JPH0948128A - Liquid emitting head, liquid emitting method using the same, head cartridge, liquid emitting device and head kit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize a liquid emitting state by properly prescribing the max. angle of displacement at a time when a movable member fundamentally controlling air bubbles generated in a liquid passage is displaced maximally by the generation of air bubbles. SOLUTION: The max. angle θM of displacement of a movable member 31 is set to the range of 2θE-5 deg.<=θM<=2θE+5 deg. with respect to the angle θE from the reference surface of the movable member 31 of the straight line D connecting a point S where the surface corresponding to the connection part of an emitting orifice and a first liquid passage and a center axis C cross each other and the fulcrum part of the angle θM is made acute. By satisfying the relation in the vicinity of θM=2θE, the stability of an emitting direction is drastically enhanced and the liquid droplet impact accuracy on printing paper is enhanced and the disturbance of an image grade is markedly reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head for ejecting a desired liquid by utilizing the formation of bubbles, a head cartridge using the liquid ejection head, a liquid ejection device, a liquid ejection method, and a recording method. Furthermore, it relates to a head kit used for these.

In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid ejecting method and a recording method using a liquid ejecting head having a movable member which is displaced by utilizing the generation of bubbles.

The present invention also relates to paper, yarn, fiber, fabric, leather,
Combined with devices such as printers, copiers, facsimile machines with communication systems, word processors with printer units, and various processing devices that record on recording media such as metals, plastics, glass, wood, and ceramics. This is an invention applicable to an industrial recording apparatus.

In the present invention, "recording" means not only giving an image having a meaning such as a character or a figure to a recording medium, but also giving an image having no meaning such as a pattern. Is also meant.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a state change accompanied by a sharp volume change (generation of bubbles) is generated in ink, and an ink is ejected from an ejection port by an action force based on this state change, which is attached onto a recording medium. An inkjet recording method is known in which an image is formed by performing the above process. In a recording apparatus using this recording method, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and the like, an ejection port for ejecting ink and an ink flow path communicating with this ejection port are provided. An electrothermal converter as an energy generating means for ejecting the ink arranged in the ink flow path is generally arranged.

According to such a recording method, a high-quality image can be recorded at a high speed and with low noise, and in a head that performs this recording method, ejection ports for ejecting ink are arranged at a high density. Therefore, it has many advantages that a high-resolution recorded image and a color image can be easily obtained with a small device. Therefore, in recent years, this inkjet recording method has been used in many office machines such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines, and has also come to be used in industrial systems such as textile printing machines.

As the ink jet technology is used for products in various fields, the following various demands have been further increased in recent years.

[0008] For example, as a study on a demand for improvement in energy efficiency, optimization of a heating element such as adjusting the thickness of a protective film is mentioned. This method is effective in improving the efficiency of propagation of generated heat to the liquid.

In addition, in order to obtain a high quality image, a driving condition for providing a liquid discharging method or the like which can discharge ink at a high speed and perform good ink discharging based on stable bubble generation has been proposed. From the viewpoint of high-speed printing, there has also been proposed a print head having an improved flow path shape in order to obtain a liquid discharge head having a high filling (refilling) speed of the discharged liquid into the liquid flow path.

[0010] Of the flow path shapes, FIG.
(A) and (b) are disclosed in JP-A-63-199997.
No. 2, for example. The flow channel structure and the head manufacturing method described in this publication have a back wave (a pressure in a direction opposite to the direction toward the discharge port, that is, a pressure toward the liquid chamber 12) generated with the generation of bubbles. It is an invention focused on. This back wave is known as loss energy because it is not energy directed toward the ejection direction.

In the invention shown in FIGS. 25 (a) and 25 (b), the valve 10 located farther from the bubble generation area formed by the heating element 2 and located on the opposite side of the heating element 2 from the discharge port 11.
Is disclosed.

In FIG. 25 (b), this valve 10 is
It is disclosed that it has an initial position as attached to the ceiling of the flow channel 3 and hangs down into the flow channel 3 with the generation of bubbles by a manufacturing method using a plate material or the like. The present invention discloses that a part of the above-mentioned back wave is controlled by the valve 10 to suppress energy loss.

However, in this configuration, as will be understood from consideration of the case where bubbles are generated inside the flow path 3 for holding the liquid to be discharged, suppression of a part of the back wave by the valve 10 is not possible with liquid discharge. Is not practical.

Originally, the back wave itself is not directly related to the ejection as described above. At the time when this back wave is generated in the flow path 3, as shown in FIG.
The pressure of the bubbles that is directly related to the discharge has already made the liquid dischargeable from the flow path 3. Therefore, it is clear that even if only a part of the back wave is suppressed, the ejection is not greatly affected.

On the other hand, in the bubble jet recording method utilizing the bubbles generated by the heating element, since heating is repeated while the heating element is in contact with the ink, deposits are generated on the surface of the heating element due to burning of the ink. However, depending on the type of ink, a large amount of this deposit is generated, which makes the generation of bubbles unstable, and it may be difficult to perform good ink ejection. Further, even in the case where the liquid to be discharged is a liquid which is easily deteriorated by heat or a liquid in which foaming is difficult to be sufficiently obtained, a method for discharging the liquid to be discharged without changing the quality is desired. .

From this point of view, the liquid (foaming liquid) that generates bubbles by heat and the liquid (ejection liquid) to be ejected are different liquids, and the ejection liquid is ejected by transmitting the pressure due to foaming to the ejection liquid. The method is disclosed in JP-A-61-96467, JP-A-55-81172, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,4.
No. 80,259 and the like. In these publications, the ink, which is the ejection liquid, and the foaming liquid are completely separated by a flexible film such as silicon rubber so that the ejection liquid does not come into direct contact with the heating element, and the pressure due to the foaming of the foaming liquid is controlled. The configuration is such that the liquid is transmitted to the discharge liquid by deformation of the flexible film. Such a configuration achieves prevention of deposits on the surface of the heating element, improvement in the degree of freedom in selecting the liquid to be discharged, and the like.

[0017]

However, in the conventional head having the structure in which the discharge liquid and the foaming liquid are completely separated as described above, the pressure during foaming is transmitted to the discharge liquid by the expansion and contraction deformation of the flexible film. Because of the construction, the flexible membrane absorbs the pressure due to foaming considerably. Further, since the amount of deformation of the flexible film is not so large, the effect of separating the ejection liquid and the foaming liquid can be obtained, but there is a possibility that the energy efficiency and the ejection force are reduced.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and basically cannot be obtained by the conventional method of forming bubbles in the liquid flow path and discharging the liquid. Provided is a novel ejection method capable of providing various ejection characteristics.

The present invention provides a liquid discharge condition which can sufficiently cope with a variation element in the discharge port portion which cannot be solved by the conventional liquid discharge principle and can obtain an excellent discharge effect. Is. In particular, the present invention provides a liquid ejection method which is effective for a variation element when a plurality of ejection port portions are manufactured.

Further, the present invention also provides a liquid ejection head which can further reliably and reliably achieve the effects of the ejection method of the present invention.

With respect to this head of the present invention, the technical knowledge has been developed from a further viewpoint based on the knowledge obtained in the previous application. The outline of the earlier application is as follows.

The arrangement relationship between the fulcrum of the movable member and the free end is such that the free end is located on the discharge port side, that is, on the downstream side.
In addition, a completely new technique for actively controlling bubbles by arranging the movable member facing the heating element or the bubble generation region has been established.

Next, it has been found that considering the energy imparted by the bubbles themselves to the discharge amount, considering the growth component on the downstream side of the bubbles is the largest factor that can significantly improve the discharge characteristics. That is, it has been found that the efficient conversion of the growth component on the downstream side of the bubble in the ejection direction leads to the improvement of the ejection efficiency and the ejection speed. From this, some of the present inventors have reached an extremely high technical level as compared with the conventional technical level in which the growth component on the downstream side of the bubble is positively moved to the free end side of the movable member.

Further, a heat generating region for forming bubbles,
For example, a structural element such as a movable member or a liquid flow path that is involved in the growth of the downstream side of the bubble, such as the area center on the surface that controls foaming, downstream from the center line passing through the area center in the liquid flow direction of the electrothermal converter. It has been found that it is also preferable to take into account the above.

On the other hand, it has been found that the refill speed can be greatly improved by considering the arrangement of the movable member and the structure of the liquid supply path.

In particular, what has been noted in the present invention is that the discharge state varies due to the manufacturing variation factor of the discharge port shape. Therefore, the inventors have calculated the relationship between the displacement angle of the movable member, the intersection of the discharge port central surface (connection surface) connecting to the liquid flow path, and the angle of the line connecting the fulcrum of the movable member. In addition to consideration, we have come up with an epoch-making technology to stabilize the ejection state while further improving the ejection efficiency of the liquid by utilizing the epoch-making liquid ejection method and principle that we applied for earlier. .

The main objects of the present invention are as follows.

A first object of the present invention is to connect a surface where the movable member is connected to the liquid flow path, the intersection of the central axis of the movable member and the fulcrum of the movable member with the movable member as a reference. By setting the relationship between the angle of the shaft and the displacement angle (maximum displacement angle) when the movable member with the free end that controls the generated bubbles is displaced to the maximum, the discharge state is further stabilized. A liquid ejecting method, a liquid ejecting head, and the like that can be performed are provided.

The second object of the present invention is to improve the discharge efficiency and the discharge force in addition to the first object, and at the same time, it is possible to greatly reduce the heat accumulation in the liquid on the heating element, and to leave the heating element on the heating element. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid ejection method, a liquid ejection head, and the like that can perform favorable liquid ejection by reducing bubbles.

A third object of the present invention is to further suppress the action of an inertial force in the direction opposite to the liquid supply direction due to the back wave and at the same time reduce the meniscus retreat amount by the valve function of the movable member. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection head or the like having a higher refill frequency and an improved printing speed.

In addition, the fourth object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of deposits on the heating element and to widen the range of application of the discharge liquid, and further, the liquid having a sufficiently high discharge efficiency and discharge force. It is to provide an ejection method, a liquid ejection head, and the like.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting method, a liquid ejecting head and the like which can increase the degree of freedom in selection of ejected liquid.

[0033]

A typical requirement of the present invention to achieve the above object is as follows.

A discharge port having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port, a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a bubble generation region facing the bubble generation region. , A liquid discharge head having a movable member having a free end on the discharge port side from a fulcrum part is used, and the movable member is displaced from the position of the reference plane to the maximum displacement position by pressure based on the generation of bubbles. A liquid discharging method for discharging a liquid, wherein an angle at the time of maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion with respect to the reference surface is θ _M , and the discharge port portion is connected to the liquid flow path. When the angle of the axis connecting the fulcrum and the point at which the connecting surface and the central axis of the discharge port intersect is θ _E , θ _M is an acute angle and 2θ _M −
A liquid discharge method of 5 ° ≦ θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 °, or a discharge port portion having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a first liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port portion, and a bubble generation region A bubble is formed in the bubble generation region by using a liquid discharge head having a second liquid flow path and a movable member arranged facing the bubble generation region and having a free end closer to the discharge port than the fulcrum. And a liquid discharge method of discharging the liquid by displacing the movable member from the position of the reference surface to the maximum displacement position by the pressure based on the generation of the bubbles, wherein the reference surface is used as a reference,
The angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , and the fulcrum and a point at which the connecting surface connecting the ejection opening portion to the liquid flow path and the central axis of the ejection opening intersect with each other. When the angle of the axis connecting the parts is θ _E , θ _M is an acute angle and 2θ _E −5 ° ≦ θ _E + 5 °, or a liquid discharge method having a discharge port for discharging the liquid Section, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge section, a bubble generation area for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a free end disposed on the discharge port side from a fulcrum section, facing the bubble generation area. A liquid discharge head having a movable member, and a liquid discharge method for discharging the liquid by displacing the movable member from a position of a reference surface to a maximum displacement position by a pressure based on generation of bubbles. And the maximum of the movable member centered on the fulcrum part. The angle at the time of displacement θ _M,
When the discharge port portion has the angle theta _E axis connecting said fulcrum portion connecting surface and the center axis of the discharge port is a point of intersection to be connected to the liquid flow path, together with the theta _M acute 2θ _E
-7 ° ≤ θ _M ≤ 2θ _E + 7 °, a liquid discharge method, or a discharge port having a discharge port for discharging the liquid, a first liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port, and a bubble generation region In the bubble generation region, a liquid discharge head having a second liquid flow path having a flow path and a movable member disposed facing the bubble generation region and having a free end closer to the discharge port than the fulcrum is used. A liquid discharge method of generating bubbles, displacing the movable member from a position of a reference surface to a maximum displacement position by a pressure based on the generation of the bubbles, and discharging a liquid, wherein the fulcrum portion is a reference point of the reference surface. The angle at the time of maximum displacement of the movable member around the center is θ _M , and the fulcrum portion and the point where the central surface of the ejection port intersects the connecting surface connecting the ejection port portion to the liquid flow path. connecting when the angle of the axis and theta _E, together with the theta _M acute, 2 [theta] _{E 7 ° ≦ θ M ≦ 2θ E} + 7 °
A liquid discharge method, or a discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, and a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part,
Using a liquid discharge head having a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a movable member arranged facing the bubble generation region and having a free end closer to the discharge port than a fulcrum, A method of ejecting a liquid by displacing the movable member from a position of a reference surface to a maximum displacement position by pressure based on the occurrence of the movable member, wherein the movable member is centered on the fulcrum part with the reference surface as a reference. Is an angle at the time of the maximum displacement of θ _M , and an angle of an axis connecting the fulcrum and a point where a connecting surface connecting the discharge port to the liquid flow path intersects with the central axis of the discharge port is θ _E. Where θ _M is an acute angle and is greater than or equal to the angle of the axis connecting the uppermost end of the discharge port portion of the connection surface and the fulcrum portion, and θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 °
A liquid discharge method, or a discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, and a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part,
Using a liquid discharge head having a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a movable member arranged facing the bubble generation region and having a free end closer to the discharge port than a fulcrum, A method of ejecting a liquid by displacing the movable member from a position of a reference surface to a maximum displacement position by pressure based on the occurrence of the movable member, wherein the movable member is centered on the fulcrum part with the reference surface as a reference. Is an angle at the time of the maximum displacement of θ _M , and an angle of an axis connecting the fulcrum and a point where a connecting surface connecting the discharge port to the liquid flow path intersects with the central axis of the discharge port is θ _E. Where θ _M is an acute angle, and the angle is greater than or equal to the angle of the axis connecting the maximum end of the discharge port of the connection surface with the fulcrum, and 2θ _E −5 ° ≦ θ _M
A liquid discharge method of ≦ 2θ _E , or a discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging the liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part, a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and the bubble A liquid discharge head having a movable member disposed facing a generation area and having a free end on the discharge port side from a fulcrum part, wherein the movable member is moved to a reference surface by a pressure based on generation of bubbles. At the time of displacing the liquid from the position to the maximum displacement position, with reference to the reference surface, the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , and the ejection port portion is the Letting θ _E be the angle of the axis connecting the fulcrum and the point where the connecting surface connecting to the liquid flow path intersects with the central axis of the discharge port, θ _M is an acute angle and 2θ _E −5 ° _{≦ θ M ≦ 2θ E + 5} ° is a liquid discharge head, or a liquid ejection A discharge port having a discharge port, a first liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port, a second liquid flow path having a bubble generation region, and a fulcrum arranged facing the bubble generation region. A liquid discharge head having a movable member having a free end closer to the discharge port than the nozzle portion, wherein bubbles are generated in the bubble generation region, and the movable member is moved to a position of a reference plane by pressure based on the generation of the bubbles. When ejecting the liquid by displacing from the maximum displacement position, from the reference surface as a reference,
The angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , and the fulcrum and a point at which the connecting surface connecting the ejection opening portion to the liquid flow path and the central axis of the ejection opening intersect with each other. When the angle of the axis connecting the parts is θ _E , θ _{M is set} to an acute angle, and a liquid ejection head that satisfies 2θ _E −5 ° ≦ θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 ° or an ejection port that ejects liquid is set. A discharge port part having, and a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part,
A liquid ejection head comprising: a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid; and a movable member arranged facing the bubble generation region and having a free end closer to the ejection port than a fulcrum part, When displacing the movable member from the position of the reference surface to the maximum displacement position by the pressure based on the generation of bubbles to discharge the liquid, the maximum of the movable member centered on the fulcrum with the reference surface as a reference. The angle at the time of displacement is θ _M ,
When the discharge port portion has the angle theta _E axis connecting said fulcrum portion connecting surface and the center axis of the discharge port is a point of intersection to be connected to the liquid flow path, together with the theta _M acute 2θ _E
Liquid discharge head satisfying −7 ° ≦ θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 7 °, or a discharge port having a discharge port for discharging the liquid, a first liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port, and a bubble generation region A second liquid flow path having, and arranged so as to face the bubble generation region,
A liquid discharge head having a movable member having a free end on the discharge port side from a fulcrum part, wherein bubbles are generated in the bubble generation region, and the movable member is moved to a reference surface by a pressure based on the generation of the bubbles. At the time of displacing the liquid from the position to the maximum displacement position, with reference to the reference surface, the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , and the ejection port portion is the Letting θ _E be the angle of the axis connecting the fulcrum and the point where the connection surface connecting to the liquid flow path intersects with the central axis of the discharge port, θ _M is an acute angle and 2θ _E −7 ° Liquid discharge head satisfying ≦ θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 7 °, or a discharge port having a discharge port for discharging the liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port, and bubble generation for generating bubbles in the liquid Area and the bubble generation area, facing the fulcrum A liquid that ejects liquid by using a liquid ejection head having a movable member having a free end on the ejection port side, and displacing the movable member from a position of a reference surface to a maximum displacement position by pressure based on the generation of bubbles. In the ejection head, the reference surface is used as a reference, the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , the ejection port portion is a connection surface that connects to the liquid flow path, and When the angle of the axis connecting the point where the central axis of the discharge port intersects with the fulcrum portion is θ _E , θ _M is an acute angle, and
A liquid ejection head that is at least an angle of an axis connecting the uppermost end of the ejection port portion of the connection surface and the fulcrum portion and satisfies θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 °, or an ejection port that has an ejection port that ejects the liquid Section, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port, a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a bubble generation region facing the bubble generation region, and a free end from the fulcrum to the discharge port side. A liquid discharge head having a movable member provided with the movable member, the liquid discharge head displacing the movable member from a position of a reference surface to a maximum displacement position by a pressure based on generation of bubbles to discharge the liquid. With respect to the surface, the angle at the time of maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , and the connecting surface at which the discharge port portion connects to the liquid flow path intersects with the central axis of the discharge port. and the angle of the axis theta _E to point to connecting said fulcrum portion When in, theta and _M as well as an acute angle, the and the uppermost end of the discharge port portion of the connecting surface and the fulcrum portion and the shaft of the angle or more connecting, and _{2θ E -5 ° ≦ θ M ≦} 2θ
_A liquid ejecting head satisfying _E , or a liquid ejecting apparatus having any one of the above-mentioned liquid ejecting heads, and a drive signal supplying means for supplying a drive signal for ejecting liquid from the liquid ejecting head, or A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: the liquid ejecting head according to any one of the above; and a recording medium conveying unit that conveys a recording medium that receives the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head.

In the present invention, the movable member for controlling the generated bubbles with respect to the angle from the fulcrum of the movable member at the intersection of the surface of the discharge port connecting to the liquid flow path and the central axis of the discharge port or the area center axis. It was possible to further stabilize the liquid discharge state by properly defining the maximum displacement angle when the maximum displacement was caused by the generation of bubbles.

In addition, according to the liquid ejection method, head, etc. of the present invention based on the extremely novel ejection principle as described above, it is possible to obtain the synergistic effect of the generated bubbles and the movable member displaced by the bubbles. Since the liquid in the vicinity of the ejection port can be efficiently ejected, the ejection efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional inkjet ejection method, head, and the like. For example, in the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, a dramatic improvement in the discharge efficiency of twice or more could be achieved.

According to the characteristic constitution of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the non-ejection even in the case of a long-term condition at low temperature and low humidity, and even if the non-ejection occurs, the preliminary ejection and the suction recovery are performed. There is also an advantage that it is possible to immediately return to the normal state by performing a small amount of recovery processing.

Specifically, even under the long-term standing condition in which most of the conventional ink jet type heads having 64 ejection ports do not eject, the head of the present invention causes ejection failure in about half or less of the ejection ports. It just becomes. In addition, when these heads are recovered by preliminary ejection, it is necessary to perform thousands of preliminary ejections with the conventional head for each ejection port,
In the present invention, it was sufficient to perform the recovery with about 100 preliminary ejections. This means that the recovery time can be shortened, the loss of liquid due to recovery can be reduced, and the running cost can be significantly reduced.

In particular, according to the configuration of the present invention having improved refill characteristics, responsiveness at the time of continuous ejection, stable growth of bubbles, and stabilization of liquid droplets are achieved, and high-speed recording by high-speed liquid ejection and high image quality are achieved. Recording could be enabled.

The other effects of the present invention will be understood from the description of each embodiment.

The terms "upstream" and "downstream" used in the description of the present invention relate to the flow direction of the liquid from the liquid supply source to the discharge port via the bubble generation region (or the movable member), or in this configuration. It is expressed as an expression regarding the direction of.

The "downstream side" of the bubble itself is as follows.
It mainly represents a portion on the ejection port side of a bubble which is considered to directly act on ejection of a droplet. More specifically, with respect to the center of the bubble, the downstream side with respect to the flow direction and the structural direction,
Alternatively, it means bubbles generated in a region downstream from the center of the area of the heating element.

The term "substantially sealed" used in the description of the present invention means that the bubble does not slip through a gap (slit) around the movable member before the movable member is displaced when the bubble grows. Means

Further, the term "separation wall" as used in the present invention means, in a broad sense, a wall (which may include a movable member) interposed so as to separate the bubble generating region and the region directly communicating with the discharge port, In a narrow sense, it means that the flow passage including the bubble generation region is separated from the liquid flow passage that directly communicates with the ejection port to prevent the liquid in each region from being mixed.

Further, the "free end" of the movable member in the present invention includes the free end which is the downstream end of the movable member and its vicinity, and also includes the vicinity of the downstream corner of the movable member. are doing.

Furthermore, the "free end region" of the movable member in the present invention means either the downstream end portion or the free end itself of the movable member, or the free end side end, or the region where the free end and the side end are combined. are doing.

Further, the "fulcrum portion" of the movable member in the present invention is a boundary portion between a portion where the movable member is displaced and a portion where the movable member is not substantially displaced. For example, the movable member is provided by a slit in the separation wall. In this case, it hits the end of the slit notch, that is, the position of the base of the movable member.

Further, the "reference surface" in the present invention is a surface including a natural state in which the movable member 31 is not subjected to an external force and is not displaced, and this includes the fulcrum of the movable member. , Which is substantially the same as the one from the fulcrum to the discharge port. If the movable member is deformed, the latter may be used as the reference surface.

Further, the "displacement angle" of the movable member referred to in the present invention means that the fulcrum portion of the straight line connecting the free end and the fulcrum portion when the movable member is displaced is the center of rotation with reference to the aforementioned reference plane. Means the angle made. In particular, the maximum displacement angle is the maximum displacement angle θ _M.

Further, the "central axis of the discharge port" is, when the discharge port portion has a cylindrical shape, a cylindrical rotation axis or similarly the opening of the discharge port portion on the liquid flow path side (discharge port 18) and the outer surface of the discharge portion (face surface). ) Side is a straight line connecting the centers of the circles.

When the discharge port is not circular, the straight line connecting the area centers of the liquid flow path side and the face side is referred to as the "discharge port center axis" or the "discharge port area center axis".

[0052]

【Example】

(Description of Principle) Hereinafter, the ejection principle applicable to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the liquid discharge head cut in the liquid flow path direction, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the liquid discharge head.

The liquid discharge head shown in FIG. 1 serves as a discharge energy generating element for discharging liquid, and has a heating element 2 (40 μm × 1 in FIG. 2) for applying heat energy to the liquid.
A heating resistor having a shape of 05 μm is provided on the element substrate 1, and the liquid flow path 1 is provided on the element substrate in correspondence with the heating element 2.
0 is arranged. The liquid flow path 10 communicates with the discharge port 18 and also communicates with a common liquid chamber 13 for supplying the liquid to the plurality of liquid flow paths 10, and an amount of liquid corresponding to the liquid discharged from the discharge port. From the common liquid chamber 13.

On the element substrate of the liquid flow path 10, a plate-like movable member 31 facing the above-mentioned heating element 2 and made of an elastic material such as metal and having a flat portion is provided.
Are provided in a cantilever shape. One end of the movable member is fixed to a base (supporting member) 34 formed by patterning a photosensitive resin or the like on the wall of the liquid flow path 10 or the element substrate. Thus, the movable member is held and forms a fulcrum (fulcrum portion) 33.

This movable member 31 has a fulcrum (fulcrum portion; fixed end) 33 on the upstream side of a large flow flowing from the common liquid chamber 13 to the ejection port 18 side through the movable member 31 by the liquid ejection operation. It has a free end (free end portion) 32 on the downstream side with respect to 33, and is arranged at a position facing the heating element 2 at a distance of about 15 μm from the heating element so as to cover the heating element 2. There is. A space between the heating element and the movable member is a bubble generation area. The types, shapes, and arrangements of the heating element and the movable member are not limited to these, and may be any shape and arrangement that can control bubble growth and pressure propagation as described later. The above-described liquid flow path 10
In order to explain the flow of the liquid, which will be described later, a part directly communicating with the discharge port 18 with the movable member 31 as a boundary is defined as a first liquid flow path 14, and the bubble generation region 11 and the liquid supply path 1.
The description will be made by dividing into two regions of the second liquid flow path 16 having the two.

The movable member 31 is generated by causing the heating element 2 to generate heat.
Heat is applied to the liquid in the bubble generation region 11 between the heating element 2 and the heating element 2 to generate bubbles in the liquid based on the film boiling phenomenon as described in US Pat. No. 4,723,129. The pressure based on the generation of the air bubbles and the air bubbles act preferentially on the movable member, and the movable member 31 opens largely toward the discharge port around the fulcrum 33 as shown in FIG. 1 (b), (c) or FIG. To be displaced. Depending on the displacement or the displaced state of the movable member 31, the propagation of pressure based on the generation of bubbles and the growth of the bubbles themselves are guided to the ejection port side.

Here, one of the basic ejection principles applied to the present invention will be described. One of the most important principles in the present invention is that the movable member arranged so as to face the bubble is in a steady state based on the pressure of the bubble or the bubble itself.
Is displaced from the position (1) to the second position, which is the position after the displacement, and the pressure accompanying the generation of bubbles and the bubbles themselves are guided by the displaceable movable member 31 to the downstream side where the discharge port 18 is arranged.

This principle will be described in more detail by comparing FIG. 3 schematically showing a conventional liquid flow path structure using no movable member with FIG. 4 of the present invention. Here, the propagation direction of pressure toward the discharge port is shown as V _A , and the propagation direction of pressure toward the upstream side is shown as V _B.

In the conventional head as shown in FIG. 3, there is no structure for restricting the propagation direction of pressure by the bubble 40 generated. Therefore, the pressure propagation direction of the bubble 40 is V ₁
Becomes the vertical direction of the bubble surface as ~V ₈ was facing in various directions. Among these, those having a component in the pressure propagation direction in the _VA direction that has the most influence on the liquid discharge are V _{1 to} V
₄ That is, it is a directional component of pressure propagation in a portion closer to the discharge port than a position approximately half of the bubble, and is an important portion directly contributing to liquid discharge efficiency, liquid discharge force, discharge speed, and the like. Furthermore, V ₁
Works efficiently because it is closest to the direction of the discharge direction V _A , while V ₄ has a relatively small direction component toward V _A.

On the other hand, in the case of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the movable member 31 is directed in various directions as in the case of FIG. 3 in the pressure propagation directions V _{1 to} V ₄ of bubbles. It is guided to the side (discharge port side) and converted into the pressure propagation direction of V _A , whereby the pressure of the bubble 40 directly and efficiently contributes to discharge.

The growth direction of the bubble itself is also guided in the downstream direction in the same manner as the pressure propagation directions V _{1 to} V ₄ and grows larger in the downstream than in the upstream. As described above, by controlling the growth direction itself of the bubble by the movable member and controlling the pressure propagation direction of the bubble, it is possible to achieve a fundamental improvement in the discharge efficiency, the discharge force, the discharge speed, and the like.

Next, returning to FIG. 1, the ejection operation of the above-described liquid ejection head will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 (a) shows a state before energy such as electric energy is applied to the heating element 2, that is, a state before the heating element generates heat. What is important here is that the movable member 31 prevents the bubbles generated by the heat generated by the heating element from
That is, it is provided at a position facing at least the downstream side portion of the bubble. In other words, on the liquid flow path structure, at least downstream of the area center 3 of the heating element (from a line passing through the area center 3 of the heating element and orthogonal to the length direction of the flow path, so that the downstream side of the bubble acts on the movable member. The movable member 31 is arranged to the position (downstream).

In FIG. 1 (b), heat is generated by heating the heat generating element 2 by applying electric energy or the like to the heat generating element 2, and the generated heat heats a part of the liquid filling the bubble generating region 11 to generate heat. This is a state in which a part of the liquid filling the bubble generation region 11 is heated to generate bubbles due to film boiling.

At this time, the movable member 31 is displaced from the first position to the second position by the pressure based on the generation of the bubbles 40 so as to guide the pressure propagation direction of the bubbles toward the ejection port. What is important here is, as described above, the free end 3 of the movable member 31.
2 is arranged on the downstream side (discharge port side), the fulcrum 33 is arranged on the upstream side (common liquid chamber), and at least a part of the movable member is arranged on the downstream part of the heating element, that is, on the downstream part of the bubble. Face to face.

FIG. 1C shows a state in which the bubble 40 has further grown, but the movable member 31 is further displaced according to the pressure accompanying the generation of the bubble 40. The generated bubble grows greatly downstream from the upstream and grows greatly beyond the first position (dotted line position) of the movable member.

In this way, the movable member 31 is gradually displaced in accordance with the growth of the bubble 40, whereby the pressure propagation direction of the bubble 40 and the direction in which the volume is easily moved, that is, the growth direction of the bubble toward the free end side, are set. It is considered that the discharge efficiency can be improved by being able to uniformly face the discharge port. Even when the movable member guides bubbles or foaming pressure toward the discharge port, it hinders this transmission. It is possible to efficiently control the pressure propagation direction and bubble growth direction according to the magnitude of the propagating pressure. .

FIG. 1D shows a state in which the bubble 40 contracts and disappears after the film boiling described above due to the decrease in the bubble internal pressure.

The movable member 31 that has been displaced to the second position
Is the initial position (first position) in FIG. 1A due to the negative pressure due to the contraction of the bubble and the restoring force due to the spring property of the movable member itself.
Return to. Further, at the time of defoaming, V _{D1 of} the flow from the upstream side (B), that is, the common liquid chamber side, in order to supplement the contracted volume of the bubbles in the bubble generation region 11 and to supplement the volume of the discharged liquid, The liquid flows in like V _D2 and like V _c of the flow from the ejection port side.

The operation of the movable member and the operation of ejecting the liquid due to the generation of the bubbles have been described above. The refilling of the liquid in the liquid ejecting head applicable to the present invention will be described below.

After the state shown in FIG. 1 (c), when the bubble 40 enters the defoaming process after reaching the maximum volume state, a volume of liquid that supplements the defoamed volume is placed in the bubble generation region of the first liquid flow path 14. It flows in from the discharge port side and the common liquid chamber 13 side of the second liquid flow path 16.
In the conventional liquid flow path structure having no movable member 31,
The amount of liquid flowing into the defoaming position from the ejection port side and the amount of liquid flowing from the common liquid chamber are due to the magnitude of flow resistance between the portion closer to the ejection port and the portion closer to the common liquid chamber than the bubble generation region ( It is based on flow path resistance and liquid inertia).

Therefore, when the flow resistance on the side close to the ejection port is small, a large amount of liquid flows from the ejection port side to the defoaming position, and the retreat amount of the meniscus becomes large. In particular, as the flow resistance on the side close to the discharge port is reduced to increase the discharge efficiency in order to increase the discharge efficiency, the meniscus M at the time of defoaming becomes larger, the refill time becomes longer, and the refill time becomes longer, and high-speed printing is performed. Was to hinder.

On the other hand, in this structure, since the movable member 31 is provided, when the volume W of the bubble is W ₁ on the upper side and W ₂ on the side of the bubble generation region 11 with the 11th position of the movable member as a boundary, the bubble disappears. At some point, when the movable member returns to the original position, the retreat of the meniscus is stopped, and the liquid supply for the remaining volume of W ₂ is mainly performed by the liquid supply from the flow V _D2 of the second flow path 16. Thereby, conventionally, the amount corresponding to about half of the volume of the bubble W has been the retreat amount of the meniscus,
It is possible to suppress the meniscus receding amount to about half that of W ₁ , which is smaller than that.

Further, the liquid supply for the volume of W ₂ utilizes the pressure at the time of defoaming, along the surface of the movable member 31 on the heating element side, mainly from the upstream side (V _D2 ) of the second liquid flow path. Since it can be forced, a faster refill could be achieved.

What is characteristic here is that when refilling is performed using the pressure at the time of defoaming with the conventional head, the vibration of the meniscus becomes large, which leads to the deterioration of the image quality. In the refill of (1), the movement of the liquid between the region of the first liquid flow path 14 on the ejection port side and the bubble generation region 11 on the ejection port side is suppressed by the movable member, so that the vibration of the meniscus can be extremely reduced. Is.

As described above, the above-described configuration applied to the present invention is performed at high speed by the forced refill of the second liquid flow passage 16 into the foaming region via the liquid supply passage 12 and the suppression of the meniscus retreat and vibration described above. By achieving refill, stable ejection, high-speed repetitive ejection, and improvement in image quality and high-speed recording can be realized when used in the field of recording.

The above-described structure applied to the present invention further has the following effective functions. That is, the propagation of the pressure to the upstream side (back wave) due to the generation of bubbles is suppressed. Among the bubbles generated on the heating element 2, the pressure due to the bubbles on the common liquid chamber 13 side (upstream side) is
Most of them had a force (back wave) that pushed the liquid back toward the upstream side. This back wave is due to the pressure on the upstream side,
This causes an amount of liquid movement and an inertial force associated with the liquid movement, which lowers the refill of the liquid into the liquid flow path and hinders high speed driving. In this configuration,
First, the movable member 31 suppresses these actions on the upstream side to further improve the refillability.

Next, further characteristic structures and effects will be described below.

The second liquid flow path 16 has a liquid supply path 12 having an inner wall which is connected to the heat generating element 2 substantially flatly (the surface of the heat generating element is not largely depressed) upstream of the heat generating element 2. In such a case, the bubble generation region 11 and the heating element 2
Supply of the liquid to the surface of, along the side surface closer to the bubble generation region 11 of the movable member 31 is performed as V _D2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the liquid from stagnating on the surface of the heating element 2, to easily precipitate the gas dissolved in the liquid and to remove the so-called residual bubbles left without being able to be defoamed. The heat storage of the is not too high. Therefore, more stable generation of bubbles can be repeated at high speed.
In this configuration, the liquid supply path 12 having a substantially flat inner wall has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Any liquid supply path that has a gentle inner wall that is smoothly connected to the surface of the heating element. Any shape that does not cause stagnation of the liquid on the heating element or large turbulence in the supply of the liquid may be used.

In some cases, the liquid is supplied to the bubble generating region from V _D1 via the side portion (slit 35) of the movable member. However, in order to more effectively guide the pressure at the time of bubble generation to the discharge port, a large movable member is used so as to cover the entire bubble generation region (covers the heating element surface) as shown in FIG. By returning to the position of
In the case where the flow resistance of the liquid between the bubble generation region 11 and the region near the discharge port of the first liquid flow path 14 is large, the flow of the liquid from the aforementioned _VD1 toward the bubble generation region 11 is obstructed. Can be However, in the head structure of this configuration,
Since there is the flow V _D2 for supplying the liquid to the bubble generation region, the liquid supply performance is very high, and even if the movable member 31 covers the bubble generation region 11 and the structure is required to improve the ejection efficiency. , Liquid supply performance is not deteriorated.

As for the positions of the free end 32 and the fulcrum of the movable member 31, the free end is relatively downstream of the fulcrum as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Because of this configuration,
Functions and effects such as guiding the pressure propagation direction and growth direction of the bubbles to the discharge port side during the foaming described above can be efficiently realized. Further, this positional relationship achieves not only a function and an effect on the ejection, but also an effect that the flow resistance to the liquid flowing through the liquid flow path 10 can be reduced and the refill can be performed at a high speed even when the liquid is supplied. As shown in FIG. 5, when the meniscus M retreated by ejection returns to the ejection port 18 due to the capillary force, or when liquid is supplied for defoaming, the liquid flow path 10 (first liquid) is used. Channel 14, second liquid channel 16
This is because the free end and the fulcrum 33 are arranged so as not to oppose to the flows S ₁ , S ₂ , and S ₃ flowing through the inside (including).

Supplementally, in the present configuration example (FIG. 1), as described above, the free end 32 of the movable member 31 divides the heating element 2 into the upstream side region and the downstream side region.
It extends with respect to the heating element 2 so as to face a position downstream of a line passing through the center (center) of the area of the heating element and perpendicular to the length direction of the liquid flow path. As a result, the movable member 31 receives the pressure or bubbles that greatly contributes to the discharge of the liquid generated on the downstream side of the area center position 3 of the heating element, and the pressure and the bubbles can be guided to the discharge port side. The discharge force can be fundamentally improved.

In addition, many effects are obtained by utilizing the upstream side of the bubbles. In this configuration,
It is considered that the mechanical displacement of the free end of the movable member 31 instantaneously also contributes effectively to the ejection of the liquid.

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Also in this embodiment, the principle of discharging the main liquid is the same as described above. In each of the following embodiments, the first liquid flow path 14 and the second liquid flow path 16 will be described using a head divided by the separation wall 30 as described below, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the present invention can be similarly applied to the head described in the above-mentioned principle.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head of this embodiment in the flow path direction.

In the liquid discharge head of the present invention, the second liquid flow path 16 for the foaming liquid is provided on the element substrate 1 provided with the heating element 2 for giving the heat energy for generating bubbles in the liquid. A first liquid flow path 14 for the discharge liquid, which directly communicates with a discharge port portion 28 having a discharge port 18, is arranged thereon.
The separation wall 30 made of a material having elasticity such as metal is disposed between the first liquid flow path 14 and the second liquid flow path 16, whereby the inside of the first liquid flow path 14 is provided. The discharge liquid and the foaming liquid in the second liquid flow path 16 are separated.

However, as in the above description of the principle, the same liquid may be used for the discharge liquid and the bubbling liquid. In that case, at least a part of the separation wall 30 is provided with a communication part (not shown), and the first flow The liquid may communicate between the first common liquid chamber 15 communicating with the passage and the second common liquid chamber 17 communicating with the second flow passage 16. The ejection port portion 28 has a small-diameter side opening portion (ejection port 18) through which droplets are discharged from the head, and a large-diameter opening portion that is a connection portion with the first liquid flow path 14. Also, the discharge port 1
It is assumed that the central axis perpendicular to 8 and its extension line substantially correspond to the central axis C in the direction in which the droplets fly during droplet ejection. The point where the surface corresponding to the connection between the discharge port 10 and the first liquid flow path 14 and the central axis C intersect is S.

Similar to the above description of the principle, the separation of the parts located in the projection space of the heating element upward in the plane direction (hereinafter referred to as the ejection force generation region: the region A in FIG. 6 and the bubble generation region B). The wall 30 is formed with a slit-shaped opening (slit, see FIG. 7) 35. Further, a movable member 31 capable of substantially sealing the slit 35 is provided. That is, the movable member 31 has a discharge port 18 side (downstream side of the liquid flow) as a free end, a first and second common liquid chamber (15, 17) side as a fixed end, and this fixed end is further a fulcrum 33. It is a cantilever-shaped member that rotates as. As shown in the figure, since the movable member 31 faces the bubble generation region B, the first part is formed by the foaming of the foaming liquid as described later.
As it is pushed up to the liquid flow path side, it rotates in the direction of arrow O about the fulcrum of the movable member. By this rotation, the movable member 31 is displaced toward the first flow path.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the liquid ejection head of the present invention. Even in this figure, the heating element 2
The second liquid flow path 16 is formed on the element substrate 1 on which the electrothermal conversion element (electrothermal conversion element) and the wiring electrode 5 for applying an electric signal to the electrothermal conversion element are arranged. It will be understood that the separation wall 30 is arranged through the space.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the positional relationship between the movable member 31 and the second liquid flow path 16 described above. FIG. 8A shows the movable member 31 from the first flow path 14 side. FIG. 2B is a view as seen, and FIG. 2B shows the second liquid flow path 1 without the separation wall 30.
It is the figure which looked at 6 from the 1st channel 14 side. Then, FIG. 7C is a perspective view schematically showing the positional relationship between the movable member 31 and the second liquid flow path 16 by superimposing them. In each of the drawings, the direction toward the free end 32 of the movable member 31 is the direction in which the discharge port 18 is arranged. The fulcrum portion described above is an end portion (root of the movable member) of the slit 35 for forming the movable member.

The second liquid flow path 16 has a constricted portion 19 in front of and behind the heat generating element 2, and is a chamber (foaming chamber) that prevents the pressure during foaming from escaping through the second liquid flow path 16. ) It is structured. As in the past, the flow path that causes foaming and the flow path for discharging the liquid have a common head, so that the pressure propagation direction generated on the liquid chamber side from the heating element is not directed to the common liquid chamber side. When the constricted portion is provided in the constricted portion, it is necessary to sufficiently consider the refill of the liquid to be ejected and to adopt a configuration in which the flow passage cross-sectional area in the constricted portion is not so small.

However, in the case of the present embodiment, most of the discharged liquid is the discharge liquid in the first liquid flow passage 14, and the bubbling liquid in the second liquid flow passage 16 in which the heating element 2 is provided. Since the composition is not consumed so much, the filling amount of the foaming liquid in the discharge pressure generating portion of the second liquid flow path 16 may be small. Therefore, when the configuration in which the consumption of the foaming liquid is small is used, the interval in the narrowed portion 19 can be made extremely narrow to several μm to several tens of μm, and the pressure generated in the second liquid flow path 16 at the time of foaming. The propagation direction can be concentrated and directed to the movable member 31 side.
As a result, since this pressure propagation direction can be guided to the ejection port by the movable member 31, higher ejection efficiency and ejection pressure can be obtained.

However, the shape of the second liquid flow path 16 is not limited to the above-mentioned structure, and may be any shape as long as the pressure due to bubble generation is effectively transmitted to the movable member side.

The displacement angle of the movable member described below indicates the displacement of the movable member 31 with reference to the above-mentioned reference plane. Let θ _{M be} the maximum displacement angle of the movable member, and θ _E be the angle at which the straight line (axis) D connecting the intersection point S and the fulcrum 33 of the movable member is displaced from the reference plane of the movable member (see FIG. 6). .

As a method of specifying the displacement angle of the movable member, the ceiling of the first liquid flow path may be formed of a transparent member,
Replace it with a transparent member, measure the height of the free end (the height from the non-displaced position) when the optically movable member is displaced, and calculate the displacement angle from this free end position and the fulcrum position. A method such as specifying may be used.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic cross section of the liquid ejection head of the present embodiment in the flow path direction. The maximum displacement angle θ _{M of} the movable member, the intersection S and the fulcrum of the movable member are connected. is a diagram showing the displacement angle theta _E from the reference surface of the movable member, and the relationship between the angle theta _C from the reference surface of the movable member of the central axis C in the direction of the liquid droplet flies in a droplet discharge linear D . In the liquid discharge head of this embodiment, the maximum displacement angle θ _M of the movable member is adjusted to adjust the thickness of the movable member, or the height of the ceiling of the first liquid flow path to adjust the intersection S and the movable member. to angle theta _E from the reference surface of the movable member of the straight line D connecting the fulcrum portion, in which was set to the range of _{2θ E -7 ° ≦ θ M ≦} 2θ E + 7 °. In this embodiment,

[0099]

[Outside 1]

Is shown.

As shown here, when the heating member 2 displaces the movable member by the pressure based on the bubbles generated in the bubble generation region 11, and the movable member 31 guides the pressure to the discharge port, V ₁ in FIG. ~ V ₄ movable member 31
The pressure based on the bubbles from the displaced free end 32 of the first liquid flow path 14 of the discharge port 18 and the displacement angle of the movable member 31.
It is extremely important in terms of liquid ejection characteristics to efficiently direct the ejection port 18 to the opening on the side of the first liquid flow path 14 by taking into consideration the relationship with the opening on the side connected to the.

By satisfying the relation in the vicinity of θ _M = 2θ _E , as shown in FIG. 9, with respect to the straight line D, the flow of the portion sandwiched between the movable member 31 in the maximum displacement state and the reference plane is shown. The path shape becomes a line-symmetrical shape with the straight line D as the axis of symmetry, and the central part of pressure propagation by the bubbles goes straight to the center S of the opening part of the discharge port 18 on the flow path side. As a result, undisturbed pressure propagation along the central axis C of the ejection port portion and liquid flow associated therewith occur, and the direction of the liquid ejected from the ejection port 18 becomes a very stable direction along the central axis C direction. Therefore, by satisfying the relationship in the vicinity of θ _M = 2θ _E , the stability in the ejection direction was dramatically improved, the landing accuracy on the printing paper was improved, and the disorder of the image quality was markedly reduced. Here, the connecting portion between the discharge port and the liquid flow path means a tubular portion (a cylindrical straight pipe, a taper pipe, an R taper pipe, or the like) forming the discharge port, of the tubular portion forming the discharge port. (Referred to as a discharge port portion in the above-mentioned shape), or a portion in the vicinity of the portion closest to the liquid flow path.

Here, as a condition near θ _M = 2θ _E, it is assumed that the ejection port shape variation at the time of formation by laser irradiation or the like of the ejection port is printed and includes up to the range of 2θ _E −7 ° ≦ θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 7 °. As a preferable condition for enhancing the effect of the ejection direction stability described above, 2θ _E −5 ° ≦ θ _M ≦ 2
θ _E + 5 °.

In addition to the above conditions, the maximum displacement angle θ _M of the movable member may be equal to or greater than the angle formed by the straight line connecting the uppermost end of the opening of the discharge port portion connected to the first liquid flow path 14 and the fulcrum portion. This is preferable as a condition under which the pressure propagation of the bubbles 40 and the accompanying flow of liquid are smoothly performed. Further, θ _M is preferably in the range of an acute angle in consideration of the strain of the fulcrum portion 33 of the movable member 31, etc., and more preferably 35 ° or less. The upper limit and the lower limit of θ _M are applied to other examples for the same reason.

(Embodiment 2) Next, FIG. 10 shows a schematic cross section in the flow path direction of the liquid discharge head of this embodiment, in which the maximum displacement angle θ _M of the movable member and the intersection S And the displacement angle θ _{E of} the straight line D connecting the fulcrum 33 of the movable member from the reference surface position of the movable member, and the reference surface position of the movable member of the central axis C in the direction in which the droplet flies when ejecting the droplet. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship of the angle θ _C of FIG. Here, the position of the fulcrum portion 33 is in the vicinity of the cut end portion of the slit 35 in FIG. 8, as in the case defined above.

In this embodiment, the shape of the movable member is 2
The maximum displacement angle θ _M of the movable member is 50 μm (± 5 μm), width 36 μm, thickness 5 μm, the fulcrum part has a divergent shape as shown in FIG. 14 (c), and the material is nickel.
Was 15 °. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first liquid flow path 1
The height of No. 4 was 40 μm to 60 μm, and the height of the second liquid flow path 16 was 15 μm. However,
In No. 0, the height of the first liquid flow path was 40 μm. The displacement angle θ _E of the straight line D connecting the intersection S and the fulcrum of the movable member from the reference surface of the movable member 31 is within a range of 5 ° to 7.5 ° (preferably when the discharge port is formed by laser irradiation). Is formed so that 6 ° ≦ θ _E ≦ 6.5 °), θ _M = 2θ _E , and 2θ _E <θ _M ≦ 2θ _E +
The relationship of 5 was satisfied. In this embodiment,
The angle θ _C from the non-displaced position of the movable member 31 of the central axis C in the direction in which the droplets fly during droplet ejection is set to 10 °. In addition, the driving condition of the head is a voltage of several V to several tens of V, 0.1
The current was about 0.2 A, the pulse width was 1.5 to 10 μsec, and the length L of the ejection port was 30 to 50 μm.

Also in the present embodiment, as described above, θ _M = 2
Satisfying the vicinity of θ _E is an extremely important factor for the stability of the ejection direction.

Further, as a method of achieving this state for a longer time in the discharge operation period, the movable member 31 may be operated so as to exceed θ _M where θ _M = 2θ _E. Therefore, by satisfying the relationship of 2θ _E <θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 °, the stability in the ejection direction and the
It was possible to achieve more stable ejection efficiency. Further, this also improves the stability of the ejection state against the above-mentioned variation in the ejection port shape.

Further, as a preferable condition, 2θ _E <
It is preferable that the condition in the vicinity of the center of θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 ° (6 ° ≦ θ _E ≦ 6.5 ° in this embodiment) is satisfied. Further, as another means for satisfying the relationship of 2θ _E = θ _M , a maximum displacement angle θ _M control unit 57 as shown in FIG. 15 may be provided on a part of the wall of the first liquid flow path 14.

Even when the relationship of θ _M = 2θ _{E in} the case of the present embodiment is satisfied, the ejection direction stability is improved similarly to the above-described Embodiments 1 and 2.

Even when the relationship of 2θ _E > θ _M ≧ 2θ _E -5 ° is satisfied, the effect of stabilizing the ejection state due to the variation in the ejection port shape as described above can be obtained.

Further, in order to improve such an effect, it is necessary to satisfy the condition of the center of 2θ _E > θ _M ≧ 2θ _E −5 ° (11 ° ≦ θ _E ≦ 12 ° in this embodiment). preferable. Also in this embodiment, as another means for satisfying the relationship between θ _E and θ _M , a maximum displacement angle θ _M control unit 57 as shown in FIG. 15 is provided in a part of the wall of the first liquid flow path 14. May be.

Further, θ _M is the fulcrum portion 33 of the movable member 31.
Considering the above, the range was set to an acute angle.

In FIG. 12, θ _M is 28 ° and θ _E is 14 °, and the same effect as described above is obtained.

As shown in each of the above embodiments, the height of the ceiling of the flow path communicating with the discharge port is set higher than the fulcrum on the free end side of the movable member, so that the free end can be displaced smoothly. Can be made.

In Example 1 described above, the second liquid flow path (foaming flow path) has a foaming flow path shape as shown in FIG.
In the parallel direction in which a plurality of the plurality of nozzles are arranged in parallel, they are arranged at positions corresponding to the upstream end and the downstream end of the second liquid flow path of the squeezed narrowed portion 19. It may be arranged near the downstream end.

As the heating element 2, 40 × 105 μm
The movable member 31 is arranged so as to cover the chamber in which the heating element 2 is arranged, using the electrothermal converter of the shape. The size, shape, and arrangement of the heating element 2 and the movable member 31 are not limited to this, and may be any shape and arrangement that can effectively use the pressure during foaming as the discharge pressure.

Further, the heating element may be an electrothermal converter, or may be one that generates heat upon receiving a laser beam.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross section in the flow path direction of the liquid discharge head of this embodiment, as in Embodiments 1 and 2, and shows the maximum value θ of the displacement angle of the movable member. _M ,
A displacement angle θ _E from the natural position of the movable member of a straight line D connecting the intersection S and the fulcrum of the movable member, and from the natural position of the movable member of the central axis C in the direction in which the droplets fly during droplet ejection. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship of the angle θ _C of FIG. The liquid discharge head of this embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, but the maximum displacement angle θ _M of the movable member is reduced to 3.5 μm only by the thickness of the movable member of the above-described embodiment. About 20
°. The displacement angle θ _E of the straight line D connecting the intersection S and the fulcrum of the movable member from the natural position of the movable member is in the range of 10 ° to 12.5 ° (preferably 11 °) when the discharge port is formed by the method described above. ≦ θ _E ≦ 12 °) and satisfy the relation of θ _M = 2θ _E or 2θ _E > θ _M ≧ 2θ _E −5 °. In this embodiment, the angle θ _C from the natural position of the movable member of the central axis C in the direction in which the droplets fly when ejecting the droplets is set to 25 ° (the value of L is the same as that in the first embodiment). ).
Further, the height of the second liquid flow path 16 of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and the height of the first liquid flow path is 40 μm to 40 μm.
Although it is set to 80 μm, FIG. 11 shows that the height of the first liquid flow path 14 is 60 μm. The driving conditions are also the same as in the previous embodiment.

In order to achieve the above angle relationship,
Even when the head is driven, it is shown in FIG.
The ejection principle as described above is achieved.

(Other Embodiments) The embodiments of the main parts of the liquid discharge head and the liquid discharge method of the present invention have been described above. The drawings of the preferred embodiments applicable to these embodiments will be described below. It demonstrates using. However, in the following description, any one of the above-described one-channel embodiment and the two-channel embodiment will be described in some cases. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments can be applied to both embodiments. It is.

(Movable Member and Separation Wall) FIG. 14 (a),
(B) and (c) are plan views showing other shapes of the movable member 31, respectively, and reference numeral 35 is a slit provided in the separation wall, and the slit allows the movable member 51 to be moved.
Are formed. The figure (a) is a rectangular shape,
(B) is a shape in which the fulcrum side is thin and the movable member is easy to operate, and (c) is a shape in which the fulcrum side is wide and the durability of the movable member is improved. The shape of the movable member may be any shape that can be easily operated and has excellent durability.

In the previous embodiment, the plate-shaped movable member 3
1 and the separation wall 30 having this movable member has a thickness of 5 μm
However, the material of the movable member and the separation wall is not limited to this, but has solvent resistance to the foaming liquid and the discharge liquid, and has elasticity to operate well as the movable member. However, any material can be used as long as a fine slit can be formed.

The material of the movable member has high durability,
Silver, nickel, gold, iron, titanium, aluminum, platinum,
Metals such as tantalum, stainless steel, phosphor bronze, and alloys thereof, or resins having a nitrile group such as acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene, etc., resins having an amide group such as polyamide, resins having a carboxyl group such as polycarbonate, polyacetal, etc. Resins having aldehyde groups, resins having sulfone groups such as polysulfone, and other resins such as liquid crystal polymers and their compounds, metals with high ink resistance such as gold, tungsten, tantalum, nickel, stainless steel, titanium, alloys thereof, etc. Regarding the ink resistance, those coated on the surface or resins having amide groups such as polyamide, resins having aldehydes such as polyacetal, resins having ketone groups such as polyether ether ketone, and resins having imide groups such as polyimide , A resin having a hydroxyl group such as a phenol resin, a resin having an ethyl group such as polyethylene, a resin having an alkyl group such as polypropylene, a resin having an epoxy group such as an epoxy resin, a resin having an amino group such as a melamine resin, and a xylene resin. Resins and their compounds having methylol groups such as, and ceramics and their compounds such as silicon dioxide are desirable.

The material of the separating wall is polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, melamine resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, polybutadiene, polyether ether ketone, polyether sulfone, polyarylate, polyimide, polysulfone, liquid crystal polymer ( LCP) and other engineering plastics, such as heat resistance and solvent resistance,
A resin having good moldability, a compound thereof, a metal such as silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, nickel, gold, stainless steel, an alloy and a compound thereof, or a surface of which is coated with titanium or gold is preferable.

The thickness of the separation wall may be determined in consideration of the material and shape of the separation wall from the viewpoint that the strength as the separation wall can be achieved and the movable member works well.
About 10 μm is desirable.

Although the width of the slit 35 for forming the movable member 31 is 2 μm in this embodiment, the foaming liquid and the discharge liquid are different liquids, and when the mixture of both liquids is prevented, the slit width is Should be set to an interval such that a meniscus is formed between the two liquids to suppress the flow of each liquid. For example, when a liquid of about 2 cP (centipoise) is used as the foaming liquid and a liquid of 100 cP or more is used as the discharge liquid, the liquid mixture can be prevented even with a slit of about 5 μm, but it is preferable that the slit be 3 μm or less. .

As the movable member in the present invention, the thickness (t μm) on the order of μm is targeted, and the movable member having the thickness on the order of cm is not intended. For a movable member having a thickness on the order of μm, a slit width (W
μm), it is desirable to consider the manufacturing variations to some extent.

The slit providing the "substantially closed state" of the present invention is more reliable if it is on the order of several μm.

As described above, when the foaming liquid and the discharge liquid are functionally separated, the movable member serves as a substantial partitioning member for these. It can be seen that the foaming liquid mixes slightly with the discharge liquid when the movable member moves with the generation of bubbles. Considering that the ejection liquid for forming an image generally has a coloring material concentration of about 3% to 5% in the case of inkjet recording, this foaming liquid is in a range of 20% or less with respect to the ejection droplets. Even if it is contained in, it does not cause a large concentration change. Therefore, the present invention includes such a mixed liquid as a mixture of a foaming liquid and an ejected liquid such that the amount thereof is 20% or less of the ejected liquid droplets.

In the implementation of the above configuration example, the foaming liquid is mixed at an upper limit of 15% even if the viscosity is changed. For a foaming liquid of 5 cP or less, the mixing ratio depends on the driving frequency, but is 10%. The upper limit was about%.

In particular, as the viscosity of the discharge liquid is set to 20 cP or less, this mixed liquid can be reduced (for example, 5% or less).

(Element Substrate) The structure of the element substrate provided with a heating element for applying heat to the liquid will be described below.

16 (a) and 16 (b) are vertical sectional views of the liquid discharge head of the present invention. FIG. 16 (a) is a head having a protective film described later, and FIG. 16 (b) is a protective head. It has no membrane.

The second liquid flow path 16 and the separation wall 3 are formed on the element substrate 1.
0, a first liquid flow path 14, and a grooved member 50 provided with grooves forming the first liquid flow path.

On the element substrate 1, a base 10 made of silicon or the like is provided.
A silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film 106 for the purpose of insulation and heat storage is formed on 7, and hafnium boride (HfB ₂ ), tantalum nitride (TaN), and tantalum aluminum (TaAl) that constitute a heating element are formed thereon. An electric resistance layer 105 (0.01 to 0.2 μm thick) and an aluminum wiring electrode (0.2 to 1.0 μm thick) are patterned as shown in FIG. A voltage is applied from the two wiring electrodes 104 to the resistance layer 105, and a current flows through the resistance layer to generate heat. A protective film (protective layer) such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride having a thickness of 0.1 to 2.0 μm is formed on the resistance layer between the wiring electrodes, and a cavitation-resistant layer (0.1%) of tantalum or the like is further formed thereon. A film having a thickness of up to 0.6 μm) is formed to protect the resistance layer 105 from various liquids such as ink.

In particular, the pressure and shock wave generated at the time of bubble generation and defoaming are extremely strong, and the durability of a hard and brittle oxide film is remarkably deteriorated. Therefore, tantalum (Ta) which is a metal material is used.
Etc. is used as a cavitation resistant layer.

Further, the above-mentioned protective layer may not be necessary depending on the combination of the liquid, the liquid flow path structure, and the resistance material, and an example thereof is shown in FIG. 16 (b). Examples of the material of the resistance layer that does not require such a protective layer include indium-tantalum-aluminum alloy.

As described above, the structure of the heating element in each of the above-described embodiments may be only the resistance layer (heat generating portion) between the electrodes described above, or may include a protective layer for protecting the resistance layer.

In this embodiment, as the heating element, the one having the heating portion composed of the resistance layer which generates heat in response to the electric signal is used, but the heating element is not limited to this, and it is sufficient to discharge the discharge liquid. Any bubbles can be used as long as they generate bubbles in the foaming liquid. For example, a light-to-heat converter that generates heat by receiving light from a laser or the like, or a heat generator that has a heat generating unit that generates heat by receiving a high frequency may be used as the heat generating unit.

On the element substrate 1 described above, in addition to the electrothermal converter constituted by the resistance layer 105 forming the heat generating portion and the wiring electrode 104 for supplying an electric signal to the resistance layer, Functional elements such as a transistor, a diode, a latch, and a shift register for selectively driving the electrothermal conversion element may be integrally formed by a semiconductor manufacturing process.

Further, in order to drive the heat generating portion of the electrothermal converter provided on the element substrate 1 as described above and eject the liquid, the resistance layer 105 is connected to the resistance layer 105 via the wiring electrode 104 as shown in FIG. A rectangular pulse as shown by is applied to rapidly generate heat in the resistance layer 105 between the wiring electrodes. In the head of each of the above-described embodiments, the heating element is driven by applying a voltage of 24 V, a pulse width of 7 μsec, a current of 150 mA, and an electric signal of 6 kHz, and the liquid ink is discharged from the ejection port by the above-described operation. Discharged. However, the condition of the drive signal is not limited to this, and any drive signal can be used as long as it can appropriately foam the foaming liquid.

(Discharge Liquid, Foaming Liquid) As described in the above embodiments, in the present invention, by the structure having the movable member as described above, the discharge force and discharge efficiency are higher than those of the conventional liquid discharge head. The liquid can be ejected at high speed. In the present embodiment, when the same liquid is used for the foaming liquid and the discharge liquid, the deposit is not easily generated on the heating element by heating without being deteriorated by the heat applied from the heating element, and vaporized by heat. Various liquids can be used as long as they can change the reversible state of condensation and do not deteriorate the liquid flow path, the movable member, the separation wall, and the like.

Among these liquids, as the liquid used for recording (recording liquid), the ink having the composition used in the conventional bubble jet device can be used.

On the other hand, in the case of using the head having the two-passage structure of the present invention and using the discharge liquid and the foaming liquid as separate liquids, the liquid having the above-mentioned properties may be used as the foaming liquid. , Methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, toluene, xylene, methylene dichloride, trichlene, Freon TF, Freon BF, ethyl ether, dioxane, cyclohexane, methyl acetate, acetic acid. ethyl,
Examples include acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, water, and the like, and mixtures thereof.

As the discharge liquid, various liquids can be used regardless of the presence or absence of foamability and the thermal property. In addition, liquids having low foaming properties, liquids which are easily deteriorated or deteriorated by heat, high-viscosity liquids, and the like, which have been difficult to discharge conventionally, can be used.

However, as the properties of the discharge liquid, the discharge liquid itself,
Alternatively, it is desirable that the liquid is not a liquid that hinders ejection, foaming, operation of the movable member, or the like due to a reaction with the foaming liquid.

High-viscosity ink or the like can also be used as the ejection liquid for recording. As other discharge liquids, liquids such as medicines and perfumes that are vulnerable to heat can be used.

In the present invention, recording was performed using an ink having the following composition as a recording liquid that can be used as both the discharge liquid and the foaming liquid. As a result, the landing accuracy of the droplets is improved and a very good recorded image can be obtained.

Composition of dye ink (viscosity 2 cP) (CI Food Black 2) Dye 3% by weight Diethylene glycol 10% by weight Thiodiglycol 5% by weight Ethanol 5% by weight Water 77% by weight Recording was performed by ejecting a combination of liquids having the compositions shown below. As a result, it was possible to satisfactorily eject a liquid having a very high viscosity of 150 cP as well as a liquid having a viscosity of a dozen cP, which was difficult to be ejected by the conventional head, and it was possible to obtain a recorded image of high image quality.

Composition of foaming liquid 1 Ethanol 40% by weight Water 60% by weight Composition of foaming liquid 2 Water 100% by weight Composition of foaming liquid 3 Isopropyl alcohol 10% by weight Water 90% by weight Discharge liquid 1 Pigment ink (viscosity about 15 cP) Composition Carbon black 5% by weight Styrene-acrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer 1% by weight (acid value 140, weight average molecular weight 8000) Monoethanolamine 0.25% by weight Glycerin 69% by weight Thiodiglycol 5% by weight Ethanol 3 % By weight Water 16.75% by weight Composition of ejection liquid 2 (viscosity 55 cP) Polyethylene glycol 200 100% by weight Composition of ejection liquid 3 (viscosity 150 cP) Polyethylene glycol 600 100% by weight By the way, it is said that the conventional ejection is difficult. If the liquid used was Because the, it is promoted the ejection direction of the variation poor dot landing accuracy on the recording paper, but also cause variations in the discharge amount due to discharge instability,
Due to these things, it was difficult to obtain a high-quality image. However, in the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the generation of bubbles can be sufficiently and stably performed by using the foaming liquid. As a result, it was possible to improve the landing accuracy of the droplets and stabilize the ink ejection amount, and it was possible to significantly improve the quality of the recorded image.

(Structure of Head Having Two Flow Paths) FIGS. 18 and 19 are a sectional view and an exploded perspective view for explaining the overall structure of the structure of two flow paths in the liquid ejection head of the present invention.

The element substrate 1 described above is arranged on a support 70 made of aluminum or the like. On this, the wall 16a of the second liquid flow path 16
And a wall 17a of the second common liquid chamber 17 is provided,
A separation wall 30 having a movable member 31 is provided thereon. Further, a plurality of grooves forming the first liquid flow path 14 on the separation wall 30, a first common liquid chamber 15, a supply passage 20 for supplying the first liquid to the first common liquid chamber 15, and The grooved member 50 provided with the supply passage 21 for supplying the second liquid is provided in the second common liquid chamber 17, and the liquid ejection head having two channels is configured by such a configuration. .

(Liquid Ejection Head Cartridge) Next, a liquid ejection head cartridge equipped with the liquid ejection head according to the above-described embodiment will be schematically described.

FIG. 20 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a liquid discharge head cartridge including the above-described liquid discharge head. The liquid discharge head cartridge is mainly composed of a liquid discharge head section 200 and a liquid container 90. There is.

The liquid discharge head section 200 comprises the element substrate 1,
The partition wall 30, the grooved member 50, the pressing spring 60, the liquid supply member 80, the support body 70, and the like. As described above, the element substrate 1 is provided with a plurality of heating resistors for applying heat to the foaming liquid in a row, and a functional element for selectively driving the heating resistors. Are provided. This element substrate 1 and the aforementioned separation wall 3 having a movable wall
0, a foaming liquid passage is formed, and the foaming liquid flows. By joining the separating wall 30 and the grooved member 50, a discharge flow path (not shown) through which the discharged discharge liquid flows is formed.

The pressing spring 60 is a member for exerting an urging force on the grooved member 50 in the direction of the element substrate 1, and the urging force causes the element substrate 1, the separating wall 30, the grooved member 50, and a support member described later. 70 and 70 are well integrated.

The support 70 is for supporting the element substrate 1 and the like. On the support 70, a circuit board 71 for connecting to the element substrate 1 and supplying an electric signal,
Contact pads 72 are provided for exchanging electrical signals with the device side by connecting to the device side.

The liquid container 90 separately stores a discharge liquid such as ink and a foaming liquid for generating bubbles, which are supplied to the liquid discharge head. Outside the liquid container 90, a positioning portion 94 for arranging a connection member for connecting the liquid ejection head and the liquid container and a fixed shaft 95 for fixing the connection portion are provided. The supply of the discharge liquid is supplied from the discharge liquid supply passage 92 of the liquid container to the discharge liquid supply passage 81 of the liquid supply member 80 via the supply passage of the connection member, and the discharge liquid supply passages 83, 61, 20 of the respective members are supplied. And is supplied to the first common liquid chamber via. Similarly, the foaming liquid is supplied from the supply path 93 of the liquid container to the foaming liquid supply path 82 of the liquid supply member 80 via the supply path of the connecting member, and via the foaming liquid supply paths 84, 61 and 21 of each member. It is supplied to the second liquid chamber.

In the liquid ejection head cartridge described above, the supply form and the liquid container capable of supplying even when the bubbling liquid and the ejection liquid are different liquids have been described. However, when the ejection liquid and the bubbling liquid are the same. In addition, it is not necessary to separate the supply path and container for the foaming liquid and the discharge liquid.

The liquid container may be refilled with the liquid after the consumption of each liquid. For this purpose, it is desirable to provide a liquid container with a liquid inlet. Further, the liquid ejection head and the liquid container may be integrated or may be separable.

(Liquid Ejecting Device) FIG. 21 shows a schematic structure of a liquid ejecting device equipped with the above-mentioned liquid ejecting head. In this embodiment, an ink discharge recording apparatus using ink as a discharge liquid will be described in particular. The carriage HC of the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid tank unit 90 that stores ink.
The liquid ejection head unit 200 is mounted with a detachable head cartridge, and reciprocates in the width direction of the recording medium 150 such as recording paper conveyed by the recording medium conveying means.

When a drive signal is supplied from a drive signal supply means (not shown) to the liquid ejection means on the carriage, the recording medium is ejected from the liquid ejection head onto the recording medium in response to this signal.

Further, in the liquid ejecting apparatus of this embodiment, a motor 111 as a drive source for driving the recording medium conveying means and the carriage, gears 112, 113 for transmitting the power from the drive source to the carriage, It has a carriage shaft 115 and the like. With this recording apparatus and the liquid ejecting method performed by this recording apparatus, it is possible to obtain a recorded image with a good image by ejecting liquid onto various recording media.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the entire control system for operating the ink ejection device to which the liquid ejection method and the liquid ejection head of the present invention are applied.

The recording apparatus receives print information from the host computer 300 as a control signal. The print information is temporarily stored in an input interface 301 inside the printing apparatus, and at the same time, is converted into data that can be processed in the printing apparatus, and is input to the CPU 302 also serving as a head drive signal supply unit. The CPU 302 processes data input to the CPU 302 using a peripheral unit such as the RAM 304 based on a control program stored in the ROM 303,
Convert to print data (image data).

Further, the CPU 302 produces drive data for driving a drive motor which moves the recording sheet and the recording head in synchronization with the image data in order to record the image data at an appropriate position on the recording sheet. . The image data and the motor drive data are respectively sent to the head driver 307.
Is transmitted to the head unit 200 and the drive motor 306 via the motor driver 305, and is driven at each controlled timing to form an image.

The recording medium which can be applied to the recording apparatus as described above and to which liquid such as ink is applied is various kinds of papers, OHP sheets, plastic materials, cloths, aluminum used for compact discs, decorative plates and the like. Metal materials such as copper and copper, leather materials such as cowhide, pigskin and artificial leather, wood materials such as wood and plywood, bamboo materials, ceramic materials such as tiles, and three-dimensional structures such as sponges can be targeted.

As the above-mentioned recording device, a printer device for recording on various kinds of paper or OHP sheets, a recording device for plastics for recording on a plastic material such as a compact disc, a recording device for metal for recording on a metal plate, etc. Recording device, recording device for leather for recording on leather, recording device for wood for recording on wood, recording device for ceramics for recording on ceramic material, recording device for recording on three-dimensional mesh structure such as sponge It also includes a printing device for recording on the cloth.

As the ejection liquid used in these liquid ejection devices, a liquid suitable for each recording medium and recording conditions may be used.

(Recording System) Next, an example of an ink jet recording system in which the liquid discharge head of the present invention is used as a recording head for recording on a recording medium will be described.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram for explaining the structure of an ink jet recording system using the above-described liquid discharge head 201 of the present invention. The liquid ejection head in the present embodiment is a full-line type head in which a plurality of ejection openings are arranged at intervals of 360 dpi in a length corresponding to the recordable width of the recording medium 150, and yellow (Y) and magenta (M). , Four heads corresponding to four colors of cyan (C) and black (Bk) are fixedly supported by a holder 1202 in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval in the X direction.

A signal is supplied to each of these heads from a head driver 307 constituting drive signal supply means, and each head is driven based on this signal.

In each head, Y, M, C,
Bk four color inks are supplied from ink containers 204a to 204d, respectively. Reference numeral 204e denotes a foaming liquid container in which a foaming liquid is stored, and the foaming liquid is supplied from the container to each head.

Under each head, a head cap 203 having an ink absorbing member such as a sponge disposed therein.
a to 203d are provided, and the maintenance of the head can be performed by covering the ejection openings of each head during non-printing.

Reference numeral 206 denotes a transport belt which constitutes transport means for transporting various non-recording media as described in the above embodiments. The conveyor belt 206 is wound around a predetermined path by various rollers, and is driven by a driving roller connected to a motor driver 305.

In the ink jet recording system of this embodiment, a pre-processing device 251 and a post-processing device 252 for performing various processes on a recording medium before and after recording are respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the recording medium transport path. Provided.

The contents of the pre-processing and post-processing differ depending on the type of recording medium on which recording is performed and the type of ink. For example, for a recording medium such as metal, plastic, and ceramics, As a pretreatment, irradiation of ultraviolet rays and ozone is performed to activate the surface, thereby improving the adhesion of the ink. In addition, in a recording medium such as plastic that is prone to generate static electricity, dust is likely to adhere to the surface due to static electricity, and this dust may hinder good recording. For this reason, it is preferable to remove dust from the recording medium by removing static electricity from the recording medium using an ionizer device as a pretreatment.
When a cloth is used as the recording medium, an alkaline substance is added to the cloth in order to prevent bleeding and improve the first-arrival rate.
A treatment for providing a substance selected from a water-soluble substance, a synthetic polymer, a water-soluble metal salt, urea, and thiourea may be performed as pretreatment. The pre-processing is not limited to these, and may be a process of setting the temperature of the recording medium to a temperature suitable for recording.

On the other hand, post-processing is a fixing process for promoting the fixing of the ink to the recording medium to which the ink has been applied by heat treatment, ultraviolet irradiation, or the like, or a cleaning agent applied in the pre-process and remaining unreacted. And the like.

Although the full line head is used as the head in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the small head as described above is conveyed in the width direction of the recording medium to perform recording. It may be one.

[Head Kit] An ink jet head kit having the ink jet head of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing such an inkjet head kit. This inkjet head kit includes an inkjet head 510 of the present invention having an ink ejecting portion 511 for ejecting ink, and an inseparable or separable head. An ink container 520, which is a liquid container, and an ink filling unit that holds ink for filling the ink container with the ink are provided in a kit container 50.
It has been placed in 1.

When the ink has been consumed, the insertion portion (injection needle) of the ink filling means (injection needle) is connected to the atmosphere communication port 521 of the ink container, the connection portion with the ink jet head, or the hole formed in the wall of the ink container. Etc.) 531 may be partially inserted, and the ink in the ink filling means may be filled in the ink container via the insertion portion.

As described above, the ink jet head of the present invention, the ink container, the ink filling means, etc. are put into one kit container to form a kit, so that even if the ink is consumed, as described above, In addition, the ink can be easily filled in the ink container, and the recording can be started quickly.

Although the ink jet head kit of this embodiment is described as including the ink filling means, the ink jet head kit is of a separable type filled with ink without the ink filling means. The ink container and the head may be housed in the kit container 501.

Further, in FIG. 24, only the ink filling means for filling the ink container with the ink is shown, but in addition to the ink container, a foaming liquid filling means for filling the foaming liquid container with the foaming liquid container is provided as a kit. It may be in the form of being stored in a container.

[0186]

According to the present invention, the angle formed by the straight line connecting the fulcrum of the movable member and the intersection of the surface of the discharge port connected to the liquid flow path and the central axis of the discharge port is based on the standby position of the movable member. , The liquid discharge state can be further stabilized by properly defining the maximum displacement angle when the movable member that fundamentally controls the bubbles generated in the liquid flow path is displaced to the maximum due to the generation of the bubbles. did it. In particular, we have solved extremely high stability by solving variations in the ejection state due to variations in the ejection port shape between heads or nozzles due to manufacturing variation factors when forming ejection ports using a laser or the like. .

In addition to the above-mentioned effects, as another effect, according to the liquid ejecting method, the head, etc. of the present invention based on the novel ejection principle using the movable member, the generated bubbles and the movable member displaced by this are synergistic. Since the effect can be obtained and the liquid in the vicinity of the ejection port can be efficiently ejected, the ejection efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional bubble jet type ejection method, the head, and the like.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent ejection failure even when left for a long time at low temperature or low humidity, and even if ejection failure occurs, recovery processing such as preliminary ejection or suction recovery can be performed. There is also an advantage that you can immediately return to the normal state with just a few steps. Along with this, the recovery time can be shortened, the loss of liquid due to the recovery can be reduced, and the running cost can be significantly reduced.

In particular, according to the configuration of the present invention with improved refill characteristics, responsiveness during continuous ejection, stable growth of bubbles, and stabilization of droplets are achieved, and high-speed recording by high-speed liquid ejection and high image quality are achieved. It was possible to record.

Further, in the head having the two-channel structure, by using a liquid that easily foams or a liquid that hardly causes deposits (burns etc.) on the heating element as the foaming liquid, the degree of freedom in selecting the discharge liquid is increased. It was possible to satisfactorily eject liquids that were difficult to be ejected by the conventional bubble jet ejection method, such as high viscosity liquids that are less likely to be foamed and liquids that tend to cause deposits on the heating element.

Further, it was possible to eject the liquid such as a liquid weak against heat without adversely affecting the liquid to be ejected.

Further, by using the liquid discharge head of the present invention as a liquid discharge recording head for recording, it was possible to achieve higher quality recording.

Further, by using the liquid discharge head of the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid discharge device, a recording system, etc., in which the liquid discharge efficiency and the like are further improved.

By using the head cartridge or head kit of the present invention, the head can be easily used and reused.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid discharge head applied to the present invention cut in the liquid flow path direction, in which (a) to (d) show respective steps of liquid discharge.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a liquid ejection head applied to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining pressure propagation from bubbles in a conventional liquid ejection head.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the propagation of pressure from bubbles in the liquid ejection head applied to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the flow of the liquid according to the ejection principle of the liquid flow path structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the liquid ejection head according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view for explaining a schematic structure of a liquid ejection head applied to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a positional relationship between a movable member and a second liquid flow path of a liquid ejection head applied to the present invention,
(A) is a schematic plan view of the movable member as seen from the first flow path side,
(B) is a schematic plan view of the second liquid flow path with the separation wall removed from the first flow path side, and (c) shows the positional relationship between the movable member and the second liquid flow path (a). It is the perspective view which showed typically by overlapping the arrangement of (b).

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the flow path direction of a liquid ejection head applied to the present invention, showing a first example of the relationship between θ _M and θ _E.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the flow path direction of a liquid ejection head applied to the present invention, showing a second example of the relationship between θ _M and θ _E.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view in the flow path direction of a liquid ejection head applied to the present invention, showing a third example of the relationship between θ _M and θ _E.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head applied to the present invention in the flow path direction, showing a fourth example of the relationship between θ _M and θ _E.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the movable member of the liquid ejection head applied to the present invention,
(A) shows a state in which the movable member is closed, and (b) shows a state in which the movable member is open.

FIG. 14 shows another example of the movable member of the liquid ejection head applied to the present invention, wherein (a), (b), and (c) show movable members having different shapes from the first flow path side. It is the typical plan view seen.

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head applied to the present invention, for explaining an example of a transfer stopper for satisfying the angle regulation of the present invention.

16A and 16B are vertical cross-sectional views of a liquid ejection head applied to the present invention, in which FIG. 16A shows a protective film (protective layer) provided, and FIG. 16B shows a protective film (protective layer) not provided. Indicates.

FIG. 17 is a graph showing a rectangular pulse for driving the heat generating portion of the electrothermal converter provided in the liquid ejection head applied to the present invention, the horizontal axis being the application time (pulse width) of the rectangular pulse, The vertical axis represents the voltage of the rectangular pulse.

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the internal two-channel configuration of the liquid ejection head applied to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic partially exploded perspective view for explaining the internal two-channel configuration of the liquid ejection head applied to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic partially exploded perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the liquid ejection head cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view for explaining a schematic configuration of a liquid ejection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of an entire control system for operating the liquid ejection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a schematic perspective view for explaining an example of an inkjet recording system according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a schematic side view for explaining an inkjet head for supplying a liquid (ink) to a liquid ejection head cartridge applied to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a view for explaining a conventional liquid ejection head, in which (a) is a schematic perspective view in which a part of the interior is viewed from a distance;
(B) is a sectional view.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Element Substrate 2 Heating Element 3 Area Center of Heating Element 10 Liquid Flow Path 11 Bubble Generation Area 12 Liquid Supply Path 13 Common Liquid Chamber 14 First Liquid Flow Path 15 First Common Liquid Chamber 16 Second Liquid Flow Path 17 Second Common liquid chamber 18 Discharge port 19 Narrowing part 21 Supply path 28 Discharge port part 30 Separation wall 31 Movable member 32 Free end 33 Support point 34 Base 35 Opening (slit) 40 Bubble 50 Groove member 51 Maximum displacement angle θ _M control part 60 Pressing Spring 70 Support 80 Liquid Supply Member 90 Liquid Container 104 Wiring Electrode 105 Resistance Layer 107 Base 105 Recording Medium 112 Gear 113 Gear 115 Gear Carriage Shaft 200 Liquid Ejection Head (Head) 201 Liquid Ejection Head 203 Head Cap 204 Ink Container 206 Conveyor belt 251 Pre-treatment device 252 Post-treatment device 300 Host computer Data 301 input interface 302 CPU 303 ROM 305 a motor driver 306 driving motor 307 a head driver 501 kit container 510 inkjet head 511 ink discharge portion 520 the ink container 521 air communication port 531 insertion portion

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Fumiyoshi Yoshihira 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kiyomitsu Kudo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Makiko Kimura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (29)

[Claims] 1. A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part, a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a surface facing the bubble generation region. Displacement of the movable member from the position of the reference surface to the maximum displacement position by the pressure based on the generation of bubbles using a liquid discharge head having a movable member that is arranged and has a free end closer to the discharge port than the fulcrum. A method for ejecting liquid by ejecting the liquid, wherein the reference surface is used as a reference, the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , and the ejection port portion is the liquid flow path. angle theta _E axes connecting surface connecting the central axis of the discharge port connecting said fulcrum portion with the point of intersection in
And θ _M is an acute angle, and 2 θ _M −5 ° ≦
A liquid ejection method, wherein θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 °. 2. The liquid discharging method according to claim 1, wherein the angle θ _M at the maximum displacement of the movable member is a reference plane is a line connecting the uppermost end of the discharge port portion of the connection surface and the fulcrum portion. A method for ejecting liquid, characterized in that the angle is equal to or greater than the angle formed. 3. The liquid discharge method according to claim 1, wherein the angle θ _M at the maximum displacement of the movable member is 2θ _M ≦
A liquid ejecting method, characterized in that it is set to θ _M. 4. The liquid ejecting method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is ejected by expanding the air bubble to a downstream side rather than an upstream side in a direction toward the ejection port by a displacement of the movable member. A method for ejecting liquid, comprising: 5. A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a first liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part, a second liquid flow path having a bubble generation region, and the bubble generation region. A liquid discharge head having a movable member provided with a free end on the discharge port side from the fulcrum part is used, bubbles are generated in the bubble generation region, and pressure is generated based on the generation of the bubbles. A liquid discharge method for discharging a liquid by displacing a movable member from a position of a reference surface to a maximum displacement position, wherein an angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum with reference to the reference surface. the theta _M, the angle of the axis of the discharge port portion connecting the center axis and said fulcrum portion with the point of intersection of the connecting surface and the discharge port to be connected to the liquid flow path theta _E
And θ _M is an acute angle, and 2θ _E −5 ° ≦
A liquid ejecting method, wherein θ _E + 5 °. 6. The liquid discharging method according to claim 5, wherein an angle θ _M at the time of maximum displacement of the movable member is defined by a line connecting the uppermost end of the discharge port portion of the connecting surface and the fulcrum portion and the reference surface. A method for ejecting liquid, characterized in that the angle is equal to or greater than the angle formed. 7. The liquid ejection method according to claim 5, wherein the angle θ _M at the maximum displacement of the movable member is 2θ _E ≦
A liquid ejecting method, characterized in that it is set to θ _M. 8. The liquid ejecting method according to claim 5, wherein the head is used in the method, and the head is located at a position higher than an upstream side in a direction in which the bubble is directed toward the ejection port by displacement of a movable member. A liquid ejecting method, characterized in that the liquid is ejected by greatly expanding downstream. 9. A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge part, a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a surface facing the bubble generation region. A liquid discharge head having a movable member having a free end closer to the discharge port than the fulcrum is used, and the movable member is displaced from the position of the reference surface to the maximum displacement position by the pressure based on the generation of bubbles. Is a liquid discharging method for discharging liquid by using the reference surface as a reference, the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , and the discharge port portion is the liquid flow path. The angle of the axis connecting the point where the connecting surface to be connected and the central axis of the discharge port intersect with the fulcrum portion is θ _E
And θ _M is an acute angle, and 2θ _E −7 ° ≦
A liquid ejection method, wherein θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 7 °. 10. A discharge port having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a first liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port, a second liquid flow path having a bubble generation region, and the bubble generation region. A liquid discharge head having a movable member provided with a free end on the discharge port side from the fulcrum part is used, bubbles are generated in the bubble generation region, and pressure is generated based on the generation of the bubbles. A liquid discharge method for discharging a liquid by displacing a movable member from a position of a reference surface to a maximum displacement position, wherein an angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum with reference to the reference surface. the theta _M, the angle of the axis of the discharge port portion connecting the center axis and said fulcrum portion with the point of intersection of the connecting surface and the discharge port to be connected to the liquid flow path theta _E
And θ _M is an acute angle, and 2θ _E −7 ° ≦
A liquid ejection method, wherein θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 7 °. 11. The liquid ejection method according to claim 10, wherein the liquid supplied to the first liquid flow path and the liquid supplied to the second liquid flow path are the same liquid. Liquid ejection method. 12. The liquid discharge method according to claim 10, wherein the liquid supplied to the first liquid flow path and the liquid supplied to the second liquid flow path are different liquids. Liquid ejection method. 13. The liquid discharging method according to claim 9, wherein an angle θ _M at the time of maximum displacement of the movable member is set to an uppermost end of a discharge port portion of the connection surface and the fulcrum portion. A liquid ejecting method, characterized in that the line connecting the lines is at an angle greater than or equal to the reference plane. 14. The liquid discharging method according to claim 9, wherein the angle θ _M at the maximum displacement of the movable member is set to 2θ _E ≦ θ _M. . 15. The liquid ejection method according to claim 9, wherein the displacement of the movable member causes the bubbles to expand to a greater extent in the downstream direction than in the upstream direction toward the ejection port. A method for ejecting liquid, comprising: 16. A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part, a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a surface facing the bubble generation region. Displacement of the movable member from the position of the reference surface to the maximum displacement position by the pressure based on the generation of bubbles using a liquid discharge head having a movable member that is arranged and has a free end closer to the discharge port than the fulcrum. A method for ejecting liquid by ejecting the liquid, wherein the reference surface is used as a reference, the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , and the ejection port portion is the liquid flow path. angle theta _E axes connecting surface connecting the central axis of the discharge port connecting said fulcrum portion with the point of intersection in
In this case, θ _M is an acute angle and is equal to or greater than the angle of the axis connecting the uppermost end of the discharge port portion of the connection surface and the fulcrum portion, and θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 °. Liquid ejection method. 17. A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part, a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a surface facing the bubble generation region. Displacement of the movable member from the position of the reference surface to the maximum displacement position by the pressure based on the generation of bubbles using a liquid discharge head having a movable member that is arranged and has a free end closer to the discharge port than the fulcrum. A method for ejecting liquid by ejecting the liquid, wherein the reference surface is used as a reference, the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , and the ejection port portion is the liquid flow path. angle theta _E axes connecting surface connecting the central axis of the discharge port connecting said fulcrum portion with the point of intersection in
Then, θ _M is an acute angle, and the angle is equal to or greater than the angle of the axis connecting the uppermost end of the discharge port portion of the connection surface to the fulcrum portion, and 2θ _E −5 ° ≦ θ _M ≦ 2θ _E. A liquid discharging method characterized by the above. 18. The liquid discharge method according to claim 1, 5, 9 or 10, wherein the height of the ceiling of the liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port is higher than that on the fulcrum part. A liquid discharge method characterized in that the height is higher on the free end. 19. The liquid discharge method according to claim 1, 5, 9 or 10, wherein a heating element for generating bubbles is arranged on a side facing the movable member, and a heating element is provided between the heating elements. Is a bubble generation region. 20. A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part, a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a surface facing the bubble generation region. A liquid discharge head having a movable member that is arranged and has a free end closer to the discharge port than a fulcrum, and moves the movable member from a position of a reference plane to a maximum displacement position by pressure based on generation of bubbles. When displacing and ejecting the liquid, the angle at the time of maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion with reference to the reference surface is θ _M , and the ejection port portion is connected to the liquid flow path. The angle of the axis connecting the point where the connection surface intersects with the central axis of the discharge port and the fulcrum portion is θ _E
And θ _M is an acute angle, and 2θ _E −5 ° ≦
A liquid discharge head characterized in that θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 °. 21. A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a first liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part, a second liquid flow path having a bubble generation region, and the bubble generation region. A liquid discharge head having a movable member provided with a free end on the discharge port side from a fulcrum part, wherein bubbles are generated in the bubble generation region, and pressure is generated based on the generation of the bubbles. When displacing the movable member from the position of the reference surface to the maximum displacement position to discharge the liquid, the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum part with respect to the reference surface is θ _M. , Θ _M is an acute angle, where θ _E is the angle of the axis connecting the fulcrum part and the point where the central axis of the discharge port intersects with the connection surface where the discharge port part connects to the liquid flow path. Together with 2θ _E −5 ° ≦ θ _M ≦ 2
A liquid discharge head characterized by satisfying θ _E + 5 °. 22. A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part, a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid, and a surface facing the bubble generation region. A liquid discharge head having a movable member that is arranged and has a free end closer to the discharge port than a fulcrum, and moves the movable member from a position of a reference plane to a maximum displacement position by pressure based on generation of bubbles. When displacing and ejecting the liquid, the angle at the time of maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion with reference to the reference surface is θ _M , and the ejection port portion is connected to the liquid flow path. The angle of the axis connecting the point where the connection surface intersects with the central axis of the discharge port and the fulcrum portion is θ _E
And θ _M is an acute angle, and 2θ _E −7 ° ≦
A liquid discharge head characterized in that θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 7 °. 23. A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, a first liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port part, a second liquid flow path having a bubble generation region, and the bubble generation region. A liquid discharge head having a movable member provided with a free end on the discharge port side from a fulcrum part, wherein bubbles are generated in the bubble generation region, and pressure is generated based on the generation of the bubbles. When displacing the movable member from the position of the reference surface to the maximum displacement position to discharge the liquid, the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum part with respect to the reference surface is θ _M. , Θ _M is an acute angle, where θ _E is the angle of the axis connecting the fulcrum part and the point where the central axis of the discharge port intersects with the connection surface where the discharge port part connects to the liquid flow path. Together with 2θ _E −7 ° ≦ θ _M ≦ 2
A liquid discharge head characterized by satisfying θ _E + 7 °. 24. A liquid ejection head for ejecting a liquid has an ejection port portion having an ejection port for ejecting the liquid, a liquid flow path communicating with the ejection port portion, and a bubble generation region for generating bubbles in the liquid. A liquid discharge head having a movable member disposed facing the bubble generation region and having a free end on the discharge port side from a fulcrum, and the movable member is used as a reference by the pressure based on the generation of bubbles. A liquid discharge head that discharges liquid by displacing from a position of a surface to a maximum displacement position, wherein the reference surface is used as a reference, and the angle at the maximum displacement of the movable member around the fulcrum portion is θ _M , The angle of the axis connecting the fulcrum and the point at which the central axis of the discharge port intersects with the connection surface where the discharge port connects to the liquid flow path is θ _E
And θ _M is an acute angle, and it is greater than or equal to the angle of the axis connecting the maximum end of the discharge port portion of the connection surface and the fulcrum portion, and satisfies θ _M ≦ 2θ _E + 5 °. Liquid ejection head. 25. A liquid ejection head for ejecting a liquid is a liquid
A discharge port part having a discharge port for discharging a body, and the discharge port part
Bubbles that generate bubbles in the liquid flow path
Area and the bubble generation area, facing the fulcrum
A liquid having a movable member having a free end on the discharge port side.
By using the body discharge head, the pressure generated by the generation of bubbles
Displace the movable member from the reference plane position to the maximum displacement position.
A liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid by using the reference surface as a reference and the fulcrum as a center.
The angle at the maximum displacement of the moving member is θ_M, The discharge
Center of the discharge port and the connection surface where the mouth connects to the liquid flow path
The angle of the axis connecting the point where the axis intersects with the fulcrum is θ_E
Then θ _MWith an acute angle, and
It is not less than the angle of the axis connecting the uppermost end of the outlet and the fulcrum.
And 2θ_E−5 ° ≦ θ_M≤2θ_ESpecial to meet
Liquid ejection head to be collected. 26. The liquid discharge head according to claim 20, wherein the height of the ceiling of the liquid flow path communicating with the discharge port is above the free end above the fulcrum. A liquid ejection head characterized by a higher price. 27. The liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein a heating element for generating bubbles is arranged on a side facing the movable member,
A liquid ejection head characterized in that a space between them is a bubble generation region. 28. A liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid by generation of bubbles, wherein the liquid ejecting head according to claim 20 and a drive for ejecting the liquid from the liquid ejecting head. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a drive signal supplying unit that supplies a signal. 29. A liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid by generating bubbles, wherein the liquid ejecting head according to any one of claims 20 to 25 and a liquid receiving head for receiving the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a recording medium conveying unit that conveys a recording medium.