of the base plate 111 .

A single supply hole 1111 is provided, for example, at a position of the common liquid chamber 116 facing a first common liquid chamber 1161 described later. The supply hole 1111 is, for example, an elongated hole extending in one direction along the longitudinal direction of the first common liquid chamber 1161 .

For example, one discharge hole 1112 is provided at a position facing two third common liquid chambers 1163 described later in the common liquid chamber 116 . Also, for example, the discharge holes 1112 are provided in the base plate 111 adjacent to the secondary sides of the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 .

The frame member 112 is fixed to one main surface of the base plate 111 with an adhesive or the like. The frame member 112 surrounds the supply hole 1111 , the plurality of discharge holes 1112 and the actuator 113 provided in the base plate 111 .

For example, the frame member 112 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, thereby forming an opening that is long in one direction along the longitudinal direction of the frame member 112 . An actuator 113 , a supply hole 1111 and two discharge holes 1112 are arranged in the opening of the frame member 112 .

A pair of actuators 113 are adhered to the mounting surface of the base plate 111 . A pair of actuators 113 are arranged in two rows on the base plate 111 with the supply hole 1111 interposed therebetween. The actuator 113 is formed in a plate shape elongated in one direction. The actuator 113 is arranged in the opening of the frame member 112 and adhered to the main surface of the base plate 111 . As a specific example, the actuator 113 is formed by adhering two rectangular plates of piezoelectric material that are long in one direction so that their polarization directions are opposite to each other. Here, the piezoelectric material is, for example, PZT (lead zirconate titanate). The actuator 113 is adhered to the mounting surface of the base plate 111 with, for example, a thermosetting epoxy adhesive.

The actuator 113 includes, for example, a plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction on the center side in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of second pressure chambers 1131 arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction at both ends in the longitudinal direction. and a pressure chamber 1132 . The actuators 113 are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction, are arranged between the adjacent first pressure chambers 1131, and have a plurality of air chambers arranged alternately with the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131. may be

A plurality of grooves are formed in the longitudinal direction of the actuator 113 on the main surface side opposite to the base plate 111 side of the actuator 113 , and the grooves form a first pressure chamber 1131 and a second pressure chamber 1132 . In other words, the actuator 113 has a plurality of longitudinally evenly spaced walls forming a groove therebetween. The walls form a plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 and a plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 between adjacent walls. It is the piezoelectric body 1133 to change.

The surface of the actuator 113 opposite to the base plate 111 is adhered to the orifice plate 114 . Also, the actuator 113 has wiring patterns that are part of the plurality of electrodes 119 for driving the first pressure chamber 1131 and the second pressure chamber 1132 .

For example, the width of the actuator 113 in the lateral direction gradually increases from the top side toward the base plate 111 side. The cross-sectional shape of the cross section along the direction (lateral direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the actuator 113 is formed in a trapezoidal shape. That is, the lateral side portions of the actuator 113 are inclined. A side portion of the actuator 113 has a region in which a plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 are provided is arranged to face a first common liquid chamber 1161 and a second common liquid chamber 1162, and a region in which a plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 are provided. are arranged to face the second common liquid chamber 1162 and the third common liquid chamber 1163 .

As a specific example, the actuator 113 is formed of a laminated piezoelectric member in which two rectangular plate-shaped piezoelectric materials elongated in one direction are adhered to face each other so that their polarization directions are opposite to each other. Here, the piezoelectric material is, for example, PZT (lead zirconate titanate). The actuator 113 is adhered to the mounting surface of the base plate 111 with, for example, a thermosetting epoxy adhesive. The actuator 113 is formed with an inclined surface (inclined portion) by, for example, cutting. At the same time, the surfaces of the base plate 111 and the actuator 113 on which the plurality of electrodes 119 are patterned are polished, for example, to form polished surfaces. Further, the actuator 113 is formed by cutting, for example, a plurality of grooves forming the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 and the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132, and the piezoelectric body ( drive element) 1133 is formed.

The first pressure chamber 1131 is a pressure chamber for ejecting ink from the ejection port 1141 when the liquid ejection head 1 operates such as printing. The second pressure chamber 1132 is a maintenance pressure chamber for ejecting ink from the ejection port 1141 during maintenance. In this embodiment, an example in which the actuator 113 has a plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 and a plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 has been described. Alternatively, a configuration having air chambers alternately arranged with the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 may be employed.

Orifice plate 114 is formed in a plate shape. The orifice plate 114 is fixed to the main surface of the frame member 112 opposite to the base plate 111 with an adhesive or the like. The orifice plate 114 has a plurality of discharge ports 1141 formed at positions facing the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 and the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 . In this embodiment, the orifice plate 114 has two rows of ejection openings 1142 in which a plurality of ejection openings 1141 are arranged in one direction.

The plurality of outlets 1141 includes, for example, a plurality of first outlets 11411 facing the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 and a plurality of second outlets 11412 facing the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 . The plurality of first ejection openings 11411 are holes through which ink is ejected during operations such as printing by the liquid ejection head 1 . The plurality of second ejection ports 11412 are, for example, purging holes for purging by ejecting ink during maintenance.

The common liquid chamber 116 communicates between the supply hole 1111 and the primary sides of the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 of the actuator 113 . Also, the common liquid chamber 116 communicates the secondary side of the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 of the actuator 113 with the discharge hole 1112 via, for example, the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 .

As a specific example, the common liquid chamber 116 consists of a first common liquid chamber 1161 communicating with the supply hole 1111 and the primary side of the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 of the actuator 113 and a plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 of the actuator 113 . A second common liquid chamber 1162 that communicates with the secondary side and the primary side of the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 , and two third common liquid chambers 1163 that communicate with the secondary side of the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 and the discharge hole 1112 . and have

The primary side of the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 is the upstream side of the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 in the liquid flowing direction. The secondary side of the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 is the downstream side of the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 in the liquid flowing direction. The primary side of the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 is the upstream side of the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 in the liquid flowing direction. The secondary side of the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 is the downstream side of the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 in the liquid flowing direction.

The first common liquid chamber 1161 is formed between the central sides of the pair of actuators 113 excluding both end portions. The first common liquid chamber 1161 constitutes an ink flow path from the supply hole 1111 to the primary side openings of the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 of each actuator 113 .

A second common liquid chamber 1162 is formed between each actuator 113 and the frame member 112 . The second common liquid chamber 1162 forms an ink flow path from the secondary side openings of the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 to the primary side openings of the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 .

The third common liquid chamber 1163 is formed, for example, between one actuator 113 and separated from the first common liquid chamber 1161 by a partition wall 118 . A third common liquid chamber 1163 is formed between both ends of the pair of actuators 113 . The third common liquid chamber 1163 forms an ink flow path from the secondary side openings of the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 of each actuator 113 to the discharge hole 1112 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the partition wall 118 is made of a photosensitive resin material. The partition wall 118 divides the area between the pair of actuators 113 in the common liquid chamber 116 into a first common liquid chamber 1161 in which a plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 are formed and a plurality of second pressure chambers 1132 . and a third common liquid chamber 1163, which is a region in which is formed.

The plurality of electrodes 119 individually apply drive voltages to the plurality of piezoelectric bodies 1133 that are piezoelectric bodies. A plurality of electrodes 119 individually deform each pressure chamber 1131 , 1132 . The electrode 119 is formed by a wiring pattern formed on the base plate 111 and a wiring pattern formed on the actuator 113 .

For example, the manifold unit 12 is connected with an ink supply pipe and an ink discharge pipe. The manifold unit 12 forms a liquid supply channel that connects the supply hole 1111 of the base plate 111 and the ink supply pipe, and a liquid discharge channel that connects the discharge hole 1112 of the base plate 111 and the ink discharge pipe.

When the liquid ejection head 1 is connected to the temperature control device 2116 provided in the liquid ejection device 2, the manifold unit 12 includes a temperature-controlled water supply pipe and a temperature-controlled water discharge pipe, which are temperature-controlled water pipes. is connected. The manifold unit 12 connects the temperature-controlled water supply pipe and the temperature-controlled water discharge pipe to form a temperature-controlled channel through which the temperature-controlled water flows.

The circuit board 13 includes a wiring film 131 whose one end is connected to the plurality of electrodes 119 of the base plate 111, a driver IC 132 mounted on the wiring film 131, a printed wiring board 133 mounted on the other end of the wiring film 131, Prepare.

The circuit board 13 drives the actuator 113 by applying a drive voltage to the wiring pattern of the actuator 113 by the driver IC 132 , increases or decreases the volume of the pressure chamber 1131 , and ejects droplets from the ejection port 1141 .

The wiring film 131 is connected to the multiple electrodes 119 . For example, the wiring film 131 is an ACF (an anisotropic conductive film) fixed to the connecting portion of the base plate 111 by thermocompression bonding or the like. A plurality of wiring films 131 to be connected are provided for one head body 11, for example. In this embodiment, two wiring films 131 are connected to one actuator 113 . The wiring film 131 is, for example, a COF (Chip on Film) on which the driver IC 132 is mounted.

The driver IC 132 is connected to the multiple electrodes 119 via the wiring film 131 . It should be noted that the driver IC 132 is connected to the plurality of electrodes 119 by other means such as ACP (Anisotropic Conductive Paste), NCF (Non-Conductive Film), and NCP (Non-Conductive Paste) instead of the wiring film 131. May be.

The printed wiring board 133 is a PWA (Printing Wiring Assembly) on which various electronic components and connectors are mounted.

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the partition wall 118 formed in the head main body 11 of the liquid ejection head 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a photosensitive resin material 1181 is applied on the base plate 111 and between the pair of actuators 113 provided on the base plate 111 (ACT 1). At this time, the actuator 113 may be formed with a plurality of grooves forming the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 and the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132, or may be formed before the plurality of grooves are formed. . Further, the area where the photosensitive resin material 1181 is applied is, for example, the area where the partition wall 118 is formed, but it may be provided in the entire area between the pair of actuators 113 . Further, for example, when an air chamber is provided in the actuator 113, the photosensitive resin material 1181 may be provided also in a plurality of grooves in order to form walls forming the air chamber at the same time.

Next, the mask 51 is placed on the actuator 113 (ACT2). Here, the mask 51 has an opening 511 having the same shape as the surface of the partition wall 118 on the side opposite to the base plate 111 at a portion facing the region where the partition wall 118 is formed. The mask 51 is placed on the actuator 113 via a release film 52 for releasing from the actuator 113 . For example, the release film is made of a material that can transmit light that cures the photosensitive resin material 1181 . When the air chambers are formed at the same time, the mask 51 is formed with openings at portions facing the walls formed in the grooves forming the air chambers.

Next, ultraviolet rays (UV), for example, are irradiated from above the mask 51 as light for curing the photosensitive resin material 1181 (ACT 3). As a result, the photosensitive resin material 1181 in the area where the partition wall 118 is formed is cured by light.

Next, the remaining photosensitive resin is removed with a developer (ACT 4). A partition wall 118 is thereby formed between the pair of actuators 113 . When the partition wall 118 is formed using the photosensitive resin material 1181 in this way, the hardened portion depends on the mask 51, so depending on the shape of the mask 51, fine flow paths can be formed. is. That is, since it is not necessary to harden the resin material forming the partition wall 118 at a high temperature as a thermosetting resin material, it is possible to reduce deterioration in accuracy due to thermal deformation. Further, by molding the partition wall 118 by such a manufacturing method, the fine partition wall 118 can be formed with high accuracy at low temperatures. After forming the partition walls 118, for example, the upper surfaces of the actuators 113 and the partition walls 118 are polished. After that, the frame member 112 is adhered to the base plate 111 , and the orifice plate 114 is adhered to the frame member 112 , the actuator 113 and the partition wall 118 .

The liquid ejection head 1 configured in this manner is provided, for example, in an inkjet recording apparatus, which is an example of the liquid ejection apparatus 2 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the liquid ejection device 2 will be described as an inkjet recording device 2 . The liquid ejection head 1 is connected to a supply tank 2132 as a liquid container provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 2 . The liquid ejection head 1 is either a circulating head that circulates ink between it and the supply tank 2132, or a non-circulating head that receives ink from the supply tank 2132 and discharges the ink to the maintenance device 2117 during maintenance. is the head. The liquid ejection head 1 is arranged in a posture in which the ejection port 1141 of the orifice plate 114 of the head body 11 faces downward.

An inkjet recording apparatus 2 having the liquid ejection head 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. The inkjet recording apparatus 2 includes a housing 2111, a medium supply section 2112, an image forming section 2113, a medium discharge section 2114, a conveying device 2115 as a support device, a temperature control device 2116, a maintenance device 2117, and a control device. a portion 2118;

The inkjet recording apparatus 2 conveys a recording medium, for example, paper P, which is an ejection target, along a predetermined transport path 2001 from a medium supply unit 2112 through an image forming unit 2113 to a medium discharge unit 2114, while feeding ink or the like. is an inkjet printer that performs an image forming process on a sheet of paper P by ejecting a liquid of .

The medium supply unit 2112 has a plurality of paper feed cassettes 21121 . The image forming section 2113 includes a support section 2120 that supports a sheet, and a plurality of head units 2130 arranged above the support section 2120 so as to face each other. The medium ejection section 2114 includes a paper ejection tray 21141 .

The support portion 2120 includes a conveying belt 21201 provided in a loop shape in a predetermined area for image formation, a support plate 21202 supporting the conveying belt 21201 from the back side, and a plurality of belt rollers 21203 provided on the back side of the conveying belt 21201 . , provided.

The head unit 2130 includes a plurality of liquid ejection heads 1 that are inkjet heads, a plurality of supply tanks 2132 as liquid tanks mounted on each of the liquid ejection heads 1, a pump 2134 that supplies ink, and the liquid ejection heads. 1 and a connection channel 2135 that connects the supply tank 2132 .

In the present embodiment, the liquid ejection head 1 is provided with four color liquid ejection heads 1 of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and four color supply tanks 2132 each containing ink of each color. The supply tank 2132 is connected to the liquid ejection head 1 by a connection channel 2135 .

The pump 2134 is, for example, a liquid feed pump configured by a piezoelectric pump. The pump 2134 is connected to the controller 2118 and driven and controlled by the controller 2118 .

The connection channel 2135 has a supply channel connected to the ink supply pipe of the liquid ejection head 1 . Also, the connection channel 2135 includes a recovery channel connected to the ink discharge pipe of the liquid ejection head 1 . For example, since the liquid ejection head 1 is non-circulating, the recovery circuit is connected to the maintenance device 2117 . Note that, for example, when the liquid ejection head 1 is of a circulation type, the recovery channel is connected to the supply tank 2132 .

The transport device 2115 transports the paper P along the transport path 2001 from the paper feed cassette 21121 of the medium supply unit 2112 to the paper discharge tray 21141 of the medium discharge unit 2114 through the image forming unit 2113 . The conveying device 2115 includes a plurality of guide plate pairs 21211-21218 arranged along the conveying path 2001 and a plurality of conveying rollers 21221-21228. The transport device 2115 supports the paper P so as to be movable relative to the liquid ejection head 1 .

The temperature control device 2116 includes a temperature control water tank 21161, a temperature control circuit 21162 such as a pipe or tube that supplies temperature control water, a pump that supplies temperature control water, a temperature controller that adjusts the temperature of the temperature control water, and the like. . The temperature control device 2116 supplies the temperature-controlled water in the temperature-controlled water tank 21161 adjusted to a predetermined temperature by the temperature controller to the temperature-controlled water supply pipe of the liquid ejection head 1 through the temperature control circuit 21162 by water supply from the pump. do. The temperature control device 2116 also collects the water discharged from the temperature control water discharge pipe through the manifold unit 12 into the temperature control water tank 21161 via the temperature control circuit 21162 . Note that the temperature controller is, for example, a heater or a cooler. Also, the temperature control device 2116 may be configured to adjust the temperature of the ink supplied to the liquid ejection head 1 .

The maintenance device 2117, for example, sucks and collects ink remaining on the outer surface of the orifice plate 114 during maintenance. Further, when the liquid ejection head 1 is of a non-circulating type, the maintenance device 2117 collects ink in the head body 11 from the second ejection ports 11412 facing the second pressure chambers 1132 during maintenance. Such a maintenance device 2117 has, for example, a tray, a tank, or the like for storing collected ink.

The control unit 2118 includes a CPU 21181 as an example of a processor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various programs, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores various variable data and image data. and an interface unit for inputting data from the outside and outputting data to the outside.

Next, the flow of ink in the head body 11 of the liquid ejection head 1 configured as described above will be described. First, ink moves from the supply hole 1111 of the base plate 111 to the first common liquid chamber 1161 .

The ink that has moved to the first common liquid chamber 1161 moves to the second common liquid chamber 1162 through the plurality of first pressure chambers 1131 as indicated by arrows in FIG. By driving the first pressure chamber 1131 , the ink in the driven first pressure chamber 1131 is ejected from the first ejection port 11411 . Ink not ejected from the first ejection port 11411 moves to the second common liquid chamber 1162 .

In this embodiment, since the liquid ejection head 1 is of a non-circulating type, the ink in the second common liquid chamber 1162 moves to the third common liquid chamber 1163 through the plurality of second pressure chambers 1132, and moves to the third common liquid chamber 1163. It stays in the liquid chamber 1163 . When the secondary side of the ink discharge pipe is opened during maintenance or ink filling, the ink in the second common liquid chamber 1162 passes through the discharge channel of the manifold unit 12 from the discharge hole 1112 of the base plate 111. is discharged.

When the second pressure chamber 1132 is driven during maintenance or ink filling, the ink in the second pressure chamber 1132 is mixed with air accumulated in the second common liquid chamber 1162 or the third common liquid chamber 1163, for example. They are discharged from the second discharge port 11412 together.

The liquid ejection head 1 configured as described above and the liquid ejection apparatus 2 using the liquid ejection head 1 have a partition wall 118 between the pair of actuators 113 for partitioning the first common liquid chamber 1161 and the third common liquid chamber 1163 . have. As a result, the third common liquid chamber 1163 becomes a chamber separated from the first common liquid chamber 1161, so that the discharge hole 1112 can be provided in the region of the base plate 111 where the third common liquid chamber 1163 is provided. Become. That is, the supply hole 1111 and the discharge hole 1112 provided between the pair of actuators 113 are fluidly separated. Therefore, the liquid ejection head 1 does not need to provide the discharge hole 1112 in the second common liquid chamber 1162 .

Since the liquid ejection head 1 has a configuration in which the discharge holes 1112 are not arranged in the region (the second common liquid chamber 1162) in which the plurality of electrodes 119 are provided, the plurality of discharge holes 1112 formed on the base plate 111 in the second common liquid chamber 1162 are arranged. It is possible to prevent the wiring pitch of the electrodes 119 from becoming narrower. Further, by providing the discharge hole 1112 between the pair of actuators 113, the second common liquid chamber 1162 between the actuator 113 and the frame member 112 has a width smaller than the width at which the discharge hole 1112 can be provided. be able to. That is, the liquid ejection head 1 can reduce the width of the second common liquid chamber 1162 in the lateral direction of the actuator 113 compared to the case where the discharge hole 1112 is provided in the second common liquid chamber 1162 .

Therefore, the liquid ejection head 1 can reduce the width in the direction in which the pair of actuators 113 are arranged (the lateral direction of the actuators 113). In other words, it is possible to prevent the width of the liquid ejection head 1 from increasing in the lateral direction.

Moreover, by forming the partition wall 118 provided in the head main body 11 with the photosensitive resin material 1181, the partition wall 118 can be formed at a low temperature, so that the partition wall 118 is not affected by heat. Therefore, the liquid ejection head 1 can form the partition walls 118 with high precision.

According to the liquid ejection head 1 and the liquid ejection device 2 configured as described above, the partition wall 118 partitions the pair of actuators 113, and the supply hole 1111 and the discharge hole 1112 are provided, thereby reducing the wiring pitch. can be prevented from becoming narrower, and the width of the liquid ejection head 1 can be prevented from being increased.

Note that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the configurations described above. For example, in the above example, the head body 11 is of a non-circulating type, but may be of a circulating type. In the above example, the ink (liquid) in the head main body 11 flows from the second common liquid chamber 1162 through the second pressure chamber 1132 to the third common liquid chamber 1163. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . That is, as long as the second common liquid chamber 1162 and the third common liquid chamber 1163 communicate with each other, the configuration without the second pressure chamber 1132 may be employed.

For example, when the actuator 113 does not have the second pressure chamber 1132 , the actuator 113 may have a groove or the like that connects the second common liquid chamber 1162 and the third common liquid chamber 1163 . Alternatively, for example, a gap may be provided between the longitudinal end portion of the actuator 113 and the frame member 112 , and this gap may connect the second common liquid chamber 1162 and the third common liquid chamber 1163 .

In the above-described embodiment, the liquid ejection head 1 and the liquid ejection device 2 are used in a recording apparatus that ejects ink as liquid, but they are not limited to this. That is, the liquid ejection head 1 and the liquid ejection device 2 can be used for, for example, 3D printers, industrial manufacturing machines, and medical applications.

According to at least one embodiment described above, the liquid ejection head and the liquid ejection apparatus can prevent the wiring pitch from becoming narrower, and can also prevent the width of the liquid ejection head from becoming larger.

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Liquid ejection head 2... Liquid ejection apparatus (inkjet recording apparatus) 11... Head main body 12... Manifold unit 13... Circuit board 51... Mask 52... Release film 111... Base plate 112... Frame member , 113... actuator, 114... orifice plate, 116... common liquid chamber, 118... partition wall, 119... electrode, 131... wiring film, 132... driver IC, 133... printed wiring board, 511... opening, 1111... supply hole, 1112 discharge hole 1131 first pressure chamber 1132 second pressure chamber 1133 piezoelectric body (driving element) 1141 discharge port 1142 discharge port array 1161 first common liquid chamber 1162 second 2 common liquid chambers 1163 third common liquid chamber 1181 photosensitive resin material 2001 transport path 2111 housing 2112 medium supply section 2113 image forming section 2114 medium discharge section 2115 Conveying device 2116 Temperature control device 2117 Maintenance device 2118 Control unit 2120 Support unit 2130 Head unit 2132 Supply tank 2134 Pump 2135 Connection channel 11411 First discharge port , 11412...Second ejection port 21121...Paper cassette 21141...Paper discharge tray 21161...Temperature control water tank 21162...Temperature control circuit 21201...Conveyor belt 21202...Support plate 21203...Belt roller 21211~ 21218... guide plate pair, 21221 to 21228... conveying rollers, P... paper.

Claims (5)

an actuator having a plurality of pressure chambers arranged in one direction;
a base plate on which the actuator is mounted;
an orifice plate having a plurality of discharge ports facing the plurality of pressure chambers;
a common liquid chamber formed adjacent to the actuator;
a supply hole formed in the base plate and arranged in the common liquid chamber;
a discharge hole formed in the base plate and arranged in the common liquid chamber;
a partition wall that separates the common liquid chamber between the supply hole and the discharge hole;
a liquid ejection head. 2. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein said partition wall is made of a photosensitive resin material. The common liquid chamber has a first common liquid chamber provided on the primary side of the plurality of pressure chambers and a second common liquid chamber provided on the secondary side of the plurality of pressure chambers,
The supply hole and the discharge hole are provided in the first common liquid chamber,
3. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall separates the first common liquid chambers. 4. The liquid according to claim 3, wherein the actuator has a flow path that extends from the second common liquid chamber to a portion of the first common liquid chamber provided with the discharge hole separated by the partition wall. ejection head. The outlet has a first outlet and a second outlet,
The pressure chamber is a first pressure chamber,
the flow path is a plurality of second pressure chambers,
5. The liquid ejection head according to claim 4, wherein said orifice plate has said first ejection opening facing said first pressure chamber, and has said second ejection opening facing said second pressure chamber.

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