Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge device

Abstract

To provide a liquid discharge head which can increase the size of droplets discharged from nozzles and a liquid discharge device.SOLUTION: A liquid discharge head 10 includes: a nozzle plate 14 having nozzle arrays in which nozzles 14a for discharging a liquid are lined up; and a plurality of liquid discharge modules 1 each including a needle valve 8 serving as a valve member which opens or closes the nozzles 14a, and a moving mechanism 6 which moves the needle valve 8 between an open position where the needle valve 8 opens the nozzles 14a and a closing position where the needle valve 8 closes the nozzles 14a. The moving mechanism 6 has: an actuator 2; and an arm member 3 which moves the needle valve 8 in conjunction with displacement of the actuator 2. When viewed in a nozzle arrangement direction, the plurality of liquid discharge modules 1 are arranged in an alternating manner in the nozzle arrangement direction so that parts of the arm member 3 are overlapped. Further, the arm member 3 amplifies displacement of the actuator 2 to move the needle valve 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a liquid ejection head including a nozzle plate having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid are arranged, a valve member for opening and closing the nozzles, and a moving mechanism for moving the valve member between an open position for opening the nozzles and a closed position for closing the nozzles, and a plurality of liquid ejection modules.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, as the above-described liquid ejection head, there is provided a moving mechanism including an actuator and an arm member that is rotatably supported and moves the valve member in conjunction with the displacement of the actuator. When viewed from the nozzle arrangement direction, a plurality of liquid ejection modules are arranged alternately in the nozzle arrangement direction such that a part of the arm member overlaps. It is described that by adopting such a configuration, the pitch between the nozzles can be reduced.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, the amount of movement of the valve member is small, and the size of the liquid droplets ejected from the nozzles is small.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a liquid ejection head including a nozzle plate having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid are arranged, a valve member for opening and closing the nozzles, and a plurality of liquid ejection modules having a moving mechanism for moving the valve member between an open position for opening the nozzles and a closed position for closing the nozzles. The moving mechanism includes an actuator and an arm member that moves the valve member in conjunction with the displacement of the actuator. When viewed from the liquid ejection direction, at least one of the plurality of liquid ejection modules is arranged such that the actuator is located on one side in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction with respect to the nozzles. When viewed from the liquid ejection direction, in the remaining liquid ejection modules, the actuator is located on the other side in the orthogonal direction with respect to the nozzles, and a part of the arm member is arranged so as to overlap a part of the arm member of the liquid ejection module in which the actuator is located on the one side in the nozzle arrangement direction. The arm member amplifies the displacement of the actuator to move the valve member.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, the size of droplets ejected from the nozzles can be increased.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Figure 7

Figure 8

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Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

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Figure 17

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Figure 21

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily modify and change the present invention within the scope of the claims to form other embodiments, and these modifications and changes are included in the scope of the claims. The following description is an example of the best mode in the present invention and does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a liquid ejection head 10 according to the present embodiment. In the following description, the nozzle array direction (the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejection head) is defined as the X direction, the liquid ejection direction from the nozzles (the height direction of the liquid ejection head) is defined as the Z direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Z direction (the lateral direction of the liquid ejection head) is defined as the Y direction for explanation purposes.

[0010] The liquid ejection head 10 includes a nozzle plate 14, a flow path member 15, and a cover 11 which is a housing member. A supply port 12 for supplying liquid is provided at one end of the flow path member 15 in the X direction, and a discharge port 13 for discharging liquid is provided at the other end of the flow path member 15 in the X direction. Further, a harness through hole 16 for passing a harness for communicating with an actuator 2 housed in the cover is provided in the upper part of the cover 11.

[0011] The nozzle plate 14, the flow path member 15, and the cover 11 are made of metal, resin, or ceramics. The cover 11 houses and supports a liquid ejection module 1 (see FIG. 4) described later inside. The flow path member 15 defines a flow path through which the liquid flows, and the nozzle plate 14 has a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the liquid. The nozzle plate 14 is mechanically (removably) fixed to the flow path member 15, and the cover 11 is mechanically (removably) fixed to the flow path member 15.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the nozzle array of the nozzle plate 14. As shown in FIG. 2(a), one nozzle row can be provided at the center of the nozzle plate in the Y direction (the lateral direction of the head), or as shown in FIG. 2(b), the nozzles 14a can be arranged in a staggered pattern to provide two nozzle rows in the Y direction. Note that the nozzle array shown in FIG. 2 is an example. For example, a configuration in which two sets of two nozzle rows in the Y direction are provided by arranging the nozzles in a staggered pattern, having a total of four nozzle rows, or a configuration in which a plurality of nozzle rows with the same position of the nozzles in the X direction (the longitudinal direction of the head) are provided may also be used. The liquid ejection head of the embodiment described below has the nozzles 14a shown in FIG. 2(b) arranged in a staggered pattern to provide two nozzle rows in the Y direction.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the mechanical fixation between the nozzle plate 14 and the flow path member 15, (a) is a schematic configuration diagram of the nozzle plate 14, and (b) is a schematic configuration diagram of the flow path member 15. At both ends of the nozzle plate 14 in the Y direction, five through holes 14b through which screws pass are provided at equal intervals in the X direction. Further, at both ends of the nozzle plate 14 in the X direction, positioning holes 14c for positioning the nozzle plate 14 with respect to the flow path member 15 are provided. The positioning hole 14c on one end side in the X direction is the main reference for positioning and is a round hole having approximately the same diameter as the diameter of the positioning pin. The positioning hole 14c on one end side in the X direction is the secondary reference for positioning and has an elongated hole shape that is long in the X direction.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 3(b), the flow path member 15 has a flow path 5 through which a liquid flows. On the lower surface of the flow path member 15, a seal member 15a made of an elastic member such as rubber provided so as to surround the flow path is provided. Further, at both ends of the lower surface of the flow path member 15 in the Y direction, five female screw portions 15b having screw grooves provided on the inner peripheral surface are provided at equal intervals in the X direction. Further, at both ends in the X direction, pin fitting holes 15c into which positioning pins are fitted are provided. Note that positioning pins may be directly formed on the flow path member 15.

[0015] First, the positioning pins fitted into the pin fitting holes 15c of the flow path member 15 are inserted into the positioning holes 14c of the nozzle plate 14 to position the nozzle plate 14 with respect to the flow path member 15. Then, screws are inserted into the respective through holes 14b of the nozzle plate 14, and the screws are screwed into the female screw portions 15b of the flow path member 15, whereby the nozzle plate 14 is mechanically (removably) fixed to the flow path member 15. Further, when the screws are tightened, the seal member 15a provided on the flow path member 15 is crushed by the nozzle plate 14, so that the seal member 15a is in close contact with the nozzle plate, and the space between the nozzle plate 14 and the flow path member 15 is sealed.

[0016] In this embodiment, since the nozzle plate 14 is fixed to the flow path member 15 by screwing, the nozzle plate 14 can be easily removed by removing the screws, and the nozzle plate can be easily replaced. Thereby, for example, it is possible to replace the nozzle plate with a nozzle plate having a nozzle diameter that provides optimal discharge characteristics for the discharge object on which the liquid is discharged.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a partial detailed view of the liquid discharge module 1. In the housing portion 11a of the cover 11, a plurality of liquid discharge modules 1 provided corresponding to the respective nozzles 14a are housed in a staggered two-row arrangement. Each liquid discharge module 1 includes a needle valve 8 which is a valve member for opening and closing the nozzle 14a, and a moving mechanism 6 having an arm member 3 and an actuator 2.

[0018] The plurality of liquid discharge modules 1 are arranged in a staggered manner in the X direction within the housing portion 11a of the cover 11 so that the needle valve 8 sides face each other in two rows (see also FIG. 8). Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of liquid discharge modules 1 are arranged such that a part of the arm member 3 overlaps when viewed from the X direction. Here, although the case where the nozzles 14a are arranged in a two-row staggered pattern on the nozzle plate 14 as shown in FIG. 2(b) has been described, even when the nozzles 14a are arranged in a single row on the nozzle plate 14 as shown in FIG. 2(a), the plurality of liquid discharge modules 1 are arranged such that a part of the arm member 3 overlaps when viewed from the X direction.

[0019] Here, the term "staggered arrangement of the liquid discharge modules" means that a liquid discharge module having the actuator 2 positioned on one side of the nozzle arrangement and a liquid discharge module having the actuator 2 positioned on the other side of the nozzle arrangement are arranged to face each other, and when viewed from the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction), it can also be described as a state of being arranged along the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction) such that a part of the arm member 3 overlaps.

[0020] The actuator 2 is composed of a piezoelectric element 2a and a fixing element 2b that serves to apply and fix a preload for compressing the piezoelectric element 2a, and the fixing element 2b is fixed to the inner wall surface perpendicular to the Y direction of the accommodating portion 11a of the cover 11. More specifically, the fixing element 2b fixes the end portion of the piezoelectric element 2a in the Z direction, which is the direction in which the piezoelectric element 2a expands and contracts, to the inner wall surface of the accommodating portion 11a. The fixing method is performed by mechanical fixing using screws or the like, or chemical fixing such as bonding with an adhesive or thermal diffusion.

[0021] The arm member 3 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 4 serving as an arm support portion, one end of which is adhesively fixed to the actuator 2, and the other end contacts an arm receiving portion 8c fixed to the needle valve 8. The contact portion 3a, which is a second connection portion that contacts the arm receiving portion 8c at the other end of the arm member 3, is hemispherical or semi-circular when viewed from the X direction and protrudes toward the arm receiving portion 8c, so as to smoothly contact the arm receiving portion 8c when the arm member 3 rotates.

[0022] In addition, a relief hole 3b through which the needle valve 8 passes is formed at the other end of the arm member 3. The inner diameter of the relief hole 3b is larger than the outer diameter of the needle valve 8 so that the needle valve 8 does not contact the arm member 3 when the arm member 3 rotates.

[0023] A plurality of valve through-holes 11b through which the needle valves 8 provided corresponding to the respective nozzles 14a pass are provided in the bottom surface portion of the accommodating portion 11a of the cover 11. A seal member 19 such as an O-ring is provided at the end portion on the flow path member 15 side of the valve through-hole 11b, and a valve receiving portion 20 for slidably receiving the needle valve 8 is provided on the side opposite to the end portion on the flow path member 15 side of the valve through-hole 11b. In addition, the end portion of the needle valve 8 on the side opposite to the nozzle plate side passes through the spring receiving plate 18. The needle valve 8 is held in a posture parallel to the Z direction by the seal member 19, the valve receiving portion 20, and the spring receiving plate 18.

[0024] A compression spring 7 as a biasing means is provided between an arm receiving portion 8c fixed to the needle valve 8 and a spring receiving plate 18, and biases the needle valve 8 toward the nozzle plate 14 via the arm receiving portion 8c.

[0025] By biasing the needle valve 8 toward the nozzle plate 14 with the compression spring 7, it is possible to stabilize the movement of the needle valve 8 between an open position where the nozzle of the needle valve 8 is opened and a closed position where the nozzle is closed. The spring receiving plate 18 is attached to a fixing member 17 fixed to the cover 11.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the actuator 2 of each liquid ejection module 1 is connected to a drive control device 30 via a harness. The drive control device 30 includes a waveform generation circuit 31 which is a drive pulse generation unit and an amplifier circuit 32.

[0027] The waveform generation circuit 31 generates a drive pulse waveform described later, and the amplifier circuit 32 amplifies the voltage value to a required value. Then, the amplified voltage signal is applied to the actuator 2. By applying this voltage, the drive control device 30 controls the displacement of the piezoelectric element 2a and controls the opening and closing of the nozzle 14a of the needle valve 8. Thereby, the ejection of the liquid from the liquid ejection head 10 is controlled. However, when the waveform generation circuit 41 can apply a voltage of a sufficient value, the amplifier circuit 32 may be omitted.

[0028] In the present embodiment, it is a normally closed configuration, and when no signal is supplied from the drive control device 30 to the actuator 2, the needle valve 8 closes the nozzle 14a by the biasing force of the compression spring 7. Here, as the situation where no signal is supplied to the actuator 2, either a situation where a constant voltage of 0 or a constant electrostatic voltage is always applied may be used.

[0029] The waveform generation circuit 31 generates drive pulses, which are waveforms representing the passage of time of the voltage applied to the actuator 2. The waveform generation circuit 31 receives, for example, print data from an external PC or a microcomputer inside the device, and generates drive pulses based on this input data. The waveform generation circuit 31 can change the voltage applied to the actuator 2 and generate a plurality of drive pulses. As described above, when the waveform generation circuit 31 generates drive pulses, the piezoelectric element 2a of the actuator 2 expands and contracts according to the drive pulses.

[0030] Specifically, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 2a, the piezoelectric element 2a expands. When the piezoelectric element 2a expands, the other end of the arm member 3 rotates in a direction to lift the arm receiving portion 8c. As a result, the arm receiving portion 8c rises against the biasing force of the compression spring 7 (moves toward the spring receiving plate 18 side), and the needle valve 8 rises together with the arm receiving portion 8c. Thereby, the nozzle 14a is opened, and droplets are discharged from the nozzle 14a due to the pressure applied to the liquid in the flow path 5.

[0031] When the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 2a decreases, the piezoelectric element 2a contracts. When the piezoelectric element 2a contracts, the other end of the arm member 3 rotates so as to descend (move toward the nozzle plate side). Then, the arm receiving portion 8c descends following the movement of the other end of the arm member 3 by the biasing force of the compression spring 7, the nozzle 14a is closed by the needle valve 8, and the discharge of droplets from the nozzle 14a stops.

[0032] In this embodiment, a piezoelectric element 2a is used as the actuator 2. However, as the actuator 2, other electrically driven devices such as a solenoid or a pneumatic drive piston equipped with a solenoid valve or an electromagnetic valve may be used. Also, in this embodiment, a compression spring 7 is used, but a tension spring that pulls the needle valve 8 toward the nozzle plate side may be used. In this case, for example, one end of the tension spring may be fixed to the bottom surface of the housing portion 11a, and the other end may be fixed to the needle valve 8 or the arm receiving portion 8c in an extended state.

[0033] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the dashed line J in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 6, a sealing member 8a is provided at the tip of the needle valve 8. The sealing member 8a is made of any one of elastomer, hard rubber, metal, and ceramics. The needle valve 8 and the sealing member 8a may be formed as an integral part. Further, the flow path opening / closing portion 14d where the sealing member 8a of the sealing member 8a and the nozzle plate 14 comes into contact may be provided with a ceramic coating or a diamond-like coating to improve slidability and durability.

[0034] The tip of the sealing member 8a has a needle shape with a tapered cross-section, and the flow path opening / closing portion 14d of the nozzle plate 14 also has a mortar shape with a tapered cross-section. However, this example is just an example. The tip of the sealing member 8a may be a smooth convex surface such as a spherical shape, and the flow path opening / closing portion 14d of the nozzle plate 14 may be a smooth concave surface that adheres to the smooth convex surface of the tip of the sealing member 8a. Also, the tip of the sealing member 8a may be a flat surface, and the tip of the sealing member may be brought into contact with the periphery of the inlet of the nozzle 14a to close the nozzle 14a.

[0035] Also, the nozzle plate 14 may be a multilayer including a layer having the nozzle 14a and a layer having the flow path opening / closing portion 14d. In that case, each layer of the nozzle plate 14 has a structure for defining the position, and is firmly fixed by chemical fixation such as bonding by adhesion or joining by thermal diffusion so that liquid does not leak from between the layers.

[0036] By providing the sealing member 8a at the tip of the needle valve 8, when the sealing member 8a is pressed against the flow path opening / closing portion 14d by the biasing force of the compression spring 7, the sealing member 8a can be in close contact with the flow path opening / closing portion 14d, and the nozzle 14a can be reliably closed.

[0037] Figure 7 is a schematic view showing a part of the B-B cross-section of Figure 4. As shown in FIG. 7, a fixed member 17 having a spring receiving plate 18 attached to its lower end extends in the X direction (the head longitudinal direction) of the cover 11 and is fixed so as to span a pair of inner wall surfaces perpendicular to the X direction of the cover 11.

[0038] When viewed from the arrangement direction (X direction) of the nozzles 14a in FIG. 4, the spring receiving plate 18 is provided between an actuator 2 located on one side in the Y direction (left side in the figure) with respect to the arrangement of the nozzles 14a and an actuator 2 located on the other side in the Y direction (right side in the figure). In the present embodiment, since the actuator 2 and the needle valve 8 are connected by an arm member 3, they are arranged so as to overlap each other when viewed from the moving direction (Z direction) of the needle valve 8. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the spring receiving plate 18 can be arranged in the space near the needle valve 8 above the needle valve 8 (above the Z axis in FIG. 4). By adopting such a configuration, the dimensions of the liquid ejection head in the Y direction and the Z direction can be reduced.

[0039] In the present embodiment, by having the arm member 3, the actuator 2, which is the largest component among the components constituting the liquid ejection module 1, can be arranged at the end side in the Y direction within the housing portion 11a. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the fixed member 17 can be arranged at the center in the Y direction within the housing portion 11a, and the spring receiving plate 18 can be fixed by one fixed member 17. For example, when there is no arm member 3 and the actuator 2 is arranged at the center in the Y direction, it is necessary to hold both ends of the spring receiving plate 18 in the Y direction or both ends in the X direction by the fixed member 17, respectively. Thus, when the actuator 2 is arranged at the center in the Y direction, it is necessary to provide two fixed members 17, and there is a possibility that the liquid ejection head 10 may be enlarged in the X direction or the Y direction. Further, it is necessary to extend the spring receiving plate 18 to a position not facing the actuator 2, and the spring receiving plate 18 also becomes larger.

[0040] In contrast, in the present embodiment, by arranging one fixing member 17 at the center in the Y direction within the housing portion 11a, the spring receiving plate 18 can be held, and the size reduction of the liquid ejection head 10 can be achieved. Further, it is not necessary to extend the spring receiving plate 18 to a position where it does not face the actuator 2, and the size reduction of the spring receiving plate 18 can also be achieved. Furthermore, by providing the arm member 3 and arranging the actuator 2 at the end side in the Y direction within the housing portion 11a, the distance between nozzle rows (distance in the Y direction) can be shortened. As a result, the length of the spring receiving plate 18 in the Y direction can be further shortened, the material cost can be reduced, and the cost reduction of the liquid ejection head 10 can be achieved.

[0041] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a part of the C-C cross section of FIG. 4. In FIG. 8, illustration of the arm receiving portion 8c and the compression spring 7 is omitted. A group of liquid ejection modules 1 arranged on the upper side (one end side in the Y direction) of FIG. 8 corresponds to the nozzle rows arranged on the lower side (the other end side in the Y direction) of the nozzle plate 14 in FIG. 8. Further, a group of liquid ejection modules 1 arranged on the lower side (the other end side in the Y direction) of FIG. 8 corresponds to the nozzle rows arranged on the upper side (one end side in the Y direction) of the nozzle plate 14 in FIG. 8.

[0042] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid ejection modules 1 are arranged alternately in the X direction such that a part of the arm member 3 overlaps when viewed from the X direction. As a result, when the length of the liquid ejection module 1 in the Y direction is L and the length of the housing portion 11a of the cover in the Y direction is D, D < 2L can be achieved. In this way, by overlapping a part of the arm member 3, the length D of the housing portion 11a of the cover in the Y direction can be made less than twice the length L of the liquid ejection module 1 in the Y direction, and the liquid ejection head 10 can be miniaturized in the Y direction. The length L of the liquid ejection module 1 in the Y direction is the longer of the horizontal distance from the back surface of the actuator 2 fixed to the inner wall surface of the cover 11 to the end surface in the Y direction (the direction in which the arm member 3 extends) of the needle valve 8 or the horizontal distance from the actuator 2 of the arm member 3 to the most distant end surface.

[0043] In addition, in the present embodiment, an arm member 3 is provided, and the actuator 2 is arranged on the end side in the Y direction within the housing portion 11a. As shown in FIG. 8, the width (length in the X direction) of the arm member 3 is narrower than the width (length in the X direction) of the actuator 2. Therefore, when the liquid discharge modules 1 are arranged alternately in the X direction, a part of the arm member 3 and the actuator 2 can be arranged so as to overlap with the actuator 2 of the liquid discharge module arranged on the side opposite to the arrangement side of its own liquid discharge module 1 when viewed from the Y direction. As a result, the nozzle pitch d can be made shorter than the width W (length in the X direction) of the liquid discharge module (d < W), the nozzle pitch d can be narrowed, and the liquid discharge head 10 can be miniaturized in the X direction.

[0044] The liquid discharge head 10 of the present embodiment discharges liquid by a so-called valve jet method, and can eject a high-viscosity liquid farther. On the other hand, compared with the method without a valve for each nozzle, the droplet size is large. Therefore, for example, it is suitable for printing on large discharge objects such as the body of a large vehicle, the fuselage of an airplane, the wall surface of a building, and a road surface. When printing on such a large discharge object, the printed image is also large. If the size of the droplets discharged from the nozzle is small like the method without a valve for each nozzle, the printing time will be significantly extended. Therefore, the valve jet method is preferable. In addition, the head cannot be arranged close to the body of a vehicle, the fuselage of an airplane, the wall surface of a building, a road surface, etc. Further, in order to apply liquid to an inclined surface or a surface perpendicular to the horizontal direction, a high-viscosity liquid is used so that the applied liquid does not drip. Therefore, the valve jet method liquid discharge head 10 of the present embodiment capable of discharging a high-viscosity liquid is suitable for printing on large discharge objects such as the body of a large vehicle, the fuselage of an airplane, the wall surface of a building, and a road surface.

[0045] By increasing the displacement amount of the actuator 2 and increasing the movement amount of the needle valve 8 to increase the gap between the nozzle 14a and the sealing member 8a when the needle valve 8 is in the open position, it becomes easier for the high-viscosity liquid to flow into the nozzle 14a. As a result, the size of the liquid droplets ejected from the nozzle 14a can be increased. However, if the displacement amount of the actuator 2 is increased, the actuator 2 will become larger. As described above, the actuator 2 is the largest component among the components constituting the liquid ejection module 1, and the increase in the size of the actuator 2 will directly lead to an increase in the size of the liquid ejection head 10.

[0046] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the displacement amount of the actuator 2 is amplified by the arm member 3 so as to increase the movement amount of the needle valve 8.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the arm member 3 of the present embodiment. (a) is a view of the arm member 3 seen from the X direction, (b) is a view of the arm member 3 seen from the Z direction, and (c) is a view of the arm member 3 seen from the Y direction. The arm member 3 of the present embodiment has a fixing portion 3d which is a first connection portion to which the actuator 2 is adhesively fixed on one end side, and a contact portion 3a as a second connection portion that contacts the arm receiving portion 8c on the other end side. Further, a support hole 3e supported by a support shaft 4 (see FIG. 4) provided in the housing portion 11a of the cover 11 is provided on the side of the adhesive surface portion 3d1 rather than the center in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the arm member 3. Therefore, the distance between the support hole 3e and the fixing portion 3d is shorter than the distance between the support hole 3e and the contact portion 3a.

[0048] As described above, the contact portion 3a protrudes in the direction opposite to the liquid ejection direction (-Z direction), and the contact surface that contacts the arm receiving portion 8c has an arc shape when viewed from the X direction as shown in FIG. 9(a). Further, as shown in FIG. 9(b), a relief hole 3b through which the needle valve 8 passes is provided in the central portion of the contact portion 3a. As described above, the inner diameter of the relief hole 3b is larger than the outer diameter of the needle valve 8 so that the needle valve 8 does not contact the arm member 3 when the arm member 3 rotates.

[0049] The fixing portion 3d is composed of an adhesive surface portion 3d1 having a rectangular shape perpendicular to the Z direction, and a bendable connecting portion 3d2 extending in the Z direction that connects the adhesive surface portion 3d1 and the main body 3f of the arm member 3. As shown in Fig. 9(a), the connecting portion 3d2 extends in the Z direction from one end of the main body of the arm member 3.

[0050] The piezoelectric element 2a of the actuator 2 is adhesively fixed to the adhesive surface portion 3d1. By providing the rectangular adhesive surface portion 3d1 perpendicular to the Z direction on the arm member 3 in this way, the adhesive area with the piezoelectric element 2a becomes larger, and the piezoelectric element 2a can be firmly fixed. Further, the influence on the displacement due to the variation in the adhesive position of the piezoelectric element 2a can be suppressed.

[0051] When the adhesive surface portion 3d1 is displaced in the Z direction together with the piezoelectric element 2a due to the displacement of the piezoelectric element 2a, the arm member 3 rotates with the support shaft 4 as a fulcrum. By the rotation of the arm member 3, a force is generated to tilt the left end of the adhesive surface portion 3d1 in Fig. 9(a) upward. At this time, the bendable connecting portion 3d2 bends and deforms, thereby absorbing the tilting force and enabling the arm member 3 to rotate smoothly. As a result, the needle valve 8 can be stably displaced, and variations in droplets can be suppressed.

[0052] When the arm member 3 rotates due to the displacement of the piezoelectric element 2a, the contact portion 3a moves in the direction of arrow K in Fig. 9(a), and the contact portion 3a is displaced in the Z direction and the Y direction. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 3a is not fixed to the arm receiving portion 8c but only in contact, so it slides in the Y direction with respect to the arm receiving portion 8c, and the contact portion 3a can be displaced in the Y direction. Thereby, the arm member 3 can rotate smoothly, and the needle valve 8 can be stably displaced. Therefore, variations in droplets can be suppressed.

[0053] Before the rotation of the arm member 3, the top of the contact portion 3a is in contact with the arm receiving portion 8c. However, when the arm member 3 rotates due to the displacement of the piezoelectric element 2a, the contact position of the contact portion 3a with the arm receiving portion 8c shifts to the left side (the other end side of the arm member) in FIG. 9(a). In the present embodiment, as described above, since the contact surface of the contact portion 3a with the arm receiving portion 8c is in an arc shape when viewed in the X direction, the contact position of the contact portion 3a with the arm receiving portion 8c can be smoothly shifted. As a result, the arm member 3 can be smoothly rotated, and the needle valve 8 can be stably displaced. Therefore, variations in droplets can be suppressed.

[0054] In addition, in the arm member 3 of the present embodiment, the support hole 3e supported by the support shaft 4 (see FIG. 4) is provided on the fixed portion 3d side rather than at the center in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the arm member 3. As a result, the rotation radius of the contact portion 3a is longer than the rotation radius of the fixed portion 3d, and the displacement amount of the contact portion 3a in the Z direction is larger than the displacement amount of the fixed portion 3d in the Z direction. As a result, the displacement amount by which the contact portion 3a lifts the arm receiving portion 8c is larger than the displacement amount in the Z direction of the piezoelectric element 2a. As a result, the displacement amount of the piezoelectric element 2a is amplified by the arm member 3, and the movement amount of the needle valve 8 can be increased. Therefore, the gap between the nozzle 14a and the sealing member 8a when the needle valve 8 is in the open position can be increased, the high-viscosity liquid can easily flow into the nozzle 14a, and the size of the droplets ejected from the nozzle 14a can be increased. Therefore, the printing efficiency can be improved, and the printing time can be shortened. In addition, an actuator 2 with a small displacement amount can be used, the actuator 2 can be miniaturized, and the liquid ejection head 10 can be effectively miniaturized.

[0055] Also, as shown in FIGS. 9(b) and 9(c), the widths E1 (length in the X direction) of the main body 3f and the contact portion 3a of the arm member 3 are narrower than the width E2 (length in the X direction) of the adhesive surface portion 3d1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, when the liquid discharge modules 1 are alternately arranged in the X direction such that a part of the arm member 3 overlaps, the arm member 3 can be arranged more densely than when the width E1 of the main body 3f and the contact portion 3a of the arm member 3 is the same as the width E2 of the adhesive surface portion 3d1. Thereby, the nozzle pitch can be favorably narrowed.

[0056] Note that the above is an example. As shown in FIG. 10, the width (length in the X direction) of the main body 3f of the arm member may be gradually narrowed toward the contact portion 3a side. Further, for example, the main body 3f of the arm member 3 may be formed in a stepped shape so that the width on the contact portion 3a side is gradually narrowed. At least, by making the width of the overlapping portion of the arm member 3 narrower than the others when viewed from the X direction, the arm members 3 can be arranged densely and the nozzle pitch can be narrowed. Note that if the width of the main body 3f of the arm member 3 is made too narrow, the rigidity becomes weak, and when the actuator 2 is displaced, the main body 3f of the arm member 3 may be bent and deformed, resulting in a loss of displacement. Therefore, the width of the main body 3f of the arm member 3 is set so that the main body 3f of the arm member 3 has a sufficient second moment of area with respect to the rotation direction of the arm member.

[0057] FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the arm member 3. As shown in FIG. 11, in this modified example, the support hole 3e supported by the support shaft 4 (see FIG. 4) provided in the accommodation portion 11a of the cover 11 is provided on one end side rather than the fixed portion 3d. That is, the support hole 3e (arm support portion) is arranged outside between the fixed portion 3d (first connection portion) and the contact portion 3a (second connection portion).

[0058] In this modified example, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 2a to displace the piezoelectric element 2a, the arm member rotates and the contact portion 3a descends. Therefore, when the arm member of this modified example is used, when no signal (voltage) is supplied from the drive control device 30 to the actuator, the needle valve 8 opens the nozzle 14a. When a signal (voltage) is supplied to the actuator, the needle valve 8 closes the nozzle 14a, and a so-called normally open configuration can be achieved. Accordingly, the needle valve 8 sets the position of the needle valve 8 to the open position where the nozzle 14a is open when no signal (voltage) is applied to the piezoelectric element 2a and there is no displacement, and sets the position of the needle valve 8 to the closed position where the nozzle 14a is closed when a signal (voltage) is applied to the piezoelectric element 2a.

[0059] Also in this modified example, as shown in FIG. 5, a compression spring 7 is provided. The compression spring 7 biases the needle valve 8 to the side opposite to the nozzle 14a. In a state where there is no displacement in the piezoelectric element 2a, the needle valve 8 is positioned at the open position by the biasing force of the compression spring, and when the piezoelectric element 2a extends, the needle valve 8 moves to the closed position against the biasing force of the compression spring.

[0060] Also in the arm member 3 of this modified example, the distance between the support hole 3e (arm support portion) and the fixed portion 3d (first connection portion) is shorter than the distance between the support hole 3e and the contact portion 3a (second connection portion). Thereby, the rotation radius of the contact portion 3a centered on the support hole 3e becomes larger than the rotation radius of the fixed portion 3d centered on the support hole 3e. Therefore, the displacement amount of the piezoelectric element 2a can be amplified to move the needle valve 8.

[0061] As described above, as an embodiment of the present invention, the arrangement of the plurality of liquid ejection modules 1 has been described from the perspective of viewing in the nozzle array direction (X direction) using FIG. 4. This configuration can be rephrased as follows from the perspective of viewing in the liquid ejection direction (Z direction). That is, when viewed from the liquid ejection direction (Z direction) (when viewed from the perspectives of FIGS. 7 and 8), a part of the plurality of liquid ejection modules 1 is arranged such that its actuator 2 is located on one side (+Y direction side) in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the nozzle array direction (X direction) with respect to the nozzle 14a. Further, when viewed from the liquid ejection direction (Z direction) (the perspectives of FIGS. 7 and 8), for the remaining liquid ejection modules 1, its actuator 2 is located on the other side (-Y direction side) in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) with respect to the nozzle 14a, and a part of its arm member 3 is arranged so as to overlap with a part of the arm member 3 of the liquid ejection module 1 in which the actuator is arranged on the +Y direction side in the nozzle array direction (X direction).

[0062] Regarding the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration in which 12 or more liquid ejection modules 1 are arranged alternately along the nozzle array direction (X direction) has been described as an example with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, etc. However, the liquid ejection head of the present invention is not limited to having 12 or more liquid ejection modules 1. The liquid ejection head of the present invention may have a plurality of liquid ejection modules 1, that is, at least two or more liquid ejection modules. Further, it is not necessary to arrange all the liquid ejection modules 1 alternately, and it is sufficient that some of the liquid ejection modules 1 are arranged alternately. Therefore, it may be arranged such that the actuator 2 of at least one liquid ejection module 1 is located on one side in the orthogonal direction (Y direction), and the remaining liquid ejection modules 1 are located on the other side. Even with such an arrangement, the dimension in the direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the nozzle array direction (X direction) of the liquid ejection head 10 can be reduced.

[0063] Also, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, arranging all the liquid ejection modules 1 in an alternating staggered pattern can minimize the dimension of the liquid ejection head 10 in the nozzle array direction (X direction). However, miniaturization is also possible by arranging them partially in an alternating staggered pattern. For example, the actuators 2 of the liquid ejection modules 1 located at both ends in the nozzle array direction may be arranged so as to be positioned on one side with respect to the nozzles 14a, and the liquid ejection modules 1 located at the central portion in the nozzle array direction may be arranged such that the positions of their actuators 2 are alternately staggered on both sides with respect to the nozzles 14a.

[0064] [Modification Example 1] FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a main part of the liquid ejection head 10A of Modification Example 1. In Modification Example 1 shown in FIG. 12, each liquid ejection module 1 is provided to be inclined with respect to the X direction. By providing each liquid ejection module 1 to be inclined with respect to the X direction in this way, the liquid ejection head can be miniaturized in the Y direction as compared with a liquid ejection head in which each liquid ejection module 1 is arranged to be orthogonal to the X direction.

[0065] Modification Example 1 shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to the rotation axis of the arm member 3 being inclined with respect to the X direction, and corresponds to arranging the liquid ejection modules 1 such that the longitudinal direction of the arm member 3, which is the direction from the fixed portion 3d of the arm member 3 along the contact portion 3a, is inclined with respect to the X direction. By arranging the liquid ejection modules 1 in an inclined manner in this way, while reducing the width D in the Y direction of the arranged liquid ejection modules, the length of the arm member 3 can be increased, and the movement amount of the needle valve 8 can be amplified.

[0066] In a configuration having two rows of nozzle arrays in which the nozzles 14a are arranged in a staggered pattern, when each liquid ejection module 1 is inclined with respect to the X direction and provided in an alternating manner, the arrangement pitch of the liquid ejection modules 1 will not be constant and will have a coarse and dense arrangement pitch. As a result, the arrangement of the liquid ejection modules 1 is not easy, and the manufacturing cost may increase.

[0067] Therefore, in this Modification 1, as the nozzle plate 14, one with a nozzle row provided at the center in the Y direction is used (see Fig. 2(a)). As a result, as shown in Fig. 12, with the arrangement pitch of the liquid discharge modules 1 being constant, each liquid discharge module 1 can be inclined with respect to the X direction and arranged alternately. This facilitates the arrangement of the liquid discharge modules 1 and can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost. Note that also in Modification 1, when viewed from the X direction, at least the end portions on the contact portion 3a side of the arm members 3 overlap.

[0068] [Modification 2] Fig. 13 is a schematic view of the main part of the liquid discharge head 10B of Modification 2. Fig. 13(a) is a view seen from the Z direction, and Fig. 13(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D - D of Fig. 13(a). In the liquid discharge head 10B of this Modification 2, for a group of liquid discharge modules 1 corresponding to one nozzle row, as shown in Fig. 13(a), the actuators 2 are arranged alternately so that a part of the actuator 2 overlaps when viewed from the Z direction. The portion a in Fig. 13(a) is the overlapping portion of the actuator 2.

[0069] In this way, by arranging the actuators 2 alternately so that a part of the actuator 2 overlaps when viewed from the Z direction, the pitch between nozzles can be narrowed. As a result, the liquid discharge head can be miniaturized in the X direction, or the number of nozzles can be increased without changing the length of the liquid discharge head in the X direction.

[0070] [Modification 3] Fig. 14 is a schematic view of the main part of the liquid discharge head 10C of Modification 3. In this Modification 3, for a group of liquid discharge modules 1 corresponding to one nozzle row, the liquid discharge module 1B with a long arm member 3 and the liquid discharge module 1A with a short arm member 3 are arranged alternately in the X direction. For the liquid ejection module 1A with a short arm member 3, the actuator 2 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the housing portion 11a of the cover via a fixing jig 40.

[0071] For the liquid ejection module 1B with a long arm member 3, compared with the liquid ejection module 1A with a short arm member 3, the displacement of the actuator 2 can be amplified more, and the movement amount of the needle valve 8 can be made larger than that of the liquid ejection module 1A with a short arm member 3. As a result, the droplet size ejected from the nozzle corresponding to the liquid ejection module 1B with a long arm member 3 can be made larger than the droplet size ejected from the nozzle corresponding to the liquid ejection module 1A with a short arm member 3. Consequently, droplets of different sizes can be ejected.

[0072] For example, white streaks may occur when the droplets landing on the ejection target do not spread sufficiently. However, as in Modification 3, by ejecting droplets of different sizes, even under the conditions where white streaks occur, the white streaks can be made less conspicuous and a decrease in image quality can be suppressed. For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 14, in the X direction, small, small, large, large, small, small... droplets are ejected. Even under the conditions where white streaks occur, between small - large and between large - large, no gaps are generated between the landed droplets, and a decrease in image quality can be suppressed.

[0073] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, for a group of liquid ejection modules 1 corresponding to one nozzle row, the actuators 2 are arranged differently such that a part of the actuator 2 overlaps when viewed from the Y direction. Thereby, similar to Modification 2, the nozzle pitch can be narrowed. As a result, the liquid ejection head 10 can be miniaturized in the X direction, or the number of nozzles can be increased without changing the length in the X direction.

[0074] Also, in Modification 3 as well, the liquid ejection modules are arranged alternately in the X direction so that the arm members 3 overlap when viewed from the X direction. As a result, the length D in the Y direction of the housing portion 11a can be made less than twice the length Ld in the Y direction of the liquid ejection module 1B with the long arm member 3, and an increase in the size of the liquid ejection head 10 in the Y direction can be suppressed.

[0075] Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the liquid ejection module 1B with the long arm member 3 and the liquid ejection module 1A with the short arm member 3 may be alternately arranged in the X direction. In the configuration shown in FIG. 15, the size of the ejected liquid droplets becomes small, large, small, large... in the X direction, and the generation of more white streaks can be suppressed. Also, in the configuration shown in FIG. 15, for the liquid ejection module 1B with the long arm member, the actuator 2 with a large displacement amount is used. As a result, the size of the liquid droplets ejected from the nozzle 14a corresponding to the liquid ejection module 1B with the long arm member 3 can be further increased.

[0076] Also, in the configuration shown in FIG. 15, the liquid ejection modules 1 are arranged alternately in the X direction so that the arm members 3 overlap when viewed from the X direction. Therefore, the length D in the Y direction of the housing portion 11a can be made less than twice the length Ld in the Y direction of the liquid ejection module 1B with the long arm member 3.

[0077] Also, for the liquid ejection module 1B with the long arm member 3, by using an actuator with a large displacement amount, the width (length in the X direction) Wd of the actuator 2 increases, and the width Wd of the liquid ejection module 1B increases. However, by arranging the liquid ejection modules alternately in the X direction, the nozzle pitch d can be made narrower than the width Wd of the liquid ejection module 1B.

[0078] [Modification 4] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a main part of the liquid ejection head 10D of Modification 4. FIG. 16(a) is a view seen from the Z direction, and FIG. 16(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E - E of FIG. 16(a). Also, FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the broken line G portion of FIG. 16. The liquid ejection head 10D of this Modification 4 is configured such that the needle valve 8 opens and closes a plurality of nozzles 14a. In this Modification 4, as shown in FIG. 16(a), on the nozzle plate 14, the nozzles 14a are arranged in a 2-row and 2-column configuration where they are also aligned in the Y direction.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 17, on the nozzle plate 14, a branch flow path 14f is formed in which the flow path branches in two directions in the X direction from a flow path opening / closing portion 14d where the sealing member 8a at the tip of the needle valve 8 is in close contact. Each flow path of the branch flow path 14f communicates with each nozzle 14a. Note that if the flow velocity of the droplets ejected from each nozzle 14a is approximately the same and good synchronization of the landing timing can be achieved, the dimensions of each flow path of the branch flow path 14f, the diameters, and depths of the plurality of nozzles 14a may be made different from each other. Also, if good synchronization of the landing timing can be achieved, droplets may be ejected from three or more nozzles in one liquid ejection module.

[0080] In this Modification 4, droplets can be ejected from a plurality of nozzles in one liquid ejection module, the number of liquid ejection modules can be reduced, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

[0081] Also, in Modification Example 4, compared with the configuration in which one nozzle is provided on the axis of the needle valve 8, the pitch between the nozzles in the nozzle row can be reduced. As a result, with a single nozzle row, the same resolution in the X direction as when using two nozzle rows arranged in a staggered pattern can be obtained. Therefore, for example, in combination with the configuration shown in FIG. 15, one nozzle row is a nozzle row for small droplets that discharges droplets with a group of liquid discharge modules 1A having a short arm member 3. The other nozzle row is a nozzle row for large droplets that discharges droplets with a group of liquid discharge modules 1B having a long arm member 3. By switching the nozzle row to be discharged, it is possible to provide a configuration with two discharge modes: a small droplet mode and a large droplet mode. As a result, for example, when drawing a line, it can be performed in the large droplet mode in which droplets are discharged from the nozzle row for large droplets, and when creating an image of characters or a picture, it can be performed in the small droplet mode in which droplets are discharged from the nozzle row for small droplets. In this way, with a single liquid discharge head, discharge modes with different droplet sizes can be realized, and the size reduction and cost reduction of the device that discharges the liquid described later can be achieved.

[0082] [Modification Example 5] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of the main part of the liquid discharge head 10E of Modification Example 5. FIG. 18(a) is a view seen from the Z direction, and FIG. 18(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of FIG. 18(a). In this Modification Example 5, the needle valves 8 are arranged in a staggered pattern, and an introduction path 14e extending in the Y direction is provided in the nozzle plate, and a nozzle plate 14 with a single nozzle row arranged at the center in the Y direction shown in FIG. 2(a) above is used. The introduction path 14e is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 18, and may have a shape such that the liquid in the flow path 5 flows smoothly into the nozzle 14a when the needle valve 8 is in the open position.

[0083] According to this, compared with the first modification example shown in the previous FIG. 12, the overlap amount of the arm member 3 when viewed from the Y direction can be increased. Thereby, even in a configuration using a nozzle plate 14 having a nozzle row arranged at the center in the Y direction, the length in the Y direction can be made equal to that of the configuration using the nozzle plate 14 in which the nozzles of the present embodiment are staggeredly arranged. Further, by using the nozzle plate 14 having a single nozzle row arranged at the center in the Y direction shown in the previous FIG. 2(a), the control process of the landing timing becomes unnecessary compared to the case where the nozzles are staggeredly arranged, and the drive control of each actuator 2 can be simplified.

[0084] The liquid ejection head of the present embodiment is of the valve jet type, and can eject a highly viscous liquid or large droplets (with a diameter of several tens to several hundreds of μm) toward a distant ejection target (several tens of mm ahead). Further, the nozzle diameter can be increased, and a liquid containing a material with a large particle size can also be ejected well. Thus, since a highly viscous liquid can be ejected, the liquid ejection head of the present embodiment is suitable for painting of vehicle bodies of cars and trucks, aircraft fuselages, building walls, road surfaces, etc., and printing of images. It can also be suitably used for forming electrodes such as lithium ion batteries mounted on vehicle bodies.

[0085] Next, an example of an apparatus for ejecting a liquid having the above-described liquid ejection head 10 will be described.

[0086] FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus 100 for ejecting a liquid. The apparatus 100 for ejecting a liquid includes a movable frame unit 120 that is installed to face an ejection target 200. The frame unit 120 includes a Y-axis rail 101 extending in the horizontal direction, a plurality of X-axis rails 102 extending in the vertical direction and provided at a predetermined interval, and a Z-axis rail 103 intersecting the X-axis rails 102 and the Y-axis rail 101.

[0087] Each X-axis rail 102 holds the Y-axis rail 101 so that the horizontally extending Y-axis rail 101 can move in the X direction (the nozzle array direction of the liquid ejection head, which is the vertical direction). Also, the Y-axis rail 101 holds the Z-axis rail 103 so that the Z-axis rail 103 can move in the Y direction. And the Z-axis rail 103 holds the carriage 110 so that the carriage 110 can move in the Z direction.

[0088] The carriage 110 includes a head holder 130. The head holder 130 holds, for example, liquid ejection heads of different colors. For example, it holds a C-color liquid ejection head that ejects cyan paint, an M-color liquid ejection head that ejects magenta paint, a Y-color liquid ejection head that ejects yellow paint, and a K-color liquid ejection head that ejects black paint. Further, it may hold a W-color liquid ejection head that ejects white paint. Also, it may hold a liquid ejection head that ejects a clear (transparent) coating paint and perform coating simultaneously with printing.

[0089] Also, the carriage 110 is provided with a first Z-direction driving unit 140a that moves the carriage 110 in the Z direction (the liquid ejection direction, which is the approaching and separating direction with respect to the ejection target 200) along the Z-axis rail 103. The Z-axis rail 103 is provided with a Y-direction driving unit 150 that moves the Z-axis rail 103 in the Y direction (a direction orthogonal to both the liquid ejection direction and the nozzle array direction of the liquid ejection head, which is the horizontal direction) along the Y-axis rail 101. The Y-axis rail 101 is provided with an X-direction driving unit 160 that moves the Y-axis rail 101 in the X direction (the nozzle array direction of the liquid ejection head, which is the vertical direction) along the X-axis rail 102. The Y-axis rail 101 is supported by the X-direction driving unit 160 held by each Y-axis rail 101. Further, the carriage 110 is provided with a second Z-direction driving unit 140b that moves the head holder 130 in the Z direction with respect to the carriage 110.

[0090] The liquid discharging device 100 discharges paint, which is an example of a liquid, from a liquid discharge head provided on a head holder 130 while moving a carriage 110 in the directions of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, and performs drawing on a liquid discharge target object 200. Here, the movement of the carriage 110 and the head holder 130 in the Z direction does not have to be parallel to the Z direction, and may be an oblique movement as long as it includes at least a component in the Z direction. Further, when the nozzle row of the liquid discharge head is a single row, the carriage 110 may be held so as to be tiltable with respect to the X direction of the liquid discharge head, and the nozzle pitch may be variable.

[0091] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a supply device 170 that supplies paint, which is a liquid, to a plurality of liquid discharge heads 10 included in the liquid discharging device 100. The supply device 170 includes tanks 172a to 172d as sealed containers that store paints 171a to 171d discharged from the respective liquid discharge heads 10a to 10d held by the head holder 130.

[0092] The tank 172 and the supply port 12 (see FIG. 1) of the liquid discharge head 10 are connected to each other via a tube 173. On the other hand, the tank 172 is connected to a compressor 176 via a pipe 175 including an air regulator 174. The compressor 176 supplies pressurized air to the tank 172. As a result, the paint in the liquid discharge head 10 is pressurized, and the paint is discharged from the nozzle 14a by opening the aforementioned needle valve 8.

[0093] In addition, although the surface shape of the liquid discharge target object 200 is shown as a flat surface in FIG. 19, the surface shape of the liquid discharge target object 200 may be a surface close to vertical, such as the body of a car, a truck, or an aircraft, or a surface with a large radius of curvature.

[0094] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of an electrode manufacturing device 700 as a liquid discharging device including the liquid discharge head of the present embodiment. The electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 includes a discharge process section 710 that includes a process of applying a liquid composition onto a printing substrate 704 having a discharge target to form a liquid composition layer, and a heating process section 730 that includes a heating process of heating the liquid composition layer to obtain an electrode mixture layer.

[0095] The printing substrate 704 on which the liquid composition layer is formed is not particularly limited as long as it is a target for forming a layer having an electrode material, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples include an electrode substrate (current collector), an active material layer, and a layer having a solid electrode material.

[0096] Further, the discharge process section 710 may be configured to form a layer having an electrode material by directly discharging the liquid composition as long as it is possible to form a layer having an electrode material on the printing substrate 704. Alternatively, it may be configured to form a layer having an electrode material by indirectly discharging the liquid composition. Further, the heating process section 730 is a process of heating the liquid composition discharged onto the printing substrate 704 in the discharge process section 710. The liquid composition layer can be dried by heating.

[0097] The electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 includes a conveyance section 705 that conveys the printing substrate 704, and the conveyance section 705 conveys the printing substrate 704 at a preset speed in the order of the discharge process section 710 and the heating process section 730. The manufacturing method of the printing substrate 704 having a discharge target such as an active material layer is not particularly limited, and a known method can be appropriately selected. The discharge process section 710 includes a printing apparatus 281a including the liquid discharge head 10 of the present embodiment that discharges the liquid composition onto the printing substrate 704. It also includes a storage container 281b that stores the liquid composition and a supply tube 281c that supplies the liquid composition stored in the storage container 281b to the printing apparatus 281a.

[0098] The storage container 281b stores the liquid composition 707, and the discharge engineering section 710 discharges the liquid composition 707 from the printing apparatus 281a, applies the liquid composition 707 onto the printing substrate 704, and forms a liquid composition layer in a thin film shape. Note that the storage container 281b may be configured to be integrated with the manufacturing apparatus for the electrode paste layer, or may be configured to be removable from the manufacturing apparatus for the electrode paste layer. Further, it may be a container used for adding to a storage container integrated with the manufacturing apparatus for the electrode paste layer or a storage container removable from the manufacturing apparatus for the electrode paste layer. Also, the storage container 281b and the supply tube 281c can be arbitrarily selected as long as they can stably store and supply the liquid composition 707.

[0099] The heating engineering section 730 includes a solvent removal step of heating and drying the solvent remaining in the liquid composition layer by the heating device 703 using the heating device 703 to remove it. Thereby, the electrode paste layer can be formed. The heating engineering section 730 may perform the solvent removal step under reduced pressure.

[0100] There is no particular limitation on the heating device 703, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, substrate heating, an IR heater, a hot air heater, etc. can be mentioned, and these may be combined. Also, regarding the heating temperature and time, they can be appropriately selected according to the boiling point of the solvent contained in the liquid composition 707 and the film thickness to be formed.

[0101] When the liquid discharge head 10 of the present embodiment is used in the electrode manufacturing apparatus 700, the liquid composition can be discharged to the targeted position of the discharge object. The electrode paste layer can be suitably used, for example, as a part of the configuration of an electrochemical element. There is no particular limitation on the configuration other than the electrode paste layer in the electrochemical element, and known ones can be appropriately selected. For example, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, etc. can be mentioned.

[0102] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0103] In the above description, an embodiment has been described in which the drive control device 30 applies a voltage to a drive body such as the piezoelectric element 2a to open and close the needle valve 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the needle valve 8 may be opened and closed by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. In this case, the drive pulse generated by the drive control device 30 is a drive waveform for driving with a pressure set by a pressurizing mechanism using pneumatic or hydraulic pressure.

[0104] In the present application, the "device for discharging a liquid" is a device that includes a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit in which functional components and mechanisms are integrated with the liquid discharge head, and drives the liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid. The above integration includes, for example, those in which the liquid discharge head and the functional components or mechanisms are fixed to each other by fastening, adhesion, engagement, etc., and those in which one is movably held with respect to the other. Also, the liquid discharge head and the functional components or mechanisms may be detachable from each other.

[0105] As the liquid discharge unit, there are those in which the liquid discharge head and the head tank are integrated, and those in which both are connected to each other by a tube or the like and integrated. Here, it is also possible to add a unit including a filter between the liquid discharge head and the head tank of these liquid discharge units.

[0106] Also, as the liquid discharge unit, there are those in which the liquid discharge head and the carriage are integrated, and those in which the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated. Also, as the liquid discharge unit, there are those in which the liquid discharge head is movably held by a guide member that constitutes a part of the scanning movement mechanism, and the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated.

[0107] As a liquid ejection unit, there is one in which a cap member, which is a part of a maintenance and recovery mechanism, is fixed to a carriage to which a liquid ejection head is attached, and the liquid ejection head, the carriage, and the maintenance and recovery mechanism are integrated. Also, as a liquid ejection unit, there is one in which a tube is connected to a liquid ejection head to which a head tank or a flow path component is attached, and the liquid ejection head and the supply mechanism are integrated. Through this tube, the liquid from the liquid storage source is supplied to the liquid ejection head.

[0108] The scanning movement mechanism shall include a single guide member. The supply mechanism shall include a single tube and a single loading unit.

[0109] The "device for ejecting liquid" includes not only a device capable of ejecting liquid onto an object to which the liquid can adhere, but also a device for ejecting liquid into the air or into a liquid.

[0110] This "liquid ejection device" can also include means related to the feeding, conveying, and paper discharging of an object to which the liquid can adhere, as well as other pretreatment devices, post-treatment devices, and the like.

[0111] For example, as a "device for ejecting liquid", there are an image forming device that ejects ink to form an image on paper, and a three-dimensional modeling device (three-dimensional shaping device) that ejects a shaping liquid onto a powder layer formed by powder in a layer to shape a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional shaped object).

[0112] Also, the "device for ejecting liquid" is not limited to those in which a significant image such as characters or figures is visualized by the ejected liquid. For example, those that form a pattern or the like that has no meaning by itself, and those that shape a three-dimensional image are also included.

[0113] The above-mentioned "object to which liquid can adhere" refers to the object to which the liquid described above is to be discharged, and means an object to which the liquid can adhere at least temporarily, such as an object to which the liquid adheres and adheres firmly, an object to which the liquid adheres and penetrates, etc. Specific examples include recording media such as paper, recording paper, recording sheets, films, and cloth, electronic components such as electronic substrates and piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powdered layers), organ models, and media such as test cells. Unless otherwise particularly limited, all objects to which the liquid adheres are included.

[0114] The material of the above-mentioned "object to which liquid can adhere" may be paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, etc., as long as the liquid can adhere even temporarily.

[0115] In addition, the "device for discharging liquid" includes, but is not limited to, a device in which the head unit and the object to which the liquid can adhere move relative to each other. Specific examples include a serial type device that moves the head unit and a line type device that does not move the head unit.

[0116] In addition, as the "device for discharging liquid", there are also a treatment liquid coating device that discharges a treatment liquid onto paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper, etc., and an injection granulation device that injects a composition liquid in which raw materials are dispersed in a solution through nozzle holes to granulate fine particles of the raw materials.

[0117] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, unless otherwise particularly limited in the above description.

[0118] What has been described above is an example, and each of the following aspects has a specific effect. (Aspect 1) A liquid discharge head 10 includes a plurality of liquid discharge modules 1 each having a nozzle plate 14 with a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles 14a for discharging liquid are arranged, a valve member such as a needle valve 8 for opening and closing the nozzles 14a, and a moving mechanism 6 for moving the valve member between an open position for opening the nozzles 14a and a closed position for closing the nozzles 14a. The moving mechanism 6 includes an actuator 2 and an arm member 3 that moves the valve member in conjunction with the displacement of the actuator 2. When viewed from the liquid discharge direction (Z direction), at least one of the plurality of liquid discharge modules is arranged such that the actuator 2 is located on one side in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction) with respect to the nozzles 14a. When viewed from the liquid discharge direction (Z direction), in the remaining liquid discharge modules, the actuator 2 is located on the other side in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) with respect to the nozzles 14a, and a part of the arm member 3 is arranged so as to overlap a part of the arm member 3 of the liquid discharge module in which the actuator 2 is arranged on one side in the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction). The arm member 3 amplifies the displacement of the actuator 2 to move the valve member. According to this, by arranging the plurality of liquid discharge modules such that a part of the arm member of the liquid discharge module in which the actuator 2 is arranged on the one side and a part of the arm member of the liquid discharge module in which the actuator 2 is arranged on the other side overlap in the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction), miniaturization in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) orthogonal to both the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction) and the liquid discharge direction (Z direction) can be achieved. Also, the nozzle pitch can be made narrower compared to the case where all the actuators 2 are arranged on the one side or the other side. Further, since the displacement of the actuator is amplified by the arm member, the movement amount of the valve member increases, and the gap between the nozzle and the valve member when the valve member is in the open position can be increased. As a result, liquid can easily flow through the nozzle, the amount of liquid discharged from the nozzle increases, and the size of the liquid droplets can be increased. In addition, an actuator with a small displacement amount can be used, and the actuator can be miniaturized. Since the actuator is a large component among the components constituting the liquid ejection module, by miniaturizing the actuator, the liquid ejection head can be effectively miniaturized.

[0119] (Aspect 2) In Aspect 1, when viewed from the liquid ejection direction (Z direction), the liquid ejection module 1 in which the actuator 2 is located on one side with respect to the nozzle 14a and the liquid ejection module 1 in which the actuator 2 is located on the other side are alternately arranged along the nozzle array direction (X direction). According to this, by alternately arranging a plurality of liquid ejection modules such that a part of the arm member of the liquid ejection module in which the actuator 2 is arranged on the one side and a part of the arm member of the liquid ejection module in which the actuator 2 is arranged on the other side overlap in the nozzle array direction (X direction), miniaturization in the nozzle array direction (X direction) can be achieved.

[0120] (Aspect 3) In Aspect 1 or 2, when viewed from the liquid ejection direction (Z direction), a part of the arm member 3 of the liquid ejection module 1 in which the actuator 2 is located on one side with respect to the nozzle 14a and a part of the arm member 3 of the liquid ejection module 1 in which the actuator 2 is located on the other side are arranged so as to overlap when viewed from the nozzle array direction (X direction). According to this, a part of the arm member of the liquid ejection module in which the actuator 2 is arranged on the one side and a part of the arm member of the liquid ejection module in which the actuator 2 is arranged on the other side are arranged so as to overlap when viewed from the nozzle array direction (X direction), and the height of the actuator 2 and the height of the biasing means support means such as the spring receiving plate 18 can be reduced, so the height (dimension in the Z direction) of the liquid ejection head 10 can be made small.

[0121] (Aspect 4) In Embodiments 1 to 3, the liquid ejection module 1 includes a biasing means such as a compression spring 7 that biases a valve member such as a needle valve 8 to be positioned at an open position or a closed position when there is no displacement of the actuator 2. According to this, as described in the embodiment, compared with the case where there is no biasing means such as the compression spring 7, the valve member such as the needle valve 8 can be stably displaced, and variations in droplets and the like can be suppressed.

[0122] (Embodiment 5) In Embodiment 4, a biasing means support means (configured by a spring receiving plate 18 and a fixing member 17 in this embodiment) that supports a plurality of biasing means such as the compression spring 7 is provided, and the biasing means support means is disposed between an actuator located on one side and an actuator located on the other side when viewed from the nozzle array direction. According to this, when there is no displacement of the actuator 2, the valve member such as the needle valve 8 can be favorably biased by the biasing means to be positioned at an open position or a closed position. Also, as described in the embodiment, the dimensions in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) and the dimensions in the liquid ejection direction (Z direction) of the liquid ejection head can be reduced.

[0123] (Embodiment 6) In Embodiment 5, the biasing means support means (configured by a spring receiving plate 18 and a fixing member 17 in this embodiment) is fixed to a housing member such as a cover 11 that houses a plurality of liquid ejection modules 1. According to this, by fixing to a housing member such as the cover 11 that houses the biasing means support means, deformation and vibration due to reaction forces from a plurality of biasing means can be suppressed.

[0124] (Embodiment 7) In any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, the arm member 3 has a first connection portion such as a fixing portion 3d to which the actuator 2 is fixed and a second connection portion such as a contact portion 3a that contacts an arm receiving portion 8c of a valve member such as the needle valve 8. According to this, as described in the embodiment, by fixing the actuator 2 to the first connection part such as the fixing part 3d, the displacement of the actuator 2 can be loss-suppressed and the arm member 3 can be rotated. Further, since the second connection part such as the contact part 3a is only in contact with the arm receiving part 8c, it is possible to suppress the arm receiving part 8c from inhibiting the rotation of the arm member 3, and the arm member 3 can be rotated smoothly. As a result, the valve member can be stably displaced, and the variation in the droplets discharged from the nozzle can be suppressed.

[0125] (Aspect 8) In Aspect 7, the arm receiving part 8c is biased toward the second connection part such as the contact part 3a by a biasing means such as a compression spring 7. According to this, as described in the embodiment, the state in which the arm receiving part 8c is in contact with the second connection part such as the contact part 3a can be maintained by a biasing means such as a compression spring 7. Therefore, when the actuator 2 is displaced, the second connection part of the arm member 3 moves the arm receiving part 8c against the biasing force of the biasing means, and the valve member such as the needle valve 8 can be moved in one direction. Then, when the displacement of the actuator 2 is released, the valve member can be moved in the other direction by the biasing force of the biasing means. As a result, the valve member can be stably displaced, and the variation in the droplets discharged from the nozzle can be suppressed.

[0126] (Aspect 9) In Aspect 7 or 8, the length of the arm member 3 in the rotational axis direction (X direction) of the arm member 3 is shorter on the second connection part side than on the first connection part side. According to this, since the length of the arm member 3 in the rotational axis direction (X direction) on the second connection part side of the arm member 3 such as the contact part 3a is shorter than that on the first connection part side, as described in the embodiment, the arm members 3 can be arranged closely side by side in the X direction. As a result, the nozzle pitch can be narrowed.

[0127] (Aspect 10) In any one of Aspects 7 to 9, it has an arm support portion such as a support shaft 4 that rotatably supports the arm member 3, and in a direction orthogonal to both the displacement direction (Z direction) of the actuator 2 and the rotation axis direction of the arm member 3, the distance between the first connection portion such as the fixed portion 3d and the arm support portion is shorter than the distance between the second connection portion such as the contact portion 3a and the arm support portion. According to this, as described in the embodiment, the displacement of the actuator 2 can be amplified to move the valve member.

[0128] (Aspect 11) In Aspect 10, the arm support portion such as the support shaft 4 is disposed between the first connection portion such as the fixed portion 3d and the second connection portion such as the contact portion 3a. According to this, as described in the embodiment, when the actuator is displaced, the second connection portion is displaced in the direction opposite to the displacement direction of the first connection portion. Therefore, when the actuator 2 is displaced toward the nozzle plate by voltage application, a so-called normally closed configuration can be achieved.

[0129] (Aspect 12) In Aspect 10, the arm support portion such as the support shaft 4 is disposed outside between the first connection portion such as the fixed portion 3d and the second connection portion such as the contact portion 3a. According to this, as described in the embodiment, when the actuator is displaced, the second connection portion is displaced in the same direction as the displacement of the first connection portion. Therefore, when the actuator 2 is displaced toward the nozzle plate by voltage application, a so-called normally open configuration can be achieved.

[0130] (Aspect 13) In any one of Aspects 1 to 12, the length in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) orthogonal to both the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction) and the liquid discharge direction (Z direction) of the liquid discharge module accommodation space of the accommodation member such as the cover 11 that accommodates the plurality of liquid discharge modules 1 is less than twice the length in the orthogonal direction of the liquid discharge module 1, and the nozzle arrangement pitch is shorter than the length in the nozzle arrangement direction of the nozzles of the liquid discharge module. According to this, as described in the embodiment, when viewed from the nozzle array direction (X direction), by arranging a plurality of liquid ejection modules 1 alternately in the nozzle array direction (X direction) so that a part of the arm member 3 overlaps, the length D in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) of the liquid ejection module accommodation space of the accommodation member such as the cover 11 can be made less than twice the orthogonal direction length L of the liquid ejection module 1, and the nozzle arrangement pitch (nozzle pitch d) can be made shorter than the length W in the nozzle array direction (X direction) of the nozzles of the liquid ejection module 1. Thereby, miniaturization of the liquid ejection head 10 can be achieved.

[0131] (Aspect 14) In any of Aspects 7 to 12, the nozzle plate 14 has a plurality of nozzle rows, and when viewed from the nozzle array direction, the plurality of liquid ejection modules are arranged so that a portion between a first connection portion such as the fixing portion 3d of the arm member 3 and a second connection portion such as the contact portion 3a overlaps. According to this, miniaturization in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) orthogonal to both the nozzle array direction (X direction) and the liquid ejection direction (Z direction) can be achieved. Also, compared to the case where the arm members are arranged at different positions in the liquid ejection direction (Z direction) and do not overlap, miniaturization in the liquid ejection direction (Z direction) can be achieved.

[0132] (Aspect 15) In any of Aspects 1 to 14, a plurality of liquid ejection modules are arranged so that valve members such as the needle valve 8 are aligned in a row in the nozzle array direction (X direction). According to this, the arrangement pitch of the liquid ejection modules 1 can be made constant. Thereby, the arrangement of the liquid ejection modules 1 becomes easy, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

[0133] (Aspect 16) In Aspect 15, the plurality of liquid ejection modules 1 are arranged to be inclined with respect to the nozzle array direction (X direction) when viewed from the liquid ejection direction (Z direction). According to this, as described in Modification Example 1, compared with the case where the plurality of liquid ejection modules 1 are arranged at an angle of 90° with respect to the nozzle array direction (X direction) when viewed from the liquid ejection direction (Z direction), the liquid ejection head can be shortened in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) that is orthogonal to both the nozzle array direction (X direction) and the liquid ejection direction (Z direction). Thereby, the size reduction of the liquid ejection head can be achieved.

[0134] (Aspect 17) In any of Aspects 1 to 16, when viewed from the orthogonal direction (Y direction) that is orthogonal to both the nozzle array direction (X direction) and the liquid ejection direction (Z direction), the actuators 2 are arranged differently from each other in the nozzle array direction, and when viewed from the liquid ejection direction (Z direction), a part of the actuator 2 overlaps with an adjacent actuator. According to this, as described in Modification Example 2, the pitch between nozzles can be narrowed, and the liquid ejection head can be downsized in the X direction, or the number of nozzles can be increased without changing the length in the X direction.

[0135] (Aspect 18) In any of Aspects 1 to 17, among the plurality of liquid ejection modules 1, at least one has a larger movement amount of a valve member such as the needle valve 8 than the other liquid ejection modules 1. According to this, as described in Modification Example 3, droplets having different sizes can be ejected from the nozzles, and the generation of white streaks can be suppressed.

[0136] (Aspect 19) In Aspect 18, the length of the arm member 3 of the liquid ejection module 1B in which the movement amount of the valve member such as the needle valve 8 is larger than that of the valve member of the other liquid ejection modules 1 is longer than that of the other liquid ejection modules 1A, or the displacement amount of the actuator 2 is larger than that of the other liquid ejection modules 1A. According to this, as described in Modification Example 3, the movement amount of the valve member such as the needle valve 8 can be made larger than that of the other liquid ejection modules 1A.

[0137] (Aspect 20) In Aspect 18, the length of the arm member 3 of the liquid discharge module 1B, where the movement amount of the valve member such as the needle valve 8 is larger than that of the valve member of the other liquid discharge module 1A, is longer than that of the other liquid discharge module 1A, and the displacement amount of the actuator 2 is larger than that of the other liquid discharge module 1B. According to this, as described in Modification 3, the size difference of the droplets can be increased, and the occurrence of white streaks can be suppressed well.

[0138] (Aspect 21) In any one of Aspects 18 to 20, in a group of liquid discharge modules corresponding to the nozzle row, a liquid discharge module with a long arm member and a liquid discharge module with a short arm member are arranged alternately. According to this, as described in Modification 3, the actuators 2 can be arranged differently so that a part of the actuator 2 overlaps when viewed from the Y direction. Thereby, similar to Modification 2, the nozzle pitch can be narrowed. Thereby, the liquid discharge head 10 can be miniaturized in the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction), or the number of nozzles can be increased without changing the length in the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction).

[0139] (Aspect 22) In Aspects 18 to 21, the length in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) orthogonal to both the nozzle arrangement direction (X direction) and the liquid discharge direction (Z direction) is less than twice the orthogonal direction length Ld of the liquid discharge module 1A where the movement amount of the valve member such as the needle valve 8 is larger than that of the valve member of the other liquid discharge module 1A, and the nozzle arrangement pitch (nozzle pitch d) is shorter than the length Wd in the nozzle arrangement direction of the nozzles of the liquid discharge module 1B where the movement amount of the valve member is larger than that of the valve member of the other liquid discharge module 1A. According to this, as described in Modification 3, when viewed from the nozzle array direction (X direction), by arranging a plurality of liquid ejection modules 1 alternately in the nozzle array direction (X direction) such that a part of the arm member 3 overlaps, the length D in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) of the liquid ejection module accommodation space of the accommodation member such as the cover 11 can be made less than twice the orthogonal direction length Ld of the liquid ejection module 1A in which the movement amount of the valve member such as the needle valve 8 is larger than the movement amount of the valve member of the other liquid ejection module 1A. Further, the nozzle arrangement pitch (nozzle pitch d) can be made shorter than the length Wd in the nozzle array direction of the nozzles of the liquid ejection module 1B in which the movement amount of the valve member is larger than the movement amount of the valve member of the other liquid ejection module 1A.

[0140] (Aspect 23) In any of Aspects 1 to 22, a valve member such as the needle valve 8 opens and closes a plurality of nozzles 14a. According to this, as described in Modification 4, the number of liquid ejection modules can be reduced, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

[0141] (Aspect 24) In Aspect 23, the nozzle plate 14 includes branch flow paths 14f that branch from a flow path opening / closing portion 14d opened and closed by a valve member such as the needle valve 8 to each nozzle. According to this, as described in Modification 4, a valve member such as the needle valve 8 can open and close a plurality of nozzles 14a.

[0142] (Aspect 25) In any of Aspects 1 to 24, a plurality of valve members such as the needle valves 8 are arranged in a staggered manner, and the nozzle plate 14 has a plurality of flow path opening / closing portions 14d opened and closed by the valve members and flow paths such as a plurality of introduction paths 14e that flow liquid from the flow path opening / closing portions 14d to the nozzles 14a of the corresponding nozzle rows. According to this, as described in Modification 5, even in a configuration using a nozzle plate 14 with a nozzle row arranged at the center in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) that is orthogonal to both the nozzle array direction (X direction) and the liquid discharge direction (Z direction), the length of the liquid discharge head in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) can be made equivalent to that of a configuration using a nozzle plate 14 with nozzles arranged in a staggered pattern, and the liquid discharge head can be satisfactorily miniaturized in the orthogonal direction (Y direction).

[0143] (Aspect 26) In an apparatus 100 that discharges a liquid and includes a liquid discharge head 10, any one of the liquid discharge heads of Aspects 1 to 25 was used as the liquid discharge head 10. According to this, a high-quality image can be obtained, and the apparatus can be miniaturized.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0144] 1: Liquid discharge module 1A: Liquid discharge module with a short arm member 1B: Liquid discharge module with a long arm member 2: Actuator 2a: Piezoelectric element 2b: Fixed element 3: Arm member 3a: Contact portion 3b: Relief hole 3d: Fixed portion 3d1: Adhesive surface portion 3d2: Connecting portion 3e: Support hole 3f: Body 4: Support shaft 5: Flow path 6: Moving mechanism 7: Compression spring 8: Needle valve 8a: Sealing member 8c: Arm receiving portion 10: Liquid discharge head 10A: Liquid discharge head of Modification 1 10B: Liquid discharge head of Modification 2 10C: Liquid discharge head of Modification 3 10D: Liquid ejection head of Modification 4 10E: Liquid ejection head 11: Cover 11a: Accommodation part 11b: Valve through-hole 12: Supply port 13: Discharge port 14: Nozzle plate 14a: Nozzle 14b: Through-hole 14c: Positioning hole 14d: Flow path opening / closing part 14e: Introduction path 14f: Branch flow path 15: Flow path member 15a: Seal member 15b: Female screw part 15c: Pin fitting hole 16: Harness through-hole 17: Fixing member 18: Spring receiving plate 19: Seal member 20: Valve receiving part 30: Drive control device 31: Waveform generation circuit 32: Amplification circuit 40: Fixing jig 41: Waveform generation circuit 100: Device for ejecting liquid 101: Y-axis rail 102: X-axis rail 103: Z-axis rail 110: Carriage 120: Frame unit 130: Head holder 140a: First Z-direction drive part 140b: Second Z-direction drive part 150: Y-direction drive part 160: X-direction drive part 170: Supply device 171: Paint 172: Tank 173: Tube 174: Air regulator 175: Pipe 176: Compressor 200: Object to be discharged 281a: Printing device 281b: Storage container 281c: Supply tube 700: Electrode manufacturing device 703: Heating device 704: Printing substrate 705: Conveyor section 707: Liquid composition 710: Discharge process section 730: Heating process section

Prior art documents

Patent documents

[0145]

Patent Document 1

Claims

1. A nozzle plate having a nozzle array in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid are arranged, a plurality of liquid discharge modules having a valve member for opening and closing the nozzles, and a moving mechanism for moving the valve member between an open position for opening the nozzles and a closed position for closing the nozzles, in a liquid discharge head, wherein the moving mechanism includes an actuator and an arm member that moves the valve member in conjunction with displacement of the actuator, when viewed from the liquid discharge direction, at least one of the plurality of liquid discharge modules is arranged such that the actuator is located on one side in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle array direction with respect to the nozzles, when viewed from the liquid discharge direction, the remaining liquid discharge modules are arranged such that the actuator is located on the other side in the orthogonal direction with respect to the nozzles, and a part of the arm member overlaps a part of the arm member of the liquid discharge module in which the actuator is located on the one side in the nozzle array direction, the arm member amplifies the displacement of the actuator to move the valve member, a liquid discharge head characterized by this.

2. In the liquid discharge head according to Claim 1, the liquid discharge module in which the actuator is located on the one side and the liquid discharge module in which the actuator is located on the other side are alternately arranged along the nozzle array direction, a liquid discharge head characterized by this.

3. In the liquid discharge head according to Claim 1, a part of the arm member of the liquid discharge module in which the actuator is located on the one side and a part of the arm member of the liquid discharge module in which the actuator is located on the other side overlap when viewed from the nozzle array direction, a liquid discharge head characterized by this.

4. In the liquid discharge head according to Claim 1, the liquid discharge module includes biasing means for biasing the valve member to be located at the open position or the closed position when there is no displacement of the actuator, a liquid discharge head characterized by this.

5. In the liquid discharge head according to Claim 4, it includes biasing means support means for supporting a plurality of the biasing means, The biasing means support means is arranged between the actuator located on the one side and the actuator located on the other side when viewed from the nozzle array direction, and is characterized by a liquid discharge head.

6. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 5, The biasing means support means is fixed to a housing member that houses a plurality of the liquid discharge modules, and is characterized by a liquid discharge head.

7. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 1, The arm member has a first connection portion to which the actuator is fixed and a second connection portion that contacts the arm receiving portion of the valve member, and is characterized by a liquid discharge head.

8. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 7, The arm receiving portion is biased toward the second connection portion by a biasing means, and is characterized by a liquid discharge head.

9. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 7, The arm member is characterized in that the length in the rotational axis direction of the arm member is shorter on the second connection portion side than on the first connection portion side, and is characterized by a liquid discharge head.

10. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 7, It has an arm support portion that rotatably supports the arm member, In a direction orthogonal to both the displacement direction of the actuator and the rotational axis direction of the arm member, the distance between the first connection portion and the arm support portion is shorter than the distance between the second connection portion and the arm support portion, and is characterized by a liquid discharge head.

11. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 10, The arm support portion is arranged between the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and is characterized by a liquid discharge head.

12. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 10, The arm support portion is arranged outside between the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and is characterized by a liquid discharge head.

13. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 1, The length in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to both the nozzle array direction and the liquid discharge direction of the liquid discharge module accommodation space of the accommodation member that houses a plurality of the liquid discharge modules is less than twice the length in the orthogonal direction of the liquid discharge module, The nozzle array pitch is shorter than the length in the nozzle array direction of the liquid discharge module, and is characterized by a liquid discharge head.

14. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 7, The nozzle plate has a plurality of nozzle rows, A liquid discharge head, wherein a plurality of the liquid discharge modules are arranged such that, when viewed from the nozzle arrangement direction, a portion between the first connection portion and the second connection portion of the arm member overlaps.

15. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 1, A liquid discharge head, wherein a plurality of the liquid discharge modules are arranged such that the valve members are aligned in a row in the nozzle arrangement direction.

16. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 15, A liquid discharge head, wherein a plurality of the liquid discharge modules are arranged to be inclined with respect to the nozzle arrangement direction when viewed from the liquid discharge direction.

17. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 1, A liquid discharge head, wherein a part of the actuator overlaps an adjacent actuator when viewed from the liquid discharge direction.

18. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 1, A liquid discharge head, wherein at least one of the plurality of liquid discharge modules is characterized in that the movement amount of the valve member is larger than that of other liquid discharge modules.

19. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 17, A liquid discharge head, wherein the length of the arm member of the liquid discharge module in which the movement amount of the valve member is larger than that of other liquid discharge modules is longer than that of the other liquid discharge modules, or the displacement amount of the actuator is larger than that of the other liquid discharge modules.

20. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 17, A liquid discharge head, wherein the length of the arm member of the liquid discharge module in which the movement amount of the valve member is larger than that of other liquid discharge modules is longer than that of the other liquid discharge modules, and the displacement amount of the actuator is larger than that of the other liquid discharge modules.

21. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 17, A liquid discharge head, wherein in a group of liquid discharge modules corresponding to a nozzle row, a liquid discharge module having a long arm member and a liquid discharge module having a short arm member are alternately arranged.

22. In the liquid discharge head according to claim 15, The length in the orthogonal direction, which is orthogonal to both the nozzle array direction and the liquid ejection direction, is less than twice the length in the orthogonal direction of the liquid ejection module in which the movement amount of the valve member is larger than that of other liquid ejection modules. A liquid ejection head, wherein the nozzle arrangement pitch is shorter than the length in the nozzle array direction of the liquid ejection module in which the movement amount of the valve member is larger than that of other liquid ejection modules.

23. In the liquid ejection head according to claim 1, the valve member is characterized by opening and closing a plurality of nozzles.

24. In the liquid ejection head according to claim 23, the nozzle plate is characterized by including branch flow paths that branch from the flow path opening / closing portion opened and closed by the valve member to each nozzle.

25. In the liquid ejection head according to claim 1, a plurality of the valve members are arranged in a staggered manner, and the nozzle plate is characterized by having a plurality of flow path opening / closing portions opened and closed by the valve members and a plurality of flow paths for flowing the liquid from the flow path opening / closing portions to the nozzles of each corresponding nozzle row.

26. In an apparatus for ejecting a liquid provided with a liquid ejection head, the apparatus for ejecting a liquid is characterized by using the liquid ejection head according to claim 1 as the liquid ejection head.

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