Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge unit, and liquid discharge device

Abstract

To provide a liquid discharge head which can prevent an adhesive for joining a common liquid chamber component having an opening which is open facing a liquid passage port of a liquid chamber component from closing a liquid inflow port partially.SOLUTION: In a liquid discharge head (100), a liquid chamber component (200) in which nozzles and individual liquid chambers are formed and a common liquid chamber component (1) having a common liquid chamber (12) are joined by an adhesive. The common liquid chamber has: an opening which is open so as to face the liquid passage port of the liquid chamber component and includes a recessed edge part (110) which is recessed so as to be spaced apart from a joint surface in a direction orthogonal to the joint surface (130) between the common liquid chamber component and the liquid chamber component. The common liquid chamber component has a joint surface formed by the adhesive between an actuator chamber in which an actuator element provided at the liquid chamber component enters and the opening, and the recessed edge part is an edge part at the side close to the actuator chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head, a liquid ejection unit, and an apparatus for ejecting liquid. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a liquid ejection head in which a liquid chamber part that forms nozzles and individual liquid chambers and a common liquid chamber part that has a common liquid chamber are joined together with an adhesive. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses such a liquid ejection head in which, when bonding a support substrate (common liquid chamber component) to an actuator substrate (liquid chamber component) having a liquid chamber communicating with a nozzle hole with an adhesive, a recess is provided at the bonding portion to prevent the adhesive from flowing out onto the actuator portion. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, in a liquid ejection head in which a common liquid chamber component having an opening that opens opposite the liquid passage port of the liquid chamber component is joined to the liquid chamber component with adhesive, there is a risk that the adhesive will partially block the liquid passage port. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a liquid ejection head in which a liquid chamber part which forms a nozzle and an individual liquid chamber, and a common liquid chamber part which has a common liquid chamber are bonded with an adhesive, the common liquid chamber part having an opening which opens facing the liquid inlet of the liquid chamber part, and the opening edge part has an opening which is recessed so as to be away from the bonding surface in a direction perpendicular to the bonding surface with the liquid chamber part. Effect of the Invention

[0005] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the adhesive used to join a common liquid chamber component having an opening that opens opposite the liquid passage port of the liquid chamber component from partially blocking the liquid inlet port. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of the appearance of a liquid ejection head 100 according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head 100 according to the present embodiment taken along a plane perpendicular to the nozzle arrangement direction. [Diagram 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane parallel to a nozzle surface of a liquid ejection head 100. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the joining surface of the frame 1 of the liquid ejection head 100. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the functions of the adhesive escape groove 120 and the recessed edge portion 110. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an apparatus for discharging liquid. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an example of a head unit of the device. [Figure 8] FIG. 9 is a side view of the main part of the device. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a main portion of the liquid ejection head unit. [Figure 11] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a liquid ejection head according to the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of the exterior of a liquid ejection head 100 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid ejection head 100 according to this embodiment cut along a plane perpendicular to the nozzle arrangement direction. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid ejection head 100 cut along a plane parallel to the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head 100. Fig. 4 is an explanatory view of the surface to which the frame 1 of the liquid ejection head 100 is joined (hereinafter referred to as the joining surface).

[0008] The liquid ejection head 100 according to this embodiment mainly comprises a frame 1, a flow path plate 2, a nozzle plate 3, a base 4, a laminated piezoelectric element 5, a vibration plate 6, and a cover 29. As shown in Fig. 1, the head longitudinal direction is the X direction, the head lateral direction is the Y direction, and the head height direction (the normal direction to the nozzle surface) is the Z direction.

[0009] The frame 1 is a component in which an ink supply port 11 (see Figs. 1 and 4) to which a supply port 71 is connected, and a carving that serves as a common liquid chamber 12 are formed. A base 4 that corresponds to an actuator element, and an actuator chamber 14 for accommodating a laminated piezoelectric element 5, etc. are also formed. This frame 1 corresponds to a common liquid chamber part.

[0010] The flow path plate 2 is a component in which engravings are formed to become pressure generating chambers 22 as individual liquid chambers which are pressure chambers communicating with the nozzles 31. The nozzle plate 3 is a component in which the nozzles 31 are formed. The base 4 is a component that supports the laminated piezoelectric element 5 which is a pressure generating element serving as an actuator element. The diaphragm 6 is a component that has an island-shaped convex portion 6A, a diaphragm portion 6B and an ink inlet 63. The common liquid chamber 12 of the frame 1 opens to face the ink inlet 63 of the diaphragm 6.

[0011] The flow path plate 2 is also formed with a fluid resistance portion 21 that communicates with the pressure generating chamber 22, and an introduction portion 20 that communicates with the fluid resistance portion 21. The flow path plate 2 is formed by laminating and joining a plurality of (here, two) plate-like members 2A, 2B from the nozzle plate 3 side, and the flow path member 200 is configured by laminating and joining these plate-like members 2A, 2B and a vibration plate 6. The flow path member 200 corresponds to a liquid chamber part. A frame 1 that is joined to the surface of the vibration plate 6 opposite to the flow path plate 2 functions as a support part for the flow path member 200.

[0012] The nozzle plate 3 is made of a metal material, for example, a Ni plating film formed by electroforming, and has a large number of nozzles 31, which are fine ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets. The internal shape (inner shape) of each nozzle 31 is formed in a horn shape (may be a substantially cylindrical shape or a substantially truncated cone shape). The diameter of each nozzle 31 on the ink droplet outlet side is about 20 μm to 35 μm. The nozzle pitch of each row is 150 dpi.

[0013] The ink ejection surface (nozzle surface side) of this nozzle plate 3 is provided with a water-repellent treatment layer that has been subjected to a water-repellent surface treatment. For example, the water-repellent treatment layer is selected according to the ink properties, such as PTFE-Ni eutectoid plating, electrocoating of fluororesin, deposition coating of volatile fluororesin (such as pitch fluoride), or baking after solvent application of silicone resin or fluororesin. The frame 1 that forms the ink supply port 11 and the carving that becomes the common liquid chamber 12 is made by resin molding.

[0014] The base 4 is a substrate that supports the multilayer piezoelectric element 5, and is made of, for example, SUS.

[0015] The multilayer piezoelectric element 5 has a layered structure in which piezoelectric layers of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) with a thickness of 10 [μm] to 50 [μm] per layer are alternately stacked with internal electrode layers made of silver-palladium (AgPd) with a thickness of several [μm / layer]. The internal electrode layers are connected to external electrodes at both ends. The multilayer piezoelectric element 5 is divided into comb-tooth pieces by half-cut dicing, and each piece is used as a driving part and a supporting part (non-driving part). The length of the outer side of the external electrodes is limited by processing such as notches so that they can be divided by the half-cut dicing, and these become multiple individual electrodes. The other side is not divided by the dicing process and is conductive, becoming a common electrode.

[0016] An FPC (flexible printed circuit) 13 is soldered to the individual electrodes of the drive unit. The common electrode is provided with an electrode layer at the end of the laminated piezoelectric element 5, which is then routed and joined to the ground electrode of the FPC 13. A head driver, which is a head control unit, is mounted on the FPC 13, which controls the application of a drive voltage to the drive unit.

[0017] The vibration plate 6 is formed by stacking two layers of Ni plating film by electroforming. The vibration plate 6 is formed with a thin diaphragm portion 6B, an island-shaped protrusion 6A bonded to the laminated piezoelectric element 5 as the driving portion 56 formed in the center of the thin diaphragm portion 6B, a thick film portion including a beam bonded to the frame 1, and an opening that becomes the ink inlet 63. The thickness of the diaphragm portion 6B is 3 [μm], and the width is 35 [μm] (one side). The island-shaped protrusion 6A of the vibration plate 6 and the movable portion (driving portion) 56 of the laminated piezoelectric element 5 are bonded by patterning an adhesive layer made of an adhesive containing a gap material and bonding them together. The bonding between the vibration plate 6 and the frame 1 will be described later.

[0018] In the liquid ejection head 100 thus configured, a driving waveform (pulse voltage of 10 [V] to 50 [V]) consisting of a driving pulse is applied to the driving section in response to an image recording signal. This causes a displacement in the lamination direction in the driving section, pressurizing the pressure generating chamber 22 via the vibration plate 6, increasing the pressure, and ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 31. Thereafter, with the end of ink droplet ejection, the ink pressure in the pressure generating chamber 22 decreases, and negative pressure is generated in the pressure generating chamber 22 due to the inertia of the ink flow and the discharge process of the driving voltage (driving pulse), and the process proceeds to an ink filling process. At this time, ink supplied from the ink tank flows into the common liquid chamber 12, passes from the common liquid chamber 12 through the ink inlet 63, passes through the fluid resistance section 21, and fills the pressure generating chamber 22.

[0019] Although the fluid resistance section 21 is effective in attenuating residual pressure vibrations after ejection, it also acts as a resistance to refilling. By appropriately selecting the fluid resistance section 21, it is possible to achieve a balance between the attenuation of residual pressure and the refill time, thereby shortening the time (drive cycle) until the next ink droplet ejection operation.

[0020] The supply port 71 of the frame 1 is disposed at the end of the common liquid chamber 12 in the nozzle arrangement direction, and is connected to the common liquid chamber 12 via the ink supply port 11. As shown in Fig. 1, the supply port 71 is provided in four locations, and four common liquid chambers 12 and nozzle rows are formed. The number of common liquid chambers 12 and nozzle rows is not limited to four.

[0021] 4 is an explanatory diagram of the joint surface of the frame 1, where FIG. 4(a) is a plan view and FIG. 4(b) is an enlarged view of region A shown by a rectangle in FIG. 4(a). As shown in FIG. 4(a), two rows of actuator chambers 14 extending in the longitudinal direction X are formed in the frame 1. A pair of common liquid chambers 12 extending in the longitudinal direction X are opened to sandwich the actuator chambers 14 from the lateral direction Y. Each row of actuator chambers 14 houses a row of a pair of laminated piezoelectric elements 5 and the like corresponding to a pair of pressure generating chambers 22 on the central side in the lateral direction to which ink is supplied via an ink inlet 63 from a pair of common liquid chambers 12 located on both sides in the lateral direction Y.

[0022] The longitudinal ends of a pair of common liquid chambers 12 corresponding to each actuator chamber 14 are connected to an ink supply port 11 which communicates with the supply port 71. A total of four common liquid chambers 12 are formed. Four ink supply ports 11 are also formed.

[0023] 4(b), a location extending in the longitudinal direction X at approximately the center in the short direction Y of the bonding surface area 130 between the actuator chamber 14 and the common liquid chamber 12 is used as an adhesive application position 130a by an adhesive dispenser. The frame 1 has an adhesive escape groove 120 on the side of the bonding surface area 130 closer to the actuator chamber 14. The edge of the opening of the common liquid chamber 12 on the side closer to the actuator chamber 14 is provided with a recessed edge portion 110 that has a recessed shape that is recessed so as to be away from the bonding surface area 130 in a direction perpendicular to the bonding surface area 130.

[0024] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the functions of the adhesive escape groove 120 and the recessed edge portion 110, and corresponds to the BB' cross section of FIG. 4(b). FIG. 5(a) is an explanatory diagram of a comparative example in which these are not present, FIG. 5(b) is an explanatory diagram of the case in which these are provided, and FIG. 5(c) is an explanatory diagram of a further improved example. In each diagram, the left side shows a state in which adhesive 131 is applied before pressurizing the flow path member 200, and the right side shows a state in which the flow path member 200 has been pressurized. After adhesive is applied to the adhesive application position 130a using a desponder, the flow path member 200 is pressed toward the frame 1, and the adhesive is spread over the bonding surface area 130 and bonded.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 5(a), if the adhesive escape groove 120 and the recessed edge portion 110 were not present, adhesive overflow 132 could occur at the edge of the opening of the actuator chamber 14 or the common liquid chamber 12. If the amount of adhesive overflowing on the actuator chamber 14 side becomes too large and reaches the diaphragm portion 6B of the flow path member 200, it will inhibit the displacement of the vibration plate 6. In other words, if the adhesive overflows on the actuator chamber 14 side, the hardness of the vibration plate 6 that constitutes the liquid chamber will change at the point where the adhesive overflows, and the amount of overflowing adhesive will cause a difference in the displacement of the liquid chamber caused by driving by a piezoelectric element or the like (PZT drive). The displacement of the liquid chamber will cause a difference in the volume of ink displaced by PZT displacement, which will lead to a difference in ejection quality.

[0026] If the amount of ink spilling out on the common liquid chamber 12 side becomes too large, it will completely or partially block the ink inflow port 63 of the flow path member 200, hindering the inflow of ink. This also deteriorates the ejection performance.

[0027] To avoid this, it is necessary to control the adhesive thinly. However, if the amount of adhesive applied is reduced or pressure is insufficient due to deformation of the parts, unevenness in adhesive application, or unevenness in pressure distribution, the adhesive does not spread over the entire joint surface, and the adhesive may come off or break. The adhesive may come off or break, causing a difference in the state of component restraint between normal areas and areas with adhesive loss, resulting in variation in discharge quality.

[0028] Fig. 5(b) is an explanatory diagram of the frame 1 according to this embodiment. By providing the adhesive escape groove 120 on the actuator chamber 14 side, the amount of adhesive overflowing on the actuator chamber side can be controlled. The adhesive escape groove 120 is preferably provided parallel to the actuator chamber 14 (parallel to the edge 14a on the bonding surface area 130 side of the actuator chamber 14 in Fig. 4(b)). By arranging the adhesive escape groove parallel to the actuator chamber, the variation in the amount of adhesive overflowing can be reduced, and the occurrence of displacement differences due to the variation in the amount of adhesive overflowing can be suppressed.

[0029] By providing the recessed edge 110 at the opening edge of the common liquid chamber 12, the flowing adhesive is stored in the recessed edge 110, and the risk of the adhesive blocking the ink inlet 63 of the flow path member 200 can be reduced. Furthermore, the illustrated example has an inclined bonding surface portion 111 that is inclined so that the side closer to the recessed edge 110 is more distant from the bonding surface of the flow path member 200 than the side closer to the actuator chamber 14. This inclined bonding surface portion 111 is inclined so that the common liquid chamber 12 side is lower (the distance from the bonding surface of the flow path member 200 is larger), which makes it easier for the pressurized adhesive to flow to the common liquid chamber 12 side. By making it easier for the adhesive to flow to the common liquid chamber 12 side, the amount of adhesive that overflows to the actuator chamber 14 side can be controlled even if a large amount of adhesive is applied, and bonding process conditions with a larger margin can be set.

[0030] Fig. 5(c) shows a further improved example. The adhesive escape groove 120 and the side portion 121 extending from the joint surface region 130 to the bottom as shown in Fig. 5(b) and (c) are inclined side surfaces that recede away from the joint surface in a direction perpendicular to the joint surface between the frame 1 and the flow path member 200 as they approach the actuator chamber 14. In other words, the cross-sectional shape of the adhesive escape groove 120 has a gradient on the side surface on the joint surface region 130 side, with the opening being wider and the bottom being narrower. Such a gradient makes it easier for the adhesive to flow into the groove, and prevents the adhesive from overflowing beyond the adhesive escape groove 120 when pressure is applied.

[0031] As described above, the liquid ejection head 100 of the present embodiment is a non-circulation type liquid head, but the present invention can also be applied to a circulation type liquid ejection head. In addition, in a circulation type liquid ejection head, a common liquid chamber having an opening extending in the longitudinal direction sandwiching a bonding surface area by an adhesive between it and the actuator chamber 14 can be configured as a supply common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to individual liquid chambers through a liquid passage port of the liquid chamber part, or as a recovery common liquid chamber that recovers liquid to individual liquid chambers through a liquid passage port of the liquid chamber part.

[0032] In the latter configuration, too, it is possible to prevent the liquid passage port of the recovery liquid chamber component from being blocked with adhesive. Furthermore, in the latter configuration, the recessed edge portion 110 and the inclined bonding surface portion 111 formed at the opening of the recovery common liquid chamber, as well as the adhesive escape groove 120 and the gradient of its side surface portion 121, make it possible to control the amount of adhesive that overflows into the actuator chamber 14 even if a large amount of adhesive is applied, and it is possible to set bonding process conditions with a larger margin.

[0033] Next, an example of a liquid ejecting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the device, and Figure 7 is a plan explanatory diagram of an example of a head unit of the device.

[0034] The printing device 500, which is a device for ejecting this liquid, is equipped with an input means 501 for inserting a continuous body 510, a guide and conveying means 503 for guiding and conveying the continuous body 510 introduced from the input means 501 to a printing means 505, a printing means 505 for ejecting liquid onto the continuous body 510 to perform printing to form an image, a drying means 507 for drying the continuous body 510, and an ejection means 509 for ejecting the continuous body 510.

[0035] The continuous body 510 is sent out from the original winding roller 511 of the carrying-in means 501 , guided and transported by the rollers of the carrying-in means 501 , the guiding and transporting means 503 , the drying means 507 , and the carrying-out means 509 , and taken up by the take-up roller 591 of the carrying-out means 509 .

[0036] This continuous body 510 is transported in the printing means 505 on a transport guide member 559 opposite the head unit 550 and head unit 555, an image is formed by liquid ejected from the head unit 550, and post-processing is performed with processing liquid ejected from the head unit 555.

[0037] Here, in the head unit 550, for example, full line type head arrays 551A, 551B, 551C, and 551D for four colors (hereinafter, referred to as "head array 551" when no distinction is made between colors) are arranged from the upstream side in the transport direction.

[0038] Each head array 551 is a liquid ejection means, and ejects liquid of black K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y onto the transported continuum 510. The types and number of colors are not limited to these.

[0039] Head array 551 is, for example, liquid ejection heads (also simply referred to as "heads") 100 according to the present invention arranged in a staggered pattern on base member 552, but is not limited to this.

[0040] Next, another example of a printing apparatus as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is a plan view of the main part of the apparatus, and Figure 9 is a side view of the main part of the apparatus.

[0041] This printing device 500 is a serial type device, and a carriage 403 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by a main scanning movement mechanism 493. The main scanning movement mechanism 493 includes a guide member 401, a main scanning motor 405, a timing belt 408, etc. The guide member 401 is hung between left and right side plates 491A, 491B to movably hold the carriage 403. The carriage 403 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the main scanning motor 405 via a timing belt 408 hung between a drive pulley 406 and a driven pulley 407.

[0042] A liquid ejection unit 440 is mounted on this carriage 403, which integrates the liquid ejection head 100 according to the present invention and a head tank 441. The liquid ejection head 100 of the liquid ejection unit 440 ejects liquid of each color, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). The liquid ejection head 100 is mounted with a nozzle row made up of a plurality of nozzles arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the ejection direction facing downward.

[0043] The printing apparatus 500 includes a transport mechanism 495 for transporting the paper 410. The transport mechanism 495 includes a transport belt 412, which is a transport means, and a sub-scanning motor 416 for driving the transport belt 412.

[0044] The conveyor belt 412 attracts the paper 410 and conveys it to a position facing the liquid ejection head 100. The conveyor belt 412 is an endless belt, and is stretched between a conveyor roller 413 and a tension roller 414. The paper can be attracted by electrostatic attraction or air suction.

[0045] The conveyor belt 412 moves in a circular motion in the sub-scanning direction as the conveyor rollers 413 are rotated by a sub-scanning motor 416 via a timing belt 417 and a timing pulley 418 .

[0046] Furthermore, a maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 for performing maintenance and recovery of the liquid ejection head 100 is disposed on one side of the conveyor belt 412 on one side of the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction.

[0047] The maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 is composed of, for example, a cap member 421 that caps the nozzle surface (surface on which nozzles are formed) of the liquid ejection head 100, a wiper member 422 that wipes the nozzle surface, and the like.

[0048] The main scanning movement mechanism 493, the maintenance and recovery mechanism 420, and the transport mechanism 495 are attached to a housing including side plates 491A and 491B and a back plate 491C.

[0049] In the printing device 500 configured in this manner, the paper 410 is fed onto the conveyor belt 412 and adsorbed thereon, and the paper 410 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the conveyor belt 412.

[0050] Therefore, by driving the liquid ejection head 100 in response to an image signal while moving the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, liquid is ejected onto the stationary paper 410 to form an image.

[0051] Next, another example of the liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a plan view illustrating the main parts of the unit.

[0052] This liquid ejection unit 440 is composed of, among the components that make up the device that ejects the liquid, a housing portion consisting of side plates 491A, 491B and a back plate 491C, a main scanning movement mechanism 493, a carriage 403, and a liquid ejection head 100.

[0053] It is also possible to configure a liquid discharge unit in which the above-mentioned maintenance and recovery mechanism 420 is further attached to, for example, the side plate 491B of this liquid discharge unit 440.

[0054] Next, still another example of a liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is an explanatory front view of the unit.

[0055] The liquid ejection unit 440 is composed of a liquid ejection head 100 to which a flow path part 444 is attached, and a tube 456 connected to the flow path part 444 .

[0056] The flow path part 444 is disposed inside the cover 442. A head tank 441 may be included instead of the flow path part 444. Furthermore, a connector 443 for electrically connecting with the liquid ejection head 100 is provided on the upper part of the flow path part 444.

[0057] In the present application, the liquid to be ejected may have a viscosity and surface tension that allows it to be ejected from the head, and is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the viscosity of the liquid is 30 mPa·s or less at room temperature and pressure, or by heating or cooling. More specifically, the liquid may be a solution, suspension, emulsion, etc., containing a solvent such as water or an organic solvent, a colorant such as a dye or pigment, a functionalizing material such as a polymerizable compound, a resin, or a surfactant, a biocompatible material such as DNA, amino acids, proteins, or calcium, an edible material such as a natural colorant, etc., and these can be used for applications such as inkjet ink, surface treatment liquid, a liquid for forming a component of an electronic element or a light-emitting element, an electronic circuit resist pattern, a material liquid for three-dimensional modeling, etc.

[0058] Energy sources for ejecting liquid include piezoelectric actuators (laminated piezoelectric elements and thin-film piezoelectric elements), thermal actuators that use electrothermal conversion elements such as heating resistors, and electrostatic actuators consisting of a vibration plate and an opposing electrode.

[0059] A "liquid ejection unit" is a liquid ejection head integrated with functional parts and mechanisms, and includes a collection of parts related to ejecting liquid. For example, a "liquid ejection unit" includes a combination of a liquid ejection head and at least one of the following components: a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance and recovery mechanism, a main scanning movement mechanism, and a liquid circulation device.

[0060] Here, integration includes, for example, a liquid ejection head, a functional part, and a mechanism that are fixed to each other by fastening, bonding, engaging, etc., and one is held movably relative to the other. Also, the liquid ejection head, the functional part, and the mechanism may be configured to be detachable from each other.

[0061] For example, there are liquid ejection units in which the liquid ejection head and the head tank are integrated together, and there are also liquid ejection units in which the liquid ejection head and the head tank are integrated together by being connected to each other by a tube, etc. Here, a unit including a filter can be added between the head tank and the liquid ejection head of these liquid ejection units.

[0062] Furthermore, there is a liquid ejection unit in which the liquid ejection head and the carriage are integrated.

[0063] In some liquid ejection units, the liquid ejection head is movably held by a guide member that constitutes a part of the scanning movement mechanism, and the liquid ejection head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated together, and in some liquid ejection units, the liquid ejection head, the carriage, and the main scanning movement mechanism are integrated together.

[0064] Furthermore, there is a liquid ejection unit in which a cap member, which is part of the maintenance and recovery mechanism, is fixed to a carriage on which the liquid ejection head is attached, thereby integrating the liquid ejection head, carriage, and maintenance and recovery mechanism.

[0065] In addition, some liquid ejection units have a head tank or a liquid ejection head to which a flow path component is attached, and a tube is connected to the liquid ejection head, integrating the liquid ejection head with a supply mechanism. Liquid is supplied from a liquid storage source to the liquid ejection head via this tube.

[0066] The main scanning movement mechanism includes the guide member alone, and the supply mechanism includes the tube alone and the loading unit alone.

[0067] "Liquid ejection device" includes devices that have a liquid ejection head or a liquid ejection unit and eject liquid by driving the liquid ejection head. Liquid ejection devices include not only devices that can eject liquid onto objects to which the liquid can adhere, but also devices that eject liquid into air or liquid.

[0068] This "liquid ejecting device" can also include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging items onto which liquid can be attached, as well as pre-processing devices and post-processing devices.

[0069] For example, examples of "devices that eject liquid" include image forming devices that eject ink to form an image on paper, and three-dimensional modeling devices that eject modeling liquid onto a powder layer formed by layering powder in order to create a three-dimensional object (a three-dimensional model).

[0070] In addition, the term "liquid ejection device" is not limited to devices that use ejected liquid to visualize meaningful images such as letters and figures. For example, it also includes devices that form patterns that have no meaning in themselves and devices that create three-dimensional images.

[0071] The above-mentioned "object to which liquid can adhere" means an object to which liquid can adhere at least temporarily, and to which the liquid adheres and sticks, or to which the liquid adheres and penetrates, etc. Specific examples include media such as paper, recording paper, film, cloth, and other recording media, electronic boards, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers, organ models, and test cells, and unless otherwise specified, includes all objects to which liquid can adhere.

[0072] The material of the above-mentioned "object to which liquid can adhere" may be any material to which liquid can adhere even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, and ceramics.

[0073] Furthermore, the "liquid ejection device" may be a device in which a liquid ejection head and an object to which liquid can be attached move relatively, but is not limited to this. Specific examples include a serial type device in which a liquid ejection head moves, a line type device in which a liquid ejection head does not move, etc.

[0074] Other examples of "liquid ejecting devices" include a treatment liquid application device that ejects a treatment liquid onto paper to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper for purposes such as modifying the surface of the paper, and an injection granulation device that ejects a composition liquid in which raw materials are dispersed through a nozzle to granulate fine particles of the raw materials.

[0075] In the present application, the terms image formation, recording, printing, copying, printing, modeling, and the like are all synonymous.

[0076] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the spirit of the present invention described in the claims, unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description. The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0077] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention has unique effects for each of the following aspects. In the description of the aspects, the reference characters in parentheses following the names of components indicate examples of the corresponding members, and the present invention is not limited to these examples of members. (Aspect 1) In a liquid ejection head (100) in which a liquid chamber part (200) that forms nozzles and individual liquid chambers and a common liquid chamber part (1) having a common liquid chamber (12) are bonded with an adhesive, the common liquid chamber has an opening that opens to face the liquid passage port of the liquid chamber part and has a recessed edge part (110) that is recessed so as to be away from the bonding surface in a direction perpendicular to the bonding surface between the common liquid chamber part and the liquid chamber part.

[0078] (Aspect 2) In the liquid ejection head (100) described in (Aspect 1), the common liquid chamber part (1) has an adhesive bonding surface (130) between the opening and the actuator chamber (14) into which the actuator element (5) provided in the liquid chamber part (200) enters, and the recessed edge part (110) is the edge part on the side closer to the actuator chamber (14). This makes it possible to prevent the adhesive from partially blocking the liquid inlet port.

[0079] (Aspect 3) In the liquid ejection head (100) described in (Aspect 1 or 2), the bonding surface (130) of the common liquid chamber component (1) has an inclined bonding surface portion (111) that is inclined so that the side closer to the opening is farther away from the bonding surface of the liquid chamber component (200) than the side closer to the actuator chamber (14). This allows the adhesive to be smoothly guided to the recessed portion.

[0080] (Aspect 4) In the liquid ejection head (100) according to (Aspect 2 or 3), the common liquid chamber part (1) has an adhesive escape groove (120) on the bonding surface (130) on the side closer to the actuator chamber (14). This makes it possible to prevent problems caused by adhesive flowing into the actuator chamber.

[0081] (Aspect 5) In the liquid ejection head (100) according to any one of (Aspects 2 to 4), the adhesive escape groove (120) is parallel to the edge portion (14a) of the actuator chamber (14). This makes it possible to more effectively suppress ejection variations among the nozzles in the nozzle row.

[0082] (Aspect 6) In the liquid ejection head (100) according to any one of (Aspects 1 to 5), the adhesive escape groove (120) has a side portion (121) extending from the joint surface (130) to the bottom of the groove, which is a sloped side surface (121) that recedes away from the joint surface in a direction perpendicular to the joint surface between the common liquid chamber part (1) and the liquid chamber part (200) the closer it is to the actuator chamber (14). This allows the adhesive to be smoothly guided into the adhesive escape groove.

[0083] (Aspect 7) In the liquid ejection head (100) described in any one of (Aspects 1 to 6), the liquid chamber part (200) has a surface of a plate layer constituting a vibration plate (6) that vibrates due to an actuator element (5) as a bonding surface, and a liquid passage port (63) is formed in the plate layer.

[0084] (Aspect 8) In the liquid ejection head (100) according to any one of (Aspects 1 to 7), the common liquid chamber part (1) is a support part for the liquid chamber part (200).

[0085] (Aspect 9) In a liquid ejection unit (440) including at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance and recovery mechanism, and a main scanning movement mechanism, and a liquid ejection head, the liquid ejection head (100) described in any one of (Aspects 1 to 8) is used as the liquid ejection head (100), thereby achieving good ejection performance.

[0086] (Aspect 10) A liquid ejection device (500) having the liquid ejection head (100) according to any one of (Aspects 1 to 8) or the liquid ejection unit (440) according to (Aspect 9), thereby achieving good ejection performance. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1: Frame 2: Flow path plate 2A: Plate-shaped member 2B: Plate-shaped member 3: Nozzle plate 4: Bass 5: Multilayer piezoelectric element 6: Vibration plate 6A: Island-shaped convex part 6B: Diaphragm part 10: Thickness 11: Ink supply port 12: Common liquid chamber 13: FPC 14: Actuator room 14a: Edge 20: Introduction 21: Fluid resistance section 22: Pressure generating chamber 29: Cover 31: Nozzle 56: Drive unit 63: Ink inlet 71: Supply port 100: Liquid ejection head 110: Receding edge 111: Inclined joint surface part 120: Adhesive escape groove 121: Side part 130: Joint surface area 130a: Adhesive application position 131: Adhesive 132: Out 200: Flow path member 401: Guide member 403: Carriage 405: Main scanning motor 406: Drive pulley 407: Driven pulley 408: Timing belt 410: Paper 412:Conveyor belt 413: Transport roller 414: Tension roller 416: Sub-scanning motor 417: Timing belt 418: Timing pulley 420: Maintenance and recovery mechanism 421: Cap member 422: Wiper parts 440: Liquid discharge unit 441: Head Tank 442: Cover 443: Connector 444: Flow path parts 456: Tube 491A: Side plate 491B: Side plate 491C: Back plate 493: Main scanning movement mechanism 495:Transport mechanism 500:Printing device 501: Means of transport 503: Guide and conveying means 505:Printing means 507 :Drying means 509:Export means 510: Continuum 511: Main winding roller 550: Head unit 551: Head Array 551A: Full line type head array 551B: Full line type head array 551C: Full line type head array 551D: Full line type head array 552: Base material 555: Head unit 559: Transport guide member 591: Winding roller A :Area C: Cyan K: Black M: Magenta X: Longitudinal direction Y: Short side direction [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0088] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-165853 A

Claims

1. In a liquid ejection head in which a liquid chamber part forming nozzles and individual liquid chambers and a common liquid chamber part having a common liquid chamber are joined by an adhesive, A liquid ejection head characterized in that the common liquid chamber has an opening that opens opposite the liquid passage port of the liquid chamber component and has a recessed edge that is recessed so as to be away from the joining surface in a direction perpendicular to the joining surface between the common liquid chamber component and the liquid chamber component.

2. 2. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, A liquid ejection head characterized in that the common liquid chamber part has an adhesive bonding surface between the opening and an actuator chamber into which an actuator element provided in the liquid chamber part enters, and the recessed edge portion is the edge portion closer to the actuator chamber.

3. 3. The liquid ejection head according to claim 2, A liquid ejection head characterized in that the bonding surface in the common liquid chamber part has an inclined bonding surface portion that is inclined so that the side closer to the opening is farther away from the bonding surface in the liquid chamber part than the side closer to the actuator chamber.

4. 3. The liquid ejection head according to claim 2, The liquid ejection head is characterized in that the common liquid chamber part has an adhesive escape groove on the bonding surface on a side closer to the actuator chamber.

5. 5. The liquid ejection head according to claim 4, A liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive escape groove is parallel to an edge of the actuator chamber.

6. 5. The liquid ejection head according to claim 4, A liquid ejection head characterized in that the side portion of the adhesive escape groove extending from the joint surface to the bottom of the groove has a sloped side surface that retreats away from the joint surface in a direction perpendicular to the joint surface between the common liquid chamber component and the liquid chamber component the closer it is to the actuator chamber.

7. 3. The liquid ejection head according to claim 2, The liquid chamber part has a surface of a plate layer constituting a vibration plate that vibrates due to the actuator element as the joint surface, and the liquid passage port is formed in the plate layer.

8. 2. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the common liquid chamber part is a support part for the liquid chamber part.

9. A liquid ejection unit including at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance and recovery mechanism, and a main scanning movement mechanism, and a liquid ejection head, A liquid ejection unit comprising the liquid ejection head according to claim 1 as the liquid ejection head.

10. In a liquid ejection device, 10. A liquid ejection device comprising: a liquid ejection head according to claim 1; or a liquid ejection unit according to claim 9.

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