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 capable of eliminating unevenness of an image at a connection portion of an actuator unit with a simple structure. A liquid ejection head (11) has a connection portion connecting a first actuator unit (40A) and a second actuator unit (40B), first connection portion nozzles (19A-1), (19A-2) and a first nozzle (19A) are formed on a first nozzle substrate (20A), second connection portion nozzles (19B-1), (19B-2) and a second nozzle (19B) are formed on a second nozzle substrate (20B), liquid is ejected from the second nozzle substrate after liquid is ejected from the first nozzle substrate toward a recording medium, at the connection portion, liquid from the second connection portion nozzle overlaps with liquid ejected from the first connection portion nozzle onto the recording medium, and a diameter of the second connection portion nozzle is larger than a diameter of the first connection portion nozzle.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Conventional inkjet inkjet devices with liquid ejector heads that eject liquid are known. These liquid ejector heads include: a nozzle substrate with multiple nozzles arranged thereon for ejecting liquid; a valve component for opening and closing the nozzles; and an actuator unit with a displacement mechanism that moves the valve component between an open nozzle position and a closed nozzle position. In recent years, such liquid ejector devices have required handling high-speed, wide-format recording media, and there is a desire for larger liquid ejector heads. On the other hand, since constructing a liquid ejector head using a single actuator unit would be too costly, methods have been implemented that connect multiple actuator units to construct the liquid ejector head.

[0003] In this structure, the uniform liquid jetting of the medium is hindered at both the near and far portions relative to the connection point of the actuator unit due to the effects of liquid jetting and airflow generated by the medium transport. Therefore, image inhomogeneity occurs at and outside the connection point. However, in the prior art, to homogenize the image and differentiate the jetting pattern at the connection point from that at other locations, the ratio of small to large droplets is increased or decreased by changing the liquid jetting amount, i.e., multi-valued jetting waveform or varied jetting pattern. However, due to the increased speed or image quality of the jetting, resulting in more complex and longer jetting waveforms, there are limits to the variation in liquid jetting amount, making it difficult to eliminate image inhomogeneity.

[0004] To address the aforementioned problem, techniques are known to suppress image unevenness by slightly varying the nozzle spacing between nozzles in the connecting section. However, in this structure, since the concentration is thinner in areas with larger nozzle spacing and thicker in areas with smaller nozzle spacing, a large concentration difference is visually perceived because these areas are adjacent.

[0005] To solve this problem, known techniques involve using a liquid jet head with multiple regions having different nozzle spacings, where the volume of liquid jetted in each region varies according to the nozzle spacing (see, for example, "Patent Document 1").

[0006] In the above-mentioned technology, the volume of the sprayed liquid is different in each region. In order to achieve this, the volume, length, etc. of the individual liquid chambers in each region are different. However, there is a problem that it is not easy to make the volume, length, etc. of the individual liquid chambers different in each region.

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a liquid jet head that can solve the above-mentioned problems and eliminate image inhomogeneity at the connection of the actuator unit with a simple structure.

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-130216 Summary of the Invention

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention provides a liquid injection head, characterized in that it comprises: a first actuator unit having a first nozzle substrate having a plurality of nozzles and injecting liquid from the nozzles; a second actuator unit having a second nozzle substrate having a plurality of nozzles and injecting liquid from the nozzles; having a connecting portion connecting the first actuator unit and the second actuator unit; on the first nozzle substrate, a first connecting portion nozzle corresponding to the connecting portion and a first nozzle corresponding to a portion other than the connecting portion are formed as a plurality of nozzles; on the second nozzle substrate, a second connecting portion nozzle corresponding to the connecting portion and a second nozzle corresponding to a portion other than the connecting portion are formed as a plurality of nozzles; after injecting the liquid from the first nozzle substrate onto a recorded medium, the liquid is injected from the second nozzle substrate onto the recorded medium; in the connecting portion, the liquid injected from the second connecting portion nozzle overlaps with the liquid injected from the first connecting portion nozzle and falling onto the recorded medium; and the diameter of the second connecting portion nozzle is larger than the diameter of the first connecting portion nozzle.

[0010] According to the present invention, a liquid jetting head can be provided that makes streaks generated at the connection point less noticeable by replenishing the portion of ink that has not fully diffused when it first lands on the recording medium with ink that lands later on the recording medium. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 The figure shown is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid jet head to which one embodiment of the present invention may be applied.

[0012] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the connection between actuator units according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the connection between actuator units according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 4 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the connection between actuator units according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 5The table shown is a representation of the relationship between the wettability and spreadability of the recorded medium and the nozzle diameter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 6 The diagram shown is an outermost view of the end airflow generated at the end of one actuator unit in the (a) connecting portion, the end airflow generated at the end of another actuator unit in the (b) connecting portion, and the end airflow generated at each actuator unit in the (c) connecting portion, according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 7 The table shown is a representation of the relationship between the transport speed of the recorded medium and the nozzle diameter according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 8 This is a schematic front view of other liquid injection devices having the liquid injection head involved in various embodiments of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 9 This is a schematic front view illustrating a liquid injection unit of another liquid injection device having the liquid injection head according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 10 This is a schematic top view of yet another liquid injection device having the liquid injection head according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 11 This is a schematic side view of yet another liquid injection device having the liquid injection head according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 12 This is a schematic front view illustrating a liquid injection unit of yet another liquid injection device having the liquid injection head according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 13 This is a schematic front view illustrating another liquid injection unit of another liquid injection device having the liquid injection head according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 14 This is a schematic front view of an apparatus for manufacturing electrodes of yet another liquid jetting device having a liquid jetting head according to various embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid injection unit 10, taken along the short side of the liquid injection head, applicable to one embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the liquid injection unit 10 includes a plurality of liquid injection heads 11 for injecting liquid, a base member 12 for holding the plurality of liquid injection heads 11, and a cover member 13 serving as a nozzle cover for the liquid injection heads 11. The liquid injection unit 10 also includes a manifold 14 forming a flow path for supplying liquid to the plurality of liquid injection heads 11, a printed circuit board (PCB) 17 connected to a flexible wiring member 16 having a driver IC 15 as a drive circuit, and a module housing 18.

[0026] Multiple liquid injection heads 11 include a nozzle substrate 20 on which a nozzle 19 is formed, a flow path substrate 22 on which an individual liquid chamber 21 communicating with the nozzle 19 as a pressure chamber is formed, a vibrating plate 24 including a piezoelectric element 23, a piezoelectric element holding substrate 25 stacked on the vibrating plate 24, and a frame member 26 stacked on the piezoelectric element holding substrate 25 as a common flow path member, etc.

[0027] The nozzle substrate 20 uses a single-crystal silicon chip as the substrate material. The flow path substrate 22 and the individual liquid chamber 21 together form a supply-side individual flow path 27 that communicates with the individual liquid chamber 21 and a recovery-side individual flow path 28 that communicates with the individual liquid chamber 21.

[0028] The piezoelectric element holding substrate 25 uses a single crystal silicon chip as the substrate material and has a supply-side intermediate individual flow path 31 that communicates with the supply-side individual flow path 27 through the opening 29 of the vibrating plate 24, and a recycling-side intermediate individual flow path 32 that communicates with the recycling-side individual flow path 28 through the opening 30 of the vibrating plate 24.

[0029] The piezoelectric element holding substrate 25 and frame member 26 form a supply-side common flow path 33 that communicates with the individual flow path 31 on the supply side and a recycling-side common flow path 34 that communicates with the individual flow path 32 on the recycling side. The supply-side common flow path 33 communicates with the supply port 36 via the flow path 35 of the manifold 14, and the recycling-side common flow path 34 communicates with the recycling port 38 via the flow path 37 of the manifold 14. The printed circuit board 17 and the piezoelectric element 23 are connected via a flexible wiring member 16, on which a driver IC 15 is mounted.

[0030] exist Figure 1 In the present invention, the actuator unit 40 is formed among the components with oblique lines applied to the nozzle substrate 20, flow path component 22, piezoelectric element 23, actuator (not shown), etc.

[0031] In this embodiment, a plurality of liquid injection heads 11 are mounted on the base member 12 at predetermined intervals. The liquid injection head 11 is mounted on the base member 12 by inserting the liquid injection head 11 into the opening 39 provided in the base member 12, and by engaging and fixing the peripheral portion of the nozzle base plate 20 constituting the liquid injection head 11 into the cover member 13 which is engaged and fixed to the base member 12.

[0032] Additionally, the flange portion (not shown) on the outer side of the frame component 26 of the liquid injection head 11 is joined and fixed to the base component 12. Furthermore, the fixing structure between the liquid injection head 11 and the base component 12 is not limited to the structure described above; any structure such as adhesive bonding, riveting, or threaded fixing can also be used.

[0033] Figure 2 The nozzle substrates 20A and 20B of the two actuator units 40, namely actuator units 40A and 40B, constituting the liquid injection head 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention are shown. The actuator unit 40A, which is the first actuator unit, is configured in the same manner as the actuator unit 40, and has a nozzle substrate 20A serving as the first nozzle substrate on its bottom surface. The actuator unit 40B, which is the second actuator unit, is also configured in the same manner as the actuator unit 40, and has a nozzle substrate 20B serving as the second nozzle substrate on its bottom surface.

[0034] Actuator unit 40A and actuator unit 40B are oriented towards Figure 2 They are interconnected along the main scanning direction shown and configured to form a line image on a wide recording medium. The recording medium is in Figure 2 The medium is transported in the sub-scanning direction shown, and after ink, which is liquid, is ejected from actuator unit 40A onto the transported recording medium, ink is ejected from actuator unit 40B. Figure 2 In this design, the overlapping portions of the actuator units 40A and 40B are designated as connecting parts.

[0035] Multiple nozzles are formed in the nozzle substrate 20A. The nozzle 19A-1, which is a first connecting part nozzle formed on the connecting part, is formed with a diameter A smaller than the diameter B of the nozzles formed on the parts other than the connecting part, i.e., the first nozzle 19A. In addition, the nozzle 19A-2, which is a first connecting part nozzle formed on the connecting part, is formed with a diameter B that is the same as that of the nozzle 19A.

[0036] Multiple nozzles are also formed on the nozzle substrate 20B. Nozzle 19B-1, a second connecting portion nozzle formed at the connecting portion, has a diameter C larger than the diameter of the nozzles formed outside the connecting portion, i.e., the second nozzle 19B. Furthermore, nozzle 19B-2, also a second connecting portion nozzle formed at the connecting portion, has a diameter D larger than the diameter C of nozzle 19B-1. The nozzles formed outside the connecting portion, i.e., the second nozzle 19B, have a diameter B that is the same as the diameter of nozzle 19A.

[0037] Each actuator unit 40A and 40B, excluding the connecting portion, forms an image in the sub-scanning direction using two nozzles 19A and 19B arranged in rows above and below. Since they have the same diameter B, the same liquid injection volume can be obtained. Furthermore, because the distance between each nozzle is small, a uniform injection image can be obtained by varying the voltage of the injection waveform or adjusting the waveform.

[0038] However, if only one actuator unit is used in the connection section, subtle stripes can sometimes be visually detected. To eliminate this problem and obtain a continuous image, it is considered to change the injection voltage in each actuator unit 40A, 40B, but this method alone sometimes fails to produce a uniform image. In addition, if injection is performed across each actuator unit 40A, 40B, it is sometimes necessary to adjust the injection waveform for each nozzle.

[0039] To solve the above problems, in this invention, after ink is ejected from nozzle 19A-1 in the connecting part, ink is ejected from nozzle 19B-1, and ink ejected from nozzle 19B-1 is superimposed on the ink ejected from nozzle 19A-1. Furthermore, the diameter C of nozzle 19B-1 is larger than the diameter A of nozzle 19A-1. Additionally, in the connecting part, after ink is ejected from nozzle 19A-2, ink is ejected from nozzle 19B-2, and ink ejected from nozzle 19B-2 is superimposed on the ink ejected from nozzle 19A-2. The diameter D of nozzle 19B-2 is larger than the diameter B of nozzle 19A-2.

[0040] According to this structure, since the ink from nozzle 19A-1 that first sprays onto the recording medium spreads on the recording medium at a faster speed, while the ink droplets from nozzle 19B-1 that subsequently spray onto the recording medium are larger, by supplementing the areas where the ink that first sprays onto the recording medium has not fully spread, the stripes generated at the junction can be made less noticeable. Furthermore, since the diameter of nozzle 19A-2 is the same size B as the diameter of nozzle 19A, it is easier to achieve image uniformity in the main scanning direction, expand the selection range of the ejected droplets from the actuator unit 40A that sprays first, and also significantly change the ejection adjustment of the actuator unit 40B that sprays later.

[0041] Figure 3 The second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the diameter of nozzle 19A-2 is changed to size C and the diameter of nozzle 19B-1 is changed to size B.

[0042] According to this structure, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, since the actuator unit 40B that performs the subsequent injection has a nozzle 19B-1 with a smaller size B than the actuator unit 40A that performs the initial injection, subtle adjustments can be made compared to the first embodiment. In addition, since the diameter of the nozzle 19B-1 is the same size B as the diameter of the nozzle 19B, it is easier to make the image uniform in the main scanning direction, expand the selection range of the ejected droplets in the actuator unit 40B that performs the subsequent injection, and also significantly change the injection adjustment of the actuator unit 40A that performs the initial injection.

[0043] In the above embodiments, both the actuator unit 40A that performs injection first and the actuator unit 40B that performs injection later have a nozzle hole formed parallel to the sub-scanning direction. However, there are also actuator units where the nozzle hole is formed at a predetermined angle relative to the sub-scanning direction.

[0044] Figure 4 The third embodiment of the present invention is shown. Compared with the embodiments described above, this third embodiment differs from the previous ones in that the nozzle orifice is formed at a predetermined angle relative to the sub-scanning direction, and the actuator unit 40C that sprays first and the actuator unit 40D that sprays later are arranged approximately side by side in the main scanning direction.

[0045] The actuator unit 40C, serving as the first actuator unit, has a nozzle substrate 20C, which serves as the first nozzle substrate, on its bottom surface. The actuator unit 40D, serving as the second actuator unit, has a nozzle substrate 20D, which serves as the second nozzle substrate, on its bottom surface. Figure 4 In this design, the overlapping portions of the actuator units 40C and 40D are designated as connecting parts.

[0046] Multiple nozzles are formed on the nozzle substrate 20C. The diameter of the first connecting portion nozzle 19C-1, which is a nozzle formed on the connecting portion, is formed to size A. Similarly, the diameter of the first connecting portion nozzle 19C-2 is formed to size B. In addition, the diameter of the nozzle formed on the part other than the connecting portion, namely the first nozzle 19C1, is formed to size B. Similarly, the diameter of the first nozzle 19C2 is formed to size D.

[0047] Multiple nozzles are also formed on the nozzle substrate 20D. The diameter of the second connecting nozzle 19D-1, which is a nozzle formed on the connecting portion, is formed to size B. Similarly, the diameter of the second connecting nozzle 19D-2 is formed to size D. In addition, the diameter of the nozzle formed on the part other than the connecting portion, namely the second nozzle 19D1, is formed to size A. Similarly, the diameter of the second nozzle 19D2 is formed to size B.

[0048] According to the above structure, a nozzle 19C1 with the same diameter as nozzle 19C-2 is formed on nozzle substrate 20C, and nozzles 19D-1 and 19D2 with the same diameter as nozzle 19C-2 are formed on nozzle substrate 20D. Furthermore, in Figure 4 In the present, when focusing on the upper part of the nozzle formed on the nozzle substrate 20C, 20D, the proportion of nozzles with smaller diameters in actuator unit 40C is greater than that in actuator unit 40D.

[0049] According to this structure, in the actuator unit 40C that sprays first and the actuator unit 40D that sprays later, there is a nozzle 19D1 with the same diameter as the nozzle 19C-1 with a smaller diameter, so that the effect of not easily producing a concentration difference can be maintained even if the spray speed or the recorded medium changes.

[0050] Furthermore, a nozzle 19D2 with the same diameter as nozzle 19D-1 is formed on nozzle substrate 20D, and nozzles 19C-2 and 19C1 with the same diameter as nozzle 19D-1 are formed on nozzle substrate 20C. Moreover, in Figure 4 In the present, when focusing on the lower half of the nozzles formed on the nozzle substrates 20C and 20D, the proportion of nozzles with larger diameters in actuator unit 40C is smaller compared to actuator unit 40D.

[0051] According to this structure, in the actuator unit 40C that sprays first and the actuator unit 40D that sprays later, there is a nozzle 19D2 with the same diameter as the nozzle 19C-2 with a large diameter, so that the effect of not easily producing a concentration difference can be maintained even if the spray speed or the recorded medium changes.

[0052] In the first to third embodiments described above, the recording medium onto which the ink adheres was not considered. However, due to the inherent wetting and spreading properties of the ink on each recording medium, differences arise in the wetting and spreading patterns of the ink after it adheres to the recording medium. Therefore, an example in the structure of the first embodiment that takes into account the wetting and spreading properties of the ink on the recording medium will be described as the fourth embodiment.

[0053] like Figure 5As shown, in the fourth embodiment, four media with different ink wetting and spreading properties were used as the recording medium. Recording medium 1 has the greatest ink wetting and spreading properties and the ink is easy to penetrate, while recording media 2, recording media 3, and recording media 4 have properties that gradually decrease in ink wetting and spreading properties and the ink becomes difficult to penetrate.

[0054] Based on the above structure, in the recording medium 1 with the greatest wetting spread, by using the nozzle 19A-1 with the smallest diameter A as the first nozzle to spray, the size of the wetting spread can be suppressed. Moreover, even if the wetting spread develops, by using the nozzle 19B-2 with the largest diameter D as the second nozzle to spray, ink can be sprayed overlapping with the wetting spread ink, making the streaks produced at the junction less noticeable.

[0055] For the same reason, in the recording medium 2, a combination of nozzle 19A-1 with diameter A and nozzle 19B-1 with diameter C is preferred; in the recording medium 3, a combination of nozzle 19A-2 with diameter B and nozzle 19B-2 with diameter D is preferred; and in the recording medium 4, a combination of nozzle 19A-2 with diameter B and nozzle 19B-1 with diameter C is preferred.

[0056] According to the fourth embodiment described above, the stripes generated on the connection portion can be made less noticeable in accordance with the wetting and spreading properties of the ink in the recorded medium.

[0057] In the above embodiments, a structure is shown in which, when two or more actuator units are connected, the nozzle diameter of the subsequently ejected actuator unit is larger than the nozzle diameter of the previously ejected actuator unit at the connection point; and a structure is shown in which the nozzle diameter is selected according to the wetting and spreading properties of the recorded medium. However, when the ink falls onto the recorded medium, such as Figure 6 As shown, due to the influence of the jet airflow generated during ink ejection and the transport airflow generated during the transport of the recording medium, end airflow is generated at both ends of the connector. This results in stripes and unevenness in the image at the connector due to the bending of the ejected liquid. Figure 6 In the diagram, (a) represents the end airflow generated on one side of the two interconnected actuator units, (b) represents the end airflow generated on the other side of the actuator unit, and (c) represents the end airflow generated at the outermost part of the connection between the actuator units. The structure that solves this problem will be described as the fifth embodiment.

[0058] In the fifth embodiment, the image defects caused by the generation of end airflow are suppressed, as in the first embodiment. Here, the end airflow generated at the main scanning direction end of the connector is generated by the jet airflow and the transport airflow as described above, with the jet airflow having a particularly large influence. This jet airflow is affected by the transport speed of the recorded medium; when the transport speed is slower than a predetermined speed, the jet airflow increases, thus increasing the end airflow; when the transport speed is faster than a predetermined speed, the jet airflow decreases, thus decreasing the end airflow.

[0059] Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, as the transport speed of the recorded medium decreases, the difference between the diameters of nozzle 19A-1 and nozzle 19B-1 is increased. Specifically, as... Figure 7 As shown, at the slowest conveying speed 1 (25 m / min), the diameter of nozzle 19A-1 is set to size A, and the diameter of nozzle 19B-1 is set to size D. Moreover, as the conveying speed increases, the difference between the diameters of nozzle 19A-1 and nozzle 19B-1 is gradually reduced. At the fastest conveying speed (100 m / min), the diameter of nozzle 19A-1 is set to size B, and the diameter of nozzle 19B-1 is set to size C.

[0060] According to this structure, when the conveying speed is slow and the end airflow is large, increasing the difference in diameter between the first and second droplets will ensure that even if the position of the first droplet is shifted due to the end airflow, the larger diameter droplet that falls later will cover it, thus obtaining a good image.

[0061] Next, the liquid injection device equipped with each of the above-described liquid injection heads 11 will be described.

[0062] like Figure 8 , Figure 9 As shown, the printing apparatus 500, which is both a liquid jetting device and an image forming apparatus, includes: an input means 501 for inputting a continuous medium 510 as the recording medium; and a guide transport means 503 for guiding and transporting the continuous medium 510 input by the input means 501 to the printing means 505. Furthermore, the printing apparatus 500 includes: a printing means 505 for performing a printing operation of jetting liquid onto the continuous medium 510 to form an image; a drying means 507 for drying the continuous medium 510 with attached liquid; and an output means 509 for outputting the continuous medium 510.

[0063] The continuous material 510 is fed out from the initial winding roller 511 of the input means 501, and is guided and conveyed by the rollers of the input means 501, the guide conveying means 503, the drying means 507, and the output means 509, and is wound onto the winding roller 591 of the output means 509. In the printing means 505, the continuous material 510 is conveyed on the transport guide member 559 facing the printhead unit 550, which is a liquid jetting unit, and an image is printed by the liquid jetted from the printhead unit 550.

[0064] The printing apparatus 500 includes liquid jetting units 10A and 10B, which are the same as the liquid jetting unit 10 described above, in the printhead unit 550, and the liquid jetting units 10A and 10B are respectively disposed on the common base component 552.

[0065] When the arrangement direction of the liquid injection heads 11 in the direction orthogonal to the continuous conveying direction is set as the nozzle arrangement direction, each liquid injection unit 10A and 10B sprays liquid of the same color in the group of nozzle rows 11A1 and 11A2 of liquid injection unit 10A. Similarly, in the group of nozzle rows 11B and 11B2 of liquid injection unit 10A, the group of nozzle rows 11C and 11C2 of liquid injection unit 10B, and the group of nozzle rows 11D and 11D2 of liquid injection unit 10B, liquid of the desired color is sprayed respectively.

[0066] Next, based on Figure 10 as well as Figure 11 Other examples of printing apparatuses that are liquid jetting devices according to the present invention will be described.

[0067] The printing apparatus 400, which functions as both a liquid jetting device and an image forming device, is a serial printing apparatus. The carriage 403 reciprocates in the main scanning direction via a main scanning movement mechanism 493. The main scanning movement mechanism 493 includes a guide member 401, a main scanning motor 405, and a timing belt 408. The guide member 401 is mounted on left and right side plates 491A and 491B, holding the carriage 403 in a movable position. The carriage 403 receives the driving force of the main scanning motor 405 via the timing belt 408, which is mounted between the drive pulley 406 and the driven pulley 407, thereby reciprocating in the main scanning direction.

[0068] A liquid injection unit 440, which integrates a liquid injection head 11 and a nozzle tank 441, is mounted on a carriage 403. Here, the liquid injection head 11 injects liquids of various colors, such as yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). Furthermore, the liquid injection head 11 is installed with a nozzle array consisting of multiple nozzles arranged along a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and with the liquid injection direction downwards. The liquid injection head 11 is connected to a liquid circulation device (not shown), which circulates and supplies the desired color of liquid to the liquid injection head 11.

[0069] The printing apparatus 400 includes a transport mechanism 495 for transporting paper 410, which is the recording medium. The transport mechanism 495 has a transport belt 412 as a transport means and a sub-scanning motor 416 that drives the transport belt 412. The transport belt 412, as a loop, is positioned between a transport roller 413 and a tension roller 414, adsorbing the paper 410 and transporting it at a position opposite to the liquid jet head 11. Adsorption is performed by electrostatic adsorption or air suction, etc. The driving force of the sub-scanning motor 416 is transmitted via a synchronous belt 417 and a synchronous pulley 418, causing the transport belt 412 to move in a loop in the sub-scanning direction.

[0070] On one side of the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction and on the side of the conveyor belt 412, a maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 for maintaining and recovering the liquid injection head 11 is arranged. The maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 is composed, for example, a cover member 421 covering the nozzle surface of the liquid injection head 11 and a scraping member 422 wiping the nozzle surface. In addition, the main scanning movement mechanism 493, the maintenance and recovery mechanism 420, and the conveying mechanism 495 are mounted on a frame including side plates 491A, 491B and a back plate 491C.

[0071] In the printing apparatus 400 configured as described above, paper 410 is attracted by conveyor belt 412 and transported in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of conveyor belt 412. At this time, by moving carriage 403 in the main scanning direction and driving liquid jet head 11 according to image signal, liquid is jetted onto the stopped paper 410 to form an image.

[0072] Next, we will refer to Figure 12 The above liquid injection unit 440 is described.

[0073] The liquid jetting unit 440 consists of a frame portion consisting of side plates 491A, 491B and a back plate 491C, a main scanning movement mechanism 493, a carriage 403, a liquid jetting head 11 and other components of the printing apparatus 400 which is a liquid jetting device and an image forming apparatus.

[0074] Alternatively, the liquid injection unit 440 may also be configured to further install the aforementioned maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 in, for example, the side plate 491B.

[0075] Next, according to Figure 13 To illustrate another example of a liquid injection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] Figure 13 The liquid injection unit 450 shown has a liquid injection head 11 on which a flow path component 444 is mounted and a pipe 456 connected to the flow path component 444. The flow path component 444 is disposed inside a cover 442, and a connector 443 for electrical connection with the liquid injection head 11 is provided on the upper part of the flow path component 444. Alternatively, the configuration may include a nozzle canister 441 instead of the flow path component 444.

[0077] In the liquid jetting units 10, 10A, 10B, 440, 450, and 550 that include the liquid jetting head 11, and in the printing apparatuses 400 and 500 that serve as liquid jetting devices, the same effect as that in the inkjet head 11 can be obtained.

[0078] In this invention, the liquid used is not particularly limited as long as it has a viscosity and surface tension suitable for ejection from the printhead. Preferably, it is a liquid with a viscosity of 30 MPa·s or less at room temperature and pressure, or when heated or cooled. Specifically, this includes solvents such as water or organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, polymeric compounds, resins, functional materials such as surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids and proteins, and calcium, and edible materials such as natural pigments, including solutions, suspensions, and emulsions of these substances. For example, these substances can be used as inkjet inks, surface treatment liquids, and three-dimensional modeling material liquids.

[0079] Energy sources for jetting liquids include thermal actuators that use electrothermal conversion elements such as actuators (layered piezoelectric elements and thin-film piezoelectric elements) and heating resistors, and electrostatic actuators that consist of a vibrating plate and opposing electrodes.

[0080] The term "liquid jet head" is not limited to the pressure generating mechanism used. For example, in addition to the piezoelectric actuators mentioned above (a stacked piezoelectric element may also be used), thermal actuators with electrothermal conversion elements such as heating resistors, electrostatic actuators consisting of a vibrating plate and a counter electrode, etc., may also be used.

[0081] A "liquid spraying unit" is an assembly of parts related to liquid spraying, formed by integrating functional components and mechanisms into a liquid spraying head. For example, a "liquid spraying unit" may include at least one of the following components: a nozzle tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance and recovery mechanism, a main scanning movement mechanism, and a liquid circulation device, combined with a liquid spraying head.

[0082] Here, integration refers to the mutual fixation of, for example, liquid injection heads and functional parts or mechanisms through fastening, bonding, or locking, whereby one is kept movable relative to the other. Furthermore, liquid injection heads and functional parts or mechanisms can also be assembled and disassembled.

[0083] The liquid injection unit includes a liquid injection unit that integrates a liquid injection head and a nozzle tank, as well as a liquid injection unit in which the two are connected to each other via pipes or the like. Here, a unit including a filter can be added between the liquid injection head and the nozzle tank of these liquid injection units.

[0084] In addition, as a liquid jetting unit, there are liquid jetting units that integrate the liquid jetting head and the carriage, and liquid jetting units that integrate the liquid jetting head, the carriage, and the main scanning movement mechanism. Furthermore, as a liquid jetting unit, there are also units that movably hold the liquid jetting head onto a guide member that forms part of the scanning movement mechanism, thereby integrating the liquid jetting head and the scanning movement mechanism.

[0085] 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 mounted, thereby integrating the liquid injection head, carriage, and maintenance and recovery mechanism. Furthermore, as a liquid injection unit, a hose is connected to the liquid injection head, which is fitted with a nozzle canister or flow path component, thereby integrating the liquid injection head and the supply mechanism. Liquid from the liquid storage source is supplied to the liquid injection head through this hose.

[0086] The main scanning movement mechanism also includes a guide component unit. The supply mechanism also includes a hose unit and a filling unit unit.

[0087] In this invention, the liquid injection unit is described in the context of a combination with a liquid injection head, but the liquid injection unit also includes a configuration that integrates a nozzle module or nozzle unit having the liquid injection head with the aforementioned functional parts and mechanisms.

[0088] The liquid spraying device includes a liquid spray head, a liquid spraying unit, a nozzle module, and a nozzle unit, and includes a device for driving the liquid spray head to spray liquid. The liquid spraying device is not only a device capable of spraying liquid relative to an object to which the liquid can adhere, but may also include a device for spraying liquid into a gas or liquid.

[0089] Liquid jetting devices may also include means for feeding, conveying, and discharging liquid-adherent materials, as well as other pre-treatment and post-treatment devices.

[0090] For example, examples of liquid jetting devices include image forming apparatuses that form images by jetting ink onto a recording medium, and three-dimensional modeling apparatuses that jet modeling liquid into a powder layer in which powder is formed in layers to shape a three-dimensional object.

[0091] Furthermore, liquid jetting devices are not limited to visualizing interesting images such as text and graphics through jetting liquid. For example, they also include creating graphics that are not inherently meaningful, as well as shaping three-dimensional images.

[0092] The aforementioned substances that can adhere to liquids refer to substances to which liquids can adhere at least temporarily, meaning substances that stick or permeate after adhesion. Specific examples include recording media such as paper, film, and cloth, as well as electronic components such as electronic substrates and piezoelectric elements, powder layers, organ models, and inspection units. Unless otherwise specified, this includes all substances to which liquids can adhere.

[0093] The material to which liquids can adhere is any material, such as paper, silk, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, etc., even if the liquid can adhere temporarily.

[0094] A liquid jetting device comprises a liquid jetting head and a component on which liquid can adhere, which move relative to each other, but the moving component is not limited to either side. Specific examples include serial devices that move the liquid jetting head and linear devices that do not move the liquid jetting head.

[0095] In addition, as liquid spraying devices, examples include: a treatment liquid coating device that coats the surface of paper with a treatment liquid for purposes such as modifying the surface of paper, and sprays the treatment liquid onto the paper surface; and a spray granulation device that granulates the raw material particles by spraying a composition liquid formed by dispersing the raw material in a solution through a nozzle.

[0096] The liquid injection device of the present invention also includes an apparatus for manufacturing electrodes and electrochemical elements. The apparatus for manufacturing electrodes will be described below.

[0097] Figure 14 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of an example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode comprising a layer having an electrode material by spraying a liquid composition using a liquid spraying unit including a liquid spraying head.

[0098] First, the means and process for forming the layer containing electrode material will be explained.

[0099] Figure 14 The electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 shown includes a liquid jetting means, which is the liquid jetting unit of the present invention described above. By jetting a liquid composition from a liquid jetting head provided by the liquid jetting unit, the liquid composition is applied to the object to form a liquid composition layer. The object (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "jetting object") can be any object that forms a layer containing electrode material; there are no particular limitations, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples of objects include electrode substrates (current collectors), active material layers, and layers containing solid electrode material. Alternatively, the object can be an electrode composite material layer containing active material on an electrode substrate. Furthermore, as long as a layer containing electrode material can be formed on the jetting object, the jetting means and jetting process can also be means and processes for forming a layer containing electrode material by directly jetting the liquid composition. The jetting means and jetting process can also be means and processes for forming a layer containing electrode material by indirectly jetting the liquid composition.

[0100] Next, the other components and processes will be explained.

[0101] Other components included in the apparatus for manufacturing the electrode composite layer are not particularly limited, as long as they do not impair the effects of the present invention, 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, as long as they do not impair the effects of the present invention, 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.

[0102] Next, the heating method and heating process will be explained.

[0103] The heating mechanism included in the apparatus for manufacturing the electrode composite layer is a mechanism for heating the liquid composition sprayed by a spraying means. Furthermore, the heating step included in the method for manufacturing the electrode composite layer is a step for heating the liquid composition sprayed during the spraying step. By heating the liquid composition, the liquid composition can be dried.

[0104] Next, the structure of forming a layer containing electrode material by direct spraying of a liquid composition will be described. Here, as an example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus that forms a layer containing electrode material, an electrode manufacturing apparatus that forms an electrode composite material layer containing an active substance on an electrode substrate (current collector) will be described.

[0105] like Figure 14As shown, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 includes a spraying process unit 110, which includes a process of applying a liquid composition to a printing substrate material 704 having a spraying target to form a liquid composition layer, and a heating process unit 130, which includes a heating process of heating the liquid composition layer to obtain an electrode composite material layer.

[0106] The electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 includes a conveying means 705 for conveying a printing substrate 704. The conveying means 705 conveys the printing substrate 704 in the order of the jetting process section 110 and the heating process section 130 at a preset speed. There are no particular limitations on the manufacturing method of the printing substrate material 704, which is the object to be jetted, such as having an active material layer; any known method can be appropriately selected. The jetting process section 110 includes a liquid jetting head 281a for performing the application process of applying a liquid composition to the printing substrate material 704, a receiving container 281b for containing a liquid composition 707, and a supply pipe 281c for supplying the liquid composition 707 in the receiving container 281b to the liquid jetting head 281a.

[0107] In the spraying process section 110, liquid composition 707 is sprayed from liquid spray head 281a and applied to printing substrate material 704 to form a thin film-like liquid composition layer. Furthermore, the receiving container 281b 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 281b 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.

[0108] The container 281b and the supply tube 281c can be chosen arbitrarily as long as they can stably contain and supply the liquid composition 707.

[0109] In the heating process section 130, a solvent removal process is performed to remove the solvent remaining in the liquid composition layer by heating. Specifically, drying is achieved by heating with the heating device 703 provided in the heating process section 130, thereby removing the solvent remaining in the liquid composition layer and forming the electrode composite material layer. Alternatively, the solvent removal process in the heating process section 130 can also be performed under reduced pressure.

[0110] 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 707 or the film thickness formed.

[0111] In the electrode manufacturing apparatus 700, the same liquid jetting head as the liquid jetting head 11 described above is used as the liquid jetting head 281a.

[0112] By using the electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a liquid composition can be sprayed onto a target location of an object to be sprayed. The electrode composite material layer can preferably be used as part of the structure of an 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, for instance, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator.

[0113] The present invention can be described, for example, as follows. [1]

[0115] A liquid ejection head is characterized by comprising: a first actuator unit having a first nozzle substrate having a plurality of nozzles and ejecting liquid from the nozzles; a second actuator unit having a second nozzle substrate having a plurality of nozzles and ejecting liquid from the nozzles; having a connecting portion connecting the first actuator unit and the second actuator unit; on the first nozzle substrate, a first connecting portion nozzle corresponding to the connecting portion and a first nozzle corresponding to a portion other than the connecting portion are formed as a plurality of nozzles; on the second nozzle substrate, a second connecting portion nozzle corresponding to the connecting portion and a second nozzle corresponding to a portion other than the connecting portion are formed as a plurality of nozzles; after ejecting the liquid from the first nozzle substrate onto a recorded medium, the liquid is ejected from the second nozzle substrate onto the recorded medium; in the connecting portion, the liquid ejected from the second connecting portion nozzle overlaps with the liquid ejected from the first connecting portion nozzle and falling onto the recorded medium; the diameter of the second connecting portion nozzle is larger than the diameter of the first connecting portion nozzle. [2]

[0117] According to the liquid injection head described in [1], the diameter of the nozzle of the first connecting part is the same as the diameter of the first nozzle. [3]

[0119] According to the liquid injection head described in [1] or [2], the diameter of the second connecting nozzle is the same as the diameter of the second nozzle. [4]

[0121] According to the liquid injection head described in [1], the first nozzle with the same diameter as the first connecting nozzle is formed on the first nozzle substrate, and the second connecting nozzle and / or the second nozzle with the same diameter as the first connecting nozzle are formed on the second nozzle substrate. [5]

[0123] According to the liquid nozzle described in [1], the second nozzle with the same diameter as the second connecting nozzle is formed on the second nozzle substrate, and the first connecting nozzle and / or the first nozzle with the same diameter as the second connecting nozzle is formed on the first nozzle substrate. [6]

[0125] According to the liquid jet head described in [1], the difference between the diameter of the first connecting nozzle and the diameter of the second connecting nozzle increases as the conveying speed of the recorded medium decreases. [7]

[0127] A liquid injection unit, characterized in that it has a liquid injection head as described in any one of [1] to [6]. [8]

[0129] A liquid injection device, characterized in that it has a liquid injection head as described in any one of [1] to [6]. [9]

[0131] A liquid injection device, characterized in that it has the liquid injection unit described in [7].

[0132] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Unless otherwise specified in the above description, various modifications and alterations can be made within the scope of the concept of the present invention as described in the scope of the claims.

[0133] The effects described in the embodiments of this invention are merely examples of the best effects produced by this invention, and the effects of this invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of this invention.

Claims

1. A liquid injection head, characterized in that... include: The first actuator unit has a first nozzle substrate having a plurality of nozzles formed thereon, and sprays liquid from the nozzles, and The second actuator unit has a second nozzle substrate with a plurality of nozzles formed thereon, and sprays liquid from the nozzles. The device has a connecting portion that connects the first actuator unit and the second actuator unit. On the first nozzle substrate, a first connecting portion nozzle corresponding to the connecting portion and a first nozzle corresponding to a portion other than the connecting portion are formed as a plurality of nozzles. On the second nozzle substrate, a second connecting portion nozzle corresponding to the connecting portion and a second nozzle corresponding to a portion other than the connecting portion are formed as a plurality of nozzles. After the liquid is ejected from the first nozzle substrate onto the recorded medium, the liquid is ejected from the second nozzle substrate onto the recorded medium. In the connecting portion, the liquid ejected from the second connecting portion nozzle overlaps with the liquid ejected from the first connecting portion nozzle and falling onto the recorded medium. The diameter of the nozzle of the second connecting part is larger than the diameter of the nozzle of the first connecting part.

2. The liquid injection head according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the nozzle of the first connecting part is the same as the diameter of the first nozzle.

3. The liquid injection head according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the nozzle of the second connecting part is the same as the diameter of the second nozzle.

4. The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein : A first nozzle with the same diameter as the first connecting nozzle is formed on the first nozzle substrate, and a second connecting nozzle and / or a second nozzle with the same diameter as the first connecting nozzle is formed on the second nozzle substrate.

5. The liquid ejection head of claim 1, wherein : A second nozzle with the same diameter as the second connecting nozzle is formed on the second nozzle substrate, and a first connecting nozzle and / or the first nozzle with the same diameter as the second connecting nozzle is formed on the first nozzle substrate.

6. The liquid injection head according to claim 1, characterized in that: As the transport speed of the recorded medium decreases, the difference between the diameter of the first connecting nozzle and the diameter of the second connecting nozzle increases.

7. A liquid injection unit, characterized in that: The liquid injection head is provided according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A liquid injection device, characterized in that: The liquid injection head is provided according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A liquid injection device, characterized in that: It is equipped with the liquid injection unit as described in claim 7.

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