JPH09183226A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form an image by flying ink drops without a nozzle and a heater. SOLUTION: Ink drops 6 are flown taking advantage of the tension and deflection of a transformable flexible member 4. The flexible member 4 supplies and retains ink 2 when deflected as shown in drawing (A), and flies ink drops 6 and forms an image on a recording medium 5 when transformed from a deflected state to a tensed state by a driving element 3. The flexible member 4 is attached to two driving elements 3 which are driven in opposite directions horizontally and ink is supplied from an ink tank 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that ejects ink droplets to form an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a non-impact printer as an information output method. Non-impact printers occupy the mainstream of printers because they are advantageous for obtaining a color image in terms of mechanism and have low noise during printing. Among the non-impact printers, a thermal inkjet printer is one of the methods of forming an image by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles and combining the ink droplets.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of a conventional thermal ink jet system. In the figure, 91 is a nozzle, 92 is an ink droplet, 93 is a heater, 94 is an ink chamber, and 95 is an ink supply pipe. The thermal ink jet system uses a heater 9
By utilizing the expansion force of the bubble generated in the ink chamber 94 by the heat generated by 3, the ink droplet 92 is pushed out from the nozzle 91 to form an image on the recording medium. Ink is replenished from the ink supply pipe 17.

In this method, an image can be formed on any medium regardless of a recording medium. Also, since the device is small, both initial cost and running cost are low. If a large number of heads having a series of mechanisms for ejecting the ink droplets 92 from the nozzles 91 are prepared, registration becomes unnecessary and a color image without color misregistration can be obtained.
In addition, drop-on-demand method
nd methods) are possible. Therefore, thermal inkjet printers are widely used as personal output devices as well as office output devices.

However, since the ink droplets 92 are displayed as halftone dots to obtain an image, a clear image cannot be obtained unless the opening diameter of the nozzle 91 is reduced. This nozzle 91 is clogged due to the drying of impurities and ink, which is a problem in terms of maintenance. Since the opening diameter of the nozzle 91 is small, the pigment dispersion type ink has a problem that the pigment is easily clogged in the nozzle, there is a problem of kogation of the heater, and there is a problem that the selection range of the ink is narrowed.

Another method of ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle and combining the ink droplets to form an image is a piezoelectric ink jet printer. The piezoelectric ink jet printer is the same as the thermal ink jet printer in that an ink droplet is pushed out from a nozzle to form an image on a recording medium. However, the displacement force of the piezoelectric body is used to push out the ink droplet from the nozzle.

FIG. 25 is a structural diagram of the piezoelectric body.
25A is a structural diagram of a vertical effect element, and FIG. 25B is a structural diagram of a horizontal effect element. FIG. 26 is a structural diagram of a laminated piezoelectric body,
FIG. 26A is a structural diagram of a laminated vertical effect element, and FIG. 26B is a structural diagram of a bimorph lateral effect element. In the figure, 101 is a ceramic and 102 is an electrode.

As shown in FIG. 25, the piezoelectric body is composed of ceramics 101 and a ceramic body 101 sandwiched therebetween.
It is composed of one electrode 102. Both electrodes 102
Is displaced when voltage is applied to. The direction of displacement is divided into the vertical effect element of FIG. 25 (A) and the horizontal effect element of FIG. 25 (B) depending on the difference in structure. As shown in FIG. 26, there is also a piezoelectric body having a laminated structure of the piezoelectric body of FIG. 25 in order to increase the displacement amount. FIG. 26A shows a stacked vertical effect element, which is shown in FIG.
6 (B) is a bimorph lateral effect element.

[0009] The piezoelectric ink-jet printer uses the displacement force of these piezoelectric bodies to push out ink droplets from an ink tank from a nozzle to form an image on a recording medium. This method also has the same advantages as the thermal inkjet printer, and is also widely used as an office output device and a personal output device.

However, similar to a thermal ink jet printer, an image is obtained by printing ink droplets on halftone dots.
Unless the opening diameter of the nozzle is reduced, a clear image cannot be obtained, and a nozzle having a narrow opening diameter is easily clogged by impurities or drying of the ink. This leaves a problem on the maintenance side. Further, in the case of pigment-dispersed ink, the pigment is easily clogged in the nozzle, and the selection range of the ink is narrowed.

As described above, a printing apparatus having a nozzle requires a nozzle due to the structure in which ink droplets fly from the nozzle, and it is difficult to facilitate maintenance.
Also, it is necessary to select an ink that does not easily cause clogging. Furthermore, when a heater is used, there is a problem of kogation, the original heater performance cannot be exerted, and there is a problem that it hinders the flight of ink droplets and that the ink changes or deteriorates due to heat. .

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image recording apparatus for forming an image by ejecting ink droplets without a nozzle and without a heater. Is.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the invention, in an image recording apparatus, an ink supply unit and an ink holding unit are provided, and the ink holding unit receives the supply of ink from the ink supply unit. It is characterized by having a deformable member that deforms from a shape to a shape that causes the ink to fly, and a drive unit that deforms the deformable member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus, an ink tank containing ink, an ink holding section, and an ink supply state in which the ink holding section enters the ink in the ink tank and the ink. A deformable member in which the holding portion is deformed into a flying state in which the ink is ejected from the ink in the ink tank;
The present invention is characterized by further comprising drive means for deforming the deformable member from the supply state to the flying state to fly the ink held in the ink holding portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the deformable member is a linear body, a linear body, a continuous body or a strip body having a change in tension. It is characterized by being.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the deformable member is a flexible member having elasticity.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the deformable member is bent near the ink holding portion. It is a feature.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the image recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, at least one end of the deformable member is a movable end, and the drive means is It is characterized in that the movable end is moved to deform the deformable member.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the image forming apparatus has a supporting means, and the supporting means regulates the moving direction of the movable end of the deforming means. It is characterized by having.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the image recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, there is provided a supporting means, and both ends of the deforming means are attached to the supporting means. It is characterized by being supported by.

[0021]

1 is an explanatory view of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (A) is an illustration of an ink supply state, and FIG. 1 (B) is an illustration of ink drops. It is explanatory drawing of a flying state. In the figure, 1 is an ink tank, 2 is ink, 3 is a drive element, 4 is a bending member, 5 is a recording medium, and 6 is an ink droplet. In this embodiment, the ink droplets 6 are made to fly by utilizing the tension and bending of the deformable bending member 4. The flexure member 4 supplies and holds the ink 2 in the flexure shape, and causes the ink droplets 6 to fly when the flexure shape is deformed from the flexure shape to the tension shape by the driving element 3 to form an image on the recording medium. The bending member 4 is attached to the two drive elements 3 that are driven in opposite directions in the horizontal direction, and is supplied with ink from the ink tank 1.

In FIG. 1A, individual drive elements 3 are provided at the upper ends of the left and right side walls of the ink tank 1 so as to face each other in a space above the liquid surface of the ink 2. Both ends of the bending member 4 are attached to each drive element 3. The flexible member 4 is, for example, a flexible linear body, a linear body, a band-shaped body, or a continuous body in which small parts are connected in a chain shape. Any shape is acceptable as long as you have it. An example of a specific material will be described last.

The bending member 4 may have any cross section such as a rectangle, a triangle, a circle, and an ellipse, and it is easy to manufacture one having a uniform cross section in the longitudinal direction. However, FIG.
As shown in (B), the side on which the ink droplet 6 is ejected may be recessed in the longitudinal direction, such as the central portion where the ink is retained and the ink droplet is ejected. The cross-sectional shape itself that is uniform in the longitudinal direction may be a V-shaped or U-shaped groove having a groove in the longitudinal direction. The flexible member 4 is attached by a method such as adhesion or welding, but other fixing methods such as engagement and fitting may be adopted. Alternatively, depending on the material of the flexible member 4, the flexible member 4 and the member on the drive element 3 side may be integrally molded or processed.

The guide rail of the drive element 3 is fixed to the ink tank. Although the drive element 3 and the guide rail are schematically illustrated, the drive element 3 is a linear drive element that is driven in a horizontal direction when a voltage is applied. The flexible member 4 is flexible when no voltage is applied to the drive element 3. Since the vicinity of the central portion of the flexible member 4 is in the state of having entered the ink 2, the ink 2 is supplied to the flexible member 4. As shown in FIG. 1 (B), when a voltage is applied to the left and right drive elements 3, the left and right drive elements 3 move in a direction to move away from each other in the horizontal direction and the bending member 4 is stretched. On the contrary, if the left and right drive elements 3 are constantly urged by springs or the like in the direction of moving away from each other in the horizontal direction and the voltage is applied in the direction of approaching the horizontal direction, the flexure occurs when the voltage application is stopped. The member 4 can be stretched.

When a voltage is applied to the driving element 24, the bending member 4 has sufficient tension so that the bending member 4 has sufficient tension.
And the fixed position of the drive element 3 are adjusted. Also,
When the bending member 4 is bent, the vicinity of the center of the bending member 4 sufficiently enters into the ink 2 to supply the ink 2, and when the bending member 4 is stretched, the bending member 4 that is sufficiently stretched The liquid level of the ink 2 is adjusted so that it comes out of the ink 2. It should be noted that such adjustment is similarly performed in other embodiments described later.

An external power source is turned on in response to a predetermined print signal,
The drive element 3 is turned off to control the drive element 3, and the ink droplet 6 is caused to fly by the tension and bending of the bending member 4. The recording medium 5 is set in the direction in which the ink droplet 6 flies, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5. A head composed of a series of members such as an ink tank 1, an ink 2, a driving element 3, and a bending member 4, or
By moving the recording medium 5 two-dimensionally, it is possible to realize the droplet ejection method corresponding to the demand, and to obtain a desired image.

Further, since the horizontal force can be changed to the vertical force, the head for ejecting ink droplets can
Since it can be arranged in a dimension, the printing density can be increased. Also, without using thermal energy, the ink droplet 6 can be formed only by using the tension, the pushing force, and the vibration force of the flexible member 4.
Is energy efficient because it can fly.

2A and 2B are schematic views of a model of the bending member. FIG. 2A is a bending state, FIG. 2B is a tensioned state, and FIG. 2C is a schematic view of a positional relationship. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the deflection angle and the displacement ratio in the model of FIG. In the figure, x is a distance for pulling the bending member 4 in the horizontal direction, y
Is a distance by which the bending member 4 is pulled and moves in the vertical direction, and θ is a bending angle.

As shown in FIG. 2 (A), the bending member 4 is set to A-
Consider the force when it is bent like C-E and then stretched like B-E as shown in FIG. 2 (B). When the bending member 4 is bent, the bending member 4 draws an arc, and the shape of the arc differs depending on the elastic force of the material. Here, a straight-line approximation model is used to facilitate calculation.
Further, even if the flexible member 4 is pulled from both ends or from one side, the distance that the flexible member 4 is pulled until it is completely stretched is the same, so here, the case of pulling from one side will be considered. Therefore, FIG. 2 is a model in which the bending member 4 is approximated by a straight line and the bending member is pulled from one side to change the horizontal force into a vertical force.

In FIG. 2C, when the bending member is pulled by a distance x from a point A where the bending member 4 is bent to a point B where the bending member 4 is stretched, the point where the ink droplet is ejected is from point C to point B. Move to D by distance y. It should be noted that although it is actually slightly shifted in the direction of the point A, it is ignored in the calculation. The following relationships exist among the distance x, the distance y, and the deflection angle θ.

X + 2ytan θ = 2y / cos θ When this is modified, y / x = cos θ / (2 (1-sin θ)) The diagram of FIG. 3 is a graph of this equation, and y / x
When x = 1, θ = 36.9 °.

For reference, when Equation 1 is differentiated once with respect to θ,
You can see the slope. (Y / x) '= 1 / (2 (1-sin θ)) θ <90 ° Differentiation twice reveals the rate of increase. (Y / x) ”= cos θ / (2 (1-sin θ) ² ) θ <90 ° As described above, the magnitude of the pulling force on the bending member 4 changes depending on the magnitude of the bending angle θ. When the angle is larger than 0.9 °, a large displacement can be obtained in the vertical direction with a small displacement in the horizontal direction, that is, in the method of causing the ink droplet 6 to fly using the tension and deflection of the bending member 4. You can turn horizontal force into vertical force,
Further, depending on the bending angle of the bending member 4, a large displacement can be obtained with a small displacement.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 (A) is an explanatory view of an ink supply state, and FIG. 4 (B) is an explanation of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure.
In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 7 is a support. In this embodiment, a support member 7 is used, one end of a bending member 4 is attached to this support member 7, and the other end is attached to a drive element 3.
Is moved in the horizontal direction opposite to the side of the support body 7, and the bending member 4
The tension and the flexure are used to cause the ink droplets 6 to fly and form an image on the recording medium 5.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the guide rail of the drive element 3 is fixed to the edge of the ink tank 1, and the lower part of the support 7 is fixed to the bottom of the ink tank 1. One end of the bending member 4 is attached to the drive element 3, and the other end is attached to the upper portion of the support 7. The bending member 4 may be attached by being molded integrally with the driving element 3 and the support 7. The driving element 3 is not given a driving force unless a voltage is applied, the bending member 4 bends, and the vicinity of the center of the bending member 4 enters the ink 2 and the ink 2 is supplied to the bending member 4.

As shown in FIG. 4B, when a voltage is applied, the mover of the drive element 3 moves horizontally rightward, and the bending member 4 is stretched. The external power source is turned on and off in response to a predetermined print signal, and the ink droplets 6 are caused to fly by the tension and bending of the bending member 4 generated by the movement of the driving element 3 to form an image on the recording medium 5. At this time, by moving the head composed of a series of members for ejecting the ink droplets 6 or the recording medium 5 in a two-dimensional manner, it is possible to realize a droplet ejection method on demand and obtain a desired image. You can

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 (A) is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply state, and FIG. 5 (B) is an explanatory diagram of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure.
In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. Reference numeral 11 is a support, 12 is a drive element, and 13 is an up-down lever. In this embodiment, both ends of the flexible member 4 are attached to the support body 11, and the ink tank 1 of the flexible member 4 is provided.
Up-down lever 1 connected to the drive element 12 on the side of
This is the one with 3 attached, and this up-down lever 1
3 is moved up and down, the ink droplet 6 is caused to fly by utilizing the tension and bending of the bending member 4, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5.

Two supports 11 are horizontally provided in the ink tank 1, one end of each is fixed to an edge of the ink tank 1, and each support 11 is fixed.
Both ends of the flexible member 4 are attached between the other ends of the. An upper part of the up / down lever 13 is attached to a part of the bending member 4, for example, the ink tank 1 side near the center as shown in the drawing. The up-down lever 13 may be attached to any portion as long as the ink droplet 6 can fly. The bending member 4 may be attached by being molded integrally with the up / down lever 13. The up / down lever 13 is connected to the mover of the drive element 12, but the mover of the drive element 12 itself may be the up / down lever 13.

As shown in FIG. 5 (A), the drive element 12 actuates the up-down lever 13 downward, and the ink tank 1
To bend the bending member 4 to supply ink to the bending member 4. As shown in FIG. 5B, the drive element 12 actuates the up / down lever 13 upward to push the up / down lever 13 toward the recording medium 5, causing the ink droplet 6 to fly from the bending member 4 to form an image on the recording medium 5. To form.

The external power supply is turned on according to a predetermined print signal,
When turned off, the ink droplet 6 is ejected by the tension and bending of the bending member 4 generated by the movement of the up / down lever 13 connected to the drive element 12, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5. At this time, by moving the head composed of a series of members for ejecting the ink droplets 6 or the recording medium 5 in a two-dimensional manner, it is possible to carry out the droplet ejection method on demand and obtain a desired image. You can

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 (A) is an explanatory view of an ink supply state, and FIG. 6 (B) is an explanation of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure.
In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. Reference numeral 21 is a piezoelectric body. In this embodiment, both ends of the bending member 4 are attached to separate piezoelectric bodies 21, respectively. Each piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the opposite direction in the horizontal direction, and the ink drop 6 is caused to fly by utilizing the tension and bending of the bending member 4.
An image is formed on the recording medium 5.

Two piezoelectric bodies 21 are provided in the ink tank 1,
For example, the lower part is fixed to a support (not shown). The end of the bending member 4 is attached to the upper part of each piezoelectric body 21, and the upper part of the piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the horizontal direction when a voltage is applied.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when the voltage is not applied to the piezoelectric body 21, the piezoelectric body 21 is not displaced and the flexible member 4 flexes to supply the ink 2 to the flexible member 4. As shown in FIG. 6B, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric body 21, the piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the horizontal direction, the flexible member 4 is stretched, and the ink droplets 6 are ejected to the recording medium 5. Form an image.

The external power supply is turned on according to a predetermined print signal,
When turned off, the ink droplet 6 is caused to fly by the tension and bending of the bending member 4 caused by the displacement of the piezoelectric body 21, and an image is formed on the printed matter 5. At this time, by moving the head composed of a series of members for ejecting the ink droplets 6 or the recording medium 5 two-dimensionally, it is possible to carry out the droplet ejection method corresponding to the demand,
A desired image can be obtained.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply state, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure.
In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. In this embodiment, one end of the bending member 4 is attached to the support body 7 and the other end is attached to the piezoelectric body 21, respectively, and the piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the horizontal direction in the opposite direction to the support body 7 to stretch the bending member 4. Ink droplet 6
To fly to form an image on the recording medium 5.

The piezoelectric body 21 and the support 7 are provided in the ink tank 1, and their lower portions are fixed to a support base (not shown), for example. Both ends of the flexible member 4 are attached to the upper portion of the piezoelectric body 21 and the upper portion of the support body 7, respectively. The piezoelectric body 21 has a structure in which the upper portion thereof is displaced in the horizontal direction when a voltage is applied.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric body 21, the piezoelectric body 21 is not displaced, the flexible member 4 bends, and the vicinity of the center of the flexible member 4 is inside the ink tank 1. Into the flexible member 4 and the ink 2
Is supplied. As shown in FIG. 7B, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric body 21, the piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the horizontal direction opposite to the direction of the support body 7, and the flexible member 4 is stretched to fly the ink droplets 6. Then, an image is formed on the recording medium 5.

The external power supply is turned on according to a predetermined print signal,
The ink droplet 6 is caused to fly by the tension and bending of the bending member 4 caused by the displacement of the piezoelectric body 21 when turned off, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5. At this time, by moving the head composed of a series of members for ejecting the ink droplets 6 or the recording medium 5 two-dimensionally, the droplet ejection method on demand can be realized and a desired image can be obtained.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 (A) is an explanatory view of an ink supply state, and FIG. 8 (B) is an explanation of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure.
In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. In this embodiment, both ends of the flexible member 4 are attached to separate piezoelectric bodies 21, respectively.
1 is displaced equally in the vertical direction, and the bending members 4
The force of pushing out the ink droplet 6 or the vibration of the bending member 4 causes the ink droplet 6 to fly to form an image on the recording medium 5.

Two piezoelectric bodies 21 are provided in the ink tank 1, and their lower portions are fixed to a support base (not shown), for example. Both ends of the bending member 4 are attached to the upper portion of the piezoelectric body 21, respectively. The piezoelectric body 21 is connected to an external power source and has a structure which is displaced in the vertical direction when a voltage is applied.

As shown in FIG. 8A, when the voltage is not applied to the piezoelectric body 21, the piezoelectric body 21 is not displaced, the bending member 4 is in the ink tank 1, and the ink 2 is on the bending member 4. Supplied. As shown in FIG. 7B, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric body 21, the piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the vertical direction, and the flexible member 4 projects from the inside of the ink tank 1.

The external power supply is turned on according to a predetermined print signal,
An image is formed on the recording medium 5 by causing the ink droplet 6 to fly by the force or the vibration that pushes the ink droplet 6 of the bending member 4 by turning off and displacing the piezoelectric body 21. At this time, the head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6, or the recording medium 5
By moving to dimension, a demanding drop firing method can be achieved and the desired image obtained.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the seventh embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 (A) is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply state, and FIG. 9 (B) is an explanatory diagram of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure.
In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. In this embodiment, one end of the bending member 4 is attached to the support 7 and the other end is attached to the piezoelectric body 21, the piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the vertical direction, and the tension and bending of the bending member 4 are utilized to make ink droplets drop. 6 is caused to fly to form an image on the recording medium 5.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the piezoelectric body 21 and the support body 7 are provided in the ink tank 1, and the lower portions of the piezoelectric body 21 and the support body 7 are fixed to a support base (not shown). The bending member 4 is provided on the piezoelectric body 21.
One end is fixed and the other end is fixed to the upper part of the support 7. The piezoelectric body 21 has a structure that is displaced in the vertical direction when a voltage is applied. When no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric body 21, the piezoelectric body 21 is not displaced and the bending member 4 bends. As shown in FIG. 9B, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric body 21, the piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the vertical direction,
The bending member 4 is stretched obliquely.

The external power supply is turned on in response to a predetermined print signal,
When turned off, the ink droplet 6 is caused to fly by the tension and bending of the bending member 4 caused by the displacement of the piezoelectric body 21, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5. At this time, by moving the head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6 or the recording medium 5 two-dimensionally, it is possible to perform the drop firing method on demand, and obtain the desired image.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an eighth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 (A) is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply state, and FIG. 10 (B) is an explanatory diagram of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. 22 is an up-down lever.
In this embodiment, both ends of the bending member 4 are attached to two support members 11 installed in the horizontal direction, and an up / down lever 22 connected to the piezoelectric body 21 from the ink tank 1 side is attached to a part of the bending member 4. Is attached and the up-down lever 22 is moved up and down, and the tension and bending of the bending member 4 are used to fly the ink droplets 6 to form an image on the recording medium 5.

Two supports 11 are provided in the ink tank 1 so as to face each other in the horizontal direction, and one end of the support 11 is fixed to the edge of the ink tank 1. One end and the other end of the flexible member 4 are fixed to each support body 11, respectively. The upper part of the up-down lever 22 is attached to a part of the bending member 4 from the direction toward the ink tank 1. The lower portion of the up / down lever 22 is connected to the piezoelectric body 21. The piezoelectric body 21 is displaced to move the up-down lever 22 up and down, thereby causing the bending member 4 to move up and down.

As shown in FIG. 10 (A), the up / down lever 22 is operated downward to pull it toward the ink 2 side opposite to the recording medium 5 to supply the ink to the flexible member 4.
As shown in FIG. 10B, the up / down lever 22 is actuated upward to push it toward the recording medium 5 and cause the ink droplet 6 to fly from the bending member 4. Although the case where the up-down lever 22 is installed in the center of the bending member 4 is illustrated, it may be located at any position where the ink droplets 6 can fly.

The external power supply is turned on in response to a predetermined print signal,
Up-down lever 2 that is turned off and connected to the piezoelectric body 21
The ink drop 6 is caused by the tension and bending of the bending member 4 caused by the movement of 2.
And the image is formed on the recording medium 5. At this time, by moving the head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6 or the recording medium 5 two-dimensionally, it is possible to perform the drop firing method on demand, and obtain the desired image.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the ninth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply state, and FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. Reference numeral 31 is a rotating body, and 32 is a fixture. In this embodiment, one end of the flexible member 4 is attached to the support 7
The other end is attached to a point other than the center of the rotating body 31, and the tension and bending of the bending member 4 caused by the rotation of the rotating body 31 are used to fly the ink droplets 6 to form an image on the recording medium 5. It is to let.

As shown in FIG. 11 (A), the ink tank 1 is provided with a support 7 and a rotating body 31 connected to a rotation shaft of a motor (not shown), and the support 7 and the motor are mounted on, for example, a support base (not shown). Fix it. One end of the bending member 4 is fixed to a point excluding the center of the rotating body 31 with a fixture 32, and the other end is attached to the upper portion of the support body 7. A voltage is applied to the motor to rotate the rotating body 31 to cause tension and bending of the bending member 4. When the fixing portion of the bending member 4 attached to the rotating body 31 approaches the support body 7, the bending member 4 bends to supply the ink 2. As shown in FIG. 11B, the fixing point of the bending member 4 attached to the rotating body 31 is the support body 7.
When it is farthest away from, the flexible member 4 is stretched to cause the ink droplets 6 to fly and form an image on the recording medium.

In the droplet ejection method corresponding to the demand, in response to a predetermined print signal, the rotation of the motor is stopped at a position where the fixing member of the bending member 4 attached to the rotating body 31 is farthest from the supporting body 7, and the ink droplet is ejected. 6 is caused to fly, and by the time the next print signal arrives, the fixing portion of the bending member 4 attached to the rotating body 31 is brought close to the support body 7, and the ink 2 is supplied. In order to rotate the motor and stop it at a predetermined position, the rotation and stop are controlled by an externally mounted control circuit.

Further, when the supply position of the ink 2 to the bending member 4 and the flying position of the ink droplet 6 are on a straight line, the ink 2 can be supplied and the ink droplet 6 can fly most efficiently. Therefore, a stepping motor may be used, and the stepping motor may be controlled by sending pulses to the stepping motor in the amount of 180 ° of rotation of the rotating body 31. The recording medium 5 is set in the direction in which the ink droplet 6 flies, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5. At this time, a desired image can be obtained by moving the recording medium 5 or the head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6 in two dimensions.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the tenth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 (A) is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply state, and FIG. 12 (B) is an explanatory diagram of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. In this embodiment, the bending member 4
Both ends of each of the two rotating bodies 31 are attached to points other than the centers of the two rotating bodies 31, and the tension and bending of the bending member 4 caused by the uniform rotation of the two rotating bodies 31 are used to fly the ink droplets 6 for recording. The image is formed on the medium 5.

As shown in FIG. 12 (A), the ink tank 1 is provided with two rotating bodies 31 connected to individual motor rotating shafts, and the bending member 4 is fixed to one point other than the center of each rotating body 31 by a fixture 32. Fix the motor itself. The motor is connected to an external power source. Rotating body 3 by applying voltage to the power supply
1 is rotated to cause the bending and bending of the bending member 4. As shown in FIG. 12B, when the fixing portions of the bending members 4 attached to the rotating body 31 come closest to each other, the bending members 4 bend to supply the ink 2 and are attached to the two rotating bodies 31. When the fixed portions of the flexible member 4 are farthest from each other, the flexible member 4 is stretched to eject the ink droplets 6.

In the drop ejection method corresponding to the demand, the bending member 4 attached to the two rotating bodies 31 according to a predetermined print signal.
The rotation of the motor is stopped, the ink droplets 6 are ejected, and the fixing portion of the flexible member 4 attached to the rotating body 31 is fixed to the fixing member 4 at a position farthest from the support 7 until the next print signal comes. The ink 2 is supplied so as to approach each other. In order to rotate the two motors at a constant speed and stop them at a predetermined position, the rotation and stop are controlled by an externally attached control circuit. Further, when the ink 2 supply position to the flexible member 4 and the ink droplet 6 flight position are on a straight line, the ink 2 can be most efficiently supplied and the ink droplet 6 can fly. Therefore, a stepping motor may be used, and the stepping motor may be controlled by sending pulses corresponding to the rotation of the rotating body 31 by 180 °.

The recording medium 5 is set in the flight direction of the ink droplets 6 to form an image on the recording medium 5. At this time, a head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6,
Alternatively, a desired image can be obtained by moving the recording medium 5 two-dimensionally.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13 (A) is an explanatory diagram of the ink supply state, and FIG. 13 (B) is an explanatory diagram of the ink droplet flying state. It is a figure. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. 33 is an up-down lever. In this embodiment, both ends of the flexible member 4 are attached to the support body 7, and an up-down lever 33 connected to a rotating body 31 attached to a motor (not shown) is installed at a part of the flexible member 4 from the ink tank 1 side. The up-down lever 33 is moved up and down, and the tension and bending of the bending member 4 are used to fly the ink droplets 6 to form an image on the recording medium 5.

As shown in FIG. 13 (A), the ink tank 1 is provided with two supports 7, and the lower part of each support 7 is fixed to a support stand (not shown). The end of the flexible member 4 is attached to the upper portion of each support 7. The upper part of the up-down lever 33 is attached to a part of the bending member 4 from the ink tank 1 side. The lower portion of the up-down lever 33 is attached to a point other than the center of the rotating body 31 attached to the rotating shaft of the motor, and vertically moves a piston by a guide mechanism (not shown).

The motor is connected to a power source, and when a voltage is applied, the rotating body 31 rotates to move the up-down lever 33 up and down to cause the bending member 4 to move up and down. Ink is supplied to the bending member 4 by pulling the up-down lever 33 in the direction of the ink 2 opposite to the recording medium, that is, operating the up-down lever 33 downward. FIG.
As shown in (B), the up-down lever 33 is pushed out toward the recording medium 5, that is, the up-down lever 3
3 is operated upward, the bending member 4 is moved upward, and the ink droplets 6 are ejected from the bending member 4 to form an image on the recording medium 5.

In the droplet ejection method corresponding to the demand, the fixing portion of the bending member 4 attached to the up-down lever 33 is located at the uppermost position in response to a predetermined print signal, the ink droplet 6 is ejected, and the next print signal is issued. By the time when is reached, the fixing portion of the bending member 4 attached to the up-down lever 33 is positioned below and ink is supplied. The recording medium 5 is set in the direction in which the ink droplet 6 flies, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5. At this time, a desired image can be obtained by moving the recording medium 5 or the head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6 in two dimensions.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 (A) is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply state, and FIG. 14 (B) is an explanatory diagram of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. 41 is a magnet and 42 is an electromagnet. In this embodiment, both ends of the bending member 4 are attached to separate electromagnets 42, the electromagnets 42 are driven, and the bending member 4 is moved.
By utilizing the tension and the flexure of the ink, the ink droplets 6 are ejected to form an image on the recording medium 5.

As shown in FIG. 14A, two electromagnets 42 are provided on the left and right edges of the ink tank 1, magnets 41 are attached to both ends of the flexible member 4, and the magnets 41 at each end are left and right electromagnets, respectively. It is installed on the support body 7 so as to face 42 in the same direction. A guide portion such as a guide rail or a guide groove for guiding the movement of the magnet 41 may be provided on the support 7. The electromagnet 42 is connected to an external power source. The bending member 4 is bent or stretched by reversing the polarity of the electromagnet 42 by an external power source.

When the magnet 41 and the electromagnet 42 attached to the flexible member 4 have the same polarity, the vicinity of the center of the flexible member 4 is lowered downward to supply the ink 2. In addition, the bending member 4 may be bent in this manner with the electromagnet 42 turned off. As shown in FIG. 14B, when the magnet 41 and the electromagnet 42 attached to the bending member 4 have different polarities, the bending member is stretched to push out the bending member 4 to eject the ink droplets 6.

In the droplet ejection method corresponding to the demand, the electromagnet 42 and the magnet 41 are made to have different polarities in accordance with a predetermined print signal, the flexible member 4 is stretched, the ink droplet 6 is ejected, and the electromagnet 42 is transmitted at the next predetermined signal. The ink 41 is supplied by bending the bending member 4 with the same polarity as the magnet 41. The recording medium 5 is set in the direction in which the ink droplet 6 flies, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5. At this time, a desired image can be obtained by moving the recording medium 5 or the head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6 in two dimensions.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 15 (A) is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply state, and FIG. 15 (B) is an explanatory diagram of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. In this embodiment, one end of the bending member 4 is attached to the magnet 41, the other end is fixed, the electromagnet 42 is driven, and the tension and bending of the bending member 4 are used to fly the ink droplets 6. An image is formed on the recording medium 5.

As shown in FIG. 15A, one electromagnet 42 is provided in the ink tank 1, and the magnet 41 is provided at one end of the bending member 4.
And the magnet 41 is installed on the support 7 so as to face the electromagnet 42 in the same direction. The other end of the bending member 4 is fixed to the ink tank 1 side. Electromagnet 42
Is connected to an external power source. Electromagnet 42 by external power supply
The polarity of is reversed and the bending member 4 is bent or stretched. Magnet 41 and electromagnet 42 attached to the bending member 4
In the case where the two have the same polarity, the vicinity of the center of the flexible member 4 drops downward to supply the ink 2. As shown in FIG. 15 (B),
When the magnets 41 and the electromagnets 42 have different polarities, the bending member 4 is stretched to push out the bending member 4 to cause the ink droplets 6 to fly.

In the droplet ejection method corresponding to the demand, the electromagnet 42 is made to have a polarity different from that of the magnet 41 in accordance with a predetermined print signal, the bending member 4 is stretched to cause the ink droplet 6 to fly, and the electromagnet 42 is sent at the next predetermined signal. The same polarity as that of the magnet 41 is applied to bend the bending member 4 to supply the ink 2. The recording medium 5 is set in the direction in which the ink droplet 6 flies, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5. At this time, a desired image can be obtained by moving the recording medium 5 or the head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6 in two dimensions.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 (A) is an explanatory diagram of an ink supply state, and FIG. 16 (B) is an explanatory diagram of an ink droplet flying state. It is a figure. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. 43 is a magnet and 44 is an electromagnet. In this embodiment, both ends of the flexible member 4 are attached to two supports 7, a magnet 43 is installed on a part of the flexible member 4 on the ink tank 1 side, and an electromagnet 44 is provided below the magnet 43. The polarity of the electromagnet 44 is reversed, and the tension and bending of the bending member 4 are used to fly the ink droplets 6 to form an image on the recording medium 5.

As shown in FIG. 16 (A), the ink tank 1 is provided with two supports 7, the lower portions of which are fixed to a support stand (not shown), and the ends of the bending members 4 are attached to the upper portions. The magnet 41 is attached to a part of the flexible member 4 from the ink tank side.
And an electromagnet 42 is installed below the magnet 41. The electromagnet 42 is attached to a support (not shown) and is connected to an external power source. The polarity of the electromagnet 42 is reversed by an external power source to cause the bending member 4 to move up and down.

When the polarities of the magnet 43 and the electromagnet 44 are made different, the flexible member 4 is pulled in the direction opposite to the recording medium 5, the vicinity of the center of the flexible member 4 is lowered, and the ink 2 is supplied to the flexible member 6. Let As shown in FIG. 16B, when the magnet 43 and the electromagnet 44 have the same polarity, the bending member 4
Are ejected toward the recording medium 5 and the ink droplets 6 are ejected from the bending member 4 to form an image on the recording medium 5.

In the droplet ejection method corresponding to the demand, in response to a predetermined print signal, the electromagnet 42 and the magnet 41 are made to have the same polarity and the bending member 4 is positioned above to cause the ink droplet 6 to fly, and the next predetermined signal. Then, the electromagnet 42 and the magnet 41 are made to have different polarities, the bending member 4 is positioned below, and the ink 2 is supplied. The recording medium 5 is set in the direction in which the ink droplet 6 flies, and an image is formed on the recording medium 5. At this time, a desired image can be obtained by moving the recording medium 5 or the head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6 in two dimensions. Although the magnet 41 is attached to the bending member 4 in the above description, the magnets 41 and 43 and the electromagnets 42 and 44 may be arranged in reverse.

As described above, the driving means for causing the bending member 4 to be in a bent and tensioned state includes a piezoelectric body, a motor,
An electromagnet or the like is used. Hereinafter, a specific example of the driving means will be described.

First, the piezoelectric body will be described. The piezoelectric body 21 of FIGS. 6 to 10 used as a driving source for flying the ink droplets 6 has the same structure as the ink droplets 6 regardless of the size of the piezoelectric body.
It suffices to have a displacement amount sufficient to fly. In addition, the piezoelectric body 2
1 may use either a monomorph type or a bimorph type, and may use the vertical effect element, the lateral effect element of FIG. 25, the laminated vertical effect element, or the bimorph lateral effect element of FIG. The displacement amount of the piezoelectric body 21 is small. A laminated piezoelectric material can be used to obtain a large amount of displacement, but if the lever principle is used, a large amount of displacement can be obtained with a small amount of displacement.

FIG. 17 shows a first drive mechanism using a piezoelectric body.
It is a schematic diagram of a specific example of. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. Reference numeral 51 is a pillar, and 52 is a fulcrum. In this specific example, a large displacement amount is applied to the bending member 4 with a small displacement amount of the piezoelectric body 21 using the lever principle. The right end of the piezoelectric body 21 is attached orthogonally to the lower end of the column 21. Support point 5 at the bottom of the pillar 51
2 is provided, and the bending member 4 is attached orthogonally to the upper end of the column 51.

When the piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the direction a in the figure,
A large displacement can be obtained in the direction A in the figure. On the contrary, when the piezoelectric body 21 is displaced in the b direction, a large displacement is obtained in the B direction, and the tension and flexure of the bending member 4 are increased. Piezoelectric body 21
The arrangement of the column 51 and the support column 51 is not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG. 17, and any arrangement may be used as long as the lever principle works.

FIG. 18 shows a second drive mechanism using a piezoelectric body.
It is a schematic diagram of a specific example of. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. Piezoelectric body 21
Although the above-described embodiments using the above have been described as examples in which the piezoelectric body 21 is placed vertically, the present invention is not limited to this. In this specific example, the piezoelectric body 21 is laterally displaced,
The bending member 4 is bent or stretched. The two piezoelectric bodies 21 are made to face each other in the horizontal direction, each end portion on the outer side is fixed, and both ends of the flexible member 4 are attached to each end portion on the inner side. The ink tank 1 is miniaturized so that only the location where the ink droplets 6 fly near the center of the flexible member 4 enter the ink tank 1.

The material of the piezoelectric body is, for example, PbTi.
O ₃ , PbZrO ₃ , BaTiO ₃ , SrTiO ₃ , C
_{aTiO 3, MgTiO 3, CaSnO 3} , BaSnO
₃ , BaZrO ₃ , NaNbO ₃ , KNbO ₃ , Cd
TiO ₃ , Pb (Fe _1/2 Ta _1/2 ) O ₃ , Pb (Ni
_1/3 Nb _2/3 ) O ₃ , Pb (Mg _1/3 Nb _2/3 ) O ₃ ,
Cd (Cr _1/2 Nb _1/2 ) O ₃ , Cd (Mg _1/3 Nb
_2/3 ) O ₃ , LiNbO ₃ , LiTaO ₃ , PbNb ₂
O ₆ , PbTa ₂ O ₆ , Bi ₄ Ti ₃ O ₁₂ , Bi ₂ WO
₃ , Bi ₃ TiNbO ₉ , Bi ₅ Ti ₃ FeO ₁₅ , Pb
Bi ₂ Nb ₂ Ta ₂ O ₉ , PbBiTi ₂ NbO ₁₂ , B
aBi ₄ Ti ₄ O ₁₅ , PbBi ₄ Ti ₄ O ₁₅ , Bi _4-x
Pb _x Ti _3-x Nb _x O ₁₂ , La _x Bi _14-x Ti
₃ O ₁₂ , PbLa _x Bi _4-x Ti ₄ O ₁₅ , and a compound in which two or more of these are combined is used.

Next, the motor will be described. For example,
As a micromotor driven by electrostatic force, there are a rotary electrostatic micromotor (parallel suction force system) and a rolling electrostatic micromotor (vertical suction force system).

Among them, the rotary electrostatic micromotor includes, for example, Sensors & Actuator.
s, vol. 20, no. 1/2 (1989) synchronous side drive electrostatic micromotor,
Step type side drive electrostatic micromotor, or Tech. Digest of IEEE Wor
kshop on Solid-State Sens
ors, Hilton Head Island, S
There are top drive electrostatic micromotors such as those described in C, June (1988).

The rolling type electrostatic micromotor includes Sensors & Actuators, A21.
Top-shaped electrostatic micromotors as described in (1990), Sensors & Actuators, vo.
l. 20, no. 1/2 (1989), cylindrical electrostatic micromotor, IEEE Trans.
Electron Devices, vol. ED-3
5, No. 6 (1989).

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a synchronous side drive electrostatic micromotor, FIG. 19 (A) is a plan view, and FIG. 19 (B) is its sectional view. In the figure, 61 is the central axis,
62 is a rotor and 63 is a stator. The rotor 62 is a disk-shaped electrode having a plurality of slots and is attached to the central shaft 61. The stator 63 is composed of a plurality of electrodes arranged around the rotor 62. The rotor 62 rotates by sequentially switching the polarities of the plurality of electrodes of the stator 63. The size of the synchronous side drive electrostatic micromotor is about 100 μm.

This electrostatic micromotor is shown in FIGS.
3 can be used as a motor connected to the rotating body 31. If the rotor 62 is processed, the rotor 62 itself can be used as the rotating body 31. Since the electrostatic micromotor has a small torque, as the bending member 4,
It is desirable to use a material that is easy to stretch and bend and that is as small as possible. As the motor, another type of electrostatic micromotor may be used, or a micromotor other than the electrostatic type may be used.

Next, the actuator and the linear motor will be described. For electrostatic microactuators with elastic support beams, see Sensors & Actuato.
rs, vol. 20, no. 1/2 (1989) parallel attraction type comb electrostatic microactuator, IEEE International Wo.
rkshop on Intelligent Rob
ot & Systems, Oct. 31-Nov.
2, Tokyo (1988), there is an electrostatic microactuator that uses electrostatic attraction between opposing plates.

Further, as a device having an elastic support beam, a monthly Seminar World, 12 (19)
90), electrostatic linear micromotors, distributed electrostatic microactuators, such as those described in The Electrostatics Society, 17, 5 (1993), Proc.
eatings of 7th IEEE Works
hop on Micro Electro Mech
animal Systems, Fort Laude
rdale, FL, USA, feb. There are scratch-type electrostatic microactuators and the like as described in (1993). Here, a comb-type electrostatic microactuator will be described as an example.

20 and 21 are schematic views of a comb-type electrostatic microactuator. FIG. 20 shows a state in which the elastic support beam is not extended, and FIG. 21 shows a state in which the elastic support beam is extended. It is a schematic diagram. In the figure, 71 is an elastic support beam, 72 is a beam fixing portion, 73 is a fixed electrode, and 74 is a movable electrode.

As shown in FIG. 20, in the fixed electrode 73 and the movable electrode 74, a plurality of slots are arranged in a line, and one slot is arranged so that the other tooth portion faces each other, and two sets of these are provided. . An elastic support beam 71 is attached between the two movable electrodes 74, and a part of the elastic support beam 71 is connected to a fixed portion 72 of the beam. If a voltage such that the fixed electrode 73 and the movable electrode 74 have the same polarity is applied from the outside or no voltage is applied at all, the elastic support beam 71 connected to the movable electrode 74 is not stretched. As shown in FIG. 21, when a voltage is applied such that the fixed electrode 73 and the movable electrode 74 have different polarities, the movable electrode 74 is pulled toward the fixed electrode 73 and the elastic support beam 71 is extended.

This comb-type electrostatic microactuator is
The ink tank 1 can be provided with the same arrangement as the piezoelectric body 21 of FIG. The comb electrostatic microactuator
The flexible member 4 is attached to a part of the elastic support beam 71 while being fixed to the support base. The other end of the bending member 4 is fixed to the support 7. When the elastic support beam 71 is stretched by the place where the bending member 4 is attached to the elastic support beam 71,
Alternatively, the flexible member 4 is stretched when it is not stretched.

When a voltage is applied to the comb-shaped electrostatic microactuator from an external power source, the elastic support beam 71 is in a stretched or pulled state depending on the presence or absence of the applied voltage and the polarities given to the fixed electrode 73 and the movable electrode 74. The bending member 4 is bent or stretched. When the bending member 4 bends, the vicinity of the bending center of the bending member 4 enters the ink 2 and the ink 2 is supplied. When the bending member 4 is stretched, the bending member 4 causes the ink droplets 6 to fly.

It is also possible to use two electrostatic microactuators and arrange them in the ink tank 1 in the same arrangement as the two piezoelectric bodies 21 in FIG. Both ends of the bending member 4 are fixed to a part of each elastic supporting beam 71 of the two comb-type electrostatic microactuators and used. Depending on the presence or absence of a voltage applied to the fixed electrode 73 and the movable electrode 74 of the two electrostatic microactuators and the polarity, the two elastic support beams 71 are extended or pulled, and the bending member 4 is
The flexible member 4 is attached to the two elastic support beams 17 so as to be flexible or stretched. The bending member 4 is made of a material that can be easily stretched or bent, and it is efficient to use a material that is as small as possible.

The polarity applied by the external power source is changed according to a predetermined print signal, and the elastic support beam 71 is stretched or pulled by the electrostatic force to stretch the flexible member 4 and fly the ink droplets 6 to the recording medium 5. Form an image.
At this time, by moving the head composed of a series of members that fly the ink droplets 6 or the recording medium 5 two-dimensionally, it is possible to perform the drop firing method on demand, and obtain the desired image. The liquid level of 2 is adjusted.

Also, different types of electrostatic microactuators and electrostatic linear micromotors may be used. The illustrated electrostatic microactuator may be placed in an arrangement such as the drive element 3 of FIGS. 1 and 4, and the bending member 4 may be attached so that the bending member 4 can be pulled from the left and right.

Next, the material of the bending member 4 used in each of the above-mentioned embodiments will be described in detail. The deflecting member 4 used for flying the ink droplet 6 does not cause the ink droplet 6 to fly unless a material suitable for flying the ink droplet 6 is used.
It is easy to cut. In the image forming method in which the ink droplets 6 are ejected by pushing or vibrating due to the tension or bending of the bending member 4, since the ink droplets 6 attached are combined to form an image, the ink droplets 6 do not fly. The drop of the ink droplet 6 occurs from the combined portion of the ink droplet 6, and a good image cannot be obtained. Further, if the bending member 4 is cut off, the ink droplet 6 cannot fly at all. Therefore, it is necessary to select the bending member 4 that is durable and suitable for the flight of the ink droplet 6.

As the material of the bending member 4, a metal such as gold, silver, copper, platinum or aluminum can be used. Or metal alloys, oxides, nitrides, eg
A combination of two or more elements selected from gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, aluminum, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, nickel, iron, chromium, zinc, lead, tin, indium, silicon, oxygen, and nitrogen. Can be used.

Alternatively, non-metallic inorganic fibers such as glass fibers and ceramic fibers, natural fibers, regenerated cellulose fibers, semi-synthetic fibers such as acetate, and synthetic fibers can be used. Natural fiber, semi-synthetic fiber, synthetic fiber,
It is also possible to use a combination of two or more kinds. Various combinations and twists of flexible materials such as two or more kinds of alloys, oxides and nitrides, non-metal inorganic fibers, natural fibers and synthetic fibers can be used. It is also possible to use different materials for the places where the ink droplets are ejected and the places where they are not.

As the natural fiber, cotton, flax, cannabis, ramie, jute, Manila hemp, wool, silk, etc. can be used. As the synthetic fiber, polyamide synthetic fiber, polyester synthetic fiber, polyacrylic can be used. Nitrile synthetic fibers (acrylic fibers), polyvinyl alcohol synthetic fibers, polyvinyl chloride synthetic fibers, polyvinylidene chloride synthetic fibers, polyolefin synthetic fibers, polyurethane synthetic fibers, polyethylene synthetic fibers, polypropylene synthetic fibers, polyfluoride Ethylene synthetic fibers, fluorocarbon synthetic fibers and the like can be used.

The flexure member 4 having a small elastic force is suitable for causing the ink droplets 6 to fly by utilizing the tension and flexure of the flexure member 4. If the elastic force is too large, it will not bend easily.
Becomes difficult to be supplied. When the bending member 4 having a large elastic force is used, it is preferable to use the vibration force of the bending member 4 to eject the ink droplet 6. When the pushing out of the bending member 4 is used, the ink droplets 6 are ejected by the pushing force.
Since the flight of is determined almost, the magnitude of the elastic force does not matter so much as long as it has a bending property. It goes without saying that the smaller the elastic force is, the smaller the energy for flying the ink droplet 6 is.

When ink having a high viscosity is used, even if an attempt is made to fly the ink droplets 6 by utilizing the tension or bending of the bending member 4, the bending member 4 will fall within the liquid surface of the ink 2 in the ink tank 1. In this case, if the pushing force and the vibration force of the bending member 4 are positively used, the ink droplets 6 can fly more easily.

The degree of processing difficulty depends on which of the tensioning and bending method of the bending member 4 for ejecting the ink droplets 6 or the pushing or vibration method is selected or what is selected for the material of the bending member 4. , Durability and cost will be different.
Therefore, it is necessary to select the material of the flexible member 4 by comprehensively considering the balance between the processing difficulty, durability, cost, and ink characteristics.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view of the bending member.
2A is an explanatory view of a bending member of a linear body, and FIG. 22B is an explanatory view of a bending member in which the linear members are twisted together. 81 is a linear body,
Reference numeral 82 is a member for twisting linear bodies.

As shown in FIG. 22A, a linear member 81 such as a gold wire is used as the bending member 4 for flying the ink droplet 6 in the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. To use. The ink droplets 6 are caused to fly by using vibration or extrusion due to the tension and bending of the linear body 81. Instead of the gold wire, the above-mentioned single metal, alloy, oxide or nitride, glass fiber or ceramic fiber can be used. In either case, a plastic wire is desirable. If there is no plasticity, the wire may break at a specific location and cause deterioration of durability.

As the linear body 81, the above-mentioned natural fiber, regenerated cellulose-based fiber, semi-synthetic fiber of acetate, synthetic fiber or the like can be used. In order to fly the ink droplets 6 by using vibration or extrusion due to the tension and bending of the fibers, it is desirable that the fibers also have plasticity.

As shown in FIG. 22B, a twisting member 82 made of a linear material such as two twisted cotton threads is used as the bending member 4 for flying the ink droplet 6. The ink droplets 6 are caused to fly by using vibration or extrusion due to the tension and bending of the twisting member 82. Three or more twisted members may be used. Also, instead of cotton yarn, the above-mentioned natural fibers, cellulosic regenerated fibers, acetate semi-synthetic fibers,
It is also possible to use a twisted wire body of two or more kinds of materials such as a single metal, an alloy and an oxide nitride.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory view of a linear member of a flexible member using a different material for the portion where the ink droplets are ejected. 22, those parts that are the same as those corresponding parts in FIG. 22 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. Reference numeral 83 is a portion for ejecting ink droplets. In this example, a portion 83 of the flexible member 4 on which the ink droplet 6 is ejected is ejected.
, And different materials are used for other parts. For example, in a portion 83 where a linear body made of another material is joined and the ink droplet 6 is ejected,
It is possible to use a material that allows the ink droplets 6 to fly easily. In portions other than the portion 83 where the ink droplets 6 fly,
A highly durable material can be used. Each material is selected from the above-mentioned metal, compound, oxide, nitride, non-metal inorganic fiber, natural fiber, regenerated fiber, semi-synthetic fiber, synthetic fiber, or other linear body or a twisted member of linear body. It

Alternatively, the portion 8 on which the ink droplet 6 is ejected
Even when the same material is used for 3 and other portions, the material may be different by changing the property of this material.
For example, it can be changed by heating, irradiation of radiation, application of paint, or the like.

By properly using the material of the bending member 4 described above, the ease with which the ink droplet 6 flies, the flight direction stability of the ink droplet 6, the durability, and the like change. At least two conditions can be satisfied by using different materials or materials for the part where the ink droplets 6 fly and the part where the ink drops 6 do not fly.
By selecting the bending member 4 according to desired conditions, a good image can be formed. By using the flexible member 4 having high durability and easy flight of the ink droplets 6,
A low-consumption and highly reliable printing device can be provided. The ease of flight of the ink droplets 6 also means that a printing device capable of forming an image quickly can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, except for FIG. 18, the driving member such as the driving element 3, the piezoelectric element 21, the motor and the bending member 4 are installed in the ink tank 1, and the bending member 4 is provided.
The case has been described in which the ink droplet 6 is ejected by using extrusion or vibration due to tension and bending of the ink. However, as described with reference to FIG. 18, the driving body and the bending member 4 described above may be installed outside the ink tank 1 so that only the portion where the ink droplets 6 fly can enter the ink tank 1. . There is no problem even with a small ink tank 1 in which only the portion where the ink droplets 6 fly can enter.

Ink may be supplied to the bending member 4 from a means other than the ink layer 1, for example, an ink supply pipe. As long as the ink 2 can be supplied to the flexible member 4 and the ink droplets 6 can fly, the installation positions of the ink supply unit, the drive element, the flexible member, the support, and the like are not limited, and their sizes are not limited.

A new printing apparatus can be provided by utilizing the above-described respective embodiments in a printing apparatus, attaching the generated ink droplets 6 to the recording medium 5, and combining the attached ink droplets 6. To increase the printing speed, it is necessary to form an image quickly. Therefore, an image can be formed quickly by arranging a large number of heads each having a printing mechanism, dividing the printing spots for printing, and combining the ink droplets 6 to be attached.

If a head corresponding to each original color is provided and ink droplets 6 of each color are ejected and ink droplets 6 to be attached are combined, a desired color image can be obtained. At this time, from the above-mentioned respective embodiments,
By combining heads of the same type or different types, it is possible to provide a new printing device with multiple heads,
It can correspond to high speed and colorization. A large number of the above-mentioned heads may be arranged in one of the head mounting mechanism jigs, or one head may be arranged in one of the head mounting mechanism jigs, and a large number of these mechanisms may be used.

[0120]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the shape having the ink supply portion and the ink holding portion, which is supplied with the ink from the ink supply portion, is changed to the shape for ejecting the ink. Since it has a deformable member and a drive unit that deforms the deformable member, it does not require a nozzle,
No nozzle clogging due to ink drying or impurities,
This has the effects of facilitating maintenance and widening the range of ink selection. You don't even need a heater to create bubbles that cause ink to fly.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the ink tank containing the ink, the ink supply state in which the ink holding section has the ink holding section and enters the ink in the ink tank, and the ink holding section is the ink tank Since it has a deformable member that deforms to a flying state that exits from the ink and a driving unit that deforms the deformable member from a supply state to a flying state and causes the ink held in the ink holding unit to fly, There is an effect that a flying state can be realized.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the deformable member is a linear, streak-shaped, continuous, or strip-shaped bending member having a change in tension, the bending member is stretched and pushed by the bending force. There is an effect that ink droplets can be easily ejected.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the deformable member is a flexible member having elasticity, the ink droplets can be easily ejected by the tension of the flexible member and the pushing force and vibration due to the flexible member. There is an effect.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the deformable member bends in the vicinity of the ink holding portion, the moving distance of the ink holding portion increases and the force of ejecting ink drops increases. There is an effect.

According to the invention described in claim 6, at least one end of the deformable member is a movable end, and the drive means is
Since the deformable member is deformed by moving the movable end, it is possible to deform the deformable member with a simple configuration.

According to the invention described in claim 7, since the supporting means has the guide portion for restricting the moving direction of the movable end of the deforming means, it is possible to guide the deformation of the deforming member. is there.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, since both ends of the deforming means are attached to and supported by the supporting means, the ink is supplied and the ink is ejected with the portion near the center of the deforming means as the holding portion. The effect is that it becomes easier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram of a model of a flexible member, FIG.
2A is a bent state, FIG. 2B is a tensioned state, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a positional relationship.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between a bending angle and a displacement ratio in the model of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a first specific example of a drive mechanism using a piezoelectric body.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a second specific example of the drive mechanism using the piezoelectric body.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a synchronous side drive electrostatic micromotor, FIG. 19 (A) is a plan view, and FIG. 19 (B).
Is a sectional view thereof.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a comb-type electrostatic microactuator, showing a state in which the elastic support beam is not stretched.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a comb-shaped electrostatic microactuator, showing a state in which an elastic support beam is extended.

22A and 22B are explanatory views of a bending member, FIG. 22A is a bending member of a linear body, and FIG. 22B is an explanatory view of a bending member in which linear bodies are twisted together.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a bending member of a linear body that uses a different material for a portion that ejects ink drops.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of a conventional thermal inkjet system.

FIG. 25 is a structural diagram of a piezoelectric body, and FIG.
The vertical effect element, FIG. 25B is a structural diagram of the horizontal effect element.

FIG. 26 is a structural diagram of a laminated piezoelectric body.
26A is a structural diagram of a laminated vertical effect element, and FIG. 26B is a structural diagram of a bimorph lateral effect element.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink tank, 2 ... Ink, 3 ... Driving element, 4 ... Bending member, 5 ... Recording medium, 6 ... Ink droplet, 7,11 ... Support body, 12 ... Driving element, 13, 22, 33 ... Up-down Lever, 21 ... Piezoelectric body, 31 ... Rotating body, 32 ... Fixing device,
41, 43 ... Magnet, 42, 44 ... Electromagnet, 51 ... Strut,
52 ... Support point, 61 ... Central axis, 62 ... Rotor, 63 ... Stator, 71 ... Elastic support beam, 72 ... Beam fixed part, 73 ... Fixed electrode, 74 ... Movable electrode, 81 ... Linear body, 82 ... Stranding members of linear body, 83 ... Ink droplet flying portion, 9
1 ... Nozzle, 93 ... Heater, 101 ... Ceramics.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ink supply unit, a deformable member having an ink holding unit, which deforms from a shape in which the ink supply unit is supplied with ink to a shape in which the ink is ejected, and the deformable member. An image recording apparatus having a driving unit for deforming. 2. An ink tank containing ink, an ink supply state having an ink holding section, where the ink holding section enters the ink in the ink tank, and a flying state where the ink holding section comes out of the ink in the ink tank. An image recording apparatus, comprising: a deforming member that deforms into a shape; and a driving unit that deforms the deforming member from the supply state to the flying state to fly the ink held in the ink holding unit. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deformable member is a linear body, a linear body, a continuous body, or a strip body having a tension change. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deformable member is a flexible member having elasticity. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deformable member is bent near the ink holding portion. 6. The deformable member according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the deformable member is a movable end, and the driving unit deforms the deformable member by moving the movable end. 2. The image recording device according to item 1. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a supporting means, the supporting means having a guide portion for restricting a moving direction of the movable end of the deforming means. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising support means, and both ends of the deforming means are attached to and supported by the support means.