JP6081761B2 - Liquid discharge head and recording apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid and a recording apparatus using the same.

  In recent years, printing apparatuses using an inkjet recording method, such as an inkjet printer or an inkjet plotter, are not only printers for general consumers, but also, for example, formation of electronic circuits, manufacture of color filters for liquid crystal displays, or organic EL displays. It is also widely used for industrial applications such as manufacturing.

  The conventional printing apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a transport unit that transports a recording medium to the liquid ejection head, and a control unit that controls the liquid ejection head, and printing is performed by driving the liquid ejection head. It has been broken.

  The liquid discharge head covers a plurality of pressure chambers, a flow path member having a plurality of discharge holes, a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the plurality of discharge holes, and a manifold communicating with the plurality of pressure chambers. And a piezoelectric actuator substrate laminated on the flow path member. The manifold has a partition and a plurality of submanifolds partitioned by the partition. The piezoelectric actuator substrate has a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a plurality of second electrodes stacked in this order from the flow path member side, and is positioned on the first region located on the partition and on the sub manifold. The second region is provided (for example, see FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1). The second electrode is provided above the pressurizing chamber, and includes a second electrode main body that is substantially similar to the pressurizing chamber in plan view, and an extraction electrode that is extracted from the second electrode main body.

  The conventional liquid ejection head performs printing on a recording medium by ejecting ink from each ejection hole by displacing the piezoelectric layer corresponding to the pressurizing chamber of the piezoelectric actuator substrate.

JP 2003-305852 A

  However, when a voltage is applied to the liquid discharge head, the piezoelectric layer below the extraction electrode is also piezoelectrically deformed. And since the area | region used as a submanifold forms space, the flow path member becomes a structure from which rigidity differs in the area | region in which the submanifold was formed, and the area | region in which the partition was formed. Due to the difference in rigidity of the flow path member, the rigidity of the first region of the piezoelectric actuator substrate and the rigidity of the second region of the piezoelectric actuator substrate may be different. Therefore, when the extraction electrode is provided in each of the first region and the second region, the piezoelectric deformation of the piezoelectric layer positioned below the second electrode extracted to the first region and the extraction to the second region are performed. Unlike the piezoelectric deformation of the piezoelectric layer positioned below the second electrode, the amount of displacement of the piezoelectric layer corresponding to each pressurizing chamber of the piezoelectric actuator substrate varies, and the liquid discharged from each nozzle There may be variations in the discharge amount or discharge speed.

The liquid discharge head of the present invention includes a plurality of discharge holes, a plurality of pressurizing chambers communicating with the plurality of discharge holes, a flow path member having a manifold communicating with the plurality of pressurization chambers, and the plurality of pressurizations And a piezoelectric actuator substrate laminated on the flow path member so as to cover the chamber. The manifold has a partition and a plurality of sub-manifolds partitioned by the partition. The piezoelectric actuator substrate includes a first region in which a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a plurality of second electrodes are stacked in this order from the flow path member side, and located on the partition wall of the manifold. And a second region located on the sub-manifold of the manifold. The second electrode is positioned above the pressurizing chamber, and has a second electrode main body having a shape substantially similar to the pressurizing chamber in plan view, and a lead electrode drawn from the second electrode main body. And a pair of the second electrodes is arranged with an intermediate position between the pair of partition walls facing each other with the sub-manifold in between, and the pair of the second electrodes Each of the pair of extraction electrodes corresponding to the second electrode body is extracted from the corresponding second electrode body toward the intermediate position, and is bent in the same direction at a position before reaching the intermediate position, The intermediate position has not been reached .

  Furthermore, a recording apparatus of the present invention includes the liquid discharge head described above, a transport unit that transports a recording medium to the liquid discharge head, and a control unit that controls the liquid discharge head.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility of variations in the discharge amount or discharge speed of the liquid discharged from each nozzle.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer that is a recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a flow path member and a piezoelectric actuator constituting the liquid ejection head of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a region surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a region surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the II line | wire of FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the liquid ejection head shown in FIGS. FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view corresponding to FIG. 6 of a liquid ejection head according to another embodiment. FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view corresponding to FIG. 6 of a liquid ejection head according to still another embodiment. (A) is an enlarged plan view corresponding to FIG. 6 of the liquid discharge head according to still another embodiment, and (b) is an enlarged plan view of the individual electrode shown in (a). (A) is an enlarged plan view of a liquid ejection head according to still another embodiment, and (b) is an enlarged plan view showing a modification of (a).

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer 1) which is a recording apparatus including a liquid discharge head according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ink jet printer 1 has four liquid discharge heads 2. These liquid discharge heads 2 are arranged along the conveyance direction of the printing paper P, and the liquid discharge head 2 has a long and narrow shape in a direction from the front to the back of FIG. This long direction is sometimes called the longitudinal direction.

  In the printer 1, a paper feeding unit 114, a transport unit 120, and a paper receiving unit 116 are sequentially provided along the transport path of the printing paper P. In addition, the printer 1 is provided with a control unit 100 for controlling the operation of each unit of the printer 1 such as the liquid discharge head 2 or the paper feeding unit 114.

  The paper supply unit 114 includes a paper storage case 115 that can store a plurality of printing papers P, and a paper supply roller 145. The paper feed roller 145 feeds the uppermost print paper P among the print papers P stacked and stored in the paper storage case 115 one by one.

  Two pairs of feed rollers 118 a, 118 b, 119 a, and 119 b are arranged between the paper feed unit 114 and the transport unit 120 along the transport path of the printing paper P. The printing paper P sent out from the paper supply unit 114 is guided by these feed rollers 118 a, 118 b, 119 a, and 119 b and further sent out to the transport unit 120.

  The transport unit 120 includes an endless transport belt 111 and two belt rollers 106 and 107. The conveyor belt 111 is wound around belt rollers 106 and 107. The conveyor belt 111 is adjusted to such a length that it is stretched with a predetermined tension when it is wound around the two belt rollers 106 and 107. As a result, the conveyor belt 111 is stretched without slack along two parallel planes that include the common tangent lines of the two belt rollers 106 and 107, respectively. Of these two planes, a plane close to the liquid ejection head 2 is a conveyance surface 127 that conveys the printing paper P.

  The belt roller 106 is connected to a conveyance motor 174 as shown in FIG. The conveyance motor 174 rotates the belt roller 106 in the direction of arrow A. Further, the belt roller 107 rotates in conjunction with the transport belt 111. Therefore, the conveyor belt 111 moves along the direction of arrow A by driving the conveyor motor 174 to rotate the belt rollers 106 and 107.

  In the vicinity of the belt roller 107, a nip roller 138 and a nip receiving roller 139 are arranged so as to sandwich the conveyance belt 111. The nip roller 138 is urged downward by a spring (not shown). A nip receiving roller 139 below the nip roller 138 receives the nip roller 138 biased downward via the conveying belt 111. The nip roller 138 and the nip receiving roller 139 are rotatably installed and rotate in conjunction with the transport belt 111.

  The printing paper P sent out from the paper supply unit 114 to the transport unit 120 is sandwiched between the nip roller 138 and the transport belt 111. As a result, the printing paper P is pressed against the transport surface 127 of the transport belt 111 and is fixed on the transport surface 127. The printing paper P is transported in the direction in which the liquid ejection head 2 is installed according to the rotation of the transport belt 111. The outer peripheral surface 113 of the conveyor belt 111 may be treated with adhesive silicon rubber. Thereby, the printing paper P can be securely fixed to the transport surface 127.

  The liquid discharge head 2 has a head body 2a at the lower end. The lower surface of the head body 2a is a discharge hole surface provided with a number of discharge holes 8 (see FIG. 4) for discharging liquid.

  A liquid (ink) of the same color is discharged from the discharge hole 8 provided in one liquid discharge head 2. Each liquid discharge head 2 is supplied with liquid from an external liquid tank (not shown). Since the ejection holes 8 of each liquid ejection head 2 are opened in the ejection hole surface and are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction, printing can be performed without gaps in the longitudinal direction. The colors of the liquid ejected from each liquid ejection head 2 are, for example, magenta (M), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. Each liquid discharge head 2 is arranged with a slight gap between the lower surface of the liquid discharge head main body 13 and the transport surface 127 of the transport belt 111.

  The printing paper P transported by the transport belt 111 passes through the gap between the liquid ejection head 2 and the transport belt 111. At that time, liquid is ejected from the head main body 2 a constituting the liquid ejection head 2 toward the upper surface of the printing paper P. As a result, a color image based on the image data stored by the control unit 100 is formed on the upper surface of the printing paper P.

  A separation plate 140 and two pairs of feed rollers 121a, 121b, 122a, and 122b are disposed between the transport unit 120 and the paper receiver 116. The printing paper P on which the color image is printed is conveyed to the peeling plate 140 by the conveying belt 111. At this time, the printing paper P is peeled from the transport surface 127 by the right end of the peeling plate 140. Then, the printing paper P is sent to the paper receiving portion 116 by the feed rollers 121a, 121b, 122a, 122b. In this way, the printed printing paper P is sequentially sent to the paper receiving unit 116 and stacked on the paper receiving unit 116.

  Note that a paper surface sensor 133 is installed between the liquid ejection head 2 and the nip roller 138 that are the most upstream in the transport direction of the printing paper P. The paper surface sensor 133 includes a light emitting element (not shown) and a light receiving element (not shown), and can detect the position of the leading edge of the printing paper P on the transport path. The detection result by the paper surface sensor 133 is sent to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 controls the liquid ejection head 2 or the conveyance motor 174 so that the conveyance of the printing paper P and the image printing are synchronized with each other based on the detection result sent from the paper surface sensor 133.

  Next, the liquid discharge head 2 will be described. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the head main body 2a. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the region surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2, and is a plan view in which some of the flow paths are omitted for explanation. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a region surrounded by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 2, and is a diagram in which a part of the flow paths different from FIG. In FIGS. 3 and 4, for easy understanding of the drawings, the aperture 6, the discharge hole 8, the pressurizing chamber 10, and the like that should be drawn by broken lines below the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 are drawn by solid lines. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the head main body 2a shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 and shows the relationship between the pressurizing chamber 10, the individual electrode 25 as the second electrode, and the connection electrode 26. FIG. Further, the discharge hole 8 in FIG. 4 is drawn larger than the actual diameter for easy understanding of the position.

  The liquid discharge head 2 includes a reservoir and a metal casing in addition to the head body 2a. Also. The head body 2a includes a flow path member 4 and a piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 on which a displacement element 30 (see FIG. 5) is formed.

  The flow path member 4 constituting the head body 2 a includes a manifold 5, a plurality of pressurizing chambers 10 connected to the manifold 5, and a plurality of discharge holes 8 respectively connected to the plurality of pressurizing chambers 10. Yes. The pressurizing chamber 10 opens to the upper surface of the flow path member 4, and the upper surface of the flow path member 4 is the pressurizing chamber surface. An opening 5a connected to the manifold 5 is provided on the upper surface of the flow path member 4, and liquid is supplied from the opening 5a.

  A piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 including a displacement element 30 is bonded to the upper surface of the flow path member 4, and each displacement element 30 is provided so as to be positioned on the pressurizing chamber 10. The piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 is connected to a signal transmission unit 92 such as an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) which is a wiring substrate for supplying a signal to each displacement element 30. In FIG. 2, the outline of the vicinity of the signal transmission unit 92 connected to the piezoelectric actuator 21 is indicated by a dotted line so that the two signal transmission units 92 are connected to the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21.

  Since the signal transmission unit 92 is disposed along the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 and the connection between the signal transmission unit 92 and the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 is performed at a portion other than the pressurizing chamber 10, the signal transmission unit 92 is The displacement of the displacement element 30 is not suppressed. A large number of wires (not shown) are arranged along the short direction of the head main body 2a in the region of the signal transmission portion 92 facing the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21, and are shown on the left and right of FIG. It is connected to the part which is not.

  The signal sent from the control unit 100 passes through another circuit board or the like as necessary, is transmitted to the signal transmission unit 92, and is supplied to the displacement element 30. The piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 side of the wiring of the signal transmission unit 92 is an electrode electrically connected to the piezoelectric actuator 21, and this electrode is disposed in a rectangular shape at the end of the signal transmission unit 92. Yes. The two signal transmission portions 92 are connected so that their ends come to the center portion in the short direction of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21. The two signal transmission portions 92 extend from the central portion toward the long side of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21.

  The signal transmission unit 92 is mounted with a driver IC (not shown). The driver IC is mounted so as to be pressed against the metal casing, and the heat of the driver IC is transmitted to the metal casing and radiated to the outside. A drive signal for driving the displacement element 30 on the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 is generated in the driver IC. A signal for controlling the generation of the drive signal is generated by the control unit 100 and input from the end of the signal transmission unit 92 opposite to the side connected to the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21. A circuit board or the like is provided in the liquid ejection head 2 between the control unit 100 and the signal transmission unit 92 as necessary.

  The head body 2 a has one flat channel member 4 and one piezoelectric actuator substrate 21. The planar shape of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 is rectangular, and is arranged on the upper surface of the flow path member 4 so that the long side of the rectangle is along the longitudinal direction of the flow path member 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, two manifolds 5 are formed inside the flow path member 4. The manifold 5 has an elongated shape that extends from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the flow path member 4 to the other end side, and the manifold opening 5a that opens to the upper surface of the flow path member 4 at both ends. Is formed. By supplying the liquid from both ends of the manifold 5 to the flow path member 4, it is possible to make it difficult for the liquid to be insufficiently supplied. Further, as compared with the case where the liquid is supplied from one end of the manifold 5, the difference in pressure loss generated when the liquid flows through the manifold 5 can be reduced to about a half, so that variations in liquid discharge characteristics can be reduced.

  In the manifold 5, at least a central portion in the length direction, which is a region connected to the pressurizing chamber 10, is partitioned by a partition wall 15 provided at an interval in the width direction. The partition wall 15 has the same height as the manifold 5 in the central portion in the length direction, which is a region connected to the pressurizing chamber 10, and partitions the manifold 5 into a plurality of sub-manifolds 5b. Therefore, the flow path member 4 is provided in the area where the partition wall 15 is provided, and a space is provided in the area where the sub-manifold 5b is formed so that liquid is supplied. By doing in this way, the descender connected from the discharge hole 8 and the discharge hole 8 to the pressurizing chamber 10 can be provided so as to overlap with the partition wall 15 when viewed in plan.

  In FIG. 2, the whole of the manifold 5 excluding both ends is partitioned by a partition wall 15. In addition to this, one of the both end portions other than one end portion may be partitioned by the partition wall 15. Further, only the vicinity of the opening 5 a on the upper surface of the flow path member 4 is not partitioned, and the partition wall 15 may be provided between the opening 5 a and the depth direction of the flow path member 4. In any case, it is preferable that both ends of the manifold 5 are not partitioned by the partition wall 15 because the flow resistance is reduced and the supply amount of the liquid can be increased because there is a portion that is not partitioned.

  In this embodiment, two manifolds 5 are provided independently, and openings 5a are provided at both ends. One manifold 5 is provided with seven partition walls 15, and one manifold 5 is divided into eight sub-manifolds 5b. The width of the sub-manifold 5b is larger than the width of the partition wall 15, so that a large amount of liquid can flow through the sub-manifold 5b. In addition, the length of the seven partition walls 15 becomes longer as it is closer to the center in the short direction, and the end of the partition wall 15 is closer to the end of the manifold 5 as the partition wall 15 is closer to the center in the short direction at both ends of the manifold 5. Near the edge. As a result, the channel resistance between the channel resistance generated by the outer wall of the manifold 5 and the channel resistance generated by the partition wall 15 can be made closer to each other. It is possible to reduce the pressure difference of the liquid at the end of the region where the connected individual supply channel 14 (see FIG. 5) is formed. Since the pressure difference in the individual supply flow path 14 leads to the pressure difference applied to the liquid in the pressurizing chamber 10, the discharge variation can be reduced by reducing the pressure difference in the individual supply flow path 14.

  The flow path member 4 is formed by two-dimensionally expanding a plurality of pressurizing chambers 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the pressurizing chamber 10 is connected to one sub-manifold 5 b via the individual supply channel 14. Along with one sub-manifold 5b, two rows of pressurizing chambers 11a, which are rows of pressurizing chambers 10 connected to the sub-manifold 5b, are provided on each side of the sub-manifold 5b. . Accordingly, 16 pressurizing chamber rows 11 are provided for one manifold 5, and 32 pressurizing chamber rows 11 a are provided in the entire head body 2 a. The interval in the longitudinal direction of the pressurizing chamber 10 in each pressurizing chamber row 11a is the same, for example, 37.5 dpi. The intervals between the pressurizing chambers 10 in the column direction L1 and the row direction L2 are preferably equal intervals, but the intervals may be different by about ± 20%.

  A dummy pressurizing chamber 16 is provided outside the pressurizing chamber column 11a in the row direction L2, and the dummy pressurizing chamber 16 forms a dummy pressurizing chamber column 16a linearly arranged in the column direction L1. Yes. The dummy pressurizing chamber row 16 a is connected to the manifold 5, but is not connected to the discharge hole 8. A dummy pressurizing chamber 16 is also provided outside the column direction L1 of the 32 pressurizing chamber columns 11a, and the dummy pressurizing chamber rows are arranged in a straight line in the row direction L2. 16b is provided. The dummy pressurizing chamber row 16 b is not connected to either the manifold 5 or the discharge hole 8. Because of the dummy pressurizing chamber 16, the rigidity around the pressurizing chamber 10 that is one inner side from the end is close to the rigidity of the pressurizing chamber 10 provided in another region. It is possible to reduce a difference in variation in the liquid discharge amount and the discharge speed (hereinafter sometimes referred to as discharge characteristics).

The pressurizing chambers 10 connected to one manifold 5 are substantially equal on the rows and columns along the column direction L1 which is the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head 2 and the row direction L2 which is the short direction. Arranged at intervals. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the column direction L1 that is the first direction is a direction in which the partition walls 15 of the manifold 5 extend, and the row direction L2 is a direction orthogonal to the column direction L1. As shown in FIG. 6, the pressurizing chamber 10 has a substantially rhombus shape in plan view, is rounded at the corners, and has two sharp corners 10 a and two sharp corners 10 b. It is a hollow area | region which has a rhombus planar shape. The rhombus shape of the pressurizing chamber 10 may have a side length of each pressurizing chamber 10 different by about 10%.

  When the pressurizing chambers 10 are arranged in a grid pattern and the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 is formed in a rectangular shape having outer sides along rows and columns, the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 is formed on the pressurizing chamber 10 from the outer sides. Since the individual electrodes 25 are arranged at equal distances, the possibility that the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 is deformed when the individual electrodes 25 are formed can be reduced.

  When the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 and the flow path member 4 are joined, if the deformation is large, stress is applied to the displacement element 30 near the outer side and the displacement characteristics may vary, but by reducing the deformation, The variation can be reduced. The pressurizing chambers 10 belonging to the pressurizing chamber row 11a are arranged at equal intervals in the column direction L1, and the individual electrodes 25 corresponding to the pressurizing chamber row 11a are also arranged at equal intervals in the column direction L1. The pressurizing chamber columns 11a are arranged at equal intervals in the row direction L2, and the columns of the individual electrodes 25 corresponding to the pressurizing chamber columns 11a are also arranged at equal intervals in the row direction L2. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate a portion where the influence of the crosstalk becomes particularly large.

  When the flow path member 4 is viewed in plan, the pressurizing chamber 10 belonging to one pressurizing chamber row 11a is arranged so as not to overlap with the pressurizing chamber 10 belonging to the adjacent pressurizing chamber row 11a in the row direction L1. By doing so, crosstalk can be suppressed. On the other hand, when the distance between the row directions L2 of the pressurizing chamber column 11a is increased, the width of the liquid discharge head 2 is increased. The influence of the accuracy of the relative position of the liquid ejection head 2 on the printing result when using 2 is increased. Therefore, by making the width of the partition wall 15 smaller than that of the sub-manifold 5b, the influence of the accuracy on the printing result can be reduced.

  The pressurizing chambers 10 connected to one sub-manifold 5b constitute two rows of pressurizing chambers 11a, and the discharge holes 8 connected from the pressurizing chambers 10 constituting one pressurizing chamber row 11a. Constitutes one discharge hole row 9. The discharge holes 8 connected to the pressurizing chambers 10 constituting the two pressurizing chamber rows 11a open to different sides of the sub-manifold 5b.

  In FIG. 4, two discharge hole rows 9 are provided in the partition wall 15, but the discharge holes 8 belonging to each discharge hole row 9 are connected to the sub-manifold 5 b on the side close to the discharge holes 8 in the pressurizing chamber 10. Are connected through. If the discharge hole 8 connected to the adjacent sub-manifold 5b via the pressurizing chamber row 11a and the liquid discharge head 2 are arranged so as not to overlap in the longitudinal direction, the pressurizing chamber 10 and the discharge hole 8 are connected. Since crosstalk between connected flow paths can be suppressed, crosstalk can be further reduced. If the entire flow path connecting the pressurizing chamber 10 and the discharge hole 8 is arranged so as not to overlap in the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head 2, the crosstalk can be further reduced.

  Further, the width of the liquid discharge head 2 can be reduced by arranging the pressurizing chamber 10 and the sub-manifold 5b so as to overlap each other in plan view. By setting the ratio of the area overlapping the sub-manifold 5b to the area of the pressurizing chamber 10 to be 80% or more, and further 90% or more, the width of the liquid discharge head 2 can be further reduced. Further, the bottom surface of the pressurizing chamber 10 where the pressurizing chamber 10 and the sub-manifold 5b overlap has a lower rigidity than the case where the pressurizing chamber 10 and the sub-manifold 5b do not overlap. May vary. By making the ratio of the area of the pressurizing chamber 10 overlapping the sub-manifold 5b to the area of the entire pressurizing chamber 10 substantially the same in each pressurizing chamber 10, the rigidity of the bottom surface constituting the pressurizing chamber 10 is increased. Variations in ejection characteristics due to changes can be reduced. Here, “substantially the same” means that the difference in area ratio is 10% or less, particularly 5% or less.

  A plurality of pressurizing chambers (not shown) are constituted by a plurality of pressurizing chambers 10 connected to one manifold 5, and since two manifolds 5 are formed, two pressurizing chamber groups are formed. ing. The arrangement of the pressurizing chambers 10 related to ejection in each pressurizing chamber group is the same, and is arranged to be translated in the row direction L2. These pressurizing chambers 10 are arranged over substantially the entire surface in a region facing the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 on the upper surface of the flow path member 4. In other words, the pressurizing chamber group formed by these pressurizing chambers 10 occupies a region having substantially the same size and shape as the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21. Further, the opening of each pressurizing chamber 10 is closed by bonding the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 to the upper surface of the flow path member 4.

  A descender connected to the discharge hole 8 opened on the discharge hole surface on the lower surface of the flow path member 4 extends from a corner portion of the pressurizing chamber 10 facing the corner portion where the individual supply flow path 14 is connected. The descender extends in a direction away from the pressurizing chamber 10 in plan view. More specifically, the pressurizing chamber 10 extends away from the direction along the long diagonal line while being shifted to the left and right with respect to that direction. As a result, the discharge chambers 8 can be arranged at intervals of 1200 dpi as a whole, while the pressurization chambers 10 are arranged in a lattice pattern in which the intervals within the pressurization chamber rows 11 are 37.5 dpi.

  In other words, when the discharge holes 8 are projected so as to be orthogonal to the virtual straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the flow path member 4, each manifold 5 is within the range of S of the virtual straight line shown in FIG. A total of 32 discharge holes 8 connected to each other are arranged at equal intervals of 1200 dpi. Thus, by supplying the same color ink to all the manifolds 5, an image can be formed with a resolution of 1200 dpi in the longitudinal direction as a whole. One discharge hole 8 connected to one manifold 5 is arranged at equal intervals of 600 dpi within the range of S of the imaginary straight line. As a result, by supplying different colors of ink to the respective manifolds 5, it is possible to form two-color images with a resolution of 600 dpi in the longitudinal direction as a whole. In this case, if two liquid ejection heads 2 are used, an image of four colors can be formed with a resolution of 600 dpi, the printing accuracy of the liquid ejection head 2 can be increased, and the liquid ejection head 2 can be easily set. can do.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the flow path member 4 included in the head body 2a has a laminated structure in which a plurality of plates are laminated. These plates are a cavity plate 4a, a base plate 4b, an aperture plate 4c, a supply plate 4d, manifold plates 4e to j, a cover plate 4k, and a nozzle plate 4l in order from the upper surface of the flow path member 4. A number of holes are formed in these plates. Since the thickness of each plate is about 10 to 300 μm, the formation accuracy of the holes to be formed can be increased. Each plate is aligned and laminated so that these holes communicate with each other to form the individual flow path 12 and the manifold 5. In the head main body 2a, the pressurizing chamber 10 is on the upper surface of the flow path member 4, the manifold 5 is on the inner lower surface side, the discharge holes 8 are on the lower surface, and the parts constituting the individual flow path 12 are close to each other in different positions. The manifold 5 and the discharge hole 8 are connected via the pressurizing chamber 10.

  The holes formed in each plate will be described. These holes include the following. The first is a hole that becomes the pressurizing chamber 10 formed in the cavity plate 4a. Second, there is a communication hole that constitutes an individual supply channel 14 that is connected from one end of the pressurizing chamber 10 to the manifold 5. This communication hole is formed in each plate from the base plate 4b (specifically, the inlet of the pressurizing chamber 10) to the supply plate 4c (specifically, the outlet of the manifold 5). The individual supply flow path 14 includes a squeeze 6 that is formed in the aperture plate 4c and is a portion where the cross-sectional area of the flow path is small.

Third, there is a communication hole constituting a flow path communicating from the other end of the pressurizing chamber 10 to the discharge hole 8, and this communication hole is referred to as a descender (partial flow path) in the following description. The descender is formed on each plate from the base plate 4b (specifically, the outlet of the pressurizing chamber 10) to the nozzle plate 4l (specifically, the discharge hole 8). The hole of the nozzle plate 41 is opened as a discharge hole 8 having a diameter of 10 to 40 μm, for example, which is open to the outside of the flow path member 4, and the diameter increases toward the inside. .

  Fourthly, communication holes constituting the manifold 5. The communication holes are formed in the manifold plates 4e to 4j. Holes are formed in the manifold plates 4e to 4j so that the partition walls 15 remain so as to constitute the sub-manifold 5b. The partition 15 in each manifold plate 4e-j cannot be held when the entire portion to be the manifold 5 is made a hole, so the partition 15 is connected to the outer periphery of each manifold plate 4e-j with a half-etched tab. To be.

  The first to fourth communication holes are connected to each other to form an individual flow path 12 from the liquid inflow port (outlet of the manifold 5) to the discharge hole 8 from the manifold 5. The liquid supplied to the manifold 5 is discharged from the discharge hole 8 through the following path. First, from the manifold 5, it enters the individual supply flow path 14 and reaches one end of the throttle 6. Next, it proceeds horizontally along the extending direction of the restriction 6 and reaches the other end of the restriction 6. From there, it reaches one end of the pressurizing chamber 10 upward. Furthermore, it progresses horizontally along the extending direction of the pressurizing chamber 10 and reaches the other end of the pressurizing chamber 10. While moving little by little in the horizontal direction from there, it proceeds mainly downward and proceeds to the discharge hole 8 opened in the lower surface.

  Since the manifold 5 is divided into a plurality of sub-manifolds 5b by the partition wall 15, the rigidity of the flow path member 4 is different between the region where the partition wall 15 of the manifold 5 is provided and the region where the sub-manifold 5b is provided. It will be. More specifically, the rigidity in the region where the partition wall 15 is provided is higher than the rigidity of the region where the sub-manifold 5b is provided.

  Further, the liquid discharge head 2 may join a reservoir (not shown) to the flow path member 4 in order to stabilize the supply of liquid from the opening 5 a of the manifold 5. Since the reservoir is provided with a reservoir flow path that branches the liquid supplied from the outside and is connected to the two openings 5 a, the liquid can be stably supplied to the two openings of the flow path member 4. Further, by making the flow path lengths after branching substantially the same, temperature fluctuations and pressure fluctuations of the liquid supplied from the outside are transmitted to the openings 5a at both ends of the manifold 5 with a small time difference. Variations in the liquid ejection characteristics can be reduced. By providing a damper (not shown) in the reservoir, the liquid supply can be further stabilized. Further, a filter may be provided so as to prevent foreign matters in the liquid from moving toward the flow path member 4. Furthermore, a heater may be provided so as to stabilize the temperature of the liquid toward the flow path member 4.

  In the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21, the common electrode 24, the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21 b, and the individual electrode 25 are laminated in this order from the flow path member 4. The piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 and the flow path member 4 are joined. The piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 includes a region R1 located on the partition wall 15 of the manifold 5 and a region R2 located on the sub-manifold 5b of the manifold 5.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the individual electrodes 25 are formed at positions facing the pressurizing chambers 10 on the upper surface of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21. The individual electrode 25 includes an individual electrode body 25a that is slightly smaller than the pressurizing chamber 10 and has a shape substantially similar to the pressurizing chamber 10, and an extraction electrode 25b that is extracted from the individual electrode body 25a. The individual electrode 25 is provided corresponding to the pressurizing chamber 10.

  And substantially all the extraction electrodes 25b are extracted to the first region R1. In the present embodiment, the extraction electrodes 25b of all the individual electrodes 25 are extracted to the first region R1. Note that substantially all the extraction electrodes 25b mean 90% or more of the extraction electrodes 25b in the total number of the extraction electrodes 25b constituting the inkjet head 2, and preferably 95% or more, more preferably 100%. The extraction electrode 25b is meant. In the present embodiment, a case where all the extraction electrodes 25b are extracted to the first region R1 will be described as an example.

  One end of the extraction electrode 25b is connected to the individual electrode main body 25a through the acute angle portion 10a of the pressurizing chamber 10, and the other end is a region Q on the row constituting the pressurizing chamber row 11b. It is pulled out so as not to overlap. Details of the individual electrode 25 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21, there are formed the individual electrodes 25, the common electrode 24 as the first electrode, and the common electrode surface electrode 28 electrically connected via the via hole. ing. The common electrode surface electrodes 28 are formed in two rows along the longitudinal direction in the central portion of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 in the short direction, and are formed in one row along the short direction near the end in the longitudinal direction. ing. Although the illustrated common electrode surface electrode 28 is intermittently formed on a straight line, it may be formed continuously on a straight line.

  When the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 is manufactured, the positional variation between the individual electrode 25 and the pressurizing chamber 10 may greatly affect the ejection characteristics. Further, when the individual electrode 25 is formed and then fired, the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 may be warped. When the warped piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 is joined to the flow path member 4, stress is applied to the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21, and the displacement may vary due to the influence. Therefore, the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 has a via hole. After the formed piezoelectric ceramic layer 21a, common electrode 24, and piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b are stacked and fired, the individual electrode 25 and the common electrode surface electrode 28 are preferably formed in the same process. Further, if the common electrode surface electrode 28 is formed at the same time as the individual electrode 25, the positional accuracy becomes higher and the process can be simplified. Therefore, the individual electrode 25 and the common electrode surface electrode 28 are formed in the same process. It is preferable.

  Such a positional variation of via holes due to firing shrinkage that may occur when firing the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 mainly occurs in the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21, and therefore, a manifold having an even number of common electrode surface electrodes 28. 5, in other words, it is provided at the center in the short direction of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21, and the common electrode surface electrode 28 has a long shape in the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21. In addition, it is possible to prevent the via hole and the common electrode surface electrode 28 from being electrically connected due to misalignment.

Two signal transmission portions 92 are arranged and bonded to the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 from the two long sides of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 toward the center. At that time, the connection electrode 26 and the common electrode connection electrode (not shown) are formed and connected on the extraction electrode 25b and the common electrode surface electrode 28 of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21, respectively, so that the connection is facilitated. can do. At this time, if the area of the common electrode surface electrode 28 and the common electrode connection electrode is made larger than the area of the connection electrode 26, the end of the signal transmission unit 92 (the end of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 in the longitudinal direction) ) to your Keru connection, it is possible strongly to connect on the common electrode for the surface electrode 28, the signal transmitting unit 92 can be hardly peeled off from the edge.

Further, the discharge hole 8 is arranged at a position avoiding the area facing the manifold 5 arranged on the lower surface side of the flow path member 4. Further, the discharge hole 8 is disposed in a region facing the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 on the lower surface side of the flow path member 4. These discharge holes 8 occupy a region having substantially the same size and shape as the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 as one group, and the displacement elements 30 of the corresponding piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 are displaced from the discharge holes 8. Liquid can be discharged.

  The piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 has a laminated structure composed of two piezoelectric ceramic layers 21a and 21b which are piezoelectric layers. Each of these piezoelectric ceramic layers 21a and 21b has a thickness of about 20 μm. The thickness from the lower surface of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21a of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 to the upper surface of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b is about 40 μm. Both of the piezoelectric ceramic layers 21 a and 21 b extend so as to straddle the plurality of pressure chambers 10. These piezoelectric ceramic layers 21a and 21b are made of, for example, a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic material having ferroelectricity.

  The piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 includes a common electrode 24 made of a metal material such as Ag—Pd and an individual electrode 25 made of a metal material such as Au. As described above, the individual electrode 25 includes the individual electrode main body 25a disposed at the position facing the pressurizing chamber 10 on the upper surface of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21, and the extraction electrode 25b extracted therefrom. A connection electrode 26 is formed in a portion of the other end portion of the extraction electrode 25 b that is extracted outside the region facing the pressurizing chamber 10. The connection electrode 26 is made of, for example, silver-palladium containing glass frit, and has a convex shape with a thickness of about 15 μm. The connection electrode 26 is electrically joined to an electrode provided in the signal transmission unit 92. Although details will be described later, a drive signal is supplied from the control unit 100 to the individual electrode 25 through the signal transmission unit 92. The drive signal is supplied in a constant cycle in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the print medium P.

  The common electrode 24 is formed over substantially the entire surface in the region between the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21a and the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b. That is, the common electrode 24 extends so as to cover all the pressurizing chambers 10 in the region facing the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21. The thickness of the common electrode 24 is about 2 μm. The common electrode 24 is connected to the common electrode surface electrode 28 via a via hole formed in the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b, and is grounded and held at the ground potential. The common electrode surface electrode 28 is connected to another electrode on the signal transmission unit 92 in the same manner as the large number of individual electrodes 25.

  As will be described later, when a predetermined drive signal is selectively supplied to the individual electrode 25, the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b taught to the individual electrode 25 and the common electrode 24 is displaced, so that the individual electrode 25 corresponds to the individual electrode 25. The volume of the pressurizing chamber 10 is changed, and pressure is applied to the liquid in the pressurizing chamber 10. Thereby, the liquid is discharged from the corresponding liquid discharge port 8 through the individual flow path 12. That is, the portion of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 that faces each pressurizing chamber 10 corresponds to the individual displacement element 30 corresponding to each pressurizing chamber 10 and the liquid discharge port 8.

  In other words, in the laminated body composed of the two piezoelectric ceramic layers 21 a and 21 b, the displacement element 30, which is a piezoelectric actuator having a unit structure as shown in FIG. The piezoelectric ceramic layer 21a, the common electrode 24, the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b, and the individual electrodes 25, which are located immediately above the pressure chamber 10, are manufactured. The piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 includes a plurality of displacement elements 30 that are pressurizing portions. Yes. In the present embodiment, the amount of liquid ejected from the liquid ejection port 8 by one ejection operation is about 1.5 to 4.5 pl (picoliter).

The large number of individual electrodes 25 are individually electrically connected to the control unit 100 via the signal transmission unit 92 and wiring so that the potential can be individually controlled. When an electric field is applied to the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b in the polarization direction by setting the individual electrode 25 to a potential different from that of the common electrode 24, a portion to which the electric field is applied functions as an active portion that is distorted by the piezoelectric effect. In this configuration, when the control unit 100 sets the individual electrode 25 to a predetermined positive or negative potential with respect to the common electrode 24 so that the electric field and the polarization are in the same direction, a portion sandwiched between the electrodes of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b. (Active part) contracts in the surface direction. On the other hand, the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21a, which is an inactive layer, is not affected by an electric field, so that it does not spontaneously shrink and tries to restrict deformation of the active portion. As a result, there is a difference in strain in the polarization direction between the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b and the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21a, and the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b is deformed so as to protrude toward the pressurizing chamber 10 (unimorph deformation).

In an actual driving procedure in the present embodiment, the individual electrode 25 is set to a potential higher than the common electrode 24 (hereinafter referred to as a high potential) in advance, and the individual electrode 25 is temporarily set to the same potential as the common electrode 24 every time there is a discharge request. (Hereinafter referred to as a low potential), and then set to a high potential again at a predetermined timing. As a result, the piezoelectric ceramic layers 21a and 21b return to the original shape at the timing when the individual electrode 25 becomes low potential, and the volume of the pressurizing chamber 10 increases compared to the initial state (the state where the potentials of both electrodes are different). To do. At this time, a negative pressure is applied to the pressurizing chamber 10 and the liquid is sucked into the pressurizing chamber 10 from the manifold 5 side. Thereafter, at the timing when the individual electrode 25 is set to a high potential again, the piezoelectric ceramic layers 21 a and 21 b are deformed so as to protrude toward the pressurizing chamber 10, and the pressure in the pressurizing chamber 10 is reduced by the volume reduction of the pressurizing chamber 10. The pressure is increased to a positive pressure, and the liquid is discharged. That is, in order to discharge the liquid, a drive signal including a pulse based on a high potential is supplied to the individual electrode 25. The ideal pulse width is AL (Acoustic Length), which is the length of time during which the pressure wave propagates from the orifice 6 to the discharge hole 8. According to this, when the inside of the pressurizing chamber 10 is reversed from the negative pressure state to the positive pressure state, both pressures are combined, and the liquid can be discharged at a stronger pressure.

  In gradation printing, gradation expression is performed by the number of liquids ejected continuously from the ejection holes 8, that is, the amount of liquid adjusted by the number of liquid ejections. For this reason, the number of times of liquid ejection corresponding to the designated gradation expression is continuously performed from the ejection holes 8 corresponding to the designated dot area. In general, when liquid ejection is performed continuously, it is preferable that the interval between pulses supplied to eject the liquid be AL. As a result, the period of the residual pressure wave of the pressure generated when discharging the previously discharged liquid and the pressure wave of the pressure generated when discharging the liquid to be discharged later coincide, and these are superimposed. The pressure for discharging the liquid can be amplified. In this case, it is considered that the speed of the liquid ejected later increases, but this is preferable because the landing points of a plurality of liquids are close.

  Hereinafter, the individual electrode 25 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The individual electrode 25 includes an individual electrode body 25a and an extraction electrode 25b. The individual electrode main body 25a has a substantially rhombus shape in plan view, and includes two acute angle portions 25a1 and two obtuse angle portions 25a2. Further, it has a shape substantially similar to that of the pressurizing chamber 10 provided below in plan view, and the individual electrode main body 25 a is accommodated in the pressurizing chamber 10. One end of the extraction electrode 25b is connected to the acute angle portion 25a1 of the individual electrode main body 25a through one acute angle portion 10a of the pressurizing chamber 10, and the other end portion is connected to the connection electrode 26 along the column direction L1. Has been pulled out.

  As shown in FIG. 6, most of the pressurizing chamber 10 is formed in the second region R2, and one acute angle portion 10a is formed in the first region R1. Further, the individual electrode body 25a is formed in the second region R2, and is not formed in the first region R1. The extraction electrode 25b is formed only in the first region R1, and is not formed in the second region R2.

A plurality of individual electrodes 25 are arranged at equal intervals in the column direction L1, and a plurality of individual electrodes 25 are arranged at equal intervals in the row direction L2. Further, all the extraction electrodes 25b have one end connected to the individual electrode main body 25a and the other end extracted from the first region R1 toward the one side in the column direction L1 by the same distance. Therefore, the connection electrodes 26 connected to the other end of the extraction electrode 25b are also arranged at regular intervals with a predetermined interval in the column direction L1 and the row direction L2.

  Here, the liquid ejection head 2 applies a voltage to the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21 b corresponding to the pressurizing chamber 10 to cause piezoelectric deformation, thereby pressurizing the pressurizing chamber 10 and ejecting liquid from the ejection holes 8. . When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b corresponding to the pressurizing chamber 10, piezoelectric deformation also occurs in the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b located below the extraction electrode 25b. Since the region of the flow path member 4 that forms the sub-manifold 5b forms a space, the region in which the sub-manifold 5b is formed and the region in which the partition wall 15 is formed have different rigidity. Due to the difference in rigidity of the flow path member 4, the rigidity of the first region R 1 of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 and the rigidity of the second region R 2 of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 are different. Accordingly, when the extraction electrode 25b is provided in each of the first region R1 and the second region R2, the piezoelectric deformation that occurs in the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b located below the extraction electrode 25b also differs. The deformation amount of piezoelectric deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b corresponding to the chamber 10 may be different. Accordingly, there may be variations in the discharge amount or discharge speed of the liquid discharged from each discharge hole 8 corresponding to each pressurizing chamber 10.

  However, in the liquid discharge head 2 according to the present embodiment, substantially all the extraction electrodes 25b of the individual electrodes 25 constituting the liquid discharge head 2 are extracted to the first region. Therefore, deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b positioned below the individual electrode 25 for each individual electrode 25, in other words, variation in deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b caused by the extraction electrode 25b for each individual electrode 25 can be reduced. . Thereby, variation in deformation amount of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b corresponding to each pressurizing chamber 10 can be reduced, and variation in liquid discharge amount and discharge speed from the discharge hole 8 corresponding to each individual electrode 25 is reduced. can do.

  That is, a portion where the individual electrode 25, the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b, and the common electrode 24 are stacked in this order functions as the displacement element 30, but the displacement element 30 on the pressurizing chamber 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as the displacement element 30). The deformation caused by the extraction electrode 25b can be made closer to uniform. Therefore, the deformation amount of each displacement element 30 that pressurizes each pressurizing chamber 10 depends on the deformation caused by each individual electrode body 25a, and the discharge amount and discharge speed of the liquid from each discharge hole 8 can be easily achieved. Can be controlled.

  Further, since all the extraction electrodes 25b are extracted to the first region R1 located above the partition wall 15, the liquid discharge of the liquid discharged from each discharge hole 8 due to the high rigidity of the partition wall 15 The speed can be improved, and variations in the discharge amount and discharge speed of the liquid discharged from each discharge hole 8 can be reduced.

  In the liquid discharge head 2, the extraction electrode 25 b has one end connected to one acute angle portion 25 a 1 of the individual electrode body 25 a and the other end passing through one acute angle portion 10 a of the pressurizing chamber 10, and the column direction L 1. Is pulled out to one side. That is, on the first region R1, the extraction electrode 25b is extracted to one side in the column direction L1 along the column direction L1. Therefore, even when all the extraction electrodes 25b are drawn out on the narrow first region R1, the extraction electrodes 25b1 are arranged along the column direction L1, so that the extraction electrodes 25b facing each other in the row direction L2 However, a predetermined interval can be provided, and the influence of crosstalk generated between the extraction electrodes 25b facing each other in the row direction L2 can be reduced.

In the liquid ejection head 2, the pressurizing chamber 10 and the individual electrode body 25 a of the individual electrode 25 positioned above the pressurizing chamber 10 are formed only in the second region R 2. The rigidity due to the flow path member 4 can be made close to uniform, and the deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b located below each individual electrode body 25a can be made close to uniform, so that the pressurizing chamber 10 can be accurately added. Can be pressed.

  Further, since the extraction electrode 25b is formed only in the first region R1, the variation in deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b located below the extraction electrode 25b can be made uniform, and the liquid of the liquid discharge head 2 can be made uniform. Variations in the discharge amount and discharge speed can be further reduced.

  The pressurizing chamber 10 is formed by providing a hole in the cavity plate 4a. Therefore, the cavity plate 4a is provided in the vicinity of the acute angle portion 10a of the pressurizing chamber 10 so as to surround the acute angle portion 10a. Similarly, in the vicinity of the obtuse angle part 10b of the pressurizing chamber 10, a cavity plate 4a is provided so as to surround the obtuse angle part 10b. Thereby, the rigidity in the vicinity of the acute angle part 10a is higher than the rigidity in the vicinity of the obtuse angle part 10b. Therefore, since the portion of the extraction electrode 25b located above the pressurizing chamber 10 passes only one acute angle portion 10a of the pressurizing chamber 10 having high rigidity, the displacement element 30 positioned on the pressurizing chamber 10 is deformed. The influence on the amount can be reduced.

  In the liquid discharge head 2 according to the present embodiment, the example in which the extraction electrode 25b is provided only on the first region R1 and the individual electrode body 25a is provided only on the second region R2 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is not a thing. For example, a part of the individual electrode body 25a may be provided on the first region R1, and a part of the extraction electrode 25b may be provided on the second region R2.

  A modification of the liquid ejection head 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the liquid discharge head 200, the shape of the individual electrode 225 is different between the individual electrode 225 constituting the pressurizing chamber row 11a1 and the individual electrode 225 constituting the pressurizing chamber row 211a2. The shape of the individual electrode 225 constituting the pressurizing chamber row 211a1 is the same as that of the individual electrode 25 constituting the liquid ejection head 2.

  The individual electrode 225 constituting the pressurizing chamber row 211a2 has a shape obtained by rotating the individual electrode 225 constituting the pressurizing chamber row 211a1 by 180 ° around the center of gravity of the individual electrode main body 225a in plan view. . The pair of individual electrodes 225 adjacent to each other in the row direction L2 forms the individual electrode pair 226 so that the respective extraction electrodes 225b face each other. A plurality of individual electrode pairs 226 are provided in the row direction L2. Therefore, the extraction electrode 225b of each individual electrode 225 constituting the individual electrode pair 226 is extracted in the opposite direction along the column direction L1.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the individual electrode 225 constituting the pressurizing chamber row 211a2, the extraction electrode 225b is extracted along the L1 direction on the first region R1 toward the one side which is the left side in the drawing. Yes. On the other hand, in the individual electrode 225 constituting the pressurizing chamber row 211a1, the extraction electrode 225b is extracted on the first region R1 along the L1 direction toward the other side on the right side in the drawing. Therefore, the other end portion of each extraction electrode 225b is arranged in a nested manner, and the connection electrodes 226 are arranged in a staggered manner in a plan view.

  As a result, the extraction electrode 225b can be efficiently extracted in the empty area on the first area R1 having a small area, and the liquid ejection head 200 can be reduced in size. Further, by arranging the other end of each extraction electrode 225b in a nested manner, it is possible to secure a separation distance between the respective extraction electrodes 225b and reduce the influence of crosstalk caused by the extraction electrodes 225b. Can do.

  In addition, the liquid discharge head 200 includes a pair of pressurizing chambers 210 positioned below the individual electrode body 225a of the individual electrode 225 constituting one individual electrode pair 227a among the adjacent individual electrode pairs 227a and 227b (227). The pressurizing chamber 210 positioned below the individual electrode body 225a constituting one individual electrode pair 226a and the other second electrode adjacent to the individual electrode body 225a are separated from each other by a separation distance W1 (hereinafter referred to as a separation distance W1). The configuration is larger than the separation distance W2 (hereinafter, separation distance W2) from the pressurizing chamber 210 located below the second electrode body 225a constituting the pair 226b.

  Therefore, the area of the first region R1 where the extraction electrodes 225b face each other can be ensured, and the extraction electrode 225b can be extracted. Further, the distance between the extraction electrodes 225b can be increased, and the influence of crosstalk caused by the extraction electrodes 225b can be reduced.

  In addition, although the example where the extraction electrode 225b of the individual electrode 225 constituting the pressurizing chamber rows 211a1 and 211a2 extends along the column direction L1 is shown, the present invention is not limited to this. The column direction L1 may extend at a predetermined angle.

  A liquid ejection head 300 according to another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the liquid discharge head 300, the shape of the individual electrode 325 is the same as that of the individual electrode 25 of the liquid discharge head 2, and the description thereof is omitted. In the liquid ejection head 300, all the extraction electrodes 325b are extracted to the second region R2. All parts of the individual electrode main body 325a are provided on the second region R2. All parts of the extraction electrode 325b are provided on the second region R2. Therefore, all parts of the individual electrode 325 are provided on the second region R2.

  In the liquid discharge head 300, all the extraction electrodes 325b of the individual electrodes 325 constituting the liquid discharge head 300 are extracted to the second region R2. Therefore, the deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b located below the extraction electrode 325b of each individual electrode 325 can be made closer to uniform. Thereby, variation in the deformation amount of the displacement element 30 of each individual electrode 325 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce variations in the amount of liquid discharged from the discharge holes 8 corresponding to the individual electrodes 325. Note that not all the extraction electrodes 325b may be extracted on the second region R2 as in the liquid ejection head 2.

  Further, all the portions of the extraction electrode 325b are provided in the second region R2, and the extraction electrode 325b is not provided in the first region R1. Further, all parts of the individual electrode main body 325a are provided in the second region R2, and the individual electrode main body 325a is not provided in the first region R1. Therefore, all the parts of the individual electrode 325 are provided only on the second region R2, and the deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b caused by the individual electrode 325 can be made to approach uniformly. Furthermore, since all the parts of the individual electrode 325 are provided only on the second region R2, the influence of the deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b caused by the extraction electrode 325b can be reduced. That is, most of the deformation amount of the displacement element 30 is influenced by the individual electrode 325 on the second region R2, and the deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b caused by the extraction electrode 325b of each individual electrode 325 can be made uniform. It is possible to reduce variations in the discharge amount and discharge speed of the liquid from the discharge holes 8.

In addition, like the liquid discharge head 200 shown in FIG. 7, the separation distance W1 (not shown) of the pressurizing chamber 310 located below the individual electrode main body 325a constituting the individual electrode pair (not shown) is adjacent. The distance W2 (not shown) from the pressurizing chamber 310 located below the individual electrode body 225a may be larger. Even in this case, the same effect as the liquid discharge head 200 can be obtained.

  A liquid ejection head 400 according to still another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the liquid ejection head 400, the shape of the pressurizing chamber 410 is the same as the shape of the pressurizing chamber 410 of the head 2, and the description thereof is omitted. The individual electrode 425 has two acute angle parts 425a1 and two obtuse angle parts 425a2 in a plan view, and the extraction electrode 425b is formed from one acute angle part 425a1 of the individual electrode body 425a. It is drawn toward the diagonal direction L3 connecting the acute angle portion 425a1. The diagonal direction L3 of the individual electrode 425 is inclined from the column direction L1. Since the pressurizing chamber 410 has a substantially similar shape to the individual electrode 425, the pressurizing chamber 410 is disposed in a state inclined by an equal angle from the column direction L1.

  The extraction electrode 425b is extracted from one acute angle portion 425a1 through the one acute angle portion 410a of the pressurizing chamber 410 in the diagonal direction L3. As a result, the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b is sandwiched between the extraction electrode 425b and the common electrode 24, and the portion where the piezoelectric deformation portion overlaps the pressurizing chamber 410 is only one acute angle portion 410a of the pressurizing chamber 410. It becomes. As described above, the acute angle portion 410a has higher rigidity than the obtuse angle portion 410b and the like, and is located below the extraction electrode 425b because the distance from the center of gravity of the pressurizing chamber 410 that is most piezoelectrically deformed is large. The influence of the piezoelectric deformation generated in the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b on the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b disposed below the pressurizing chamber 410 can be reduced.

  Moreover, since the extraction electrode 425b is extracted along the diagonal direction L3, the individual electrode 425 can be easily pattern-formed. Furthermore, since the extraction electrode 425b is not extracted to one side along the column direction L1, the connection electrode 426 can be arranged while being shifted in the column direction L1.

  Furthermore, since the extraction electrode is drawn out in the diagonal direction L3 connecting the acute angle portion 425a1 of the individual electrode 425, and the diagonal direction L3 is inclined from the column direction L1, the individual electrode 425 is arranged in a lattice shape, and the extraction electrode Even if they are arranged face to face with 425b facing each other, the extraction electrode 425b extends toward the region between the individual electrodes 425. Thereby, the separation distance between the individual electrodes 425 opposed to the lead-out portion 425b can be shortened, and the liquid discharge head 400 can be reduced in size.

  In particular, in the liquid discharge head 400 that pulls out all the extraction electrodes 425b in the first region R1, there is a possibility that the space for pulling out the extraction electrodes 425b may be small, but in the liquid discharge head 400, the diagonal direction L3 of the individual electrodes 425a is aligned. By inclining with respect to the direction L1, it becomes the structure by which the extraction electrode 425b is extracted by turns, and a space can be secured easily.

  An angle θ (hereinafter referred to as an inclination angle θ) at which the diagonal direction L3 of the individual electrode 425a is inclined with respect to the column direction L1 is preferably 45 to 70 °, for example. Note that the inclination angle θ may be changed for each of the pressurizing chamber rows 411a and 411b. Thereby, the separation distance between the individual electrodes 425 can be easily changed.

Further, the inclination angle θb (hereinafter referred to as the inclination angle θb) between the oblique side of the individual electrode 425 connecting the acute angle portion 425a1 and the obtuse angle portion 425a2 of the individual electrode 425 and the column direction L1 may be less than 90 °, for example. preferable. When the inclination angle θb is less than 90 °, that is, an acute angle, a separation distance between the individual electrodes 425 adjacent in the column direction L1 can be secured, and crosstalk generated between the individual electrodes 425 adjacent in the column direction L1 is reduced. Can be made. Further, by setting the inclination angle θb to an acute angle, the length of the acute angle portion 425a1 direction L3 of the individual electrode 425 can be shortened, and the liquid ejection head 400 can be miniaturized.

  A liquid discharge head 500 and a liquid discharge head 600 which is a modified example thereof will be described with reference to FIG. In the liquid discharge head 500 shown in FIG. 10A, the inclination angles θc and θe between the diagonal direction L3 and the column direction L1 of the individual electrode 525 are different between the both ends and the center of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 in the column direction L1. Is different. Other configurations are the same as those of the liquid discharge head 400, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the liquid discharge head 500, the individual electrodes 525 are arranged in a state inclined from the column direction L1. Furthermore, the inclination angle θe of the individual electrode 525 at both ends in the column direction L1 is different from the inclination angle θc of the individual electrode 525 in the center portion in the column direction L1. Specifically, the inclination angle θe of the individual electrode 525 at both ends in the column direction L1 is larger than the inclination angle θc of the individual electrode 525 at the center in the column direction L1.

  In the liquid discharge head 500, the rigidity of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 may be different due to the position in the column direction L1. In particular, the rigidity of both end portions in the column direction L1 is different from the rigidity of the central portion in the column direction L1, and the deformation of the displacement element (not shown) may be small at both end portions in the column direction L1. However, in the liquid discharge head 500, since the inclination angle θe of the individual electrode 525 at both ends in the column direction L1 is larger than the inclination angle θc of the individual electrode 525 in the center portion in the column direction L1, the extraction electrode 525b is rigid. The piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b positioned below the extraction electrode 525b can be reduced in deformation, and the deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b can be reduced at both ends in the column direction L1. The influence on the deformation amount of the displacement element in the portion can be reduced.

The inclination angle θe of the individual electrode 525 located at the end in the column direction L1 is, for example, 45 to 45.
It is preferably 65 °. Moreover, it is preferable that the inclination | tilt angle (theta) c of the individual electrode 525 located in the center part in the column direction L1 is 50-70 degrees, for example. And as a ratio of inclination-angle (theta) e and inclination-angle (theta) c, it is preferable that (theta) e / (theta) c is 1.1-1.4. By setting the inclination angles θc and θe to such angles, it is possible to reduce variation in deformation of the displacement element due to the position in the column direction L1, and the liquid discharge amount from the discharge holes 8 in the column direction L1. Can be reduced.

  In the liquid ejection head 500, the example in which the inclination angle θe of the individual electrodes 525 positioned at both ends in the column direction L1 is larger than the inclination angle θc is shown, but a plurality of individual electrodes 525 from both ends in the column direction L1 are shown. The inclination angle θe may be larger than the inclination angle θc. Further, the inclination angle θ may be gradually reduced toward the both ends of the column direction L1.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, the extraction electrode 625 may be extracted so as to incline from the diagonal direction L3 to the L1 direction. Even in this case, an equivalent effect can be obtained.

  Furthermore, in the liquid discharge head 500, the rigidity of the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 may be different due to the position in the row direction L2. In particular, the rigidity of both end portions in the row direction L2 is different from the rigidity of the central portion in the row direction L2, and the deformation of the displacement element (not shown) may be small at both end portions in the row direction L2. Therefore, the inclination angle (not shown) of the individual electrode 525 located at both ends in the row direction L2 may be larger than the inclination angle (not shown) of the individual electrode 525 located at the center in the row direction L2. Even in that case, an equivalent effect can be produced.

  The liquid discharge head 2 as described above is manufactured as follows, for example. A tape made of a piezoelectric ceramic powder and an organic composition is formed by a general tape forming method such as a roll coater method or a slit coater method, and a plurality of green sheets that become piezoelectric ceramic layers 21a and 21b after firing are produced. . An electrode paste to be the common electrode 24 is formed on a part of the green sheet by a printing method or the like. Further, a via hole is formed in a part of the green sheet as necessary, and a via conductor is filled in the via hole.

  Next, each green sheet is laminated to produce a laminate, and after pressure-contacting, the laminate is cut into a rectangular shape and further fired in a high-concentration oxygen atmosphere. An organic gold paste is printed on the surface of the fired piezoelectric actuator body by screen printing, and fired to form the individual electrodes 25. Screen printing uses a screen with a mesh attached at an angle of 45 degrees to the frame, places a rectangular piezoelectric actuator element parallel to the frame of the screen, and places the squeegee on the piezoelectric actuator element. Print by moving parallel to the longitudinal direction. Thereafter, the connection electrode 26 is printed using Ag paste and fired to produce the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21.

  Next, the flow path member 4 is produced by laminating plates 4a to 1l obtained by a rolling method or the like via an adhesive layer. Holes to be the manifold 5, the individual supply flow path 14, the pressurizing chamber 10, the descender, and the like are processed in the plates 4a to 4l into a predetermined shape by etching.

  These plates 4a to 4l are preferably formed of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Fe-Cr, Fe-Ni, and WC-TiC, particularly when ink is used as a liquid. Since it is desired to be made of a material having excellent corrosion resistance against ink, Fe-Cr is more preferable.

  The piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 and the flow path member 4 can be laminated and bonded through, for example, an adhesive layer. A well-known adhesive layer can be used as the adhesive layer, but in order not to affect the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 and the flow path member 4, an epoxy resin or a phenol resin having a thermosetting temperature of 100 to 150 ° C. It is preferable to use at least one thermosetting resin adhesive selected from the group of polyphenylene ether resins. By heating to the thermosetting temperature using such an adhesive layer, the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 and the flow path member 4 can be heat-bonded.

  Next, in order to electrically connect the piezoelectric actuator substrate 21 and the control circuit 100, a silver paste is supplied to the connection electrode 26, an FPC which is a signal transmission unit 92 on which a driver IC is mounted in advance is placed, and heat is applied. In addition, the silver paste is cured and electrically connected. The driver IC is mounted by electrically flip-chip connecting to the FPC with solder, and then supplying a protective resin around the solder and curing.

  Subsequently, if necessary, the reservoir is bonded so that the liquid can be supplied from the opening 5a, the metal housing is screwed, and then the joint is sealed with a sealant or the like, whereby the liquid ejection head 2 is sealed. Can be produced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer 2,200,300,400,500,600 ... Liquid discharge head 2a ... Head main body 4 ... Flow path member 4a-l ... (flow path member) plate 5. ..Manifold (common flow path)
5a ... (manifold) opening 5b ... sub manifold 6 ... squeezing 8 ... discharge hole 9 ... discharge hole row 10, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610 ... pressurizing chamber 10a, 210a, 310a, 410a ... acute angle portion 10b, 210b, 310b, 410b ... obtuse angle portion 11a, 211a, 411a ... pressure chamber row 11b, 211b, 411b ... pressure chamber row 12. ..Individual channel 14 ... Individual supply channel 15 ... Partition wall 21 ... Piezoelectric actuator substrate 21a ... Piezoelectric ceramic layer (vibrating plate)
21b: Piezoelectric ceramic layer 24: Common electrode (first electrode)
25,225,325,425,525,625 ... Individual electrode (second electrode)
25a: Individual electrode body 25a1, 325a1, 425a1 (Acute angle part of individual electrode body) 25a2, 325a2, 425a2 ... (Individual electrode body) obtuse angle part 25b ... Lead electrode 26 ... Connection Electrode 28 ... Common electrode surface electrode 30 ... Displacement element (pressurizing part)
92 ... Signal transmission part (wiring board)

Claims (6)

A flow path member having a plurality of discharge holes, a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the plurality of discharge holes, and a manifold communicating with the plurality of pressure chambers;
A piezoelectric actuator substrate laminated on the flow path member so as to cover the plurality of pressurizing chambers,
The manifold has a partition and a plurality of sub-manifolds partitioned by the partition,
The piezoelectric actuator substrate includes a first region in which a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a plurality of second electrodes are stacked in this order from the flow path member side, and the sub-manifold is positioned on the partition wall. A second region located above,
The second electrode is located above the pressurizing chamber, and has a second electrode body that is substantially similar to the pressurizing chamber in plan view, and an extraction electrode that is drawn from the second electrode body. Has
A pair of the second electrodes are disposed across an intermediate position of the pair of partition walls facing each other with the one sub-manifold in between, and a pair of the second electrodes corresponding to the pair of the second electrodes Each extraction electrode is extracted from the corresponding second electrode main body toward the intermediate position, and is bent in the same direction at a position before reaching the intermediate position, and reaches the intermediate position. There is no liquid discharge head. The partition is provided to extend in the first direction;
The plurality of pressurizing chambers have a rhombus shape having two obtuse angle portions and two acute angle portions in plan view, and are arranged in a row in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Forming a column,
One end portion of the extraction electrode is connected to the second electrode body through one acute angle portion of the pressurizing chamber, and the other end portion is a region on the row constituting the pressurizing chamber row. The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the liquid discharge head is drawn out to a region that does not overlap with the liquid discharge head. The extraction electrode is not present in the first region, the liquid discharge head according to claim 1 or 2. A pair of the second electrodes adjacent to each other in the second direction form a second electrode pair so that the respective extraction electrodes face each other.
A plurality of the second electrode pairs are formed in the second direction, and one second electrode pair and the other second electrode pair are disposed adjacent to each other,
The separation distance between the pressurizing chambers located below the second electrode main body constituting the second electrode pair is set so that the additional distance located below the second electrode main body constituting the one second electrode pair. and pressure chamber, adjacent to the second electrode body is larger than the distance between the pressure chamber located below the second electrode body constituting a second electrode pair of the other, according to claim 1 to 3 The liquid discharge head according to any one of the above. The second electrode body, the second is formed in the region, the liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A transport unit for transporting a recording medium to the liquid discharge head;
And a controller that controls the liquid discharge head.

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