JP5151056B2 - Droplet discharge head and droplet discharge apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure and a droplet discharge device, and more specifically, an inkjet recording head configured such that a recording head unit that discharges ink droplets from nozzles and records an image on a recording medium is held on a base substrate. And a droplet discharge device applied to an ink jet recording apparatus including a structure including an ink jet recording head.

  In a conventional PWA inkjet recording apparatus that reciprocally scans the head, increasing the number of nozzles for high-speed printing increases the head mass and increases the load on the head scanning mechanism, which limits the number of nozzles. Further, an extra scanning distance is generated when reversing the reciprocating scanning, which is disadvantageous in increasing the speed.

  As a method for solving these problems, there is already known a non-scanning FWA inkjet line head corresponding to a recording medium width (full line) in which a large number of nozzles are arranged in the recording medium width direction at the same pitch as the resolution. When a line head including a large number of nozzles is manufactured as an integrated head, there are problems such as a decrease in yield and a need for expensive manufacturing equipment such as a large-diameter silicon process apparatus.

  Therefore, a technique is disclosed in which a plurality of head units having a relatively small number of nozzles are connected in a line to increase the length. For example, a plurality of element substrates (units) provided with pressure generating elements are arranged in a line on a base plate made of metal or the like and bonded and fixed, and a long member having a nozzle and an ink flow path is bonded to the element substrate. There is a type that realizes a line head (for example, see Patent Document 1), and a system in which head chips (corresponding to a head unit) are arranged and joined without using a base plate (for example, see Patent Document 2). In addition, a structure in which head chips are arranged in a staggered pattern on a frame is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 3).

  Each of these techniques is a system in which the element substrate having the lowest yield among the component parts is divided and manufactured, and it is indispensable that adjacent units are mutually positioned with high precision. Also, as a method for positioning adjacent units, a method based on the outer shape of each unit, a method based on an alignment mark provided on each unit, a method based on a nozzle that actually ejects droplets, etc. After each unit is aligned at a predetermined position using these methods, the long head is configured by bonding and fixing to the base plate using an adhesive or the like.

  On the other hand, the temperature fluctuates inside the droplet discharge device to which the long head manufactured in this way is mounted due to changes in the use environment and heat-generating parts such as a motor existing in the device. Along with this, when the base plate and head unit that make up the long head expand and contract and the thermal expansion coefficients of the two differ, the degree of expansion and contraction is different, so the base itself is distorted and the distance between nozzles of adjacent units varies. Or the nozzle surface bends, and the landing positions of the droplets when the droplets are ejected greatly vary and the image quality deteriorates.

  For example, a conventional inkjet recording head 200 shown in FIG. 25A has a pair of transparent spacer members 204 that are diagonally opposed to the paper feed direction X on a long substrate 202 serving as a base plate extending in the paper width direction Y. Are attached by two screws 206, and a special-shaped recording head unit 208 having a substantially parallelogram shape is bonded to the spacer member 204 with a UV (ultraviolet) curable adhesive U (bonding and fixing). And a plurality of recording head units 208 held on the long substrate 202 via the spacer member 204 are arranged along the paper width direction Y to constitute a line head. The long substrate 202 is formed with a plurality of openings 202A for arranging the ink supply units 210 corresponding to the respective recording head units 208, and the spacer member 204 is formed in a long length with respect to the openings 202A. One screw 206 fixed to the substrate 202 is disposed at the center of the cross beam portion 202B, and the other screw 206 is disposed at the end of the cross beam portion 202B, that is, at the end of the vertical beam portion 202C. Four screws 206 (joining fixing portions) are arranged asymmetrically.

  In such a conventional ink jet recording head (line head) 200, when the long substrate 202 is thermally deformed due to the temperature rise in the ink jet recording apparatus, as shown in FIG. The vertical beam 202C expands in the paper feed direction X (arrow EX direction). The screw 206 positioned at the center of the cross beam portion 202B has a small displacement in the paper width direction Y, and the screw 206 positioned at the end of the vertical beam portion 202C has a large displacement in the paper feed direction X. Since 206 is arranged axisymmetrically, the moment balance is lost, and the recording head unit 208 is displaced in the rotational direction. Further, since the long substrate 202 greatly expands in the full length direction (paper width direction Y), the lower surface side holding the recording head unit 208 bends in a concave shape so that the recording head unit 208 swells downward. The interval changes. Therefore, due to the positional deviation between the units themselves and the units due to the temperature fluctuation, the landing positions of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the respective recording head units 208 are shifted, and the image quality is deteriorated.

On the other hand, for example, by providing an expansion / contraction absorbing portion that absorbs thermal strain on the above base plate (long substrate), it is conceivable to reduce the deflection of the base plate and the positional deviation of the nozzles between adjacent units.
JP-A-10-181004 JP 2003-266710 A JP 2001-199074 A

  However, even if the deflection of the base plate can be suppressed by the above-described technique, it is not possible to suppress the positional deviation of the unit due to the temperature fluctuation, particularly the positional deviation in the rotation direction and the distortion of the unit. This is because the expansion / contraction of the base plate can be absorbed by the expansion / contraction absorption part, but the beam part between the expansion / contraction absorption part is thermally deformed due to temperature fluctuations, so the joint fixing part of the unit is affected by this deformation. is there.

  In consideration of the above facts, the present invention can suppress displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations in the base unit or a constituent unit that is bonded and fixed to a spacer member that is removable from the base substrate. It is an object to provide a structure and a droplet discharge device.

The invention according to claim 1 in order to achieve the above object, the elongated base substrate having a vertical beam portion provided between the plurality of openings of said plurality of apertures, positioned on the base board together are a plurality of droplet discharge head unit for discharging droplets from a nozzle, at a portion where the displacement due to thermal distortion of the base substrate is present in at least the region of the vertical beam portion definitive to thermal displacement neutral portion which does not substantially occur And a bonding fixing part for bonding and fixing the base substrate and the plurality of droplet discharge head units .

  In the present invention, the component unit that is positioned with respect to the base substrate and is bonded and fixed via the bonding fixing portion has a thermal displacement neutrality in which the bonding fixing portion to the base substrate is not substantially displaced by thermal strain of the base substrate. Provided in the section. As a result, even in an environment where the temperature fluctuates, the bonding fixing portion is not affected by the thermal strain of the base substrate, i.e., the displacement is not substantially generated, and the base fixing substrate is not affected by this bonding fixing portion. It is possible to suppress displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of the bonded unit.

In the present invention, in the case of a base substrate including a plurality of openings and a beam portion provided between the plurality of openings, a thermal displacement neutral portion exists in the central region of the beam portion. Therefore, by disposing the joint fixing portion in the thermal displacement neutral portion existing in the central region of the beam portion, the displacement of the joint fixing portion due to the thermal strain of the base substrate can be suppressed.

The invention described in claim 2 is a droplet discharge device including the droplet discharge head according to claim 1 , which is long along the paper width direction .

  According to the present invention, a droplet discharge device including a structure in which a droplet discharge head unit is held on a base substrate (long substrate) while being prevented from being displaced and deformed by temperature fluctuations can be obtained.

  According to the structure and the droplet discharge device of the present invention, it is possible to suppress misalignment and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of the base unit or a constituent unit that is bonded and held to a spacer member that can be attached to and detached from the base substrate. can do.

  Hereinafter, an inkjet recording head which is a structure according to an embodiment of the present invention and an inkjet recording apparatus including the inkjet recording head will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 stocks the paper P and sends it to the recording head unit 16 by controlling the posture of the paper P supplied from the paper supply unit 12 and the paper supply unit 12 sent out during image recording. The registration unit 14 includes a registration adjustment unit 14, a recording head unit 16 that records ink by ejecting ink droplets onto the paper P sent from the registration adjustment unit 14, and a maintenance unit 18 that performs maintenance of the recording head unit 16. 20 and a discharge unit 22 that discharges the paper P on which an image is recorded by the recording unit 20.

  The paper supply unit 12 is provided with a stocker 24 in which a plurality of sheets P are stacked and stocked, and a transport device 26 that transports the sheets one by one from the stocker 24 to the registration adjusting unit 14.

  The registration adjusting unit 14 is provided with a loop forming unit 28 and a guide member 29 for controlling the posture of the paper. The paper P fed from the paper supply unit 12 is supplied with the loop forming unit 28 and the guide member. By passing through 29, the skew of the paper P is corrected using the stiffness of the paper P, and the conveyance timing is controlled and sent to the recording unit 20.

  In the recording unit 20, a recording head unit 16 and a maintenance unit 18 that are vertically opposed to each other are provided, and a sheet conveyance path through which the sheet P fed from the registration adjusting unit 14 is conveyed is formed between them. Yes. The recording head unit 16 is provided with a plurality of inkjet recording heads (head bars) 30 arranged at predetermined intervals along the paper conveyance path, and upstream and downstream of each inkjet recording head 30 in the paper conveyance path. On the side, a plurality of pairs of star wheels 17 and transport rolls 19 that are vertically opposed to each other are provided.

  The paper P is transported continuously (without stopping) on the paper transport path while being sandwiched between the star wheel 17 and the transport roll 19, and ink droplets are ejected from each ink jet recording head 30 of the recording head unit 16. As a result, an image is recorded. In the discharge unit 22, the paper P on which an image is recorded by the recording unit 20 is conveyed by the paper discharge belt 23 and stored in the tray 25.

  The maintenance unit 18 includes a plurality of maintenance devices 21 arranged to face each of the plurality of inkjet recording heads 30. The maintenance device 21 includes a cap CP (see FIG. 9) for capping the inkjet recording head 30, and can perform other processes such as wiping, dummy jet, vacuum, and the like.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 10 is configured as described above. Next, the ink jet recording head 30 mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus 10 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink jet recording head 30 includes a plurality of recording head units 32 arranged along a direction (paper width direction Y) orthogonal to the paper feed direction X. As shown in FIG. 3B, the recording head unit 32 is formed with a plurality of nozzles 54 in a line shape along the paper width direction Y, and the recording head unit 32 continuously passes the paper transport path. An image is recorded on the paper P by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles 54 onto the paper P being conveyed. Note that at least four ink jet recording heads 30 mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus 10 are arranged corresponding to each color of YMCK in order to record a so-called full-color image, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the print area width by the nozzles 54 formed in a line on one inkjet recording head 30 is larger than the maximum sheet width PW of the sheet P on which image recording with this inkjet recording apparatus 10 is assumed. It is long, and image recording over the entire width of the paper P can be performed without moving the ink jet recording head 30 in the paper width direction Y (so-called Full Width Array (FWA)). Here, the print area is basically the largest of the recording areas obtained by subtracting the non-printing margin from both ends of the paper P, but is generally larger than the maximum paper width PW to be printed. . This is because there is a possibility that the sheet is conveyed at an angle (skew) with respect to the conveyance direction, and there is a high demand for borderless printing.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink jet recording head 30 includes a long substrate 40, the plurality of recording head units 32 described above, and a plurality of spacer members 42. The long substrate 40 is long in the paper width direction Y, and has a plurality of openings 40A arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. A pair of attachment plates 41 serving as attachment members to the ink jet recording apparatus 10 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the long substrate 40, and the long substrate 40 is inside the paper width direction Y of the attachment plate 41. It is arranged so as to span the lower surface of the part. In addition, the width of the long substrate 40 in the paper feed direction X is narrower than the width of the recording head unit 32 in the same direction, whereby the inkjet recording head 30 is configured in a small size.

  A spacer member 42 is attached to the lower surface of the long substrate 40. The spacer members 42 are formed of a transparent resin material and have a plate shape, and two spacer members 42 are spaced apart from each other in the paper feed direction X for each recording head unit 32 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the spacer member 42 is screwed to the long substrate 40 by screws 46 at two locations. As a result, the spacer member 42 can be detached from the long substrate 40. An ink supply unit 44 (see FIG. 5) for supplying ink from an ink tank (not shown) to the recording head unit 32 is disposed between the two spacer members 42. By arranging the two spacer members 42 apart from each other, there is no need to provide a flow path for ink supply in the spacer member 42 itself, and the ink supply unit 44 can be arranged in the separated portion, and an ink supply path is secured. It becomes possible to do. Further, it is not necessary to form an ink supply path in the spacer member 42, and it is possible to select a material that does not take ink resistance into consideration, and a degree of freedom can be obtained in selecting a material to be used for the spacer member 42. Further, here, the case where two spacer members separated from each other are used for each recording head unit 32 is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, as shown in FIG. Two spacer members 42 are used as one spacer member 43, and a part of the ink supply path is arranged such that a part of the spacer member 42 is separated so that the spacer member 42 does not exist, for example, a through hole 43B. That's fine.

  In this embodiment, the case where the spacer member 42 is used for each recording head unit 32 has been described. However, the spacer member 42 may be used for a plurality of recording head unit 32 units as necessary. In this case, the plurality of recording head units 32 can be replaced, and the number of spacer members 42 to be used can be reduced, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced (see FIG. 14).

  The recording head unit 32 includes a liquid relay member 50 and a head substrate 52 as shown in FIG. The head substrate 52 is arranged on the ink ejection side, and nozzles 54 for ejecting ink are formed in one row in the paper width direction Y on the nozzle surface 52A side. The head substrate 52 is for ejecting ink. Piezoelectric elements, diaphragms, pressure chambers, and the like. Here, an example in which the nozzles are formed in the head substrate 52 in one row in the paper width direction Y is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in order to improve image quality and speed, nozzles may be formed on the head substrate 52 in a matrix arrangement on a two-dimensional plane in the paper width direction Y and the paper feed direction X (FIG. 20B). reference).

  The liquid relay member 50 is disposed on the spacer member 42 side, and is connected to the ink supply unit 44 to form an individual supply path 50 </ b> A that supplies ink to each nozzle 54.

  The recording head unit 32 is disposed on the opposite side of the long substrate 40 with the spacer member 42 interposed therebetween. The spacer member 42 and the recording head unit 32 have substantially the same shape (rectangular shape) on the outer side of the long substrate 40 along the paper width direction Y when viewed from the nozzle surface 52A side. The recording head unit 32 is bonded and fixed to the spacer member 42 at both ends along the paper width direction Y, that is, at both ends along the longitudinal direction of the recording head unit 32. In the present embodiment, the fixing of the recording head unit 32 to the spacer member 42 is performed with a UV (ultraviolet) curable adhesive U. The details are described below between the recording head unit 32 and the spacer member 42. An adhesive U is interposed at a predetermined location.

  A gap G corresponding to the thickness of the adhesive U is formed between the recording head unit 32 and the spacer member 42. By adjusting the gap G, the heights of the nozzle surfaces 52A of the plurality of recording head units 32 are increased. Can be aligned.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, a through hole 42A for electrical wiring is formed in a portion of the spacer member 42 where the long substrate 40 is not overlapped. Electrical wiring (not shown) connects the recording head unit 32 and a controller (not shown) through the through hole 42A.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the ink jet recording head 30 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (A) to 7 (D).

  First, as shown in FIG. 7A, all the spacer members 42 are attached to the long substrate 40. The attachment here is performed by screwing with a screw 46.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), the long substrate 40 is attached to the bonding descending arm SA provided in the alignment bonding apparatus, and the alignment bonding apparatus arranged in parallel with the attached long substrate 40 is used. On the positioning stage ST, a number of recording head units 32 necessary for constituting one ink jet recording head 30 are arranged in a line. At this time, the recording head unit 32 accurately positions and arranges the positions of the nozzles 54 between the recording head units 32. A UV curable adhesive U is applied to the recording head unit 32 at a predetermined location.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, the joining lowering arm SA is brought close to the positioning stage ST while maintaining a parallel state, and stopped at a position where the nozzle surface 52A constitutes a predetermined nozzle surface. At this time, the adhesive U applied to the recording head unit 32 is pressed against the spacer member 42, and a thickness portion having a predetermined thickness or more is crushed (bonded).

  Next, curing is performed by irradiating the adhesive U with UV light while maintaining the distance between the joining lower arm SA and the positioning stage ST in the above state (joining fixation), as shown in FIG. 7D. Then, the ink jet recording head 30 is completed by detaching from the lowering arm SA and the positioning stage ST. The UV light applied to the adhesive U is applied only within a predetermined range including a predetermined location where the adhesive U is applied using, for example, focus irradiation or a mask, that is, the adhesive U is applied. The irradiation range is limited so as not to irradiate the part that is not done.

  According to the above manufacturing method, the spacer member 42 is attached to the long substrate 40 by screwing. However, since the spacer member 42 is attached to the long substrate 40 before the recording head unit 32 is joined, a slight displacement of the spacer member 42 is recorded. The alignment of the head unit 32 is not affected. Since the recording head unit 32 is bonded to the spacer member 42 attached to the long substrate 40 using the adhesive U, the recording head unit 32 can be bonded and fixed in an aligned state on the positioning stage ST. Compared to the case where the long substrate 40 and the recording head unit 32 are directly screwed, the long substrate 40 and the recording head unit 32 can be bonded and fixed while being accurately aligned.

  In the above manufacturing method, all the recording head units 32 necessary for configuring the long substrate 40 are arranged on the positioning stage ST and bonded and fixed at a time. It does not necessarily have to be done once. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, only a part of the recording head units 32 such as one, two, etc. are arranged and fixed together (two in FIG. 8A), and the same processing is repeated a plurality of times. Thus, the inkjet recording head 30 may be completed.

  Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described.

  When a print job is input to the inkjet recording apparatus 10 and a printing (image recording) operation is started, one sheet P is picked up from the stocker 24 and conveyed to the recording unit 20 by the conveying device 26.

  On the other hand, ink is already injected (filled) from the ink tank into the individual supply path 50A of the recording head unit 32 via the ink supply port in the inkjet recording head 30. At this time, a meniscus having a slightly recessed ink surface is formed at the tip (discharge port) of the nozzle 54.

  An image based on the image data is recorded on the paper P by selectively ejecting ink droplets from the plurality of nozzles 54 of the recording head unit 32 while transporting the paper P at a predetermined transport speed.

  When maintaining the recording head unit 32, as shown in FIG. 9, the cap CP is disposed at the maintenance position M1, and the recording head unit 32 is capped with the cap CP. At this time, the cap CP is pressed against the end side portion T along the longitudinal direction of the recording head unit 32 (the same direction as the paper width direction Y). Thereby, the nozzle surface 52A side of the inkjet recording head 30 is covered with the cap CP, and the sealed space H is formed. In this state, a pump (not shown) of the maintenance device 21 is operated to make the sealed space H have a negative pressure, and by sucking the nozzle 54, an ink lump that is blocking the nozzle 54 can be discharged.

  In the ink jet recording head 30 according to the present embodiment, the spacer member 42 and the recording head unit 32 are joined at the end T portion pressed by the cap CP during the maintenance. Can be appropriately received at the joint, and deformation of the ink jet recording head 30 can be prevented.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the inkjet recording head 30 can have both the long substrate 40 and the recording head unit 32 disposed below the spacer member 42, but is disposed as in the present embodiment. Accordingly, the pressing force by the cap CP can be received by both the long substrate 40 and the spacer member 42 during maintenance, and the strength can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the width of the long substrate 40 in the paper feed direction X is narrower than the width of the recording head unit 32. However, the width of the long substrate 40 in the paper feed direction X is as shown in FIG. In addition, the width of the recording head unit 32 may be approximately the same. In this case, the electrical wiring through-hole 42A is not necessary, and the electrical wiring may be provided at a position communicating with the opening 40A of the long substrate 40 between the spaced spacer members 42.

  In addition, since the spacer member 42 of the present embodiment is made of a transparent resin, in the curing process of the adhesive U, the UV light emitted toward the adhesive U passes through the spacer member 42 as shown in FIG. Then, the entire adhesive U is irradiated. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12A, the configuration in which the width of the long substrate 40 in the paper feeding direction X is narrower than the width of the recording head unit 32 is as shown in FIG. In addition, the light irradiation region is wider than the configuration in which the width of the long substrate 40 in the paper feed direction is the same as the width of the recording head unit 32, and the irradiation efficiency is improved.

  Next, the arrangement of the screw 46 that is a joint fixing part of the spacer member 42 to the long substrate 40, the application location of the adhesive U that joins and fixes the ink jet recording head 30 to the spacer member 42, and the operation will be described. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in the long substrate 40 in which the opening 40A for arranging the ink supply unit 44 is formed, if the thermal deformation is caused by the temperature rise in the ink jet recording apparatus 10, for example, 4 around the opening 40A. Of the two beam portions, two transverse beam portions 40B along the paper width direction Y facing each other in the paper feed direction X expand in the paper width direction Y (arrow EY direction), and along the paper feed direction X opposed in the paper width direction Y. The two vertical beam portions 40C expand in the paper feed direction X (arrow EX direction). Further, since the horizontal beam portion 40B expands also in the paper feed direction X and the vertical beam portion 40C expands also in the paper width direction Y, the opening 40A contracts and deforms inward as a whole (in the direction of arrow EI).

  In the long substrate 40 that generates such thermal distortion (thermal deformation), there are a portion around the opening 40A that is displaced inward by the thermal strain of the long substrate 40 and a portion that is displaced outward from the opening. There is a neutral portion of thermal displacement in the inner and outer direction of the opening in the boundary region. Further, the outward displacement of the opening is caused by the displacement of the horizontal beam portion 40B in the paper width direction Y and the displacement of the vertical beam portion 40C in the paper feed direction X. Therefore, in the boundary region described above, Further, there is a thermal displacement neutral portion including a transverse beam portion 40B displaced in the paper width direction Y, a longitudinal beam portion 40C displaced in the paper feed direction X, and a portion displaced inward of the opening 40A. The portion HN exists in the vicinity of the outside of the four corners of the opening 40A. In the present embodiment, a total of four screws 46 for attaching the two spacer members 42 to the long substrate 40 are disposed in the four thermal displacement neutral portions HN, respectively. The member 42 is detachably attached and fixed to the long substrate 40.

  Further, the recording head unit 32 of this embodiment that is bonded and fixed to the two spacer members 42 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and as shown in FIG. The joining surface 32A (the upper surface of the liquid relay member 50) is rectangular in plan view. As shown in the figure, the above-described adhesive U applied to the joint surface 32A is applied in the vicinity of the four corners 32B on the joint surface 32A (a total of four locations). That is, the adhesive U is applied to the end of each side of the periphery (four sides) of the rectangular joining surface 32A. About the application | coating shape of the adhesive agent U, it is made into substantially circular shape (dot shape) etc. by planar view like illustration. In addition, an automatic application device such as a dispenser is used to apply the adhesive U, thereby suppressing variations in application position, application amount, and application shape.

  Then, the plurality of recording head units 32 in which the adhesive U is applied to the four positions on the bonding surface 32A are bonded and fixed to the spacer members 42 by the manufacturing method described above. In this way, a plurality of recording head units 32 are held on the long substrate 40 via the spacer members 42, and an ink jet including the plurality of recording head units 32, the plurality of spacer members 42, and the long substrate 40. The recording head 30 is configured as one structure.

  In the ink jet recording head 30 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the spacer member 42 attached to the long substrate 40 with the screw 46 has the screw 46 serving as a joint fixing portion to the long substrate 40. The recording head unit 32 is positioned on the spacer member 42 and bonded and fixed by the adhesive U so that the displacement due to the thermal strain 40 hardly occurs. Are held on the long substrate 40. Thereby, even if the temperature fluctuates due to a change in usage environment or a heat generating component such as a motor existing in the apparatus inside the inkjet recording apparatus 10, the screw 46 is not affected by the thermal strain of the long substrate 40. That is, the displacement hardly occurs, and the temperature fluctuations of the spacer member 42 bonded and fixed to the long substrate 40 via the screw 46 and the recording head unit 32 bonded and fixed to the spacer member 42 are obtained. Misalignment and distortion deformation associated with.

  FIG. 16 shows a comparative example of this embodiment. In this comparative example, as shown in FIG. 16A, the positions of the four screws 46 are spaced outward from the four corners of the opening 40A, and the horizontal beam portion 40B and the vertical beam portion 40C are connected. Is located in the area. In this case, when the long substrate 40 is thermally deformed, each screw 46 is changed in a direction in which the interval is increased by the expansion of the transverse beam portion 40B in the paper width direction Y and the expansion of the vertical beam portion 40C in the X direction. In particular, here, since it expands greatly in the paper feed direction X, which has a high degree of freedom with respect to expansion and deformation, the two spacer members 42 are further displaced in the direction away from each other. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 16B, the recording head unit 32 joined and fixed to the two spacer members 42 is greatly distorted and deformed particularly in the paper feed direction X, causing the nozzle 54 to be displaced. Therefore, the image quality is deteriorated due to the deviation of the landing position of the ejected ink droplet.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, although the positional deviation between the recording head units caused by the bending due to the expansion of the long substrate 40 in the full length direction (paper width direction Y) cannot be reduced, as described above, the recording head unit itself. Since the position shift and distortion deformation due to the temperature fluctuation of the image are suppressed, such a decrease in image quality can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the recording head unit 32 is bonded and fixed to the spacer member 42 that can be attached to and detached from the long substrate 40, and is held on the long substrate 40, so that the manufacturing process or ink jet can be performed. Even if a problem occurs only in some of the recording head units 32 during use of the recording apparatus 10, the recording head in which the problem has occurred can be obtained by loosening the screw 46 that fixes the long substrate 40 and the spacer member 42. Only the unit 32 can be easily removed and replaced with a new recording head unit 32.

  Further, in this embodiment, by using a UV curable (photo curable) adhesive, for example, thermal expansion / contraction of the recording head unit 32 caused by high-temperature heat treatment when a thermosetting adhesive is used, for example. In addition, the positional deviation due to the difference in thermal expansion between the recording head unit 32, the spacer member 42, and the long substrate 40 can be suppressed, and it can be cured quickly by the irradiation process of UV light. Time is shortened and productivity is improved.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment is an example in which one recording head unit 32 is joined and fixed to a single spacer member 43 as shown in FIG. 13 instead of the two-divided spacer member 42 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the inkjet recording head 60 of the present embodiment includes the above-described long substrate 40, a plurality of spacer members 43 attached to the long substrate 40 with two screws 46, and each spacer member 43. A plurality of recording head units 32 bonded and fixed by an adhesive U are provided.

  Also in this ink jet recording head 60, the vertical beam portion 40C of the long substrate 40 is thermally expanded / contracted in the paper width direction Y, but the heat of the long substrate 40 is also present in the central region (center of gravity region) of the vertical beam portion 40C. There is a thermal displacement neutral portion HN in which displacement due to strain is not substantially generated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the two screws 46 for attaching the single spacer member 43 to the long substrate 40 are arranged in the central region of the vertical beam portion 40C. It has the structure each arrange | positioned at the thermal displacement neutral part HN.

  As described above, even in the case of the ink jet recording head 60 of the present embodiment, the positional deviation between the recording head units caused by the bending of the long substrate 40 cannot be suppressed, but the two screws 46 for fixing the spacer member 43 are provided. Since the displacement does not substantially occur without being affected by the thermal strain of the long substrate 40, the spacer member 43 attached to the long substrate 40 by the screw 46 and the recording head bonded and fixed to the spacer member 43 Misalignment and distortion due to temperature fluctuations with the unit 32 can be suppressed, and image quality degradation can be improved.

(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment is an example in the case where the present invention is applied to a long substrate provided with a stretchable absorbing portion that absorbs displacement due to thermal strain.

  As shown in FIG. 18A, the ink jet recording head 70 of this embodiment is attached to a long substrate 72 and a long substrate 72 which are elongated along the paper width direction Y with two screws 46 respectively. And a plurality of spacer members 42 having a two-divided configuration arranged along the paper width direction Y, and a plurality of recording head units 32 joined and fixed to each spacer member 42 by an adhesive U and arranged along the paper width direction Y direction. I have.

  The long substrate 72 has a plurality of openings 72A in which the ink supply unit 44 is disposed along the paper width direction Y. The long beams 72C, which are intermediate portions of the openings 72A, have long openings 72A. An expansion / contraction absorbing portion 74 that absorbs displacement in the full length direction due to thermal strain of the scale substrate 72 is provided.

  The expansion / contraction absorbing portion 74 is configured to have high rigidity in the paper feed direction X and low rigidity in the paper width direction Y and to be easily deformed by a plurality of rectangular holes 76 arranged in a matrix in the vertical beam portion 72C. Has been. The expansion / contraction absorbing portion 74 mainly compresses and deforms when the transverse beam portion 72B expands in the paper width direction Y, so that the expansion of the transverse beam portion 72B, that is, thermal strain of the long substrate 72 in the paper width direction Y is absorbed. Function.

  As described above, in the long substrate 72 in which the thermal strain in the full length direction is suppressed by the expansion and contraction absorbing portion 74, the thermal displacement neutral portion HN in which the displacement due to the thermal strain of the long substrate 72 does not substantially occur in the central region of the transverse beam portion 72B. Exists. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the two screws 46 for attaching the spacer member 42 to the long substrate 72 are disposed in the central region (thermal displacement neutral portion HN) of the cross beam portion 72B across the stretch absorbing portion 74. The spacer member 42 is detachably attached to the long substrate 72 by this screw 46 and fixedly bonded thereto.

  With the above-described configuration, in the inkjet recording head 70 of the present embodiment, the thermal distortion (thermal expansion) of the long substrate 72 is absorbed by the expansion / contraction absorber 74 and the bending is suppressed. The positional deviation of the recording head unit 32, particularly the positional deviation between the recording head units can be suppressed. Further, since the two screws 46 for fixing the spacer member 42 are not affected by the thermal strain of the long substrate 72 and the displacement hardly occurs, the screws 46 are attached to the long substrate 72 by the screws 46. The displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of the spacer member 42 and the recording head unit 32 bonded and fixed to the spacer member 42 are suppressed.

  FIG. 18B shows a comparative example of this embodiment. In the ink jet recording head 71 according to this comparative example, the screws 46 for attaching the spacer member 42 to the long substrate 72 are spaced apart from the four corners of the opening 72 so as to extend and contract at both ends of the transverse beam portion 40B. It is arranged near the absorption part 74. In this case, when the long substrate 72 is thermally deformed, each screw 46 is shifted in the direction in which the interval in the paper width direction Y is increased due to the expansion of the transverse beam portion 40B in the paper width direction Y and the accompanying compressive deformation of the expansion and contraction absorbing portion 74. To do. Therefore, in the recording head unit 32, the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion bonded and fixed to the spacer member 42 are expanded and distorted in the paper width direction Y, and the position of the nozzle 54 is also displaced, and the landing position of the ejected ink droplets. The image quality is deteriorated due to the shift.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, the effect of suppressing the positional deviation between the recording head units 32 by preventing the long substrate 72 from bending, and the spacer member in which the joint fixing portion (screw 46) is not substantially displaced due to temperature fluctuation. Since the positional deviation and distortion of the recording head unit 32 itself can be suppressed by bonding and fixing to the nozzle 42, the positional deviation of the nozzle 54 and the landing position deviation of the ink droplets resulting therefrom can be suppressed, and the deterioration of the image quality can be prevented more reliably. be able to.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the fourth embodiment, the recording head unit is held using the single spacer member described in the second embodiment with respect to the long substrate having the stretchable absorption part described in the third embodiment. It is an example.

  As shown in FIG. 19A, the ink jet recording head 80 of the present embodiment is attached to a long substrate 82 and a long substrate 82 which are elongated along the paper width direction Y by two screws 46 respectively. A plurality of spacer members 43 having a single configuration arranged along the paper width direction Y, and a plurality of recording head units 32 joined and fixed to the spacer members 43 by an adhesive U and arranged along the paper width direction Y. I have.

  The long substrate 82 is also provided with a plurality of stretch absorbing portions 74 that absorb displacement in the paper width direction Y due to thermal strain of the long substrate 82 at predetermined intervals in the paper width direction Y. No opening is formed, and a substrate constituting portion 82A having a rectangular shape in plan view constituting the long substrate 82 is provided.

  As described above, in the long substrate 82 having no opening, thermal displacement in which the displacement due to the thermal strain of the long substrate 82 (substrate constituent portion 82A) does not substantially occur in the center of gravity region of the substrate constituent portion 82A between the stretch absorbing portions 74. There is a neutral HN. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the two screws 46 for attaching the spacer member 43 to the long substrate 82 are disposed in the center of gravity region (thermal displacement neutral portion HN) of the substrate component 82A across the expansion / contraction absorber 74. The spacers 43 are detachably attached to the long substrate 82 by the screws 46 and fixedly bonded.

  With the above configuration, the thermal distortion (thermal expansion) of the long substrate 82 is also absorbed by the expansion / contraction absorber 74 and the bending of the long substrate 82 is suppressed even in the case of the inkjet recording head 80 of the present embodiment. The positional deviation of the recording head unit 32, particularly the positional deviation between the recording head units can be suppressed. Further, since the two screws 46 for fixing the spacer member 43 are not affected by the thermal strain of the long substrate 82 and the displacement hardly occurs, the screws 46 are attached to the long substrate 82 by the screws 46. The displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of the spacer member 43 and the recording head unit 32 bonded and fixed to the spacer member 43 can be suppressed.

  FIG. 19B shows a comparative example of this embodiment. In the ink jet recording head 81 according to this comparative example, the screws 46 for attaching the spacer member 43 to the long substrate 82 are arranged in the vicinity of the four corners of the substrate constituting portion 82A. In this case, when the long substrate 82 is thermally deformed, each screw 46 is expanded in the direction in which the interval in the paper width direction Y increases due to the expansion of the substrate component 82A in the paper width direction Y and the accompanying compressive deformation of the expansion / contraction absorber 74. Change. Further, since the substrate constituting portion 82A without an opening expands greatly in the paper feeding direction X, the recording head unit 32 is also affected by this, and the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion bonded and fixed to the spacer member 43 have the paper width. The ink expands in the direction Y and the paper feed direction X and is distorted. The nozzle 54 is also displaced, and the image quality is deteriorated due to the displacement of the landing position of the ejected ink droplet.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, the effect of suppressing the positional deviation between the recording head units 32 by preventing the long substrate 82 from bending, and the spacer member in which the joint fixing portion (screw 46) is not substantially displaced due to temperature fluctuation. Since the displacement and distortion suppression effect of the recording head unit 32 itself can be obtained by bonding and fixing to the nozzle 43, the displacement of the nozzle 54 and the landing position shift of the ink droplet caused by the displacement can be suppressed, and the deterioration of the image quality can be prevented more reliably. be able to.

(Fifth embodiment)
The fifth embodiment relates to a line-shaped ink jet recording head in which a plurality of special planar recording head units having nozzles formed in a matrix are held on a long substrate. A configuration of the ink jet recording head of the fifth embodiment including the head unit will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the inkjet recording head 100 of the present embodiment includes a long substrate 102 that is long in the paper width direction Y, a plurality of spacer members 42 that are detachably attached to the long substrate 102, and A plurality of recording head units 92 that are bonded and fixed to the spacer members 42 are provided, and are configured as long heads (FWA heads) in the same manner as the ink jet recording head 30 of the first embodiment.

  The spacer member 42 detachably attached to the lower surface of the long substrate 102 with a screw 46 is made of a transparent resin and is formed in a plate shape. As shown in FIG. In addition, two pieces are arranged obliquely apart from each other in the paper feed direction X. The spacer member 42 can also be replaced with one spacer member having a shape obtained by combining the above two, similarly to the spacer member 43 described above.

  The recording head unit 92 of the present embodiment, which is bonded and fixed to the lower surface of the spacer member 42 with an adhesive U, has a substantially parallelogram shape in plan view (the central portion in the paper feed direction X is a parallelogram shape), and the nozzle surface 93 Nozzles 94 for ejecting ink at the center are formed in a matrix, and are arranged so as to be bridged between the pair of spacer members 42 arranged obliquely. In addition, the inkjet recording head 100 is configured such that the width of the long substrate 102 in the paper feed direction X is narrower than the width of the recording head unit 92 in the same direction, so that the entire head is small.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 21A, the long substrate 102 has a plurality of openings 102A in which the ink supply unit 44 is disposed along the paper width direction Y, and an intermediate portion of each opening 102A. An expansion / contraction absorbing portion 74 that absorbs displacement in the paper width direction Y due to thermal strain of the long substrate 102 is provided in the vertical beam portion 102 </ b> C.

  Therefore, the long substrate 102 of this embodiment that can suppress the thermal strain in the paper width direction Y by the expansion and contraction absorbing portion 74 is also a thermal displacement in which the displacement due to the thermal strain of the long substrate 102 does not substantially occur in the central region of the transverse beam portion 102B. There is a neutral HN. In the present embodiment, the two screws 46 for attaching the spacer member 42 to the long substrate 102 are disposed in the central region (thermal displacement neutral portion HN) of the cross beam portion 102B across the stretch absorbing portion 74. The spacer member 42 is detachably attached to the long substrate 102 by this screw 46 and is fixedly bonded.

  In addition, the recording head unit 92 of the present embodiment is also coated with UV curable adhesive U at a predetermined portion of the joint surface, and arranged in a line along the paper width direction Y as shown in FIGS. 20 (A) and 20 (B). In this state, each spacer member 42 is joined and fixed by the manufacturing method described above. In this way, a plurality of recording head units 92 are held on the long substrate 102 via the spacer members 42, and a book including the plurality of recording head units 92, the plurality of spacer members 42, and the long substrate 102. The ink jet recording head 100 of the embodiment is also configured as one structure.

  With the above-described configuration, the inkjet recording head 100 according to the present embodiment includes the recording head unit 92 in which the nozzles 94 are arranged in a matrix, thereby improving the image quality and speeding up of image recording.

  Further, since the thermal strain (thermal expansion) of the long substrate 102 is absorbed by the expansion / contraction absorbing portion 74 and the bending is suppressed, the positional deviation of the recording head unit 92 due to the bending of the long substrate 102, particularly between the recording head units. Can be suppressed. Further, since the two screws 46 for fixing the spacer member 42 are not affected by the thermal strain of the long substrate 102 and the displacement hardly occurs, the screws 46 are attached to the long substrate 102 by the screws 46. The displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of the spacer member 42 and the recording head unit 92 bonded and fixed to the spacer member 42 are suppressed.

  FIG. 21B shows a comparative example of this embodiment. In the ink jet recording head 101 according to this comparative example, the two spacer members 42 to which the recording head unit 92 is bonded and fixed are diagonally opposed and arranged in a non-linear symmetry, and each spacer member 42 is attached to the long substrate 102. The screw 46 is disposed in the vicinity of the expansion / contraction absorbing portion 74 which is both ends of the cross beam portion 102B. In this case, when the long substrate 102 is thermally deformed, the screws 46 are displaced in the direction in which the interval in the paper width direction Y is increased due to the expansion of the cross beam portion 102B in the paper width direction Y and the accompanying compressive deformation of the expansion and contraction absorbing portion 74. Then, the leading end side of each spacer member 42 is displaced in the opposite direction along the paper width direction Y. For this reason, the recording head unit 92 has an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion that are bonded and fixed to the spacer member 42 in the opposite direction along the paper width direction Y, and a positional deviation or distortion in the rotation direction occurs, resulting in a nozzle 94, the image quality is lowered due to the deviation of the landing position of the ink droplets.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, the effect of suppressing the displacement between the recording head units 92 by preventing the long substrate 102 from being bent, and the spacer member in which the joint fixing portion (screw 46) is not substantially displaced due to temperature fluctuation. 42, the displacement of the recording head unit 92 itself, particularly the positional deviation in the rotational direction, and the effect of suppressing distortion deformation can be obtained, so that the displacement of the nozzle 94 and the landing position deviation of the ink droplets resulting therefrom are suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent image quality deterioration.

(Sixth embodiment)
The sixth embodiment relates to a line-like inkjet recording head in which the recording head unit in which the nozzles described in the fifth embodiment are formed in a matrix is directly fixed to a long substrate without using a spacer member. Hereinafter, the configuration of the ink jet recording head of the sixth embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the ink jet recording head 110 of this embodiment includes a long substrate 112 that is long in the paper width direction Y, and a plurality of recording head units that are bonded and fixed to the long substrate 112 with an adhesive U. 92.

  The long substrate 112 used in the recording head unit 92 is formed of a transparent resin material such as acrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate, or transparent glass. Further, as shown in FIG. 23A, a plurality of openings 112A in which an ink supply unit (not shown) is arranged are formed in the long substrate 112 along the paper width direction Y. The openings 112A are In the inclined beam portion 112C, which is a parallelogram and occupies between the openings 112A, a stretchable absorption portion 114 that absorbs the displacement in the paper width direction Y due to thermal strain of the long substrate 112 is provided along the inclined beam portion 112C. ing. Note that the expansion / contraction absorption part 114 of the present embodiment is also highly rigid in the direction along the inclined beam part 112C by a plurality of rectangular holes 116 arranged in a matrix in the inclination beam part 112C, like the expansion / absorption part 74 described above. Thus, the plurality of rectangular holes 116 are mainly compressed and deformed when the transverse beam portion 112B is expanded in the paper width direction Y, so that the transverse beam portion is formed. It functions to absorb the expansion of 112B, that is, the thermal strain of the long substrate 112 in the paper width direction Y.

  A plurality of recording head units 92 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the long substrate 112 on the lower surface of the long substrate 112, and directly bonded by the UV curable adhesive U applied to the bonding surface of the recording head unit 92. Fixed. Here, the long substrate 112 of this embodiment that can suppress the thermal strain in the paper width direction Y by the expansion / contraction absorber 114 is also a thermal displacement in which the displacement due to the thermal strain of the long substrate 112 does not substantially occur in the central region of the lateral beam portion 112B. Since the neutral portion exists, as shown in FIG. 22, each adhesive U for bonding and fixing the recording head unit 92 to the long substrate 112 crosses the stretchable absorption portion 114 in the central region of the cross beam portion 112B. Has been placed. As described above, the adhesive U is applied in advance to the bonding surface of the recording head unit 92 before bonding, and is cured by being irradiated with UV light through the long substrate 112 after bonding to the long substrate 112. Is done.

  In this way, the ink jet recording head 110 of this embodiment in which a plurality of recording head units 92 are directly bonded and held to the long substrate 112 is also configured as a long head (FWA head) in one structure. Yes.

  As described above, also in the case of the ink jet recording head 110 of the present embodiment, the thermal strain (thermal expansion) of the long substrate 112 is absorbed by the expansion / contraction absorber 114 and the bending is suppressed. The positional deviation of the recording head unit 92, particularly the positional deviation between the recording head units can be suppressed. In addition, each adhesive U that bonds and fixes the recording head unit 92 is not affected by the thermal strain of the long substrate 112, so that displacement hardly occurs. Misalignment and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of the bonded recording head unit 92 can be suppressed.

  FIG. 23B shows a comparative example of this embodiment. In the ink jet recording head 111 according to this comparative example, each adhesive U that fixes the recording head unit 92 to the long substrate 112 is positioned in the vicinity of the expansion / contraction absorbing portion 114 that is both ends of the lateral beam portion 112B. They are arranged symmetrically. In this case, when the long substrate 112 is thermally deformed, each adhesive U is changed in the direction in which the interval in the paper width direction Y is increased by the expansion of the cross beam portion 112B in the paper width direction Y and the accompanying compressive deformation of the cross beam portion 112B. To do. For this reason, the recording head unit 92 has its upper and lower edges bonded and fixed to the long substrate 112 displaced in the opposite direction along the paper width direction Y, causing positional deviation and distortion in the rotational direction. The position of the nozzle 94 is displaced, and the image quality is also deteriorated due to the displacement of the landing position of the ink droplet.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, the positional deviation between the recording head units 92 is prevented by preventing the long substrate 112 from being bent, and the bonding fixing portion (adhesive U) is not substantially displaced due to temperature fluctuation. Therefore, the positional deviation of the recording head unit 92 itself, particularly the positional deviation in the rotation direction, and the effect of suppressing distortion deformation can be obtained. It can be surely prevented.

(Seventh embodiment)
The seventh embodiment relates to a modification of the long substrate to which the recording head unit 92 described in the sixth embodiment is directly bonded and fixed. Hereinafter, the configuration of the ink jet recording head of the seventh embodiment will be described. Will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 24A, the inkjet recording head 120 of this embodiment includes a long substrate 122 that is elongated in the paper width direction Y, and a plurality of substrates that are bonded and fixed to the long substrate 122 by an adhesive U. A recording head unit 92 is provided.

  The long substrate 122 used for the ink jet recording head 120 is also formed of a light transmissive material. As shown in FIG. 24B, the long substrate 122 of the sixth embodiment extends along the entire length direction (paper width direction Y). A plurality of openings 122A are formed at intervals narrower than the long substrate 112. The opening 122A has a parallelogram shape in which the dimension in the Y direction is narrowed as shown in the drawing, and the inclined beam 122C that occupies the space between the openings 122A is arranged in the paper width direction Y due to thermal strain of the long substrate 122. An elastic absorption part 114 that absorbs the displacement is provided along the inclined beam part 122C.

  As described above, the long substrate 122 of the present embodiment in which the thermal strain in the paper width direction Y can be reduced by the expansion and contraction absorbing portion 114 is also a heat that does not substantially cause displacement due to the thermal strain of the long substrate 122 in the central region of the lateral beam portion 122B. Since the displacement neutral portion exists, as shown in FIG. 24A, each of the adhesives U for bonding and fixing the recording head unit 92 to the long substrate 122 straddles the expansion / contraction absorbing portion 114 and the transverse beam portion 122B. It is arranged in the central area.

  As described above, in the ink jet recording head 120 of the present embodiment, by providing more expansion / contraction absorbing portions 114, the effect of suppressing the bending of the long substrate 122 is enhanced compared to the ink jet recording head 110 of the sixth embodiment, The effect of suppressing the positional deviation of the recording head unit 92 due to the deflection of the long substrate 112 due to thermal expansion, in particular, the positional deviation between the recording head units is improved. Further, like the ink jet recording head 110 of the sixth embodiment, each adhesive U that bonds and fixes the recording head unit 92 is not affected by the thermal distortion of the long substrate 122, so that the displacement hardly occurs. Therefore, the positional deviation and distortion deformation accompanying the temperature fluctuation of the recording head unit 92 bonded and fixed to the long substrate 122 by the adhesive U can be suppressed, and the image quality can be surely prevented from being lowered.

  As mentioned above, although the present invention was explained in detail by the 1st-a 7th embodiment mentioned above, the present invention is not limited to those embodiments, and other various forms are within the scope of the present invention. It can be implemented.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example of the FWA corresponding to the paper width has been described. However, the ink jet recording head of the present invention is not limited to this, and the Partial Width Array (PWA) having a main scanning mechanism and a sub-scanning mechanism. It can also be applied to devices.

  In addition, in the inkjet recording apparatus 10 of the above embodiment, ink droplets are selectively ejected from the inkjet recording heads 30 of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan based on image data, and a full-color image is recorded on the paper P. However, ink jet recording in the present invention is not limited to recording characters and images on the paper P.

  That is, the recording medium is not limited to paper, and the liquid to be ejected is not limited to ink. For example, industrially used liquids such as creating color filters for displays by discharging ink onto polymer films or glass, or forming bumps for component mounting by discharging welded solder onto a substrate The ink jet recording head (droplet discharge head) according to the present invention can be applied to all droplet discharge (ejection) apparatuses.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the inkjet recording head of FIG. It is a figure which shows the printing area | region by the inkjet recording head of FIG. FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating a configuration of a mounting portion of a spacer member of the ink jet recording head of FIG. 2. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a side view showing a configuration of a mounting portion of a recording head unit of the ink jet recording head of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process (A) and (B) which manufacture the inkjet recording head which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process (C) and (D) which manufacture the inkjet recording head which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the process of manufacturing the inkjet recording head which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a positional relationship with a cap during maintenance of the ink jet recording head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the positional relationship with the cap at the time of the maintenance of the inkjet recording head of other embodiment to which this invention was applied. It is a side view which shows the modification of the inkjet recording head which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the other modification of the inkjet recording head which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a top view showing another configuration of the attachment portion of the spacer member of the ink jet recording head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the modification of the spacer member in the inkjet recording head which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating an arrangement of bonding fixing portions for suppressing a positional shift and distortion deformation due to temperature variation of the recording head unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (A) and (B) are top views showing the arrangement of the joining and fixing portions of the recording head unit according to a comparative example with respect to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a top view showing an arrangement of bonding and fixing portions for suppressing displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of a recording head unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a bottom view showing the arrangement of a joint fixing portion for suppressing displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of a recording head unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the joining and fixing portions of the recording head unit according to a comparative example with respect to the embodiment. (A) is a bottom view showing the arrangement of joint fixing portions for suppressing displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of a recording head unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the joining and fixing portions of the recording head unit according to a comparative example with respect to the embodiment. (A) of the inkjet recording head which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention is a front view, (B) is a bottom view. (A) is a bottom view showing the arrangement of joint fixing portions for suppressing displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of a recording head unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a fifth view of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the joining and fixing portions of the recording head unit according to a comparative example with respect to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing an arrangement of bonding fixing portions for suppressing displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of a recording head unit according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a bottom view showing a long substrate provided in a recording head unit according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a joint fixing of the recording head unit according to a comparative example with respect to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. It is a bottom view which shows arrangement | positioning of a part. (A) is a bottom view showing the arrangement of the joint fixing portion for suppressing displacement and distortion due to temperature fluctuations of the recording head unit according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is the seventh embodiment of the present invention. It is a bottom view which shows the elongate board | substrate with which the recording head unit concerning this embodiment is provided. (A), (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the position shift and distortion deformation by the temperature fluctuation which generate | occur | produces with the conventional recording head unit.

Explanation of symbols

10 Inkjet recording device (droplet ejection device)
30 Inkjet recording head (structure)
32 Recording head unit (component unit)
40 Long substrate (base substrate)
40A Opening 40B Horizontal beam 40C Vertical beam 42 Spacer member 43 Spacer member 46 Screw (joint fixing part)
60 Inkjet recording head (structure)
70 Inkjet recording head (structure)
72 Long substrate (base substrate)
72A Opening 72B Horizontal beam 72C Vertical beam 74 Stretch / absorption part 76 Rectangular hole 80 Inkjet recording head (structure)
82 Long substrate (base substrate)
82A Substrate constituting part 92 Recording head unit (constituting unit)
100 Inkjet recording head (structure)
102 Long substrate (base substrate)
102A Opening 102B Horizontal beam 102C Vertical beam 110 Inkjet recording head (structure)
112 Long substrate (base substrate)
112A Opening portion 112B Horizontal beam portion 112C Inclined beam portion 114 Stretching and absorbing portion 116 Rectangular hole 120 Inkjet recording head (structure)
122 Long substrate (base substrate)
122A Opening portion 122B Horizontal beam portion 122C Inclined beam portion U Adhesive (joint fixing portion)
HN Thermal displacement neutral part

Claims (2)

An elongated base substrate having a vertical beam portion provided between the plurality of openings and a plurality of openings,
A plurality of droplet discharge head units that are positioned on the base substrate and discharge droplets from nozzles;
Joined and fixed displacement due to thermal distortion of the base substrate at a portion which is present at least in the region of the vertical beam portion definitive to thermal displacement neutral portion which does not substantially occur, for bonding and fixing the said and the base substrate a plurality of droplet discharge head unit And
A droplet discharge head comprising: 2. A droplet discharge apparatus comprising the droplet discharge head according to claim 1, which is long along the paper width direction.

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