JP4083769B2 - Droplet discharge device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a droplet discharge unit that discharges droplets via a plurality of nozzles, and a droplet discharge device including the droplet discharge unit.

  The droplet discharge device includes a droplet discharge unit that discharges droplets via a plurality of nozzles. The droplet discharge unit has a common liquid chamber and an individual liquid chamber. The droplet discharge unit guides the liquid supplied to the common liquid chamber to each individual liquid chamber, and discharges the liquid from the individual liquid chamber to the outside through the nozzle. As a representative example of a droplet discharge method, a method of generating a pressure in each individual liquid chamber by applying mechanical deformation to each individual liquid chamber and discharging a droplet, or a heating element disposed in each individual liquid chamber And a method of generating a pressure in each individual liquid chamber by vaporizing the liquid and discharging a droplet.

  When incorporating a droplet discharge unit into a droplet discharge device, a flow path component member and a base member are usually used in many cases. The flow path component plays a role of constructing a flow path through which a liquid to be introduced into the droplet discharge unit flows. The base member plays a role of holding several components including a droplet discharge unit and a flow path component. Conventionally, the reliability of the droplet discharge device has been improved by ingenuity in the configuration of the droplet discharge unit, the flow path constituting member, the base member, and how to assemble them.

  However, in recent years, the droplet discharge device tends to generate heat due to the high density of nozzles and the increase in the number of nozzles in the droplet discharge unit. As a result, there may be a problem that cracks occur during use due to differences in the linear expansion coefficients of the materials constituting the droplet discharge unit, the flow path constituting member, and the base member.

Among conventional techniques for solving such a problem, an elastic member is disposed between the droplet discharge unit and the base member (for example, refer to Patent Document 1), or a ceramic is used for the base member. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). According to these conventional techniques, it has been said that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of cracks and the like due to the difference in the open linear expansion coefficient between the droplet discharge unit and the base member.
JP 2001-322285 A JP 2000-190500 A

  However, the problem caused by the high density of nozzles and the increase in the number of nozzles is not limited to the occurrence of cracks and the like due to the difference in the coefficient of linear expansion between the members. For example, air may easily accumulate in the common liquid chamber due to an increase in nozzle density or an increase in the number of nozzles. If air accumulates in the common liquid chamber, problems such as non-ejection of droplets are likely to occur. For this reason, it is necessary to efficiently remove the air accumulated in the common liquid chamber. In particular, considering the recent demand for a compact droplet discharge device, it can be said that it is important to remove the air accumulated in the common liquid chamber with a simple configuration as much as possible.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a droplet ejection apparatus capable of removing air accumulated in the common liquid chamber efficiently and simple configuration.

(1) A droplet discharge unit according to a first invention is a droplet discharge unit that discharges a supplied liquid through a plurality of nozzles, and includes a main body, a common liquid chamber, a plurality of individual liquid chambers, and a liquid An inlet and a liquid outlet are provided.

  The common liquid chamber is provided inside the main body. The plurality of individual liquid chambers are provided inside the main body and communicate with each of the common liquid chamber and the plurality of nozzles. The liquid inlet is exposed to the first side surface of the main body and continues to the common liquid chamber. The liquid discharge port is exposed to the second side surface located on the opposite side of the first side surface and continues to the common liquid chamber.

  The liquid inlet is an opening for introducing a liquid into the common liquid chamber from the outside of the main body. The liquid introduced into the common liquid chamber flows into each of the plurality of individual liquid chambers, and is discharged from each individual liquid chamber to the outside through a nozzle. Furthermore, the common liquid chamber is continuous with the liquid discharge port. The liquid discharge port is located on the opposite side of the common liquid chamber from the liquid introduction port, and is an opening for discharging the liquid from the common liquid chamber. The liquid introduced into the common liquid chamber via the liquid inlet is discharged from the common liquid chamber via the liquid outlet located on the opposite side.

  By providing the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet in the common liquid chamber in this way, when the droplet discharge unit is applied to the droplet discharge device, a flow path for removing air accumulated in the common liquid chamber is provided. Easy to build.

(2) A droplet discharge device according to a second aspect of the invention is a droplet discharge device that includes the droplet discharge unit described in (1) and discharges droplets using the droplet discharge unit. 1 elastic seal member, a second elastic seal member, and a flow path forming means.

  The first elastic seal member is provided at the liquid inlet. The second elastic seal member is provided at the liquid discharge port. The flow path forming means includes a first flow path forming portion in which a first liquid flow path to be continuous with the liquid introduction port is provided and a second liquid flow path to be continuous with the liquid discharge port. At least a second flow path component. The first flow path component is disposed so as to be in pressure contact with the first side surface of the droplet discharge unit via the first elastic seal member. The second flow path component is disposed so as to be in pressure contact with the second side surface of the droplet discharge unit via the second elastic seal member.

  In this configuration, the droplet discharge unit is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the first channel configuration unit and the second channel configuration unit of the channel configuration unit. A first elastic seal member and a second elastic seal member are interposed at a connection portion between the droplet discharge unit and the flow path forming means. For this reason, even when there is a difference between the deformation amount of the droplet discharge unit and the deformation amount of the flow path forming means when a temperature change occurs due to the difference in linear expansion coefficient, the difference in deformation amount is the first elasticity. Absorbed by the seal member and the second elastic seal member. As a result, the droplet discharge unit and the flow path forming means are not easily affected by thermal stress.

  In addition, since the first elastic seal member and the second elastic seal member are disposed on the opposite surfaces of the droplet discharge unit, the forces from the first elastic seal member and the second elastic seal member are , Acting on the droplet discharge unit so as to cancel each other.

(3) A droplet discharge device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the droplet discharge device according to (2), further including a base member and an interposition member. The base member is attached with the droplet discharge unit, the first flow path component, and the second flow path component. A metal is mentioned as a typical example of the raw material of a base member. The interposition member is interposed between the droplet discharge unit and the base member by being fixed to a surface other than the first side surface and the second side surface of the droplet discharge unit and the base member. The interposition member is made of hard ceramics. A typical example of a material used for the interposition member includes alumina and aluminum nitride.

  Since hard ceramics has a linear expansion coefficient comparable to that of silicon or piezoelectric material as a base material of the droplet discharge unit, thermal stress is unlikely to occur between the droplet discharge unit and the interposition member when the temperature changes. In addition, since hard ceramics have a high Young's modulus and high toughness, they are not destroyed by thermal stress generated between them and the base member.

(4) A droplet discharge device according to a fourth invention is the droplet discharge device according to (3),
The interposed member is characterized in that a gap is provided between the first flow path component and the second flow path component. A typical example of the arrangement of the interposition member is to make the width of the interposition member shorter than the interval between the first side surface and the second side surface of the droplet discharge unit.

  In this configuration, when the adhesive for bonding the interposition member and the droplet discharge unit or the interposition member and the base member is used excessively, the space into which the excess adhesive flows is a droplet. It is formed inside the discharge device. For this reason, it is difficult for the adhesive to flow between the droplet discharge unit and the flow path forming means, or between the base member and the flow path forming means, and as a result, the liquid drop discharge unit and the base member are soiled by the adhesive. Is prevented.

(5) A droplet discharge device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the droplet discharge device according to any one of (1) to (3), in which the flow path configuring means includes the first liquid flow path and the first liquid flow path. A third liquid channel to be connected to the second liquid channel is provided inside, and the first liquid channel component is disposed so as to cover the base member in combination with the first channel component and the second channel component. It comprises 3 flow path components.

  In this configuration, the base member is covered with the first flow path component, the second flow path component, and the third flow path component. For this reason, the cover which protects a base member is comprised using the indispensable member which comprises a flow path. As a result, the base member and the components mounted on the base member are protected with a simple configuration.

(6) A droplet discharge device according to a sixth aspect of the invention is the droplet discharge device according to (5), wherein the third flow path component also serves as a filter unit for filtering liquid. To do.

  In this configuration, the function of the filter unit is given to the third flow path component. As a result, the filter unit is arranged near the droplet discharge unit, and the droplet discharge device can be made compact.

(7) A droplet discharge device according to a seventh invention is the droplet discharge device according to (5) or (6),
The first flow path component, the second flow path component, and the third flow path component are composed of PEEK (polyether ether ketone), and the first flow channel component and the second flow channel. An epoxy adhesive is used for adhesion between the path component and the third channel component.

  In this configuration, the liquid resistance of the flow channel forming means is improved by using PEEK for the first flow channel component, the second flow channel component, and the third flow channel component. In addition, the use of an epoxy adhesive makes the droplet discharge device more resistant to temperature changes.

(1) According to the first invention, air accumulated in the common liquid chamber can be removed efficiently and with a simple configuration.

(2) According to the second invention, it is possible to prevent the droplet discharge device from being damaged by a temperature change. Moreover, the construction of the liquid flow path is simplified.

(3) According to the third invention, it is possible to provide a droplet discharge device that is resistant to temperature changes.

(4) According to the fourth invention, the droplet discharge unit and the base member can be prevented from being soiled by the adhesive.

(5) According to the fifth invention, the base member and the components mounted on the base member can be protected with a simple configuration.

(6) According to the sixth invention, the filter unit can be disposed near the droplet discharge unit, and the droplet discharge device can be made compact.

(7) According to the seventh aspect, the reliability of the droplet discharge device can be improved.

  1A and 1B show an inkjet head 1 which is an embodiment of a droplet discharge device of the present invention. The inkjet head 1 includes a cover member 18, a base unit 2, and a filter unit 3. The cover member 18 is disposed so as to cover the ink discharge side surfaces of the base unit 2 and the filter unit 3 coupled to each other. 1A shows a state where the cover member 18 is attached to the base unit 2 and the filter unit 3, and FIG. 1B shows the cover member 18 being removed from the base unit 2 and the filter unit 3. Indicates the state.

  Then, the structure of the base unit 2 is demonstrated using FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the base unit 2 includes a head base 13, a chip mount 12, a head chip 11, a flexible substrate 26, a driver substrate 4, and manifolds 14A and 14B.

The head base 13 constitutes a base member of the present invention. The head base 13 is made of a metallic material. In this embodiment, SUS (linear expansion coefficient of about 11 × 10 ⁻⁶ m / K) is used as the material of the head base 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the head base 13 has a convex pedestal 131 formed on the surface thereof, and the cross section has an inverted T-shape. The pedestal portion 131 is formed along the longitudinal direction (hereinafter referred to as the length direction) in the central portion of the head base 13 in the short direction (hereinafter referred to as the width direction). A first base 132A, a second base 132B, and a third base 132C are arranged along the length direction of the base portion 131.

As shown in FIG. 4, the chip mount 12 is bonded to the first base 132A via an adhesive. The chip mount 12 constitutes an interposed member of the present invention. The chip mount 12 is made of alumina (linear expansion coefficient: about 4 × 10 ⁻⁶ m / K). The head chip 11 is bonded to the chip mount 12 via an adhesive. In the present embodiment, an epoxy adhesive is used as the adhesive. However, the kind of adhesive is not limited to that of the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the widths of the first base 132A, the second base 132B, and the third base 132C are all 30 mm, the width of the chip mount 12 is 29.5 mm, and the width of the head chip 11 Is 12 mm. When the chip mount 12 is fixed to the first base 132A, both ends in the width direction of the chip mount 12 are recessed by about 0.25 mm from both ends in the width direction of the first base 132A. The chip mount 12 is disposed on the surface. At this time, both end surfaces in the width direction of the first table 132A, the second table 132B, and the third table 132C and both end surfaces in the width direction of the head chip 11 are arranged on substantially the same plane.

  The second base 132B has a plurality of female screw portions 31 and a plurality of positioning holes 32 on both end surfaces in the width direction. The driver board 4 is attached to the second base 132B. Screw holes 133A and 133B are formed on the surface of the second base 132B where the driver board 4 is attached. Therefore, the screws 134A and 134B that pass through the holes formed in the driver board 4 are screwed into the screw holes 133A and 133B, respectively, so that the driver board 4 is fixed to the second base 132B. The driver substrate 4 is connected to the head chip 11 via the flexible substrate 26.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the chip mount 12, the head chip 11, and the flexible substrate 26.

The head chip 11 constitutes a droplet discharge unit of the present invention. The head chip 11 is formed by stacking two piezoelectric substrates 111 and 112 made of zircon zinc titanate [(PZT) linear expansion coefficient 2 to 7 × 10 ⁻⁶ m / K]. Composed.

  The piezoelectric substrate 111 is polarized, and a plurality of grooves parallel to each other are formed on the surface to be opposed to the piezoelectric substrate 112. A drive electrode is formed on each side surface of the plurality of grooves. In contrast, the piezoelectric substrate 112 is not polarized and is bonded to the groove forming surface side of the piezoelectric substrate 111. A groove 24 is formed in the piezoelectric substrate 112 over the entire region in the width direction, and the cross section has a substantially inverted U shape. When the piezoelectric substrate 111 and the piezoelectric substrate 112 are bonded, each of the plurality of grooves formed in the piezoelectric substrate 111 constitutes an individual liquid chamber, and the groove 24 formed in the piezoelectric substrate 112 is a common liquid. Configure the chamber. A protective film by parylene film formation is formed outside the individual liquid chamber, the common liquid chamber, and the head chip 11.

  The groove 24 appears as a liquid inlet 23 </ b> A on the first side surface in the width direction of the head chip 11. Further, the groove 24 appears as a liquid discharge port 23B on the second side surface located on the opposite side of the first side surface. As a result, the liquid inlet 23 </ b> A and the liquid outlet 23 </ b> B communicate with each other through the common liquid chamber in the head chip 11.

  When the piezoelectric substrate 111 and the piezoelectric substrate 112 are overlaid, a plurality of grooves formed in the piezoelectric substrate 111 are exposed on the ink ejection surface. A nozzle plate 15 made of a polyimide film is bonded to the ink discharge surface. The nozzle plate 15 includes a plurality of nozzle holes 14 arranged at the same intervals as the plurality of grooves of the piezoelectric substrate 111.

  The head chip 11 is provided with connection electrodes drawn from each of the plurality of individual liquid chambers on the side opposite to the ink ejection surface. The connection electrode is electrically connected to the flexible substrate 26 by an ACF (anisotropic conductive film).

  Here, the manifolds 14A and 14B will be described with reference to FIG. 3 again. The manifolds 14A and 14B constitute a first flow path component and a first flow path component of the present invention, respectively. For convenience of explanation, the surface facing the base unit 2 in the manifold 14A is referred to as the inner surface of the manifold 14A, and the surface facing the base unit 2 in the manifold 14B is referred to as the inner surface of the manifold 14B.

  The manifolds 14A and 14B are made of PEEK (polyether ether ketone). Inside the manifolds 14A and 14B, a liquid flow path to be continuous with the common liquid chamber is formed. The liquid flow path in the manifold 14A is formed between the first opening 57A and the second opening 57B. On the other hand, the liquid flow path in the manifold 14B is formed between the first opening 56A and the second opening 56B. The second opening 57B of the manifold 14A is disposed at a position corresponding to the liquid inlet 23A. A recess 51A is formed around the second opening 57B. Similarly, the second opening 56B of the manifold 14B is disposed at a position corresponding to the liquid discharge port 23B. A recess 51B is formed around the second opening 56B. In the present embodiment, the depth of the recesses of the recesses 51A and 51B is 0.8 mm.

  The manifolds 14A and 14B are each formed with a plurality of through holes 54 and a plurality of positioning pins 55 on the inner side surfaces thereof. Further, V-shaped grooves 52 are formed on the inner surfaces of the manifolds 14A and 14B, respectively. When the manifolds 14A and 14B are attached to the base unit 2, an epoxy-based adhesive is applied to the V-shaped grooves 52 formed in the manifolds 14A and 14B, respectively.

  When the manifolds 14A and 14B are attached to the base unit 2, the elastic seal member 15A is disposed between the second opening 57B and the liquid introduction port 23A, and between the second opening 56B and the liquid introduction port 23A. An elastic seal member 15B is disposed. In the present embodiment, a frame-shaped packing made of perfloated rubber is used as the elastic seal members 15A and 15B. The sizes of the hollow regions of the elastic seal members 15A and 15B are designed to be the same size (2.4 × 1.1 mm) as the openings of the liquid inlet 23A and the liquid outlet 23B, respectively. The elastic seal members 15A and 15B are fitted into the recesses 51A and 51B, respectively. The width of the elastic seal members 15A and 15B is 1.1 mm, which is larger by about 0.3 mm than the depth of the recesses of the recesses 51A and 51B. Therefore, when the manifolds 14A and 14B are attached to the base unit 2, the elastic seal members 15A and 15B are compressed and elastically deformed, and the liquid flow path in the manifold 14A and the liquid flow path in the manifold 14B are respectively connected to the head. A common liquid chamber in the chip 11 is communicated. Here, the elastic seal members 15A and 15B generate a repulsive force of about 9.8 N when compressed by 0.3 mm.

  Further, when the manifolds 14 </ b> A and 14 </ b> B are attached to the base unit 2, the plurality of positioning pins 55 are fitted into the plurality of positioning holes 32, respectively. Furthermore, the manifolds 14 </ b> A and 14 </ b> B are fixed to the base unit 2 by fitting screws into the plurality of female screw portions 31 through the plurality of through holes 54.

  Then, the structure of the filter unit 3 is demonstrated using FIG. The filter unit 3 constitutes a third flow path component of the present invention. The filter unit 3 includes two housings 161 and 162 made of PEEK (polyether ether ketone). A filter plate for filtering the liquid is disposed so as to separate the liquid chambers formed inside the housings 161 and 162. The liquid chamber of the housing 161 is formed with an introduction port through which liquid is introduced from a liquid storage unit (not shown). In the liquid chamber of the housing 162, a flow path to be communicated with the first opening 57A in the manifold 14A is formed. Further, a vent channel (not shown) to be communicated with the first opening 56A of the manifold 14B is formed in the housing 162. The vent channel is connected to the liquid storage unit via a vent channel formed in the housing 161.

  As shown in FIG. 7, grooves 16A and 16B are formed in the manifolds 14A and 14B, respectively. The grooves 16A and 16B are filled with an adhesive when the manifolds 14A and 14B and the filter unit 6 are attached. It is preferable to use a groove having a linear expansion coefficient close to that of the filter unit 6 and the manifolds 14A and 14B. In this embodiment, the grooves 16A and 16B are filled with an epoxy adhesive. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the filter unit 6 and the manifolds 14A and 14B are bonded with an adhesive.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the inkjet head 1. In the hatched portion of FIG. 9, a cross section of a portion of the liquid flow path is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 9, since the chip mount 12 is narrower than the base 131 of the head chip 11 and the head base 13, it is between the chip mount 12 and the manifold 14A, and between the chip mount 12 and the manifold 14B. Each has a void. For this reason, even when the amount of the adhesive for bonding the head chip 11 and the chip mount 12 or the amount of the adhesive for bonding the chip mount 12 and the head base 13 is excessive, the excess adhesive remains in the gap described above. Absorbed in As a result, the adhesive does not flow between the head chip 11 and the manifolds 14A and 14B, and does not flow between the head base 13 and the manifolds 14A and 14B.

  In the present embodiment, the head chip 11 and the manifolds 14A and 14B are not directly fixed. For this reason, when the repulsive force of the elastic seal members 15 </ b> A and 15 </ b> B acts on the head chip 11, a shearing force can be generated between the head chip 11 and the chip mount 12. However, the force acting on the head chip 11 from the elastic seal member 15A and the force acting on the head chip 11 from the elastic seal member 15B are in opposite directions and cancel each other. The shearing force generated in the is suppressed to a minute.

  In the above configuration, at the initial filling of the liquid, the liquid is supplied from the liquid storage unit 100 into the housing 161 through the tube 61. The liquid supplied into the housing 161 is filtered when being guided into the housing 162 through the filter plate. The liquid is guided from the housing 162 to the common liquid chamber of the head chip 11 through the manifold 14A. Further, the liquid that has passed through the common liquid chamber returns to the liquid storage unit 100 through the flow path in the manifold 14B, the vent flow paths formed in the housings 161 and 162, and the tube pipe 62. And when a liquid circulates, the residual air which exists in a common liquid chamber is removed. When the residual air is removed, the return flow path between the manifold 14B and the liquid storage unit 100 is closed by a valve (not shown). Thereafter, the control unit 200 controls the driver substrate 4 to drive the drive electrodes in the individual liquid chambers of the head chip 11, thereby discharging the liquid from the head chip 11.

  As described above, according to the inkjet head 1 according to the present embodiment, by circulating the liquid among the liquid storage unit 100, the filter unit 3, and the head chip 11, the residual air existing in the common liquid chamber is efficiently obtained. There is merit that it is discharged. Further, since the liquid introduction port 23A and the liquid discharge port 23B are provided in the head chip 11, a flow path for circulating the liquid can be easily constructed.

  Subsequently, another merit of the inkjet head 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7 again. As shown in the figure, the driver substrate 4 on the head base 13 is covered with the manifolds 14A and 14B and the filter unit 3. Specifically, the plate portion 163 provided to extend from the housings 161 and 162, the plate portion 141 provided to extend from the flow path component in the manifold 14A, and the flow path component in the manifold 14B. The driver board 4 is covered and protected by the plate portion 142 provided so as to protrude. For this reason, it is prevented that the driver board 4 is damaged by the liquid being applied to the driver board 4. Furthermore, since the driver board 4 is protected by indispensable members such as the manifolds 14A and 14B and the filter unit 3, it is not necessary to prepare another member used only for protecting the driver board 4, and the number of components is reduced. Can do.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the manifolds 14A and 14B located on both sides of the head chip 11 are connected by the filter unit 3 to form a gate-like configuration as a whole. Increase. For this reason, even when a repulsive force from the elastic seal members 15A and 15B or an external force from the outside acts, the flow path is hardly broken.

  The above description of the embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

1 is a perspective view of an inkjet head according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a base unit. It is an exploded view which shows schematic structure of a base unit. It is a figure which shows the structure of a head base, a chip mount, and a head chip. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a head chip. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a filter unit. It is a figure which shows the state which decomposed | disassembled the base unit and the filter unit. It is a figure which shows the state which couple | bonded the base unit and the filter unit. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of an inkjet head.

Explanation of symbols

1-Inkjet head 2-Base unit 3-Filter unit 4-Driver board 11-Head chip 12-Chip mount 13-Head base 14A, 14B-Manifold 23A-Liquid inlet 23B-Liquid outlet

Claims (7)

A droplet discharge device that includes a droplet discharge unit that discharges a supplied liquid through a plurality of nozzles, and that discharges a droplet using the droplet discharge unit,
The droplet discharge unit includes:
The body,
A common liquid chamber provided inside the main body;
A plurality of individual liquid chambers provided inside the main body and communicating with each of the common liquid chamber and the plurality of nozzles;
A liquid introduction port exposed to the first side surface of the main body and continuing to the common liquid chamber;
A liquid discharge port that is exposed to a second side surface located on the opposite side of the first side surface and that is continuous with the common liquid chamber;
With
The droplet discharge device includes:
A droplet discharge unit holding member for holding the droplet discharge unit;
A first elastic seal member provided at the liquid inlet;
A second elastic seal member provided at the liquid discharge port;
A first flow path component having a first liquid flow path to be continuous with the liquid introduction port and a second liquid flow path having a second liquid flow path to be continuous to the liquid discharge port. A flow path forming means having at least a flow path forming portion;
With
The main body has one surface other than the first side surface and the second side surface fixed to the droplet discharge unit holding member,
The flow path forming means is configured such that the first side surface and the first flow path forming portion are in pressure contact with each other via the first elastic seal member, and the second side surface and the second flow path forming portion. Are configured to be in pressure contact with each other via the second elastic seal member ,
The droplet discharge unit holding member is
An interposition member fixed to any one surface other than the first side surface and the second side surface of the droplet discharge unit;
A base member for fixing the interposition member,
The droplet ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interposition member has a linear expansion coefficient lower than that of the base member and higher than that of the droplet ejection unit. The droplet discharge unit holding member, The apparatus according to claim 1, part for fixing the said body, characterized in that it consists of a hard ceramic.   The droplet discharge unit holding member is disposed such that a portion to which the droplet discharge unit is fixed is provided with a gap between the first flow path component and the second flow path component. The droplet discharge device according to claim 1, wherein a width of a portion to which the droplet discharge unit is fixed is narrower than a width of the droplet discharge unit holding member. A droplet discharge device that includes a droplet discharge unit that discharges a supplied liquid through a plurality of nozzles, and that discharges a droplet using the droplet discharge unit,
The droplet discharge unit includes:
The body,
A common liquid chamber provided inside the main body;
A plurality of individual liquid chambers provided inside the main body and communicating with each of the common liquid chamber and the plurality of nozzles;
A liquid introduction port exposed to the first side surface of the main body and continuing to the common liquid chamber;
A liquid discharge port that is exposed to a second side surface located on the opposite side of the first side surface and that is continuous with the common liquid chamber;
With
The droplet discharge device includes:
A first elastic seal member provided at the liquid inlet;
A second elastic seal member provided at the liquid discharge port;
A first flow path component having a first liquid flow path to be continuous with the liquid introduction port and a second liquid flow path having a second liquid flow path to be continuous to the liquid discharge port. A flow path forming means having at least a flow path forming portion;
With
The flow path forming means is configured such that the first side surface and the first flow path forming portion are in pressure contact with each other via the first elastic seal member, and the second side surface and the second flow path forming portion. Are arranged so as to be in pressure contact with each other via the second elastic seal member,
The droplet discharge device further includes
A base member to which the droplet discharge unit, the first flow path component, and the second flow path component are respectively attached;
The liquid droplet ejection unit is interposed between the liquid droplet ejection unit and the base member by being fixed to any one surface other than the first side surface and the second side surface and the base member. Interposing members made of hard ceramics,
And having
The liquid droplet ejection apparatus, wherein the interposition member is disposed with a gap between the first flow path component and the second flow path component.   The flow path constituting means includes a liquid flow path to be connected to the first liquid flow path and a liquid flow path to be connected to the second liquid flow path, respectively, and the first flow path 5. The droplet discharge device according to claim 4, further comprising a third flow path configuration unit disposed so as to cover the base member in combination with the flow path configuration unit and the second flow path configuration unit.   The droplet discharge device according to claim 5, wherein the third flow path component also serves as a filter unit for filtering a liquid.   The first flow path component, the second flow path component, and the third flow path component are composed of PEEK (polyetheretherketone), and the first flow path component and The liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein an epoxy-based adhesive is used for bonding the second flow path component and the third flow path component.

Images