JP6790500B2 - Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge unit, device that discharges liquid - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge unit, and a device for discharging a liquid.

In the liquid discharge head, mutual interference, discharge failure, liquid dripping, etc. caused by the pressure wave generated by the liquid discharge propagating to the common liquid chamber must be reduced or prevented.

Therefore, conventionally, a deformable damper is arranged on a part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber, and a plurality of damper chambers (damper relief portions) are arranged on the opposite side of the damper from the common liquid chamber along the nozzle arrangement direction. Is known (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 5047734 JP 2015-186901

By the way, when the damper chambers are arranged along the nozzle arrangement direction, the rigidity of the nozzle row end side is relatively high and the rigidity of the nozzle row center portion is relatively high on the end side and the center part side in the nozzle arrangement direction. It becomes low.

Therefore, there arises a problem that the discharge characteristics vary between the end side and the center side in the nozzle arrangement direction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce variations in discharge characteristics.

In order to solve the above problems, the liquid discharge head according to claim 1 of the present invention is
Multiple nozzles that discharge liquid and
A plurality of individual liquid chambers through which the nozzle communicates, and
A common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to the plurality of individual liquid chambers, and
A deformable damper that forms a part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber,
A damper chamber provided along the nozzle arrangement direction is provided on the opposite side of the common liquid chamber and the damper.
The damper chamber extends outward in the nozzle arrangement direction from the individual liquid chamber located at the end of the plurality of individual liquid chambers in the nozzle arrangement direction .
The damper is provided with a plurality of ribs.
The damper chamber is provided with a plurality of ribs facing the ribs of the damper .

According to the present invention, variations in discharge characteristics can be reduced.

It is an external perspective explanatory view which shows an example of the liquid discharge head which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction along the X-ray line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan explanatory view of a flow path plate used for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the diaphragm member side. Similarly, it is a plan explanatory view which saw the diaphragm member from the 2nd common liquid chamber member side. It is a plane explanatory view of the diaphragm member used for the explanation of 2nd Embodiment of this invention as seen from the 2nd common liquid chamber member side. It is a plane explanatory drawing which provides the explanation of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is also the cross-sectional explanatory view of the main part. It is an exploded perspective explanatory view of the liquid discharge head which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which corresponds to X1-X1 line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the line BB of FIG. It is a plane explanatory view which saw each member of the head from the nozzle side. It is a plane explanatory view which saw each member of the head from the piezoelectric actuator side. It is a plane explanatory view seen from the diaphragm side provided to explain the damper chamber shape of a flow path plate. It is explanatory drawing of the VTF characteristic. It is a plane explanatory view seen from the diaphragm side which provides the explanation of the damper chamber shape of the flow path plate in 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a plane explanatory view seen from the diaphragm side which provides the explanation of the damper chamber shape of the flow path plate in the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a plane explanatory view of the main part of an example of the apparatus which discharges a liquid which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the main part of the apparatus. It is a plane explanatory view of the main part of another example of the liquid discharge unit which concerns on this invention. It is a front explanatory view of still another example of the liquid discharge unit which concerns on this invention. It is a side explanatory view which shows another example of the apparatus which discharges a liquid which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the main part of the head unit of this apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. An example of the liquid discharge head according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the appearance of the head, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction along the XX line of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the head along the AA line of FIG. Is.

The liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate 2, a flow path plate 3 which is a flow path member, a diaphragm member 4 which also serves as a wall surface member, a second common liquid chamber member 5, a filter member 6, and a first common liquid. The chamber member 7 and the laminate are joined.

On the nozzle plate 2, a plurality of nozzles 20 for ejecting droplets are arranged in two rows in a staggered pattern. For the nozzle plate 2, for example, the nozzle 20 is formed by press working using stainless steel (here, SUS316).

The flow path plate 3 forms an individual liquid chamber 21 which is an individual liquid chamber leading to the nozzle 20, a fluid resistance portion 27 communicating with the individual liquid chamber 21, and a liquid introduction portion 28 communicating with the fluid resistance portion 27. The flow path plate 3 was formed by press working using, for example, stainless steel (here, SUS316), and was post-treated so that deformation and burrs by pressing were substantially flattened by double-sided polishing.

The diaphragm member 4 forms a part of the wall surface of the individual liquid chamber 21 as a displaceable vibration region 4a. Further, the diaphragm member 4 is formed with a liquid supply path 22 facing the common liquid chamber 25 under the filter and passing through the common liquid chamber 25 under the filter and the liquid introduction portion 28 of each individual liquid chamber 21. The diaphragm member 4 is formed by Ni electroforming.

Then, on the side of the diaphragm member 4 opposite to the individual liquid chamber 21, the second common liquid chamber member 5, the filter member 6, and the first common liquid chamber member 7 that also serves as the frame of the head are sequentially laminated and joined with an adhesive. doing.

The first common liquid chamber member 7 and the second common liquid chamber member 5 constitute a common liquid chamber member that forms a common liquid chamber 10 leading to each individual liquid chamber 21. The common liquid chamber 10 is formed by a common liquid chamber 26 on the filter on the upstream side of the filter member 6 and a common liquid chamber 25 under the filter on the downstream side.

The filter member 6 is provided with a filter region 29 having a large number of filter holes formed therein, and collects foreign matter from the liquid flowing from the common liquid chamber 26 on the filter to the common liquid chamber 25 under the filter.

The first common liquid chamber member 7 forms a common liquid chamber 26 on the filter, and is provided with a liquid supply port portion (not shown) for supplying liquid from the outside. The liquid supply ports are arranged at both ends of the common liquid chamber 26 in the longitudinal direction on the filter.

The piezoelectric actuator 8 is arranged on the side of the vibration plate member 4 in the vibration region 4a opposite to the individual liquid chamber 21.

The piezoelectric actuator 8 joins two piezoelectric members 32 having a columnar piezoelectric element (piezoelectric pole) 32A formed at a pitch of half the nozzle pitch, for example, to one base member 33 in accordance with the two rows of nozzles. Each piezoelectric pole of the piezoelectric member 32 is joined to a convex portion 4b formed in the vibration region 4a of the diaphragm member 4, and a drive signal is given from the drive IC 81 provided in the flexible wiring member 34 via the flexible wiring member 34. ..

Further, the flow path plate 3 and the common liquid chamber member (second common liquid chamber member 5) are laminated with the diaphragm member 4 which is a wall surface member interposed therebetween.

A part of the diaphragm member 4 forming the wall surface of the common liquid chamber under the filter 25 is a deformable region (damper) 24, and the damper 24 is sandwiched between the flow path plate 3 and the common liquid chamber 25 under the filter. A damper chamber 35 facing the above is formed.

The damper chamber 35 is open to the atmosphere through an atmospheric opening path 42 formed in the flow path plate 3, an atmospheric opening hole 43 formed in the diaphragm member 4, or an atmospheric opening path 44 formed in the piezoelectric member 32.

In this liquid discharge head, the vibration region 4a of the diaphragm member 4 is displaced by driving the piezoelectric actuator 8, the liquid in the individual liquid chamber 21 is pressurized, and droplets are discharged from the nozzle 20.

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a plan explanatory view of the flow path plate used for the description of the same embodiment as viewed from the diaphragm member side, and FIG. 5 is a plan explanatory view of the diaphragm member as viewed from the second common liquid chamber member side.

A concave damper chamber 35 corresponding to the damper 24 of the diaphragm member 4 is formed along the nozzle arrangement direction on the end side of the flow path plate 3 in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction. The damper chamber 35 faces the common liquid chamber 25 under the filter with the damper 24 interposed therebetween.

At both ends of the damper chamber 35 in the nozzle arrangement direction, air opening paths 42 that open the damper chamber 35 to the atmosphere (communicate to the atmosphere) are provided. As described above, the atmosphere opening path 42 communicates with the atmosphere through the atmosphere opening hole 43 of the diaphragm member 4 and the atmosphere opening path 44 of the piezoelectric member 32, and the damper chamber 35 is opened to the atmosphere.

A wall portion 51, which is a support column, is provided on the concave bottom portion 35a of the damper chamber 35. The wall portion 51 is partially provided between the wall surfaces 35b and 35b in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction (leaving a gap to be the passage 52), so that the passage 52 through which air can pass is formed. Although the wall portion 51 is formed integrally with the wall surface 35b, it is shown separately from the wall surface 35b in order to make it easier to see in the plan view.

A plurality of wall portions 51 are provided in the nozzle arrangement direction, and passages 52 of adjacent wall portions 51 are provided at different positions in the direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction.

Further, the damper 24 is provided with a plurality of ribs 53 arranged in the nozzle arrangement direction, and is divided into a plurality of regions 24a. One region 24a corresponds to two or more individual liquid chambers 21.

In the present embodiment, the rib 53 is integrally formed with the damper 24, but a member on which the rib 53 is formed may be attached to the damper 24 to form the rib 53.

The damper chamber 35 extends to the outside of the individual liquid chambers 21 and 21 located at the end of the plurality of individual liquid chambers 21 in the nozzle arrangement direction in the nozzle arrangement direction.

That is, the shortest width (length) L1 in the nozzle arrangement direction of the damper chamber 35 is formed wider (L1> L2) than the maximum width L2 at both ends of the rows of the plurality of individual liquid chambers 21 arranged in the nozzle arrangement direction. There is. Then, all of the plurality of individual liquid chambers 21 are arranged within the width L1 of the damper chamber 35.

In this way, the damper chamber 35 extends to the outside of the individual liquid chambers 21 and 21 located at the end of the plurality of individual liquid chambers 21 in the nozzle arrangement direction in the nozzle arrangement direction, so that the nozzle arrangement direction It is possible to reduce the variation in rigidity in the direction along the line. This makes it possible to reduce variations in discharge characteristics in the nozzle arrangement direction.

That is, when the damper chamber 35 formed of recesses is formed in the flow path plate 3 along the nozzle arrangement direction, a portion having low rigidity due to the damper chamber 35 is generated in the central portion of the head in the nozzle arrangement direction. Then, the rigidity is relatively high on the outside of the end of the damper chamber 35 in the nozzle arrangement direction.

As a result, even if the same pressure is applied by the piezoelectric actuator 8, the discharge speed of the liquid discharged from the nozzle is the nozzle arrangement direction because the pressure is absorbed by the deformation in the central region in the nozzle arrangement direction with low rigidity. It is lower than the discharge rate of the liquid discharged from the nozzle in the region of the end of.

Therefore, by arranging the damper chamber 35 including the region where the plurality of individual liquid chambers 21 are arranged, it is possible to reduce the variation in rigidity in the region where the plurality of individual liquid chambers 21 are arranged.

As a result, when the individual liquid chamber 21 in the end region in the nozzle arrangement direction is pressurized, the pressure is absorbed in the same manner as the individual liquid chamber 21 in the central region, so that the pressure is discharged from the nozzle in the central region. The discharge speed of the liquid is almost the same as the discharge speed of the liquid discharged from the nozzle in the end region, and the variation is reduced.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6 together with FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan explanatory view of the diaphragm member used for the description of the embodiment as viewed from the side of the second common liquid chamber member.

In the present embodiment, the width L4 of the damper 24 in the nozzle arrangement direction is equal to or greater than the width L1 of the damper chamber 35, and here, it is the same as the width L3 of FIG.

As a result, the variation in rigidity in the nozzle arrangement direction can be further reduced.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a plan explanatory view for explaining the embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a main part.

In the present embodiment, the rib 53 of the damper 24 and the wall portion 51 in the damper chamber 35 are provided at opposite positions.

As a result, when the flow path plate 3 and the diaphragm member 4 are joined, pressure can be reliably applied even in the region of the damper chamber 35, and the joining strength between the diaphragm member 4 and the flow path plate 3 can be ensured. As a result, the rigidity of the flow path plate 3 can be sufficiently ensured.

Next, the liquid discharge head according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. 9 is an exploded perspective explanatory view of the head, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional explanatory view corresponding to the line AA of FIG. 12, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the head along the line BB of FIG. An explanatory plan view of each member viewed from the nozzle side, and FIG. 13 is a plan view of each member of the head viewed from the piezoelectric actuator side.

The liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate 101, a flow path plate 102, a diaphragm member 103, a piezoelectric actuator 111, and a common liquid chamber member 120 that also serves as a frame member.

10
The nozzle plate 101 has two nozzle rows 104A and 104B in which a plurality of nozzles 104 for ejecting droplets are arranged.

The flow path plate 102 forms an individual liquid chamber 106 through which the nozzle 104 passes, a fluid resistance portion 107 that serves as a liquid supply path for supplying liquid to the individual liquid chamber 106, and a liquid introduction portion 108 on the upstream side of the fluid resistance portion 107. There is. The flow path plate 102 is formed by press working using, for example, stainless steel (SUS304 or the like).

The diaphragm member 103 has a vibration region 103a that can displace a part of the wall surface of the individual liquid chamber 106. Further, the diaphragm member 103 is formed with an opening 109 facing the common liquid chamber 110 and passing through the common liquid chamber 110 and the liquid introduction portion 108 on the inlet side of each individual liquid chamber 106. The diaphragm member 103 has a two-layer structure and is formed by Ni electroforming.

A common liquid chamber member 120 is joined to the side of the diaphragm member 103 opposite to the individual liquid chamber 106.

Further, the piezoelectric actuator 111 is arranged on the side of the vibration plate member 103 in the vibration region 103a opposite to the individual liquid chamber 106.

The piezoelectric actuator 111 joins two rows of columnar piezoelectric elements 112 to one base member 113 at a pitch of half the nozzle pitch, for example, in accordance with the two rows of nozzle rows. The piezoelectric element 112 is joined to a convex portion formed in the vibration region 103a of the diaphragm member 103, and a drive signal is given via the flexible wiring member 119.

The piezoelectric actuator 111 is inserted and arranged in the actuator insertion hole 121 provided in the common liquid chamber member 120.

The common liquid chamber member 120 is formed with a common liquid chamber 110 that supplies a liquid to each individual liquid chamber 106. A liquid supply port 122 for supplying a liquid from the outside is formed in the common liquid chamber 110.

In this liquid discharge head, for example, by lowering the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 112 from the reference potential, the piezoelectric element 112 contracts, the vibration region 103a of the vibrating plate member 103 deforms, and the volume of the individual liquid chamber 106 expands. Then, the liquid flows into the individual liquid chamber 106. After that, the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 112 is increased to extend the piezoelectric element 112 in the stacking direction, the vibration region 103a is deformed in the direction of the nozzle 104, and the liquid in the individual liquid chamber 106 is pressurized to pressurize the liquid from the nozzle 104. Is discharged.

Then, by returning the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 112 to the reference potential, the vibration region 103a is restored to the initial position, the individual liquid chamber 106 expands and a negative pressure is generated. Therefore, at this time, the common liquid chamber 110 is individually separated. The liquid chamber 106 is filled with a liquid. Therefore, the operation proceeds to the next discharge.

The driving method of this head is not limited to the above example (pull-pushing), and pulling or pushing may be performed depending on the driving waveform.

Next, the configuration related to the damper in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a plan explanatory view seen from the diaphragm side, which is used for explaining the shape of the damper chamber of the flow path plate.

In the present embodiment, for each nozzle row 104A and 104B, a common liquid chamber 110 that supplies liquid to the individual liquid chamber 106 through which the nozzle 104 communicates, and a damper that forms a wall surface of the common liquid chamber 110 along the nozzle arrangement direction. It includes a 131 and a damper chamber 132 arranged on the opposite side of the common liquid chamber 110 with the damper 131 interposed therebetween.

The damper 131 is composed of a part of the diaphragm member 103. Further, the damper chamber 132 is composed of recesses provided in the flow path plate 102. The nozzle row 4A side is the damper chamber 132A, and the nozzle row 4B side is the damper chamber 132B.

In the damper chambers 132A and 32B, support columns 133A and 133B that support the damper 131 are arranged. The strut portions 133A and 133B are joined to the damper 131.

The strut portion 133A of one damper chamber 132A and the strut portion 133B of the other damper chamber 132B are arranged at different positions in the nozzle arrangement direction. Here, the support columns 133A of the damper chamber 132A and the support columns 133B of the damper chamber 132B are arranged so as to be staggered in the nozzle arrangement direction.

With this configuration, when a plurality of nozzle rows 104A and 104B are provided, nozzles 104 having different ejection characteristics in the nozzle arrangement direction can be dispersed.

That is, there is a difference in function as a damper between the portion where the strut portion 133 is arranged and the portion where the strut portion 133 is not arranged, and the individual liquid chamber 106 corresponding to the strut portion 133 (the same position or the adjacent position in the nozzle arrangement direction). The pressure wave re-propagated from the common liquid chamber 110 differs between the individual liquid chamber 106 and the individual liquid chamber 106 that does not correspond to the support column 133. Therefore, the ejection characteristics of the nozzle 104, particularly the ejection speed, are different, and the landing position deviates from the target landing position.

Here, if the support column 133A of the damper chamber 132A corresponding to the two nozzle rows 104A and 104B and the support column 133B of the damper chamber 132B are the same in the nozzle arrangement direction, the two nozzle rows 104A and 104B are for one row. When the nozzles 104 on which the support columns 133 are arranged are concentrated, the density unevenness due to the landing position shift becomes conspicuous.

Therefore, by arranging the strut portion 133A of the damper chamber 132A corresponding to the two nozzle rows 104A and 104B and the strut portion 133B of the damper chamber 132B in a staggered manner, the nozzles 104 whose landing positions are displaced are separated from each other, resulting in uneven density. Occurrence becomes less noticeable. This improves the image quality.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the nozzle arrangement direction, the distance L11 between the strut portion 133A of one damper chamber 132A adjacent to each other between the two nozzle rows 104A and 104B and the strut portion 133B of the other damper chamber 132B is 2. It is set to 5.5 mm or more.

As a result, the damper performance can be ensured while making the density unevenness less noticeable.

That is, when a recess serving as a damper chamber 132 is formed in the flow path plate 102, the support column portion 133 described above is required in order to secure the joint strength with the diaphragm member 103, but the support column portion 133 is provided. Causes uneven density. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the VTF characteristic (spatial frequency characteristic of vision) caused by this density unevenness to make the density unevenness less noticeable and to secure sufficient compliance.

Here, in the VTF characteristic (VTF1) shown in FIG. 15, the spatial frequency is set to 2.5 mm or more so that the sensitivity (Normalized sensitivity) is 0.5 or less. That is, it is repeated at a frequency of every 2.5 mm.

From the VTF characteristics shown in FIG. 15, it is possible that the characteristics of density unevenness can be suppressed by reducing the spatial frequency to 0.2 mm, 0.1 mm, and 0.05 mm, but on the other hand, the damper 131 Compliance must be ensured.

Generally, damper performance is determined by the size of compliance. The compliance C of the damper is obtained by C = 8LW ⁵ / (15 × 35 × Et ³ ), where C is the longitudinal dimension of the damper, the short dimension of the damper W, the Young's modulus E, and the thickness of the damper t. When there are a plurality of X dampers, it can be obtained by C = C1 + C2 + ... CX.

Therefore, the compliance C of the damper is the first power of the damper longitudinal dimension L, the fifth power of the damper minor dimension W, and the cube of the damper thickness t, and the performance that most affects the compression performance is the damper minor dimension. Become W.

Therefore, in order to satisfy the compliance C while ensuring the VTF characteristics, an interval of L = 2.5 mm or more is required.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a plan explanatory view seen from the diaphragm side, which is used for explaining the shape of the damper chamber of the flow path plate in the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the end wall surface 132Aa of one damper chamber 132A in the nozzle arrangement direction and the end wall surface 132Ba of the other damper chamber 132B in the nozzle arrangement direction are arranged at different positions in the nozzle arrangement direction.

Here, by making the distance La between the end wall surfaces 132Aa and 132Aa of one damper chamber 132A longer than the distance Lb between the end wall surfaces 132ba and 132Ba of the other damper chamber 132B, the end wall surface of the damper chamber 132A is made longer. The positions of 132Aa and the end wall surface 132Ba of the damper chamber 132B in the nozzle arrangement direction are different.

That is, since the end wall surfaces 132Aa and 132Ba of the damper chambers 132A and 132B in the nozzle arrangement direction are fixed ends of the damper 131, the damping or absorption characteristics of the pressure wave can be improved as in the place where the support columns 133A and 133B are arranged. There will be an impact.

Therefore, by making the positions of the end wall surface 132Aa of the damper chamber 132A and the end wall surface 132Ba of the damper chamber 132B different in the nozzle arrangement direction, the concentration of the landing position deviation can be dispersed.

In this case, it is preferable that the distance L12 between the end wall surface 132Aa of the damper chamber 132 and the end wall surface 132Ba of the damper chamber 132B in the nozzle arrangement direction is also 2.5 mm or more.

Further, in the present embodiment, the distance La between the end wall surfaces 132Aa and 132Aa of one damper chamber 132A is made longer than the distance Lb between the end wall surfaces 132Ba and 132Ba of the other damper chamber 132B, so that the damper chamber 132A The positions of the end wall surface 132Aa and the end wall surface 132Ba of the damper chamber 132B in the nozzle arrangement direction are different.

As a result, the distances Lca and Lcb from the support column 133 to the end wall surfaces 132Aa and 132Ba can be made the same.

Next, the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a plan explanatory view seen from the diaphragm side, which is used for explaining the shape of the damper chamber of the flow path plate in the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the distance La between the end wall surfaces 132Aa and 132Aa of the damper chamber 132A and the distance Lb between the end wall surfaces 132Ba and 132Ba of the other damper chamber 132B are made the same, and the end wall surface on the opposite side in the nozzle arrangement direction. By moving 132Aa1 and the end wall surface 132Ba1 toward the center, the positions of the end wall surface 132Aa of the damper chamber 132A and the end wall surface 312Ba of the damper chamber 132B in the nozzle arrangement direction are different.

In this way, the shapes of the two damper chambers 132A and 132B can be made symmetrical.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the nozzle rows are two rows is described, but the same can be applied to the case where the nozzle rows are three or more rows.

Next, an example of the device for discharging the liquid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. FIG. 18 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the device, and FIG. 19 is an explanatory side view of the main part of the device.

This device is a serial type device, and the carriage 403 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the main scanning moving mechanism 493. The main scanning movement mechanism 493 includes a guide member 401, a main scanning motor 405, a timing belt 408, and the like. The guide member 401 is bridged over the left and right side plates 491A and 491B to movably hold the carriage 403. Then, the carriage 403 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the main scanning motor 405 via the timing belt 408 bridged between the drive pulley 406 and the driven pulley 407.

The carriage 403 is equipped with a liquid discharge unit 440 in which the liquid discharge head 404 and the head tank 441 according to the present invention are integrated. The liquid discharge head 404 of the liquid discharge unit 440 discharges liquids of, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). Further, the liquid discharge head 404 is mounted by arranging a nozzle array composed of a plurality of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and directing the discharge direction downward.

The liquid stored in the liquid cartridge 450 is supplied to the head tank 441 by the supply mechanism 494 for supplying the liquid stored outside the liquid discharge head 404 to the liquid discharge head 404.

The supply mechanism 494 includes a cartridge holder 451 which is a filling portion for mounting the liquid cartridge 450, a tube 456, a liquid feeding unit 452 including a liquid feeding pump, and the like. The liquid cartridge 450 is detachably attached to the cartridge holder 451. Liquid is fed from the liquid cartridge 450 to the head tank 441 by the liquid feeding unit 452 via the tube 456.

This device includes a transport mechanism 495 for transporting the paper 410. The transport mechanism 495 includes a transport belt 412, which is a transport means, and a sub-scanning motor 416 for driving the transport belt 412.

The transport belt 412 attracts the paper 410 and transports it at a position facing the liquid discharge head 404. The transport belt 412 is an endless belt, and is hung between the transport roller 413 and the tension roller 414. Adsorption can be performed by electrostatic adsorption, air suction, or the like.

Then, the transport belt 412 orbits in the sub-scanning direction by rotationally driving the transport roller 413 via the timing belt 417 and the timing pulley 418 by the sub-scanning motor 416.

Further, on one side of the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 for maintaining / recovering the liquid discharge head 404 is arranged on the side of the transport belt 412.

The maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 is composed of, for example, a cap member 421 that caps the nozzle surface (the surface on which the nozzle is formed) of the liquid discharge head 404, a wiper member 422 that wipes the nozzle surface, and the like.

The main scanning movement mechanism 493, the supply mechanism 494, the maintenance / recovery mechanism 420, and the transport mechanism 495 are attached to a housing including the side plates 491A and 491B and the back plate 491C.

In this device configured in this way, the paper 410 is fed onto the transport belt 412 and sucked, and the paper 410 is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the orbital movement of the transport belt 412.

Therefore, by driving the liquid discharge head 404 in response to the image signal while moving the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, the liquid is discharged to the stopped paper 410 to form an image.

As described above, since this device includes the liquid discharge head according to the present invention, it is possible to stably form a high-quality image.

Next, another example of the liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the unit.

This liquid discharge unit includes a housing portion composed of side plates 491A, 491B and a back plate 491C, a main scanning movement mechanism 493, a carriage 403, and a liquid among the members constituting the device for discharging the liquid. It is composed of a discharge head 404.

A liquid discharge unit in which at least one of the above-mentioned maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 and the supply mechanism 494 is further attached to, for example, the side plate 491B of the liquid discharge unit can be configured.

Next, still another example of the liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 21 is a front explanatory view of the unit.

This liquid discharge unit is composed of a liquid discharge head 404 to which the flow path component 444 is attached and a tube 456 connected to the flow path component 444.

The flow path component 444 is arranged inside the cover 442. A head tank 441 may be included instead of the flow path component 444. Further, a connector 443 that electrically connects to the liquid discharge head 404 is provided above the flow path component 444.

Next, another example of the device for discharging the liquid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23. FIG. 22 is a schematic explanatory view of the device, and FIG. 23 is a plan explanatory view of the head unit of the device.

This device discharges liquid to the carry-in means 501 for carrying in the continuous medium 510, the guide-carrying means 503 for guiding and transporting the continuous medium 510 carried in from the carry-in means 501 to the printing means 505, and the continuous medium 510. It includes a printing means 505 that performs printing to form an image, a drying means 507 that dries the continuous medium 510, and an discharging means 509 that discharges the continuous medium 510.

The continuous medium 510 is sent out from the original winding roller 511 of the carrying-in means 501, guided and conveyed by the rollers of the carrying-in means 501, the guiding and transporting means 503, the drying means 507, and the discharging means 509, and is guided and conveyed by the winding roller 591 of the discharging means 509. It is wound up at.

In the printing means 505, the continuous medium 510 is conveyed on the transfer guide member 559 facing the head unit 550 and the head unit 555, an image is formed by the liquid discharged from the head unit 550, and the continuous medium 510 is discharged from the head unit 555. Post-treatment is performed with the treatment liquid to be treated.

Here, the head unit 550 is referred to, for example, as a full-line head array 551K, 551C, 551M, 551Y for four colors from the upstream side in the medium transport direction (hereinafter, when the colors are not distinguished, it is referred to as "head array 551". ) Is placed.

Each head array 551 is a liquid discharging means, and discharges black K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y liquids to the conveyed medium 510, respectively. The types and numbers of colors are not limited to this.

The head array 551 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 23, in which a plurality of liquid discharge heads (which are also simply referred to as “heads”) 1000 according to the present invention are arranged in a staggered pattern on a base member 552. Yes, but not limited to this. Further, the head array 551 is composed of a liquid discharge head and a head tank for supplying liquid to the liquid discharge head, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the liquid discharge head alone may be configured.

In the present application, the liquid to be discharged may have a viscosity and surface tension that can be discharged from the head, and is not particularly limited, but the viscosity becomes 30 mPa · s or less at room temperature, under normal pressure, or by heating or cooling. It is preferable that it is a thing. More specifically, solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, polymerizable compounds, resins, functionalizing materials such as surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids and proteins, and calcium. , Solvents, suspensions, emulsions, etc. containing edible materials such as natural dyes, etc., for example, inks for inkjets, surface treatment liquids, constituents of electronic elements and light emitting elements, and formation of electronic circuit resist patterns. It can be used for applications such as liquids for three-dimensional modeling.

Piezoelectric actuators (laminated piezoelectric elements and thin-film piezoelectric elements), thermal actuators that use electrothermal conversion elements such as heat-generating resistors, and electrostatic actuators that consist of a vibrating plate and counter electrodes are used as energy sources for discharging liquid. Includes what to do.

The "liquid discharge unit" is a liquid discharge head integrated with functional parts and a mechanism, and includes an aggregate of parts related to liquid discharge. For example, the "liquid discharge unit" includes a combination of at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance / recovery mechanism, and a main scanning movement mechanism with a liquid discharge head.

Here, "integration" means, for example, a liquid discharge head and a functional component, a mechanism in which the mechanism is fixed to each other by fastening, adhesion, engagement, etc., or one in which one is movably held with respect to the other. Including. Further, the liquid discharge head, the functional parts, and the mechanism may be detachably attached to each other.

For example, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge head and a head tank integrated. In addition, there are cases in which the liquid discharge head and the head tank are integrated by being connected to each other by a tube or the like. Here, a unit including a filter can be added between the head tank of these liquid discharge units and the liquid discharge head.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge head and a carriage integrated.

Further, there is a liquid discharge unit in which the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated by holding the liquid discharge head movably by a guide member forming a part of the scanning movement mechanism. In some cases, the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the main scanning movement mechanism are integrated.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a carriage to which a liquid discharge head is attached, in which a cap member which is a part of the maintenance / recovery mechanism is fixed, and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism are integrated. ..

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a tube is connected to a head tank or a liquid discharge head to which a flow path component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and a supply mechanism are integrated. The liquid of the liquid storage source is supplied to the liquid discharge head through this tube.

The main scanning movement mechanism shall also include a single guide member. Further, the supply mechanism includes a tube unit and a loading unit unit.

The "device for discharging a liquid" includes a device provided with a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and driving the liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid. The device for discharging the liquid includes not only a device capable of discharging the liquid to a device to which the liquid can adhere, but also a device for discharging the liquid into the air or the liquid.

The "device for discharging the liquid" can also include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging paper to which the liquid can adhere, as well as a pretreatment device, a posttreatment device, and the like.

For example, as a "device that ejects a liquid", an image forming device that is a device that ejects ink to form an image on paper, and a powder is formed in layers in order to form a three-dimensional model (three-dimensional model). There is a three-dimensional modeling device (three-dimensional modeling device) that discharges the modeling liquid into the powder layer.

Further, the "device for discharging a liquid" is not limited to a device in which a significant image such as characters and figures is visualized by the discharged liquid. For example, those that form patterns that have no meaning in themselves and those that form a three-dimensional image are also included.

The above-mentioned "material to which a liquid can adhere" means a material to which a liquid can adhere at least temporarily, such as one that adheres and adheres, and one that adheres and permeates. Specific examples include media such as paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, cloth and other recording media, electronic substrates, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and inspection cells. Yes, including anything to which the liquid adheres, unless otherwise specified.

The material of the above-mentioned "material to which liquid can be attached" may be paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like as long as the liquid can be attached even temporarily.

Further, the "device for discharging the liquid" includes, but is not limited to, a device in which the liquid discharge head and the device to which the liquid can adhere move relatively. Specific examples include a serial type device that moves the liquid discharge head, a line type device that does not move the liquid discharge head, and the like.

In addition, as a "device for ejecting liquid", a treatment liquid coating device for ejecting a treatment liquid to the paper in order to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper, etc. There is an injection granulator that injects a composition liquid in which a raw material is dispersed in a solution through a nozzle to granulate fine particles of the raw material.

In addition, image formation, recording, printing, printing, printing, modeling, etc. in the terms of the present application are all synonymous.

2 Nozzle plate 3 Flow plate 4 Vibration plate member 5 2nd common liquid chamber member 6 Filter member 7 1st common liquid chamber member 8 Piezoelectric actuator 10 Common liquid chamber 20 Nozzle 21 Pressure chamber (individual liquid chamber)
24 Damper 32 Piezoelectric member 35 Damper room 51 Wall part (support part)
52 Passage 101 Nozzle plate 102 Flow path plate 103 Diaphragm member 104 Nozzle 106 Individual liquid chamber 110 Common liquid chamber 112 Piezoelectric actuator 120 Common liquid chamber member 131 Damper 132 Damper chamber 133 Strut 403 Carriage 404 Liquid discharge head 440 Liquid discharge unit 550 Liquid discharge unit 1000 Liquid discharge head

Claims (8)

Multiple nozzles that discharge liquid and
A plurality of individual liquid chambers through which the nozzle communicates, and
A common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to the plurality of individual liquid chambers, and
A deformable damper that forms a part of the wall surface of the common liquid chamber,
A damper chamber provided along the nozzle arrangement direction is provided on the opposite side of the common liquid chamber and the damper.
The damper chamber extends outward in the nozzle arrangement direction from the individual liquid chamber located at the end of the plurality of individual liquid chambers in the nozzle arrangement direction .
The damper is provided with a plurality of ribs.
A liquid discharge head characterized in that a plurality of ribs are provided in the damper chamber so as to face the ribs of the damper . The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the damper is arranged in the same region as the damper chamber in the nozzle arrangement direction. It has at least two nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging a liquid are arranged.
A common liquid chamber that supplies the liquid to the individual liquid chamber through which the nozzle communicates, and
A damper that forms a wall surface of the common liquid chamber along the Roh nozzle arrangement direction,
Each nozzle row is provided with a damper chamber arranged on the opposite side of the common liquid chamber with the damper interposed therebetween.
A plurality of support columns for supporting the damper are arranged in the damper chamber.
The strut portion of one damper chamber and the strut portion of the other damper chamber are arranged at different positions in the nozzle arrangement direction .
The liquid discharge head is characterized in that the strut portion of the one damper chamber and the strut portion of the other damper chamber are arranged so as to be staggered in the nozzle arrangement direction . 3. Claim 3 is characterized in that, in the nozzle arrangement direction, the distance between the strut portion of the one damper chamber adjacent to each other between the two nozzle rows and the strut portion of the other damper chamber is 2.5 mm or more. The liquid discharge head described in. 3. The third aspect of the invention, wherein the end wall surface of the one damper chamber in the nozzle arrangement direction and the end wall surface of the other damper chamber in the nozzle arrangement direction are arranged at different positions in the nozzle arrangement direction. 4. The liquid discharge head according to 4 . A liquid discharge unit comprising the liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . A head tank that stores the liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head, a carriage on which the liquid discharge head is mounted, a supply mechanism that supplies the liquid to the liquid discharge head, a maintenance / recovery mechanism that maintains and recovers the liquid discharge head, and the liquid. The liquid discharge unit according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the main scanning moving mechanisms for moving the discharge head in the main scanning direction is integrated with the liquid discharge head. A device for discharging a liquid, which comprises the liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or the liquid discharge unit according to claim 6 or 7 .

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