Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting unit, and liquid ejecting apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a liquid ejection head, a liquid ejection unit, and a liquid ejection apparatus, which perform high-quality liquid ejection without generating a surrounding airflow and suppress significant quality degradation in a case where a surrounding airflow is generated. The configuration of a liquid ejection head having a plurality of nozzle rows is such that nozzles arranged in both end region of an upstream nozzle row located on an upstream side in a medium conveying direction and nozzles arranged in both end region of a downstream nozzle row located on a downstream side in the medium conveying direction are configured to correspond to mutually adjacent ejection points on a medium to be ejected, and in either of the both end regions, the ejection points corresponding to the nozzles of the upstream nozzle row are in a position relationship of adjacent ejection points from the central region side of the nozzle row, with respect to the ejection points corresponding to the nozzles of the downstream nozzle row.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a liquid injection head, a liquid injection unit, and a device for injecting liquid. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, liquid jet heads were known to have multiple nozzle arrays extending in a direction orthogonal to the direction of delivery of the sprayed medium (nozzle array direction), and to spray liquid from each nozzle constituting these nozzle arrays to the sprayed medium.

[0003] Generally, the airflow generated by the delivery of the sprayed medium enters the spray area between the nozzle face of the liquid injection head and the sprayed medium. However, due to the so-called air curtain effect generated by the liquid spray within the spray area, it actually circulates to the left and right, avoiding the spray area. Due to this circulating airflow, for nozzles located near the outer periphery of the nozzle face, especially for nozzles located at the two ends of the upstream nozzle row on the upstream side of the sprayed medium delivery direction and nozzles located at the two ends of the downstream nozzle row on the downstream side of the sprayed medium delivery direction, the sprayed liquid is bent and sometimes cannot fall on the target position (target spray point position) of the sprayed medium.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid injection head having three rows of nozzles. In the two end regions of each nozzle row of this liquid injection head, the nozzle spacing of the upstream nozzle row is the widest, the nozzle spacing of the nozzle row located in the middle of the direction of the sprayed medium is the second widest, and the nozzle spacing of the downstream nozzle row is the narrowest. This configuration pre-changes the nozzle spacing from the original nozzle spacing by the amount of bending of the sprayed liquid by the surrounding airflow, thereby suppressing the offset of the landing position (the position of the spray point on the sprayed medium) caused by the surrounding airflow.

[0005] However, depending on various conditions such as the liquid injection conditions and the transport conditions of the injected medium, the undesirable situation of injection bend due to the surrounding airflow is sometimes almost non-existent. In such cases, an offset in the landing position (the position of the spray point on the injected medium) occurs in existing liquid injection heads, resulting in problems with high-quality liquid injection.

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-181765 Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned issues, the present invention relates to a liquid injection head having a plurality of nozzle rows extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of delivery of the injected medium. The head is characterized in that: nozzles disposed in the two end regions of an upstream nozzle row located upstream in the direction of delivery of the injected medium, and nozzles disposed in the two end regions of a downstream nozzle row located downstream in the direction of delivery of the injected medium, are configured such that they correspond to adjacent spray points on the injected medium. In either end region of the two end regions, the spray point corresponding to a nozzle of the upstream nozzle row is positioned relative to the spray point corresponding to a nozzle of the downstream nozzle row in a positional relationship that begins from the central region side in the direction of the nozzle rows.

[0008] According to the present invention, high-quality liquid jetting with little or no displacement of the spray point position can be performed without generating an circumferential airflow, and significant image quality degradation can be suppressed when an circumferential airflow is generated. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of an image forming system according to an embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2 This is an explanatory diagram showing the view of the nozzle unit from the direction perpendicular to the sheet surface of the continuous sheet facing the nozzle unit of the image forming system.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional illustration showing the appearance of the liquid injection head in the spray unit.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional diagram orthogonal to the direction of the nozzle array of the liquid injection head.

[0013] Figure 5 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array and the surrounding airflow in a conventional liquid jet head, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bends due to the surrounding airflow.

[0014] Figure 6 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array in the liquid jet head of the embodiment and the surrounding airflow, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bends due to the surrounding airflow.

[0015] Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a nozzle configuration change area and a normal area switching position biased towards one side of the nozzle row direction.

[0016] Figure 8This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a nozzle configuration change area and a normal area switching position at the center position in the nozzle column direction.

[0017] Figure 9 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array in the liquid jet head of Modified Example 1 and the surrounding airflow, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bends due to the surrounding airflow.

[0018] Figure 10 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array and the surrounding airflow in the liquid jet head of Modified Example 2, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bending occurs due to the surrounding airflow.

[0019] Figure 11 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array in the liquid jet head of modified example 3 and the surrounding airflow, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bending occurs due to the surrounding airflow.

[0020] Figure 12 The image shown is a top view of the main part of another example of a liquid-jetting device.

[0021] Figure 13 The image shown is a side view illustrating the main parts of the device.

[0022] Figure 14 The diagram shown is a top view illustrating the main components of another example of a liquid injection unit.

[0023] Figure 15 The diagram shown is a top view illustrating another example of a liquid injection unit.

[0024] Figure 16 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of an example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of applying the liquid jetting head of the present invention to an image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus including an inkjet printer which is a device for jetting liquid will be described.

[0026] This invention is not limited to liquid jetting heads, but can also be applied to any type of liquid jetting head, such as piezoelectric liquid jetting heads, bubble jetting (registered trademark) liquid jetting heads, and electrostatic liquid jetting heads.

[0027] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of the image forming system 1000 according to an embodiment.

[0028] The image forming system 1000 of this embodiment includes: a winding device 1 for conveying a continuous sheet 10, which is the sprayed medium; an image forming apparatus 5 for spraying liquid onto the continuous sheet 10 conveyed by the winding device 1 to form an image; and a winding device 9 for discharging the continuous sheet 10 with the image formed. The image forming apparatus 5 includes a conveying section 3 for conveying the continuous sheet 10 conveyed by the winding device 1 to a nozzle unit 50, and a drying section 7 for drying the continuous sheet 10 with the image formed.

[0029] The continuous sheet 10 is fed out from the sheet roller 11 of the winding device 1, and is conveyed by the rollers of the winding device 1, the conveying unit 3, the drying unit 7, and the winding device 9, and is wound by the printing roller 91 of the winding device 9. The continuous sheet 10 is conveyed in the image forming apparatus 5 facing the printhead unit 50, and an image is formed by the jetting liquid (image forming ink) ejected from the printhead unit 50.

[0030] In the nozzle unit 50, for example, starting from the upstream side of the sheet conveying direction (the direction of the sprayed medium) A, a four-color full-row nozzle array 51K, 51C, 51M, 51Y and liquid circulation mechanisms 200K, 200C, 200M, 200Y corresponding to each nozzle array 51K, 51C, 51M, 51Y are arranged sequentially. Each nozzle array 51K, 51C, 51M, 51Y has one or more liquid spraying heads, which spray black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) spraying liquids onto the conveyed continuous sheet 10, respectively.

[0031] Figure 2 The diagram shown is an explanatory diagram of the nozzle unit 50 viewed from the sheet surface of the continuous sheet 10 facing the nozzle unit 50 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet surface, in order to illustrate the configuration of the nozzle unit 50.

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, the nozzle arrays 51K, 51C, 51M, and 51Y in this embodiment are nozzle arrays in which liquid injection heads 100 are arranged in a staggered pattern on the base member 52. Specifically, the plurality of liquid injection heads 100 disposed in each of the nozzle arrays 51K, 51C, 51M, and 51Y are configured such that the nozzle arrangement direction is consistent with the sheet width direction (the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction A). Moreover, they are arranged such that the sheet conveying direction positions of adjacent liquid injection heads 100 are staggered from each other, and the sheet width direction positions of the nozzle columns of adjacent liquid injection heads 100 partially overlap each other.

[0033] Figure 3 The figure shown is a perspective view of the liquid injection head 100 in the embodiment.

[0034] Figure 4The diagram shown is a cross-sectional view of the liquid injection head 100 in this embodiment, which is orthogonal to the direction of the nozzle array.

[0035] The liquid injection head 100 of this embodiment includes a structure formed by stacking and joining a nozzle plate 101, a flow channel plate 102, and a vibrating plate component 103. Furthermore, the liquid injection head 100 includes: a piezoelectric actuator 111 as a pressure generating means, which displaces the vibration region (vibrating plate) 130 of the vibrating plate component 103; a common liquid chamber component 120, which also serves as a frame component of the liquid injection head 100; and a cover 129. The portion formed by the flow channel plate 102 and the vibrating plate component 103 is referred to as the flow channel component 140.

[0036] A plurality of nozzles 104a for spraying liquid are formed on the nozzle plate 101. In the liquid spray head 100 of this embodiment, at least two rows of nozzles 104a are formed in the nozzle row direction. As will be described later, the liquid spray head 100 of this embodiment will be described with an example of four rows of nozzles 104-1 to 104-4 arranged in the sheet conveying direction, but the number of nozzle rows can be appropriately set.

[0037] A through hole or groove is formed on the flow path plate 102. This through hole or groove serves as an independent liquid chamber 106, which is connected to the nozzle 104a via the nozzle connecting passage 105, and is also connected to a supply-side fluid resistance section 107 and a liquid inlet section 108. The nozzle connecting passage 105 is a flow channel that connects to both the nozzle 104a and the independent liquid chamber 106. Furthermore, the liquid inlet section 108 communicates with the supply-side common liquid chamber 110 via the opening 109 of the vibrating plate member 103.

[0038] The vibrating plate component 103 has a deformable vibration region 130 on the wall of the independent liquid chamber 106 forming the flow path plate 102. The vibrating plate component 103 is, for example, a double-layer structure (not limited), consisting of a first layer forming a thin-walled portion and a second layer forming a thick-walled portion from the flow path plate 102 side, wherein the portion of the first layer corresponding to the independent liquid chamber 106 has a deformable vibration region 130.

[0039] A piezoelectric actuator 111, including a motor conversion element, is disposed on the side of the vibrating plate component 103 opposite to the individual liquid chamber 106, serving as a driving means (actuator means, pressure generating means) to deform the vibration region 130 of the vibrating plate component 103. The piezoelectric actuator 111 is formed, for example, by half-cutting and slotting the piezoelectric components joined to the base component 113 to form a required number of columnar piezoelectric assemblies 112 at predetermined intervals into a comb-like structure. The piezoelectric elements 112 engage with island-shaped thick-walled portions, i.e., protrusions 130a, formed in the vibration region 130 of the vibrating plate component 103. Furthermore, a flexible wiring component 115 is connected to the piezoelectric elements 112.

[0040] The common liquid chamber component 120 includes a supply-side common liquid chamber 110 and a discharge-side common liquid chamber 150. The supply-side common liquid chamber 110 communicates with the supply port 171, and the discharge-side common liquid chamber 150 communicates with the discharge port 181. The common liquid chamber component 120 is, for example, composed of a first common liquid chamber component 121 and a second common liquid chamber component 122. The first common liquid chamber component 121 is engaged with the vibrating plate component 103 of the flow channel component 140, and the second common liquid chamber component 122 is engaged with the first common liquid chamber component 121 in a stacked manner.

[0041] The first common liquid chamber component 121 has a downstream common liquid chamber 110A, which is part of the supply-side common liquid chamber 110 communicating with the liquid inlet 108, and a discharge-side common liquid chamber 150 communicating with the discharge channel 151. Furthermore, the second common liquid chamber component 122 has an upstream common liquid chamber 110B, which is the remaining part of the supply-side common liquid chamber 110. Additionally, a discharge channel 151 is formed on the flow path plate 102, which communicates with each individual liquid chamber 106 via a nozzle connection passage 105 and extends along the surface direction of the flow path plate 102. The discharge channel 151 communicates with the discharge-side common liquid chamber 150.

[0042] In the liquid injection head 100 of this embodiment, for example, the piezoelectric element 112 is contracted by decreasing the voltage applied to it from a reference potential (intermediate potential), and the volume of the independent liquid chamber 106 expands after being stretched by the vibration region 130 of the vibrating plate member 103. As a result, liquid flows into the independent liquid chamber 106. On the other hand, the piezoelectric element 112 is elongated in the stacking direction by increasing the voltage applied to it, and the vibration region 130 of the vibrating plate member 103 is deformed toward the nozzle 104a, thereby causing the volume of the independent liquid chamber 106 to contract. As a result, the liquid in the independent liquid chamber 106 is pressurized and ejected from the nozzle 104a.

[0043] Liquid in the independent liquid chamber 106 that is not ejected from the nozzle 104a is discharged from the discharge channel 151 to the discharge-side common liquid chamber 150, and is then resupplyed from the discharge-side common liquid chamber 150 to the supply-side common liquid chamber 110 through an external circulation path. Furthermore, the method of driving the nozzle is not limited to the example described above (pull-push), and can also be based on the application method of the drive waveform, such as pull-pressurization or push-pressurization.

[0044] Next, the jet bending caused by the surrounding airflow generated by the continuous sheet 10 in the liquid jet head will be explained.

[0045] Figure 5 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array and the surrounding airflow in a conventional liquid injection head 100'.

[0046] Figure 5 (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bending is caused by the surrounding airflow.

[0047] Figure 5 The liquid injection head 100' shown in (a) is a case where four rows of nozzles 104-1' to 104-4' extending in the nozzle array direction perpendicular to the discharge conveying direction A are arranged in the sheet conveying direction A. Each of the four rows of nozzles 104-1' to 104-4' consists of multiple nozzles 104a arranged at the same nozzle spacing, and the position of each nozzle 104a is shifted one spray point in the nozzle array direction starting from the upstream nozzle array in the sheet conveying direction A. This allows the spray point distance (the interval between the liquid landing positions (spray points) on the continuous sheet 10 in the nozzle array direction) formed by the liquid injection head 100' in the sheet width direction to be narrower than the nozzle spacing, enabling a high density of spray points.

[0048] In detail, such as Figure 5As shown in (b), on the continuous sheet 10, next to the spray points dL1' and dR1' of the liquid ejected from the nozzle 104a of the first nozzle row 104-1, which is the most upstream nozzle row in the sheet conveying direction A (next to the nozzle row direction; the same applies below), spray points dL2' and dR2' of the liquid ejected from the nozzle 104a of the second nozzle row 104-2, which is the second nozzle row from the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction A, are formed. Next, next to these spray points dL2' and dR2', spray points dL3' and dR3' of the liquid ejected from the nozzle 104a of the third nozzle row 104-3, which is the third nozzle row from the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction A, are formed. Next to these spray points dL3' and dR3', spray points dL4' and dR4' of the liquid ejected from the nozzle 104a of the fourth nozzle row 104-4, which is the most downstream nozzle row in the sheet conveying direction A, are formed. Then, next to the spray points dL4' and dR4', spray points dL1' and dR1' of liquid ejected from the nozzle 104a of the first nozzle row 104-1, which is the uppermost nozzle row, are formed again, and this operation is repeated thereafter.

[0049] As a result, in the liquid injection head 100', such as Figure 5 As shown in (b), the nozzles 104-1R' and 104-1L' disposed in the two end regions of the first nozzle column 104-1, which is the most upstream nozzle column, and the nozzles 104-4R' and 104-4L' disposed in the two end regions of the fourth nozzle column 104-4, which is the most downstream nozzle column, correspond to the spray points dL1', dL4', dR1', and dR4' that are adjacent to each other on the continuous sheet 10.

[0050] In the liquid injection head 100', without causing bending of the injected liquid due to the surrounding airflows WR and WL, the distance between the nozzles of the first nozzle row 104-1' and the fourth nozzle row 104-4' is the target distance. However, when airflow is generated due to the continuous conveying of the sheet 10, this airflow, under the action of the air curtain generated by the liquid injection in the injection area, flows around to the left and right sides of the nozzle face (outside the nozzle row direction of the nozzle face). Furthermore, through this surrounding airflow WR1 and WL1, the liquid injected from the nozzles 104-1R' and 104-1L' located in the end regions of the first nozzle row 104-1' located at the upstream end in the sheet conveying direction A is as follows: Figure 5 As indicated by the arrow in (a), it bends toward each end from the center of the nozzle column.

[0051] Additionally, the surrounding airflow WR2 and WL2, which circulate outside the nozzle array direction on the nozzle face, are as follows: Figure 5As shown in (a), the flow proceeds downstream of the sheet conveying direction into the nozzle surface. Therefore, through this surrounding airflow WR2, WL2, the liquid ejected from nozzles 104-4R', 104-4L' located at the ends of the fourth nozzle row 104-4' in the downstream direction of sheet conveying A... Figure 5 As indicated by the arrow in (a), it bends toward the center from each end in the direction of the nozzle column.

[0052] Thus, in the liquid injection head 100', between the first nozzle row 104-1' and the fourth nozzle row 104-4', the liquid injected from the nozzles 104-1R', 104-1L', 104-4R', and 104-4L' located at both ends bends in opposite directions due to the surrounding airflows WR and WL (WR1, WL1, WR2, WL2).

[0053] Furthermore, this example illustrates the first nozzle row 104-1' at the very upstream end of the sheet conveying direction A, where the jet bending caused by the surrounding airflow has a significant impact, and the fourth nozzle row 104-4' at the very downstream end, corresponding to adjacent spray points on the continuous sheet 10. However, this is not a limitation. For example, jet bending caused by the surrounding airflow may occur in the second second nozzle row 104-2' from the upstream side of the sheet conveying direction A, although the effect of jet bending is small, it may still occur in the same way as the first nozzle row 104-1'. Similarly, jet bending caused by the surrounding airflow may occur in the third nozzle row 104-3' from the second downstream side of the sheet conveying direction A, although the effect of jet bending is small, it may still occur in the same way as the fourth nozzle row 104-4'. Therefore, the same applies between any of the first nozzle array 104-1' and the second nozzle array 104-2' located upstream of the sheet conveying direction A and any of the fourth nozzle array 104-4' and the third nozzle array 104-3' located downstream of the sheet conveying direction A, when they correspond to adjacent spray points on the continuous sheet 10.

[0054] Here, in the liquid jet head 100' mentioned above, if a jet bending is caused by the surrounding airflow WR, WL, the position of the spray point (the landing position of the sprayed liquid) on the continuous sheet 10 will shift, which may sometimes significantly show image quality degradation.

[0055] In detail, such as Figure 5 As in the right end region of (b), when the liquid is sprayed between the first nozzle row 104-1' and the fourth nozzle row 104-4' and bends toward each other's spray points dR1' and dR4' by the surrounding airflow WR and WL, image quality degradation such as the image density being denser than the target may occur due to the overlap of adjacent spray points.

[0056] On the contrary, such as Figure 5 As in the left end region of (b), when the liquid is sprayed between the first nozzle row 104-1' and the fourth nozzle row 104-4' through the surrounding airflow WR and WL, and the liquid bends in the direction of separation of the mutual spray points dL1' and dL4', adjacent spray point separation may occur, resulting in spray point blanks (blanks) and thus image quality degradation.

[0057] Of these image quality degradations (spray overlap and blanking), the former (spray overlap) is a minor image quality degradation that is almost not a problem, while the latter (blanking) is a major problem that must be improved and is a significant image quality degradation. Then, in Figure 5 In the ordinary liquid injection head 100' shown, in either of the two end regions ( Figure 5 In the left end region of (b), significant image quality degradation such as white nozzles (no nozzle blanks) occurs due to the surrounding airflow WR and WL.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a row-type nozzle unit 50 is formed by arranging multiple liquid nozzles. In this configuration, as described above, when liquid nozzles 100' with image quality degradation due to nozzle overlap in one end region and image quality degradation due to blanking in another end region are arranged, the image portion with nozzle overlap (the denser portion) and the image portion with blanking are adjacent to each other in the seam between the multiple liquid nozzles 100'. In this case, due to the density contrast, the image quality degradation of the blanking image tends to become more obvious, and the image quality degradation becomes more significant.

[0059] Figure 6 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array and the surrounding airflow in the liquid injection head 100 of the embodiment.

[0060] Figure 6 (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bending is caused by the surrounding airflow.

[0061] like Figure 6 As shown in (a), the liquid injection head 100 of this embodiment is configured such that, in either of the two end regions, the spray points dL1, dR1 corresponding to the nozzles 104-1L, 104-1R of the first nozzle row 104-1 are adjacent to the spray points dL4, dR4 corresponding to the nozzles 104-4L, 104-4R of the fourth nozzle row 104-4 from the central region side in the direction of the nozzle row. In other words, it is positioned relative to... Figure 5 The liquid injection head 100' shown Figure 5 The nozzle configuration in the left end region of (b) is a configuration in which the nozzle direction positions of the nozzles 104-1L' of the first nozzle column 104-1' and the nozzles 104-4L' of the fourth nozzle column 104-4' are interchanged.

[0062] Based on this configuration, in this embodiment, as Figure 6 As indicated by the arrow in (a), the direction in which the ejected liquid bends due to the surrounding airflow WR, WL results in the direction in which the nozzle points dL1, dR1, dL4, dR4 between the first nozzle row 104-1 and the fourth nozzle row 104-4 approach each other in any end region. Therefore, in any end region, there will be no significant image quality degradation such as blanking (nozzle gaps) caused by the liquid bending in the direction of nozzle separation between the first nozzle row 104-1 and the fourth nozzle row 104-4.

[0063] In this embodiment, when the surrounding airflows WR and WL are generated, image quality degradation may occur in the two end regions due to nozzle overlap caused by jet bending. However, as mentioned above, the image quality degradation caused by nozzle overlap is slight and hardly a problem.

[0064] Thus, in this embodiment, even when surrounding airflows WR and WL are generated, significant image quality degradation such as blanking does not occur. Therefore, for example, it is unnecessary to adopt a configuration like the liquid jet head disclosed in Patent Document 1 (which pre-changes the nozzle spacing from the original nozzle spacing only by altering the amount of liquid bending due to the surrounding airflow). Therefore, in the liquid jet head 100 of this embodiment, all nozzle rows 104-1 to 104-4 are configured such that there is no offset in the nozzle position when surrounding airflows WR and WL are not generated. As a result, high-quality liquid jetting with little or no offset in the nozzle position can be performed when surrounding airflows WR and WL are not generated. Even when surrounding airflows are generated, significant image quality degradation such as blanking as described above does not occur, thus maintaining the quality of liquid jetting is possible.

[0065] In particular, in this embodiment, even when multiple liquid jet heads are arranged to form a full-row nozzle unit 50, the image quality degradation caused by noticeable blanking at the seams between the multiple liquid jet heads can be eliminated.

[0066] According to this embodiment, the image quality degradation that may occur in any end region is the image quality degradation caused by overlapping of the same spray points. Therefore, even if multiple liquid spray heads 100 are arranged to form a full-row spray head unit 50, the image portions (the denser portions) with overlapping spray points will be adjacent to each other at the seams between the multiple liquid spray heads 100. Therefore, due to the small density contrast, the image quality degradation caused by overlapping spray points is not very noticeable.

[0067] Figure 6 The area (nozzle configuration change area) showing the positional relationship (spray point position relationship) between nozzle 104-1L of the first nozzle row 104-1 and nozzle 104-4L of the fourth nozzle row 104-4 in the left end region of (a). Figure 6 The switching position of the area (normal area) where the positional relationship (spray point positional relationship) of the nozzle 104-1R of the first nozzle column 104-1 and the nozzle 104-4R of the fourth nozzle column 104-4 is switched, such as... Figure 7 As shown, it can also be a position on either end side biased towards the nozzle array direction. Figure 7 (In the example, the position is biased to the left). Additionally, as... Figure 8 As shown, the switching position between the nozzle configuration change area and the normal area can also be the central position in the nozzle column direction.

[0068] [Modification 1] Next, a modification of the liquid injection head in the above embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "Modification 1") will be described.

[0069] Figure 9 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array and the surrounding airflow in the liquid jet head 100 of Modified Example 1.

[0070] Figure 9 (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bending is caused by the surrounding airflow.

[0071] In this modified example 1, the nozzles located at least in the two end regions of at least the first nozzle row 104-1 and the fourth nozzle row 104-4 of the four nozzle rows are positioned symmetrically with respect to the center of the nozzle row direction. Additionally, as... Figure 9 As shown in (a), the liquid injection head 100 of this modified example 1 is an example in which all the nozzle rows 104-1 to 104-4 are configured such that the positions of the nozzles are symmetrical with respect to the center of the nozzle row direction throughout the entire area of ​​the nozzle rows.

[0072] In other words, in this variation 1, as Figure 9As shown in (a), the nozzle shift angle of the four nozzle rows 104-1 to 104-4 in the left region of the figure is +θ, while the nozzle shift angle of the four nozzle rows 104-1 to 104-4 in the right region of the figure is -θ. The nozzle shift angle, as described here, is, in the left region of the figure, the angle formed by the straight line connecting the nozzles 104-1L, 104-2L, 104-3L, 104-4L, and 104-1L arranged in the order of the nozzle points dL1, dL2, dL3, dL4, dL1, ... along the nozzle row direction on the continuous sheet 10, to the nozzle row direction.

[0073] [Modification 2] Next, other modifications of the liquid injection head in the above-described embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "Modification 2") will be described.

[0074] Figure 10 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array and the surrounding airflow in the liquid jet head 100 of Modified Example 2.

[0075] Figure 10 (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bending is caused by the surrounding airflow.

[0076] like Figure 10 As shown in (a), in this modified example 2, the nozzle arrangement is different from that in modified example 1, by shifting the four nozzle rows 104-1 to 104-4 in the right-hand region of the figure in the sheet conveying direction A. In the switching position between the nozzle configuration in the left-hand end region and the nozzle configuration in the right-hand end region of the figure, sometimes a situation arises where the nozzles are too close together, making it difficult to form an independent liquid chamber 106 and a flow path. In this case, as... Figure 10 As shown in (a), the above-mentioned problem can be improved by adopting a configuration that shifts the nozzle array in the sheet conveying direction A.

[0077] [Modification 3] Next, another modification of the liquid injection head in the above embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "Modification 3") will be described.

[0078] Figure 11 (a) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the nozzle array and the surrounding airflow in the liquid jet head 100 of Modified Example 3.

[0079] Figure 11 (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the spray point on the continuous sheet 10 when the jet bending is caused by the surrounding airflow.

[0080] This variation 3 is as follows: Figure 11As shown in (a), only for the first nozzle column 104-1 and the fourth nozzle column 104-4 of the four nozzle columns, the positions of the nozzles located at least at both ends are symmetrical with respect to the center of the nozzle column direction. That is, for the second nozzle column 104-2 and the third nozzle column 104-3 of the four nozzle columns, which are neither the downstream nor the upstream in the sheet conveying direction, the positions of the nozzles are not symmetrical with respect to the center of the nozzle column direction.

[0081] Regarding the second nozzle array 104-2 and the third nozzle array 104-3, since they are not either the downstream or upstream of the sheet conveying direction, it is difficult to produce jet bending even if circumferential airflows WR and WL are generated. Therefore, for these nozzle arrays 104-2 and 104-3, the same nozzle configuration as that of a typical nozzle array is used throughout the entire area of ​​the nozzle array (with a certain nozzle spacing throughout the entire area of ​​the nozzle array).

[0082] Next, refer to Figure 12 and Figure 13 Another example of the liquid injection device of the present invention will be described.

[0083] Figure 12 The diagram shown is a plan view illustrating the main components of the device. Figure 13 The image shown is a side view illustrating the main parts of the device.

[0084] This device is a tandem type, in which the carriage 403 reciprocates in the main scanning direction via the main scanning moving mechanism 493. The main scanning moving mechanism 493 includes a guide member 401, a main scanning motor 405, and a timing belt 408. The guide member 401 is mounted on the left and right side plates 491A and 491B, and holds the carriage 403 in a movable position. Then, via the main scanning motor 405 and the timing belt 408 mounted between the drive pulley 406 and the driven pulley 407, the carriage 403 reciprocates in the main scanning direction.

[0085] On the carriage 403, a liquid injection unit 440 is mounted, which integrates the liquid injection head device 404 and the nozzle tank 441 as described in this invention. The liquid injection head device 404 of the liquid injection unit 440, like the nozzle unit 50 of the above embodiment, includes, for example, a liquid injection head that can spray liquids of various colors, such as yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). Furthermore, the liquid injection head in the liquid injection head device 404, like the liquid injection head 100 of the above embodiment, is configured in a serrated shape, with the nozzle array direction along the sub-scanning direction (the length direction of the nozzle) orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and is mounted so that the spray direction is downward.

[0086] Liquid stored in liquid cartridge 450 is supplied to nozzle tank 441 by supply mechanism 494 for supplying liquid accumulated outside liquid nozzle device 404 to liquid nozzle device 404.

[0087] The supply mechanism 494 consists of a cartridge holding part 451, which serves as the filling part for mounting the liquid cartridge 450, a hose 456, and a delivery unit 452 including a delivery pump. The liquid cartridge 450 is detachably mounted on the cartridge holding part 451. In the nozzle tank 441, liquid is delivered from the liquid cartridge 450 via the delivery unit 452 and the hose 456.

[0088] The device has a conveying mechanism 495 for conveying paper 410. The conveying mechanism 495 includes a conveyor belt 412 as a conveying means and a secondary scanning motor 416 for driving the conveyor belt 412.

[0089] The conveyor belt 412 adsorbs and transports the paper 410 to a position opposite to the liquid jet head device 404. The conveyor belt 412 is a loop belt, positioned between the conveyor roller 413 and the tension roller 414. Adsorption can be achieved through electrostatic adsorption or air attraction, etc.

[0090] Then, the conveyor belt 412 moves around in the secondary scanning direction by means of the rotational drive of the conveyor roller 413 by the auxiliary scanning motor 416 via the timing belt 417 and the timing pulley 418.

[0091] Furthermore, at one end of the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, a maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 for maintaining and recovering the liquid injection head device 404 is provided on one side of the conveyor belt 412.

[0092] The maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 is composed of, for example, a cover member 421 covering the nozzle surface (the surface forming the nozzle) of the liquid spray head device 404, a scraping member 422 wiping the nozzle surface, etc.

[0093] The main scanning moving mechanism 493, the supply mechanism 494, the maintenance and recovery mechanism 420, the conveying mechanism 495, etc. are installed in the frame including side plates 491A, 491B and back plate 491C.

[0094] In this device, paper 410 is fed and attracted on conveyor belt 412, and is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of conveyor belt 412.

[0095] Therefore, by moving the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction while driving the liquid jet head device 404 according to the image signal, liquid is jetted onto the stopped paper 410 to form an image.

[0096] Thus, by incorporating the liquid jetting head of the present invention, this device can stably generate high-quality images.

[0097] Next, refer to Figure 14 To illustrate other examples of the liquid injection unit involved in the present invention.

[0098] Figure 14 The diagram shown is a plan view illustrating the main parts of this unit.

[0099] The liquid injection unit, which constitutes the liquid injection device, is composed of a frame consisting of side plates 491A, 491B and a back plate 491C, a main scanning moving mechanism 493, a carriage 403 and a liquid injection head device 404.

[0100] Alternatively, the liquid injection unit may also be configured such that at least one of the aforementioned maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 and supply mechanism 494 is further installed in the side plate 491B.

[0101] Next, refer to Figure 15 To illustrate yet another example of the liquid spraying unit involved in this invention.

[0102] Figure 15 The image shown is a front view illustration of the unit.

[0103] The liquid injection unit consists of a liquid injection head device 404 with a flow path component 444 installed, and a pipe 456 connected to the flow path component 444.

[0104] Additionally, the flow path component 444 is disposed inside the cover 442. Alternatively, a nozzle canister 441 may be included instead of the flow path component 444. Furthermore, a connector 443 for electrical connection with the liquid injection head assembly 404 is provided on the upper part of the flow path component 444.

[0105] In this application, "liquid jetting apparatus" refers to an apparatus that includes a liquid jetting head, a liquid jetting head assembly, or a liquid jetting unit, and drives the liquid jetting head to jet liquid. Liquid jetting apparatuses include not only those capable of jetting liquid onto objects to which liquid can adhere, but also those capable of jetting liquid into the air or into a liquid.

[0106] The "liquid jetting device" may also include mechanisms for supplying, conveying, and discharging paper onto objects capable of adhering to liquids, as well as pre-treatment devices, post-treatment devices, etc.

[0107] For example, as a "liquid jetting device", there is an image forming device that jets ink onto paper to form an image, and a three-dimensional modeling device that jets a modeling liquid onto a powder layer formed into layers in order to shape a three-dimensional object.

[0108] Furthermore, "devices for spraying liquids" are not limited to visualizing interesting images such as text and graphics by spraying liquids. For example, they also include things that form graphics that are not inherently meaningful, as well as things that shape three-dimensional images.

[0109] The term "substances to which liquids can adhere" refers to substances to which liquids can adhere at least temporarily, meaning substances that stick or permeate after adhesion. Specific examples include sprayed media such as paper, recording paper, film, and cloth; electronic components such as electronic substrates and piezoelectric elements; and media such as powder layers, organ models, and inspection parts. Unless otherwise specified, this includes all substances to which liquids can adhere.

[0110] The aforementioned "substances that can adhere to liquids" can be any building materials or textiles such as paper, yarn, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, wallpaper or flooring materials, where liquids can temporarily adhere.

[0111] In addition, "liquid" also includes ink, processing fluid, DNA reagent, resist, pattern material, adhesive, modeling liquid, or solutions and dispersions containing amino acids, proteins, calcium, etc.

[0112] In addition, a "liquid jetting device" includes a liquid jetting head and a device in which the liquid-adhering substance moves relative to each other, but is not limited to this. Specific examples include serial devices that move the liquid jetting head and linear devices that do not move the liquid jetting head.

[0113] In addition, as "liquid spraying devices", there are also treatment liquid coating devices that spray treatment liquid onto paper for purposes such as modifying the surface of paper, and spray granulation devices that spray a component liquid in which raw materials are dispersed in a solution through a nozzle to granulate the particles of the raw materials.

[0114] Furthermore, the "liquid jetting apparatus" according to the present invention also includes an apparatus for manufacturing electrodes and electrochemical elements. The electrode manufacturing apparatus will be described below.

[0115] Figure 16 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of an example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0116] The electrode manufacturing apparatus is an apparatus that manufactures an electrode comprising a layer of electrode material by spraying a liquid composition using a nozzle module including a liquid spray head.

[0117] Figure 16 The electrode manufacturing apparatus shown includes a spraying means comprising a nozzle module of the liquid spray head 100 described in the above-described embodiments (including variations). By spraying a liquid composition from the liquid spray head 100 of the nozzle module, a liquid composition layer is formed on the sprayed medium. The sprayed medium can be any object from which a layer containing electrode material is formed; there are no particular limitations, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples of sprayed media include electrode substrates (current collectors), active material layers, and layers containing solid electrode material. Alternatively, the sprayed medium can be an electrode composite material layer containing an active material on an electrode substrate (current collector). Furthermore, as long as a layer containing electrode material can be formed on the sprayed medium, the spraying means and spraying process can also be means and processes for forming a layer containing electrode material by directly spraying the liquid composition. Alternatively, the spraying means and spraying process can also be means and processes for forming a layer containing electrode material by indirectly spraying the liquid composition.

[0118] Other components included in the apparatus for manufacturing the electrode composite layer are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Similarly, other steps included in the method for manufacturing the electrode composite layer are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, components and steps included in the apparatus and method for manufacturing the electrode composite layer may include heating mechanisms and heating steps.

[0119] The apparatus for manufacturing the electrode composite layer includes a heating mechanism that heats the liquid composition sprayed by a jetting means. Furthermore, the heating step included in the method for manufacturing the electrode composite layer is a step that heats the liquid composition sprayed during the jetting process. By heating the liquid composition, the liquid composition layer can be dried.

[0120] Here, as an example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus, an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode in which an electrode composite material layer containing an active substance is formed on an electrode substrate (current collector) will be described.

[0121] like Figure 16 As shown, the electrode manufacturing apparatus includes a spraying process unit 500, which includes a process of forming a liquid composition layer by applying a liquid composition to a printing substrate material 704 having a sprayed medium, and a heating process unit 500, which includes a heating process unit 510 for heating the liquid composition layer to obtain an electrode composite material layer.

[0122] The electrode manufacturing apparatus includes a transport unit 705 for transporting printing substrate material 704. The transport unit 705 transports the printing substrate material 704 in the order of the spraying process unit 500 and the heating process unit 510 at a preset speed. There are no particular limitations on the manufacturing method of the printing substrate material 704, which is a sprayed medium having an active material layer, etc., and a known method can be appropriately selected. The spraying process unit 500 includes a liquid spraying head 100 for performing the application process of applying a liquid composition to the printing substrate material 704, a receiving container 501 for receiving a liquid composition 503, and a supply pipe 502 for supplying the liquid composition 503 contained in the receiving container 501 to the liquid spraying head 100.

[0123] In the spraying process section 500, a liquid composition 503 is sprayed from the liquid spray head 100 and applied to the printing substrate material 704 to form a thin film-like liquid composition layer. Furthermore, the receiving container 501 can be integrated with the electrode composite material layer manufacturing apparatus, or it can be removed from the electrode composite material layer manufacturing apparatus. Alternatively, the receiving container 501 can be an integrated container with the electrode composite material layer manufacturing apparatus, or it can be a container for adding to a receiving container that can be removed from the electrode composite material layer manufacturing apparatus.

[0124] The container 501 and the supply tube 502 can be chosen arbitrarily as long as they can stably contain and supply the liquid composition 503.

[0125] In the heating process section 510, a solvent removal process is performed to remove the solvent remaining in the liquid composition layer by heating. Specifically, the solvent remaining in the liquid composition layer is removed by drying it through heating by the heating device 703 of the heating process section 510. This forms the electrode composite material layer. Alternatively, the solvent removal process in the heating process section 510 can also be performed under reduced pressure.

[0126] There are no particular limitations on the heating device 703, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, substrate heaters, IR heaters, and hot air heaters can be used as heating devices 703. In addition, the heating device 703 may also be a device that combines at least two of the substrate heater, IR heater, and hot air heater. Furthermore, the heating temperature and heating time can be appropriately selected based on the boiling point of the solvent contained in the liquid composition 503 or the film thickness formed.

[0127] By using the electrode manufacturing apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, a liquid composition can be sprayed onto a target portion of the sprayed medium. The electrode composite material layer can preferably be used as part of the structure of the electrochemical element, for example. There are no particular limitations on the components other than the electrode composite material layer in the electrochemical element, and known structures can be appropriately selected. Examples of components other than the electrode composite material layer include positive electrodes, negative electrodes, and separators.

[0128] A "liquid jetting unit" refers to a component that integrates functional parts and mechanisms into a liquid jetting head; it is an assembly of parts related to liquid jetting. For example, a "liquid jetting unit" may include at least one of the following components: a nozzle tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance and recovery mechanism, and a main scanning movement mechanism, combined with a liquid jetting head.

[0129] Here, integration refers to the mutual fixation of, for example, liquid injection heads and functional parts / mechanisms through fastening, bonding, or locking, whereby one is kept movable relative to the other. Alternatively, liquid injection heads and functional parts / mechanisms can also be designed to be detachable from each other.

[0130] For example, as a liquid injection unit, such as Figure 13 As shown in the liquid injection unit 440, it has a device that integrates the liquid injection head and the nozzle tank. Alternatively, the liquid injection head and nozzle tank can be integrated by connecting them via hoses or the like. Here, a unit containing a filter can also be added between the nozzle tank and the liquid injection head of these liquid injection units.

[0131] In addition, as a liquid injection unit, there is a device that integrates the liquid injection head and the carriage.

[0132] Additionally, as a liquid jetting unit, there are also options where the liquid jetting head is movably held onto a guide member that forms part of the scanning movement mechanism, thus integrating the liquid jetting head and the scanning movement mechanism. Furthermore, as... Figure 14 As shown, the liquid jetting unit is composed of a liquid jetting head, a carriage, and a main scanning movement mechanism integrated into one unit.

[0133] In addition, as a liquid injection unit, a cover component, which is part of the maintenance and recovery mechanism, is fixed on the carriage on which the liquid injection head is installed, so that the liquid injection head, the carriage, and the maintenance and recovery mechanism are integrated into one unit.

[0134] In addition, as a liquid injection unit, such as Figure 15 As shown, there is a configuration in which a hose is connected to a liquid spray head that is equipped with a nozzle canister or flow path component, so that the liquid spray head and the supply mechanism are integrated.

[0135] The main scanning movement mechanism also includes a guide component unit. Additionally, the supply mechanism includes a hose unit and a loading unit unit.

[0136] Furthermore, the "liquid jet head" is not limited to the actuator used. For example, in addition to the piezoelectric element described in the above embodiments (a stacked piezoelectric element may also be used), a thermal actuator consisting of an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor, an electrostatic actuator consisting of a vibrating plate and a counter electrode, etc., may also be used.

[0137] In addition, the terms used in this application, such as image formation, recording, printing, writing, printing, and modeling, are all synonyms.

[0138] Finally, the above embodiments are shown as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included within the scope equivalent to the invention described in the claims.

[0139] The above explanation is just one example; the various methods below each have their own unique effects.

[0140] [First Method]

[0141] The first approach is a liquid injection head (100) comprising a plurality of nozzle rows (104-1 to 104-4) extending in a nozzle row direction orthogonal to the direction of transporting the sprayed medium (e.g., the direction of sheet transport), characterized in that: nozzles (104-1R, 104-1L) are disposed in the two end regions of an upstream nozzle row (e.g., the first nozzle row 104-1) located upstream of the direction of transporting the sprayed medium, and a downstream nozzle row (e.g., the fourth nozzle row) located downstream of the direction of transporting the sprayed medium is disposed in the two end regions of the upstream nozzle row (e.g., the fourth nozzle row 104-1). The nozzles (104-4R, 104-4L) in the two end regions of the nozzle array 104-4 are configured to correspond to the adjacent spray points (dL1, dL4, dR1, dR4) on the sprayed medium (e.g., continuous sheet 10). In either end region of the two end regions, the spray point (dL1, dR1) corresponding to the nozzle of the upstream nozzle array is in an adjacent spray point position relationship with the spray point (dL4, dR4) corresponding to the nozzle of the downstream nozzle array, starting from the central region side in the direction of the nozzle array.

[0142] In a typical liquid injection head, the target spacing (distance between nozzles in the nozzle row direction on the sprayed medium) between the nozzles of the upstream and downstream nozzle rows is defined as the distance between the nozzles sprayed from the upstream nozzle row and the downstream nozzle row, provided that no spray bending occurs due to the surrounding airflow. However, when airflow is generated due to the delivery of the sprayed medium, this airflow, under the influence of the air curtain generated by the liquid injection within the injection area, flows around to the left and right sides of the nozzle face (outside the nozzle row direction of the nozzle face). Through this surrounding airflow, the liquid sprayed from the nozzles located at the end regions of the upstream nozzle row on the upstream side in the direction of the sprayed medium is bent towards the ends from the center in the direction of the nozzle row. Furthermore, the surrounding airflow, after circulating outside the nozzle row direction of the nozzle face, flows into the downstream side of the nozzle face in the direction of the sprayed medium. Therefore, through this surrounding airflow, the liquid sprayed from the nozzles located at the end regions of the downstream nozzle row on the downstream side in the direction of the sprayed medium is bent towards the center from the ends in the direction of the nozzle row. Thus, between the upstream and downstream nozzle arrays, the liquid ejected from the nozzles located at both ends bends in opposite directions due to the surrounding airflow.

[0143] Here, sometimes the nozzles located at both ends of the upstream nozzle array and the nozzles located at both ends of the downstream nozzle array are configured to correspond to adjacent spray points on the sprayed medium. In this configuration, since the spray point positions on the sprayed medium are shifted due to the jet bending caused by the surrounding airflow, significant image quality degradation may sometimes occur. Specifically, in this configuration, when the liquid bends between the upstream and downstream nozzle arrays towards each other's spray points due to the surrounding airflow, image quality degradation may occur, where the image density becomes denser than the target due to the overlap of adjacent spray points. Conversely, when the liquid sprayed between the upstream and downstream nozzle arrays bends towards the direction of spray point separation due to the surrounding airflow, adjacent spray point separation may occur, resulting in spray point blanks (image blanks), thus causing image quality degradation. Among these image quality degradations, the former (image density increase) is a minor degradation that is almost not a problem, but the latter, i.e., speckle white (image blankness), is a major problem that must be improved and is a significant degradation.

[0144] A liquid jet head configured as described above is generally constructed such that, throughout the entire nozzle array region, the nozzle positions of each nozzle in the upstream nozzle array are shifted towards one end of the nozzle array relative to the nozzle positions of each nozzle in the downstream nozzle array. Therefore, when an circumferential airflow is generated, in one end region, the liquid bends towards the direction of convergence between the upstream and downstream nozzle arrays, while in the other end region, the liquid bends towards the direction of separation between the upstream and downstream nozzle arrays. As a result, in either end region, significant image quality degradation occurs due to nozzle gaps (image blanks) caused by the circumferential airflow.

[0145] In this method, in either of the two end regions, the nozzles corresponding to the nozzles of the upstream nozzle array are configured such that, relative to the nozzles corresponding to the nozzles of the downstream nozzle array, they are adjacent in position from the nozzle array direction towards the central region. According to this configuration, the direction in which the liquid ejected by the surrounding airflow bends becomes, in any end region, the direction in which the nozzles of the upstream and downstream nozzle arrays approach each other. Therefore, in any end region, no significant image quality degradation such as nozzle gaps (image blanks) caused by the liquid bending in the direction of nozzle separation between the upstream and downstream nozzle arrays occurs.

[0146] In this embodiment, when a surrounding airflow is generated, image quality degradation may occur in the regions at both ends due to the bending of the jet, resulting in increased image density. However, as mentioned above, this image quality degradation is slight and hardly a problem.

[0147] As described above, in this method, since no significant image quality degradation occurs even when an circumferential airflow is generated, it is unnecessary to use a configuration like that of conventional liquid jet heads, i.e., to pre-change the amount of liquid bending due to the circumferential airflow from the original nozzle spacing. Therefore, according to this method, the nozzle can be configured to produce high-quality liquid jetting with little or no offset in the spray point position without generating an circumferential airflow, thereby suppressing significant image quality degradation even when an circumferential airflow is generated.

[0148] [Second Method]

[0149] The second approach is characterized in that, in the first approach, the upstream nozzle array includes the upstreammost nozzle array (e.g., the first nozzle array 104-1) located on the upstreammost side of the direction of delivery of the sprayed medium.

[0150] Compared to nozzles second and subsequent from the upstream side in the direction of medium delivery, the upstream nozzle array is more prone to jet bending due to the surrounding airflow, resulting in significant image quality degradation such as nozzle gaps (blank spots). Therefore, this method can effectively suppress such significant image quality degradation.

[0151] [Third Method]

[0152] The third approach is characterized in that, in the first approach, the downstream nozzle array includes the most downstream nozzle array (e.g., the fourth nozzle array 104-4) located on the most downstream side of the direction of delivery of the sprayed medium.

[0153] Compared to nozzles second and subsequent from the downstream side of the direction of medium delivery, the most downstream nozzle array is more prone to jet bending due to the surrounding airflow, resulting in significant image quality degradation such as nozzle gaps (blank spots). Therefore, this method can effectively suppress such significant image quality degradation.

[0154] [Fourth Method]

[0155] The fourth approach is characterized in that, in the first approach, the upstream nozzle array is the upstreammost nozzle array located on the upstream side of the direction of delivery of the sprayed medium (e.g., the first nozzle array 104-1), and the downstream nozzle array is the downstreammost nozzle array located on the downstream side of the direction of delivery of the sprayed medium (e.g., the fourth nozzle array 104-4).

[0156] Between the upstream and downstream nozzle rows, the image quality degradation caused by the jet bend due to the surrounding airflow is most significant, resulting in nozzle gaps (blanks). Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the most significant image quality degradation.

[0157] [Fifth Method]

[0158] The fifth method is characterized by having one or more nozzle rows between the upstream nozzle row and the downstream nozzle row, as in the fourth method.

[0159] Therefore, in a liquid jet head that performs high-density liquid jetting, high-quality liquid jetting with little or no displacement of the jet position can be performed without generating an circumferential airflow, and significant image quality degradation can be suppressed even when an circumferential airflow is generated.

[0160] [Sixth Method]

[0161] The sixth method is characterized in that, in any of the first to fifth methods, in the entire region of the nozzle array direction, the nozzles of the upstream nozzle array and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle array are configured to correspond to adjacent spray points on the sprayed medium, the spray point position relationship of the nozzles of the upstream nozzle array and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle array in one end region of the two end regions is switched with the spray point position relationship of the nozzles of the upstream nozzle array and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle array in the other end region of the two end regions, and the switching position on the upstream nozzle array and the downstream nozzle array is a position biased towards either end side of the nozzle array direction.

[0162] Therefore, the positional relationship of the nozzles only needs to correspond to the end regions where the jet is easily bent by the surrounding airflow, thus avoiding significant changes from the existing nozzle configuration.

[0163] [Seventh Method]

[0164] The seventh method is characterized in that, in any of the first to fifth methods, in the entire region of the nozzle array direction, the nozzles of the upstream nozzle array and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle array are configured to correspond to adjacent spray points on the sprayed medium, the spray point position relationship of the nozzles of the upstream nozzle array and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle array in one end region of the two end regions is switched with the spray point position relationship of the nozzles of the upstream nozzle array and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle array in the other end region of the two end regions, and the switching position on the upstream nozzle array and the downstream nozzle array is the central position in the nozzle array direction.

[0165] Therefore, even in liquid jet heads with short nozzle arrays or liquid jet heads with strong surrounding airflow effects, significant image quality degradation such as nozzle blanks can be suppressed.

[0166] [Eighth Method]

[0167] The eighth method is characterized in that, in any of the first to seventh methods, the upstream nozzle array and the downstream nozzle array are configured such that the positions of the nozzles at least in the two end regions are symmetrical with respect to the center of the nozzle array direction.

[0168] This reduces the difference in spray quality (image quality) between the two end regions in the direction of the nozzle array.

[0169] [Ninth Method]

[0170] The ninth method is a liquid injection unit, characterized in that it includes a liquid injection head of any one of the first to eighth methods.

[0171] Therefore, it is possible to provide a liquid jetting unit that can perform high-quality liquid jetting with little or no point position offset without generating surrounding airflow, and can suppress significant image quality degradation when surrounding airflow is generated.

[0172] [Tenth Method]

[0173] The tenth method is a device for spraying liquid, characterized in that it has a liquid spray head of any one of the first to eighth methods, or a liquid spray unit of the ninth method.

[0174] Therefore, it is possible to provide a device that can perform high-quality liquid jetting with little or no point position deviation without generating surrounding airflow, and can suppress the generation of jetting liquid that causes significant image quality degradation when surrounding airflow is generated.

Claims

1. A liquid injection head having a plurality of nozzle rows extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of delivery of the injected medium, characterized in that: The nozzles located at both ends of the upstream nozzle column in the direction of transport of the sprayed medium, and the nozzles located at both ends of the downstream nozzle column in the direction of transport of the sprayed medium, are configured such that they correspond to adjacent spray points on the sprayed medium. In either of the two end regions, the spray point corresponding to the nozzle of the upstream nozzle column is positioned relative to the spray point corresponding to the nozzle of the downstream nozzle column, such that they are adjacent spray points starting from the central region side in the direction of the nozzle column.

2. The liquid injection head according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upstream nozzle array includes the upstreammost nozzle array located on the upstream side of the direction of delivery of the sprayed medium.

3. The liquid injection head according to claim 1, characterized in that: The downstream nozzle array includes the most downstream nozzle array located on the most downstream side of the direction of delivery of the sprayed medium.

4. The liquid injection head according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upstream nozzle array is the most upstream nozzle array located on the upstream side of the direction in which the sprayed medium is conveyed. The downstream nozzle array is the most downstream nozzle array located on the most downstream side of the direction in which the sprayed medium is conveyed.

5. The liquid injection head according to claim 4, characterized in that: There is one or more nozzle rows between the upstream nozzle row and the downstream nozzle row.

6. The liquid injection head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Throughout the entire region along the nozzle array direction, the nozzles of the upstream nozzle array and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle array are configured such that their nozzles correspond to adjacent spray points on the sprayed medium. The spray point position relationship between the nozzles of the upstream nozzle column and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle column in one of the two end regions is switched, and the spray point position relationship between the nozzles of the upstream nozzle column and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle column in the other end region of the two end regions is switched. The switching position on the upstream nozzle column and the downstream nozzle column is any end side biased towards the nozzle column direction.

7. The liquid injection head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Throughout the entire region along the nozzle array direction, the nozzles of the upstream nozzle array and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle array are configured such that their nozzles correspond to adjacent spray points on the sprayed medium. The spray point position relationship between the nozzles of the upstream nozzle column and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle column in one of the two end regions is switched, and the spray point position relationship between the nozzles of the upstream nozzle column and the nozzles of the downstream nozzle column in the other end region of the two end regions is switched. The switching position on the upstream nozzle column and the downstream nozzle column is the center position in the direction of the nozzle column.

8. The liquid injection head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The upstream nozzle array and the downstream nozzle array are configured such that the nozzles located at least in the two end regions are symmetrical about the center of the nozzle array direction.

9. A liquid injection unit, characterized in that: Includes a liquid injection head according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

10. A device for spraying liquid, characterized in that: Includes the liquid injection head according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images