Liquid ejection head unit and liquid ejection apparatus

Abstract

To adjust the height of a liquid discharge head without greatly changing the shapes of the liquid discharge head and a support member.SOLUTION: The liquid ejecting head unit 13 includes the liquid ejecting head 20 that ejects liquid, the support member 50 that supports the liquid ejecting head 20, and the connecting member 60 that connects the liquid ejecting head 20 to the support member 50, and the support member 50 has the opening 50a through which the liquid ejecting head 20 is inserted so as not to come into contact with the liquid ejecting head 20. The connection member 60 has the first contact portion 50a that comes into contact with the liquid ejecting head 20 in a state of being inserted into the opening portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b that comes into contact with the support member 50, and the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b are disposed at different positions in the height direction, which is the direction in which the liquid ejecting head 20 is inserted into the opening portion 50a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid, an inkjet image forming device that ejects liquid ink onto a sheet such as paper to form an image is known.

[0003] Such image forming apparatuses are provided with a liquid ejection head that ejects ink onto a sheet, and some are also provided with a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of the liquid ejection head in order to adjust the distance between the sheet and the liquid ejection head (see, for example, Patent Document 1: JP 2002-211074 A).

[0004] However, if the height of the liquid ejection head needs to be adjusted beyond a preset adjustment range, existing height adjustment mechanisms cannot accommodate this, and it becomes necessary to significantly change the shape of the liquid ejection head or the shape of the support member that supports the liquid ejection head, which raises concerns that significant design changes may be necessary. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to adjust the height of the liquid ejection head without significantly changing the shapes of the liquid ejection head and the support member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the liquid ejection head unit of the present invention comprises a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid, a support member that supports the liquid ejection head, and a connection member that connects the liquid ejection head to the support member, wherein the support member has an opening through which the liquid ejection head is inserted so as not to come into contact with the liquid ejection head, and the connection member has a first contact portion that contacts the liquid ejection head when inserted into the opening and a second contact portion that contacts the support member, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion are arranged at different positions in the height direction, which is the direction in which the liquid ejection head is inserted into the opening. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the height of the liquid ejection head can be adjusted without significantly changing the shapes of the liquid ejection head and the support member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a control block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is an external perspective view of a liquid ejection head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is an external perspective view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a plan view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of height adjustment in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of height adjustment performed using a height adjustment member. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing another example of height adjustment performed using a height adjustment member. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of height adjustment in the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of height adjustment performed using a height adjustment member. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing another example of height adjustment performed using a height adjustment member. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of tilt adjustment in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of tilt adjustment in the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of tilt adjustment performed using a height adjustment member. [Figure 18] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating another example of tilt adjustment performed using a height adjustment member. [Figure 19] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing yet another example of tilt adjustment performed using a height adjustment member. [Figure 20] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of support members that support a plurality of liquid ejection heads. [Figure 21] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of height adjustment when a sheet is transported horizontally. [Figure 22] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of height adjustment when a sheet is transported in an arc shape. [Figure 23] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of height adjustment between the upstream side and the downstream side performed using a connecting member with contact portions having different heights. [Figure 24] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of height adjustment between the upstream side and the downstream side performed using a height adjusting member. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of height adjustment in the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing another example of height adjustment in the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the function of a recessed portion of a height adjusting member according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 32] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of height adjustment in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of height adjustment in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 35] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of height adjustment in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 36] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of height adjustment in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 37] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modified example of the height adjusting member. [Figure 38] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another modified example of the height adjusting member; [Figure 39] 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line MM in FIG. 38. [Figure 40] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing yet another modified example of the height adjusting member. [Figure 41] 41 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line NN in FIG. 40. [Figure 42] 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the engaging protrusion of the connecting member and the engaging recess of the height adjusting member are engaged with each other. FIG. [Figure 43] 1 is a diagram showing an example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied; [Figure 44] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a liquid ejection head unit according to a comparative example. [Figure 45]FIG. 10 is a reference diagram showing a state in which the nozzle surface is disposed at an angle with respect to the sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing for explaining the present invention, components such as members and components having the same function or shape are designated by the same reference numerals as far as they can be distinguished, and once they have been described, their description will be omitted.

[0010] <Configuration of image forming device> First, an inkjet image forming apparatus, which is an example of a liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention, will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a sheet supply unit 1, a sheet conveying unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a drying unit 4, and a sheet recovery unit 5.

[0012] The sheet supply unit 1 has a supply roller 11 that supplies the sheet S, and a tension adjustment mechanism 12 that adjusts the tension of the supplied sheet S. A long sheet S is wound around the supply roller 11 in a roll. When the supply roller 11 rotates, the sheet S is unwound from the supply roller 11 and supplied. The tension adjustment mechanism 12 is a mechanism that adjusts the tension of the sheet S so that the sheet S is supplied with a constant tension. In this case, the tension adjustment mechanism 12 has a plurality of support rollers that support the sheet S by stretching it across them, and the tension of the sheet S is adjusted by changing the distance between the support rollers, so that the sheet S is supplied with a constant tension.

[0013] The sheet conveying unit 2 has a plurality of conveying rollers 15 that convey the sheet S supplied from the sheet supply unit 1 to the image forming unit 3. The conveying rollers 15 are an example of a conveying means that conveys the sheet S. As the conveying means, a conveying belt or the like may be used instead of the conveying rollers 15. With the sheet S stretched between the plurality of conveying rollers 15, the conveying rollers 15 rotate, thereby conveying the sheet S to the image forming unit 3.

[0014] The image forming section 3 has a liquid ejection head unit 13 for forming an image on the sheet S. The liquid ejection head unit 13 is equipped with a plurality of liquid ejection heads 20 that eject liquid ink onto the sheet S. In addition, in the image forming section 3, a transport guide 14 that guides the sheet S being transported is disposed opposite the liquid ejection head unit 13. When the sheet S is transported to the image forming section 3, the sheet S is guided by the transport guide 14, and ink is ejected from the liquid ejection heads 20 onto the sheet S, forming an image on the sheet S. Here, the liquid ejection head 20 is assumed to be a so-called line-type liquid ejection head that ejects ink while remaining stationary toward the sheet S being transported. However, the liquid ejection head 20 is not limited to the line-type, and may be a so-called serial-type liquid ejection head that ejects ink while moving in the sheet width direction toward the stationary sheet S.

[0015] The drying unit 4 has a heating roller 16 that heats the sheet S. The heating roller 16 is an example of a heating means that heats the sheet S. The heating roller 16 has a heat source such as a halogen heater inside. When the sheet S is transported while being wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 16, the sheet S is heated by the heating roller 16, and the liquid components contained in the ink on the sheet S evaporate, thereby drying the sheet S. In addition to contact-type heating means such as the heating roller 16, the heating means that heats the sheet S may also be non-contact-type heating means such as a hot air generator that blows hot air onto the sheet S.

[0016] The sheet collection section 5 has a collection roller 17 that collects the sheet S, and a tension adjustment mechanism 18 that adjusts the tension of the sheet S. When the sheet S is transported to the sheet collection section 5, the rotating collection roller 17 winds the sheet S into a roll and collects it. The tension adjustment mechanism 18 has the same configuration as the tension adjustment mechanism 12 of the sheet supply section 1, for example, and when the sheet S is transported to the sheet collection section 5, the sheet S is wound with a constant tension and collected. Note that the tension adjustment mechanism 18 may have a different configuration from the tension adjustment mechanism 12 of the sheet supply section 1.

[0017] <Control configuration of image forming apparatus> FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, an NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) 504, an external device connection I / F 505, a network I / F 506, a bus line 507, and an operation panel 508.

[0019] The CPU 501 is a computing unit that controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the CPU 501 controls the operation of the liquid ejection head unit 13, the rotation speeds of the supply roller 11, the recovery roller 17, and the transport roller 15, the temperature of the heating roller 16, and the tension adjustment operation of the tension adjustment mechanisms 12 and 18. The ROM 502 is a read-only nonvolatile storage medium that stores programs used to drive the CPU 501, such as the IPL. The RAM 503 is a volatile storage medium that can read and write information at high speed and is used as a work area when the CPU 501 processes information. The NVRAM 504 is a readable and writable nonvolatile storage medium that stores various data, such as setting values ​​and programs, required to control each part of the image forming apparatus 100. When the program stored in the ROM 502 is loaded into the RAM 503, the CPU 501 controls each part of the image forming apparatus 100 by performing calculations in accordance with the program loaded into the RAM 503. At this time, the CPU 501 uses the setting values ​​stored in the NVRAM 504 .

[0020] The external device connection I / F 505 is connected to a PC (Personal Computer) via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like, and communicates control signals and image data to be printed with the PC. The network I / F 506 is an interface for communicating data using a communication network such as the Internet. The bus line 507 is an address bus and a data bus or the like for electrically connecting the components such as the CPU 501.

[0021] The operation panel 508 is a touch panel input unit that displays current setting values, selection screens, etc., and accepts inputs from an operator. When various information such as image information, sheet conveying speed, and sheet type is input via the operation panel 508, the CPU 501 controls various operations of the image forming apparatus 100 based on the input information.

[0022] <Configuration of liquid ejection head unit> Next, the configuration of the liquid ejection head according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the liquid ejection head according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 3, the liquid ejection head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is formed in a longitudinal shape that extends long in the X direction of the drawing as a whole. The X, Y, and Z directions in Fig. 3 indicate the directions of the three-dimensional coordinate axes of the liquid ejection head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the X direction indicates a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejection head 20, and the Y direction indicates a direction perpendicular to the X direction when the liquid ejection head 20 is viewed from the Z direction. The Z direction is also a direction perpendicular to both the X and Y directions. Note that the X, Y, and Z directions in other drawings also indicate the same directions as in Fig. 3.

[0025] The liquid ejection head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a nozzle plate 21, a flow path plate 22, a diaphragm member 23, a common flow path member 24, and a cover member 25. The nozzle plate 21, flow path plate 22, diaphragm member 23, and common flow path member 24 are laminated and bonded in this order. The cover member 25 is a member that covers and protects a drive IC that controls the drive of the piezoelectric elements provided in the diaphragm member 23, a flexible wiring board that transmits drive signals to the piezoelectric elements, and the like.

[0026] The nozzle plate 21, flow path plate 22, diaphragm member 23, and common flow path member 24 are formed in the shape of rectangular plates. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the plate-like member constituting the common flow path member 24 is disposed between a laminated plate-like block formed by combining the nozzle plate 21, flow path plate 22, and diaphragm member 23, and a rectangular parallelepiped cover member 25, and protrudes outward from these on both sides in the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the liquid ejection head 20. Therefore, the common flow path member 24 constitutes a pair of flange portions 27 protruding outward on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejection head 20.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid ejection head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 4, the nozzle plate 21 has nozzles 30 that eject liquid. Although only one nozzle 30 is shown here, a plurality of nozzles 30 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction X of the liquid ejection head 20 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in Fig. 4). Therefore, a plurality of nozzles 30 are open on the nozzle surface 21a of the nozzle plate 21 that faces the liquid ejection direction.

[0029] The flow path plate 22 has a plurality of pressure chambers 31 individually connected to a plurality of nozzles 30, individual supply flow paths 32 individually connected to the plurality of pressure chambers 31, one or more intermediate supply flow paths 33 connected to one or more individual supply flow paths 32, a plurality of individual recovery flow paths 34 individually connected to the plurality of pressure chambers 31, and one or more intermediate recovery flow paths 35 connected to one or more individual recovery flow paths 34.

[0030] The common flow path member 24 has a common supply flow path 36 that commonly communicates with the plurality of individual supply flow paths 32 via an intermediate supply flow path 33, and a common recovery flow path 37 that commonly communicates with the plurality of individual recovery flow paths 34 via an intermediate recovery flow path 35. The common supply flow path 36, the intermediate supply flow path 33, and the individual supply flow paths 32 that are mutually connected function as supply flow paths that supply ink from a supply tank provided in a circulation device or the like to the pressure chambers 31. On the other hand, the common recovery flow path 37, the intermediate recovery flow path 35, and the individual recovery flow paths 34 that are mutually connected function as recovery flow paths that recover ink from the pressure chambers 31 to a recovery tank in a circulation device or the like.

[0031] The vibration plate member 23 is made up of a plurality of displaceable vibration plates that form the wall surfaces of the pressure chambers 31 of the flow path plate 22. Furthermore, on the side of the vibration plate member 23 opposite to the pressure chambers 31 side, a piezoelectric actuator 26 including an electromechanical conversion element as a driving means for deforming the vibration plate member 23 is disposed.

[0032] The piezoelectric actuator 26 has a piezoelectric element 40 and a base member 41 to which the piezoelectric element 40 is bonded. The piezoelectric element 40 is, for example, formed by alternately laminating piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes, and the internal electrodes are drawn out to the end faces of the piezoelectric element 40 and connected to a flexible wiring member via external electrodes.

[0033] When a drive voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 40, the piezoelectric element 40 expands or contracts. More specifically, first, when a voltage lower than a reference potential (intermediate potential) is applied to the piezoelectric element 40, the piezoelectric element 40 contracts. As a result, the vibration plate member 23 is pulled, the volume of the pressure chamber 31 expands, and ink flows into the pressure chamber 31. Thereafter, when the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 40 is increased, the piezoelectric element 40 expands, which pushes the vibration plate member 23, causing the volume of the pressure chamber 31 to contract. As a result, the ink in the pressure chamber 31 is pressurized, and ink is ejected from the nozzle 30. Furthermore, ink that is not ejected from the nozzle 30 passes through the individual recovery flow path 34, the intermediate recovery flow path 35, and the common recovery flow path 37, and is sent from the recovery port to the recovery tank and recovered.

[0034] The ink ejection method is not limited to the method using the piezoelectric element 40, but may also be a charge control method that ejects ink using electrostatic attraction, or a thermal inkjet method that ejects ink using the pressure of bubbles generated by heating the ink.

[0035] <Issues with adjusting the height of the liquid ejection head> Here, the problem of adjusting the height of the liquid ejection head will be described with reference to a comparative example different from the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 44 is a diagram showing the configuration of a liquid ejection head unit according to a comparative example.

[0037] 44, the liquid ejection head unit according to the comparative example includes a liquid ejection head 200 and a support member 500 that supports the liquid ejection head 200. In this case, the liquid ejection head 200 is inserted into an opening 500a of the support member 500, and is supported by a pair of flange portions 200b of the liquid ejection head 200 abutting against the support member 500. In this manner, when the liquid ejection head 200 is supported by the support member 500, the position of the liquid ejection head 200 in the up-down direction in FIG. 44 is determined, and therefore the distance G between the nozzle surface 200a of the liquid ejection head 200 and the sheet S is maintained at a predetermined distance.

[0038] However, there are cases where it is desirable to change the distance between the sheet and the nozzle surface of a liquid ejection head while maintaining its basic structure. For example, if a liquid ejection head is to be used as a high-resolution liquid ejection head, the distance between the nozzle surface and the sheet must be reduced. Conventional image forming apparatuses are configured to adjust the distance between the nozzle surface and the sheet by changing the height of the liquid ejection head using an elevator or other device. However, if the height of the liquid ejection head needs to be adjusted beyond a preset adjustment range, existing height adjustment mechanisms cannot accommodate this. In such cases, significant changes to the shape of the liquid ejection head or the support member are required, resulting in increased costs. Furthermore, changing the shape of the liquid ejection head or the support member may necessitate the preparation of a new jig for mounting the liquid ejection head to the support member, which also results in increased costs. Furthermore, the nozzle surface of a liquid ejection head is generally positioned parallel to the sheet so as not to be tilted relative to the sheet. However, due to dimensional tolerances or mounting errors of the mounting member used to mount the liquid ejection head, the nozzle surface 200a may be positioned at an angle relative to the sheet S, as shown in Figure 45. In such a case, it is necessary to adjust the height of at least one of the left and right sides of the liquid ejection head 200 in FIG.

[0039] Therefore, in a first embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration of a liquid ejection head unit and a method for adjusting the height of a liquid ejection head are proposed in order to enable the height of the liquid ejection head to be adjusted without significantly changing the shapes of the liquid ejection head and the support member. The configuration of a liquid ejection head unit and a method for adjusting the height of a liquid ejection head according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0040] <Configuration of liquid ejection head unit> First, the configuration of a liquid ejection head unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the liquid ejection head unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid ejection head unit 13 includes a liquid ejection head 20, a support portion 50, and a connection member 60.

[0043] The support member 50 is a plate-like or frame-like member that supports the liquid ejection head 20. In this case, the support member 50 has two openings 50a through which the liquid ejection head 20 is inserted. Here, the support member 50 has two openings 50a, but the number of openings 50a that the support member 50 has may be one, or three or more.

[0044] The connecting member 60 is a member that connects the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50. In this case, the connecting members 60 are arranged on both ends of the liquid ejection head 20 in the longitudinal direction (X direction) in a state in which the liquid ejection head 20 is inserted into the opening 50a of the support member 50 from above in Fig. 5. The connecting members 60 are then fixed to the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50 using fixing members such as screws or bolts, or adhesives, thereby connecting the liquid ejection head 20 to the support member 50.

[0045] When the liquid ejection head 20 is supported by the support member 50, the nozzle surface 21a of the liquid ejection head 20 is disposed lower than the support member 50 in FIG. 5. That is, the nozzle surface 21a is disposed closer to the sheet than the support member 50 in the "height direction" (Z direction), which is the direction in which the liquid ejection head 20 is inserted into the opening 50a of the support member 50. Note that the "height direction" here is another way of saying the direction in which the liquid ejection head 20 is inserted into the opening 50a of the support member 50, but the "height direction" does not necessarily mean only the direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane (vertical direction). For example, when the liquid ejection head 20 is inserted diagonally with respect to the horizontal plane, the "height direction" means the diagonal direction in which the liquid ejection head 20 is inserted, and when the liquid ejection head 20 is inserted in a direction parallel to the horizontal plane, the "height direction" means the horizontal direction in which the liquid ejection head 20 is inserted.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the liquid ejection head unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] 6, the opening 50a of the support member 50 is formed larger than the outer shape A of the liquid ejection head 20, indicated by the two-dot chain line, so as not to interfere with the liquid ejection head 20. This outer shape A is the maximum outer shape of the portion that is inserted into the opening 50a when the liquid ejection head 20 is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 21a (in a vertical projection state). In this case, the outer shape of the common flow path member 24 that constitutes the liquid ejection head 20 becomes the outer shape A of the liquid ejection head 20. In this way, the opening 50a of the support member 50 is formed larger than the outer shape A of the common flow path member 24 that is inserted into the opening 50a, so that the liquid ejection head 20 is inserted into the opening 50a without coming into contact with the support member 50.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid ejection head unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 7 , the connecting members 60 are arranged on both ends of the longitudinal direction (X direction) of each liquid ejection head 20, one at a time, and are fixed to the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50. In this case, each connecting member 60 has a first contact portion 60a that contacts the flange portions 27 that protrude outward on both longitudinal sides of the liquid ejection head 20, and a second contact portion 60b that contacts the support member 50. Here, the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b are arranged so as to be in direct contact with the flange portions 27 of the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50, but the first contact portion 60a may be in indirect contact with the flange portion 27 via a height adjustment member, which will be described later, in addition to being in direct contact with the flange portion 27. In other words, in the present invention, the "contact" of the first contact portion 60a with the flange portions 27 and the "contact" of the second contact portion 60b with the support member 50 include indirect contact as well as direct contact.

[0050] In the first embodiment of the present invention, the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b of the connecting member 60 are both configured on the surface of the connecting member 60 facing downward in FIG. 7 (surfaces facing the same direction). Therefore, in this case, the first contact portion 60a contacts the surface of the flange portion 27 facing upward in FIG. 7, and the second contact portion 60b contacts the surface of the support member 50 facing upward in FIG. 7. Also, in this case, since the downward direction in FIG. 7 is the liquid ejection direction of the liquid ejection head 20, it can be said that the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b of the connecting member 60 are provided on the surface facing the liquid ejection direction. Therefore, in this case, the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b contact the surfaces of the flange portion 27 and the support member 50 facing in the opposite direction to the liquid ejection direction or facing in the opposite direction to the sheet side.

[0051] In this way, the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b are each formed of a surface facing the same direction, but their positions in the height direction (Z direction) are different from each other. In this case, the first contact portion 60a is located lower (in the liquid ejection direction) than the second contact portion 60b by a distance D in the height direction in FIG.

[0052] When each connecting member 60 is fixed to the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50 with the first contact portion 60a in contact with the upper surface of the flange portion 27 and the second contact portion 60b in contact with the upper surface of the support member 50, the liquid ejection head 20 is held suspended from the support member 50, as shown in Figure 7.

[0053] As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the liquid ejection head 20 is held suspended from the support member 50, and therefore the height of the nozzle surface can be lowered and the distance G between the sheet and the nozzle surface can be reduced compared to the liquid ejection head 200 according to the comparative example in Fig. 44. That is, in the first embodiment of the present invention, unlike the comparative example, the flange portion 27 does not abut against the upper surface of the support member 50 but is held in a state where it is inserted into the opening 50a, and therefore the lower surface of the flange portion 27 of the liquid ejection head 20 is positioned lower than the upper surface of the support member 50 (see Fig. 7). This allows the height of the nozzle surface 21a to be lowered and the distance G of the nozzle surface relative to the sheet to be reduced.

[0054] <Liquid ejection head height adjustment method> Next, a method for adjusting the height of the liquid ejection head will be described.

[0055] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of height adjustment in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] 8, in this case, the heights D1, D2 between the contact portions 60a, 60b of the connecting member 60 are different between the liquid ejection head unit 13A shown in (a) on the left side of the figure and the liquid ejection head unit 13B shown in (b) on the right side of the figure. In the example of Fig. 8, the height D2 between the contact portions 60a, 60b of the connecting member 60 shown in (b) on the right side is set to be greater than the height D1 between the contact portions 60a, 60b of the connecting member 60 shown in (a) on the left side (D2>D1). Therefore, in the liquid ejection head unit 13B on the right side, the nozzle surface 21a is lower by the amount corresponding to the greater height D2 between the contact portions 60a, 60b (D2-D1=α) compared to the liquid ejection head unit 13A on the left side.

[0057] In this way, by varying the height between the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b, it is possible to adjust the height of the nozzle surface 21a. That is, if it is desired to lower the height of the nozzle surface 21a, the height D2 between the contact portions 60a and 60b can be increased as shown in Fig. 8(b), and conversely, if it is desired to increase the height of the nozzle surface 21a, the height D1 between the contact portions 60a and 60b can be decreased as shown in Fig. 8(a), thereby adjusting the height of the nozzle surface 21a.

[0058] Furthermore, in this case, the height of the nozzle surface 21a can be adjusted simply by changing the connecting member 60 to another connecting member 60 having a different height between the contact portions 60a, 60b, so there is no need to significantly change the shapes of the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50 in order to adjust the height of the nozzle surface 21a. Therefore, according to the height adjustment method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the high costs that would be incurred by significantly changing the shapes of the liquid ejection head 20 or the support member 50, and it becomes possible to adjust the height of the liquid ejection head (nozzle surface) at low cost.

[0059] <Height adjustment member> Next, a height adjustment method using the height adjustment member will be described.

[0060] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of height adjustment performed using a height adjustment member.

[0061] 9, a height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the first contact portion 60a of the connection member 60 shown in (b) on the right side and the flange portion 27 of the liquid ejection head 20. On the other hand, no height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the first contact portion 60a of the connection member 60 shown in (a) on the left side of FIG.

[0062] In this way, in the right-side liquid ejection head unit 13B, by interposing the height adjustment member 70 between the first contact portion 60a and the flange portion 27, the nozzle surface 21a can be made lower by the thickness T of the height adjustment member 70 (T=α) compared to the left-side liquid ejection head unit 13A. Furthermore, by appropriately changing the thickness T of the height adjustment member 70, it is possible to adjust the height of the nozzle surface 21a to a desired height.

[0063] 9, except for the use of the height adjustment member 70, the configuration of the connecting member 60 and other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment of the present invention. Also, in FIG. 9, the connecting member 60 provided in the left liquid ejection head unit 13A and the connecting member 60 provided in the right liquid ejection head unit 13B are configured to have the same dimensions and shape, but these connecting members 60 may have different dimensions and shapes. In other words, the connecting member 60 provided in the right liquid ejection head unit 13A and the connecting member 60 provided in the right liquid ejection head unit 13B may have different heights between their contact portions 60a, 60b.

[0064] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of height adjustment performed using a height adjustment member.

[0065] 10 differs from the example of FIG. 9 above in that the height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the second contact portion 60b of the connecting member 60 shown in (b) on the right and the support member 50. That is, the position where the height adjustment member 70 is interposed is different. Other than that, it is the same as the example of FIG. 9.

[0066] 10, by interposing the height adjustment member 70 between the second contact portion 60b of the connecting member 60 and the support member 50, the nozzle surface 21a of the right-side liquid ejection head unit 13B can be made higher, in contrast to the example of FIG. 9. That is, the height of the nozzle surface 21a of the right-side liquid ejection head unit 13B can be made higher than that of the left-side liquid ejection head unit 13A by the thickness T of the height adjustment member 70 (T=α). Therefore, if it is desired to raise the nozzle surface 21a, it is advisable to interpose the height adjustment member 70 between the second contact portion 60b of the connecting member 60 and the support member 50, as shown in FIG. 10. On the other hand, if it is desired to lower the nozzle surface 21a, it is advisable to interpose the height adjustment member 70 between the first contact portion 60a and the flange portion 27, as shown in FIG.

[0067] 10, the connecting member 60 provided on the left-side liquid ejection head unit 13A and the connecting member 60 provided on the right-side liquid ejection head unit 13B are configured to have the same dimensions and shape, but the connecting members 60 provided on the liquid ejection head units 13A and 13B may have different dimensions and shapes. Furthermore, the connecting member 60 provided on the right-side liquid ejection head unit 13A and the connecting member 60 provided on the right-side liquid ejection head unit 13B may have different heights between their contact portions 60a and 60b.

[0068] Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the following description of the other embodiments, differences from the first embodiment of the present invention will be mainly described, and descriptions of the same parts will be omitted as appropriate.

[0069] <Second embodiment of the present invention> FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] 11, unlike the first embodiment of the present invention, the connecting member 60 is disposed below the flange portion 27 and support member 50 of the liquid ejection head 20 in the figure. Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b contact the downward-facing surfaces of the flange portion 27 and the support member 50. In other words, the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b contact the surfaces of the flange portion 27 and the support member 50 that face in the liquid ejection direction or that face the sheet side.

[0071] In this way, the connecting member 60 may be disposed below (in the liquid ejection direction) the flange portion 27 and the support member 50. Furthermore, even in the connecting member 60 configured in this way, it is possible to adjust the height of the liquid ejection head 20 (nozzle surface 21a) by changing the height D (see FIG. 11) between the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b.

[0072] That is, as shown in Figures 12(a) and (b), the height D1, D2 between the contact portions 60, 60b of the connecting member 60 in the left and right liquid ejection head units 13A, 13B can be made different, thereby adjusting the height of the liquid ejection head 20 (nozzle surface 21a).

[0073] In this way, in the second embodiment of the present invention, it is also possible to adjust the height of the nozzle surface 21a simply by changing the height between the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b, without significantly changing the shapes of the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50. Therefore, the height adjustment method according to the second embodiment of the present invention also makes it possible to adjust the height of the liquid ejection head (nozzle surface) at low cost.

[0074] Furthermore, in the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention, height adjustment can also be performed using the height adjustment member 70 described above. For example, as in the example of Fig. 13, the nozzle surface 21a can be lowered by interposing the height adjustment member 70 between the second contact portion 60b of the connecting member 60 in the right-side liquid ejection head unit 13B and the support member 50. On the other hand, as in the example of Fig. 14, when the height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the first contact portion 60a of the connecting member 60 in the right-side liquid ejection head unit 13B and the flange portion 27 of the liquid ejection head 20, the nozzle surface 21a can be raised.

[0075] <Liquid ejection head tilt adjustment method> Next, a method for adjusting the tilt of the liquid ejection head will be described.

[0076] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of tilt adjustment in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] 15, when the support member 50 is inclined with respect to the sheet S, the inclination of the liquid ejection head 20 (nozzle surface 21a) can be adjusted (corrected) by making the heights D3, D4 between the contact portions 60a, 60b of the connection member 60A arranged at one end of the liquid ejection head 20 in the longitudinal direction different from the heights D3, D4 between the contact portions 60a, 60b of the connection member 60B arranged at the other end of the liquid ejection head 20 in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the height D4 between the contact portions 60a, 60b of the connection member 60B on the right side of the figure is made larger than the height D3 between the contact portions 60a, 60b of the connection member 60A on the left side of the figure (D4>D3). This offsets the inclination of the support member 50 with respect to the sheet S, allowing the nozzle surface 21a to be positioned parallel to the sheet S.

[0078] In this way, by making different the heights D3, D4 between the contact portions 60a, 60b of the connecting member 60A arranged at one end of the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejection head 20 and the connecting member 60B arranged at the other end, it is possible to adjust the inclination of the liquid ejection head 20 (nozzle surface 21a).

[0079] Moreover, such tilt adjustment can be performed using the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention as well as the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0080] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of tilt adjustment in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0081] 16, even in a configuration in which the connection members 60A, 60B are disposed below the flange portion 27 and the support member 50, the inclination of the liquid ejection head 20 with respect to the support member 50 can be adjusted by making the heights D3, D4 between the contact portions 60a, 60b different between the connection member 60A disposed at one end (left side of the figure) in the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejection head 20 and the connection member 60B disposed at the other end (right side of the figure) of the liquid ejection head 20. This makes it possible to dispose the nozzle surface 21a parallel to the sheet S in the second embodiment of the present invention as well.

[0082] The tilt of the liquid ejection head 20 can also be adjusted using a height adjustment member 70.

[0083] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of tilt adjustment performed using a height adjusting member.

[0084] 17, by varying the position where the height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the right and left sides, it is possible to adjust the tilt of the liquid ejection head 20. In this case, on the left side of Fig. 17 (one end side in the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejection head 20), the height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the second contact portion 60b of the connection member 60A and the support member 50, and on the right side of Fig. 17 (the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejection head 20), the height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the first contact portion 60a of the connection member 60B and the flange portion 27 of the liquid ejection head 20, thereby adjusting the tilt of the liquid ejection head 20.

[0085] In this way, by varying the positions of the height adjustment members 70 at one end and the other end of the liquid ejection head 20, the inclination of the support member 50 relative to the sheet S can be offset, and the nozzle surface 21a can be positioned parallel to the sheet S. Furthermore, the inclination of the liquid ejection head 20 may be adjusted by varying the thickness of the height adjustment members 70 arranged on the left side of FIG. 17 and the height adjustment members 70 arranged on the right side of FIG.

[0086] 18, the height adjustment member 70 may be interposed only on one end side (the left side in the figure) of the liquid ejection head 20 in the longitudinal direction. Also, as shown in the example of FIG. 19, the height adjustment member 70 may be interposed only on the other end side (the right side in the figure) of the liquid ejection head 20 in the longitudinal direction. In this way, the height adjustment member 70 may be interposed between the second contact portion 60b of the connection member 60A arranged at one end and the support member 50, or between the first contact portion 60a of the connection member 60B arranged at the other end and the flange portion 27 of the liquid ejection head 20, to adjust the inclination of the liquid ejection head 20 (nozzle surface 21a).

[0087] In each example of Figures 17 to 19, the connecting member 60 has the configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention (configuration of Figure 7). However, when using the connecting member 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention (configuration of Figure 11), it is also possible to adjust the inclination of the liquid ejection head 20 (nozzle surface 21a) by varying the location of the height adjustment member 70 on one end side and the other end side, or by interposing the height adjustment member 70 on only one end side.

[0088] <Method for adjusting the height of each upstream and downstream liquid ejection head> Furthermore, according to the configuration of the present invention, when the support member 50 supports a plurality of liquid ejection heads 20, it is also possible to adjust the heights of the plurality of liquid ejection heads 20 individually.

[0089] FIG. 20 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of support members that support a plurality of liquid ejection heads.

[0090] In the example of Fig. 20, support members 50 that support the liquid ejection heads 20 are arranged side by side in both the sheet conveying direction E (Y direction) and the sheet width direction (X direction) perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction E. In this case, the support members 50 support a plurality of liquid ejection heads 20 that are arranged side by side in the sheet conveying direction E. As shown in Fig. 20, the liquid ejection heads 20 are arranged offset in the sheet width direction (X direction) on the upstream side (lower side of the figure) and downstream side (upper side of the figure) of the sheet conveying direction E, so that ink can be ejected across the entire width of the image forming area of ​​the sheet S.

[0091] The distance between the nozzle surface of each liquid ejection head 20 and the sheet S is preferably the same to ensure the desired image quality. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 21 , when the support member 50 is arranged parallel (horizontally) to the sheet S, which is transported horizontally, the liquid ejection heads 20A and 20B arranged on the upstream and downstream sides of the sheet transport direction E can be set to the same height relative to the support member 50, thereby making the distance of the nozzle surface relative to the sheet S constant (the same distance). However, as shown in FIG. 22 , when the sheet S is transported in an arc along the transport drum 10, the heights of the liquid ejection heads 20A and 20B supported by the support member 50 must be different. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 22 , the height of the liquid ejection head 20A arranged on the upstream side of the sheet transport direction E (hereinafter simply referred to as the "upstream side") is set lower than the height of the liquid ejection head 20B arranged on the downstream side of the sheet transport direction E (hereinafter simply referred to as the "downstream side"), thereby making the distance of the nozzle surface relative to the sheet S constant (the same distance).

[0092] In this way, when the sheet is transported in an arc, the heights of the upstream liquid ejection head 20A and the downstream liquid ejection head 20B need to be different from each other. In this case, the height adjustment method according to the present invention can be used to perform the following height adjustment.

[0093] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of height adjustment between the upstream side and the downstream side performed using a connection member having contact portions with different heights.

[0094] 23, the heights of the upstream and downstream liquid ejection heads 20A and 20B are adjusted by making different the heights D1 and D2 between the contact portions 60a and 60b of the connecting member 60 connected to the upstream liquid ejection head 20A and the connecting member 60 connected to the downstream liquid ejection head 20B. In this case, the height D1 between the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b of the upstream connecting member 60 is made larger than the height D2 between the first contact portion 60a and the second contact portion 60b of the downstream connecting member 60, thereby making the height of the upstream liquid ejection head 20A lower than that of the downstream connecting member 60B. This makes it possible to make the distances between the nozzle surfaces and the sheet S the same for the upstream and downstream liquid ejection heads 20A and 20B.

[0095] FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of height adjustment between the upstream side and the downstream side using a height adjustment member.

[0096] 24, in this case, the heights of the liquid ejection heads 20A and 20B are adjusted by varying the positions of the height adjustment members 70 between the upstream liquid ejection head 20A and the downstream liquid ejection head 20B. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 24, the height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the first contact portion 60a of the connecting member 60 and the flange portion 27 in the upstream liquid ejection head 20A, and the height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the second contact portion 60b of the connecting member 60 and the support member 50 in the downstream liquid ejection head 20B. This allows the height of the upstream liquid ejection head 20A to be lower than the downstream connecting member 60B, and makes it possible to make the distances between the nozzle surfaces and the sheet S the same in the upstream and downstream liquid ejection heads 20A and 20B.

[0097] In this way, the height can be adjusted by varying the location of the height adjustment member 70 between the upstream liquid ejection head 20A and the downstream liquid ejection head 20B. The height adjustment member 70 may also be interposed in only one of the upstream liquid ejection head 20A and the downstream liquid ejection head 20B. That is, the height adjustment member 70 may be interposed between either the first contact portion 60a of the upstream connecting member 60 and the flange portion 27, or the second contact portion 60b of the downstream connecting member 60 and the support member 50.

[0098] As described above, by adjusting the height of the liquid ejection heads on the upstream and downstream sides, the distance between the nozzle surface of each liquid ejection head and the sheet can be maintained at a constant distance. In the example shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the connecting member 60 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used as the connecting member 60. However, even when the connecting member 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is used, it is possible to individually adjust the heights of the upstream liquid ejection head 20A and the downstream liquid ejection head 20B. In addition, although FIGS. 23 and 24 show an example in which the sheet S is transported in an arc by the transport drum 10, the distance between the nozzle surface of each liquid ejection head and the sheet can be maintained at a constant distance even when the sheet S is transported in a curved shape (curved surface shape) other than an arc or in a linear shape inclined relative to the horizontal direction by adjusting the height of the liquid ejection heads on the upstream and downstream sides.

[0099] Next, a further embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that in the embodiment described below, the same parts as those in the first embodiment of the present invention will not be described as appropriate.

[0100] Third Embodiment of the Present Invention FIG. 25 is an external perspective view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 25, the liquid ejection head unit 13 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid ejection head 20, a support portion 50, a connecting member 60, and a height adjusting member .

[0102] The configurations of the liquid ejection head 20, support member 50, and connection member 60 according to the third embodiment of the present invention are basically the same as those of the first embodiment of the present invention. However, in this case, the connection member 60 is fixed to the liquid ejection head 20 and support member 50 using fixing members 51 such as screws or bolts.

[0103] The height adjustment member 70 is a member that adjusts the position of the liquid ejection head 20 in the height direction relative to the support member 50. In this case, the height adjustment member 70 is interposed between the connection member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20 and between the connection member 60 and the support member 50 in the height direction (Z direction). That is, the height adjustment member 70 includes a height adjustment member 70A that is interposed between the connection member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20 and a height adjustment member 70B that is interposed between the connection member 60 and the support member 50. In the following description, in order to distinguish between the height adjustment member 70A that is interposed between the connection member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20 and the height adjustment member 70B that is interposed between the connection member 60 and the support member 50, the former height adjustment member 70A will be referred to as a "first height adjustment member" and the latter height adjustment member 70B will be referred to as a "second height adjustment member."

[0104] FIG. 26 is a plan view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0105] 26, the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B have recesses 71a and 71b that avoid interference with the fixed member 51. Because the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B have such recesses 71a and 71b, the height adjustment members 70A and 70B can be interposed between the connecting member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20, and between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50, without interfering with the fixed member 51.

[0106] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0107] 27, the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B are each formed in a wedge shape having contact surfaces 73a, 73b that contact either the liquid ejection head 20 or the support member 50, and inclined surfaces 72a, 72b that are inclined relative to the contact surfaces 73a, 73b. That is, the first height adjustment member 70A has a contact surface 73a that contacts the liquid ejection head 20 (flange portion 27) and an inclined surface 72a that is inclined relative to the contact surface 73a. On the other hand, the second height adjustment member 70B has a horizontal contact surface 73b that contacts the support member 50 and an inclined surface 72b that is inclined relative to the contact surface 73b. The inclination angles of the inclined surfaces 72a, 72b of the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B (for example, the inclination angles relative to the contact surfaces 73a, 73b) may be the same or different from each other.

[0108] The connecting member 60 has two inclined surfaces 61a, 61b that come into contact with the inclined surfaces 72a, 72b of the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B. When the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B are interposed between the connecting member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20 and between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50, the two inclined surfaces 61a, 61b of the connecting member 60 are inclined in the same manner as the inclined surfaces 72a, 72b of the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B. Therefore, each inclined surface 61a, 61b of the connecting member 60 is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to each contact surface 73a, 20c between the first height adjustment member 70A and the liquid ejection head 20, or each contact surface 73b, 50c between the second height adjustment member 70B and the support member 50, in the same way as each inclined surface 72a, 72b of the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B.

[0109] <Liquid ejection head height adjustment method> Next, a description will be given of a height adjustment method for the liquid ejection head 20 using the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B. Note that the right height adjustment members 70A, 70B and the left height adjustment members 70A, 70B in Fig. 27 have the same configuration except that they are arranged symmetrically across the liquid ejection head 20, and height adjustment can be performed in the same way. Therefore, in the following description, the height adjustment method will be described using the right height adjustment members 70A, 70B as an example.

[0110] First, a method for increasing the height of the liquid ejection head 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 28. Fig. 28 shows a state in which the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B have been moved from the state indicated by the two-dot chain line to the state indicated by the solid line.

[0111] Here, in a state where the connecting member 60 is fixed to the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50 by the fixing member 51 (see FIG. 25 or 26 ), the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B are sandwiched and held between the connecting member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20 and between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50 by the fixing force of the fixing member 51. However, in a state where the fixation by the fixing member 51 is released or relaxed, the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B become movable between the connecting member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20 and between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50. In other words, the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B become movable in a direction intersecting the inclined surfaces 72a and 72b (a direction other than a direction parallel to the inclined surfaces 72a and 72b) along the contact surfaces 20c and 50c of the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50 with which they come into contact.

[0112] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 28, by moving the first height adjustment member 70A in a direction retracting relative to the connecting member 60 (the X1 direction in FIG. 28) and further moving the second height adjustment member 70B in a direction advancing relative to the connecting member 60 (the X2 direction in FIG. 28), the liquid ejection head 20 can be raised relative to the support member 50. This allows the height position of the liquid ejection head 20 to be raised relative to the support member 50. Furthermore, since the position of the nozzle surface 21a of the liquid ejection head 20 is raised, the distance between the nozzle surface 21a and the sheet can be increased. In this case, although both the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B are moved, it is not necessary to move both height adjustment members 70A and 70B; only one of them may be moved. However, in this case, the range of height adjustment is smaller than when both the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B are moved.

[0113] Conversely, to lower the height of the liquid ejection head 20, as shown in FIG. 29, the first height adjustment member 70A is moved forward relative to the connecting member 60 (direction X3 in FIG. 29), and the second height adjustment member 70B is moved backward relative to the connecting member 60 (direction X4 in FIG. 29). This lowers the position of the nozzle surface 21a of the liquid ejection head 20, thereby reducing the distance between the nozzle surface 21a and the sheet. Note that when lowering the height of the liquid ejection head 20, it is not necessary to move both the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B; only one of them may be moved. However, in this case, the adjustable range of the height is smaller than when both the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B are moved.

[0114] As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, since the connecting member 60 and the height adjustment members 70A, 70B have the inclined surfaces 61a, 61b, 72a, and 72b as described above, the height of the liquid ejection head 20 can be adjusted to a desired height simply by moving the height adjustment members 70A, 70B. That is, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the contact surfaces where the connecting member 60 and the height adjustment members 70A, 70B come into contact with each other are the inclined surfaces 61a, 61b, 72a, and 72b that are inclined relative to the contact surfaces 73a and 73b of the height adjustment members 70A, 70B that come into contact with the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50. This makes it possible to adjust the height of the liquid ejection head 20 without significantly changing the shapes of the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50. Therefore, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the height of the liquid ejection head 20 can be adjusted while avoiding the increased costs associated with significant design changes to the liquid ejection head 20 or the support member 50.

[0115] Furthermore, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the height of the liquid ejection head 20 can be adjusted in multiple stages simply by moving the height adjustment members 70A and 70B. That is, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the height of the liquid ejection head 20 can be adjusted in multiple stages without having to prepare multiple connection members 60 with different shapes (heights D1 and D2), as in the first or second embodiment of the present invention, and therefore height adjustment can be easily performed. In particular, when the height adjustment of the liquid ejection head must be performed in a narrow space, the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention can be applied to easily adjust the height of the liquid ejection head, thereby reducing the burden on the worker.

[0116] 30, the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B have recesses 71a and 71b that open toward the mounting direction B, respectively, so that the height adjustment members 70A and 70B can be mounted between the connecting member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20, and between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50, while the fixing member 51 remains in place. Also, the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B can be moved and removed while the fixing member 51 remains in place.

[0117] 45, when the liquid ejection head 20 is tilted, the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B can be used to adjust (correct) the tilt of the liquid ejection head 20. For example, in FIG. 27, by differentiating the movement amounts of the height adjustment members 70A and 70B arranged on the right side of the liquid ejection head 20 from the height adjustment members 70A and 70B arranged on the left side, the balance between the left and right heights of the liquid ejection head 20 can be adjusted, and the tilt can be corrected.

[0118] <Fourth embodiment of the present invention> FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0119] 31, a height adjustment member 70A is provided only between the connection member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20, and is not provided between the connection member 60 and the support member 50. That is, the fourth embodiment of the present invention differs from the third embodiment of the present invention in that the second height adjustment member 70B is omitted.

[0120] In this case, as shown in FIG. 32, the height adjustment member 70A can be moved backward relative to the connecting member 60 (direction X1 in FIG. 32), or conversely, as shown in FIG. 33, the height adjustment member 70A can be moved forward relative to the connecting member 60 (direction X3 in FIG. 33), thereby adjusting the height position of the liquid ejection head 20 relative to the support member 50. In this case, the connecting member 60 may be integrated with the support member 50. Even when the connecting member 60 is integrated with the support member 50 (i.e., when a part of the support member 50 has a contact surface that comes into contact with the inclined surface 72a), the height position of the liquid ejection head 20 can be adjusted by moving the height adjustment member 70A backward relative to the support member 50 (direction X1 in FIG. 32) or moving the height adjustment member 70A forward relative to the support member 50 (direction X3 in FIG. 33).

[0121] Fifth embodiment of the present invention FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid ejection head unit according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0122] 34, a height adjustment member 70B is provided only between the connection member 60 and the support member 50, and is not provided between the connection member 60 and the liquid ejection head 20. That is, the fifth embodiment of the present invention differs from the third embodiment of the present invention in that the first height adjustment member 70A is omitted.

[0123] In this case, as shown in FIG. 35, the height adjustment member 70B can be moved in the forward direction relative to the connecting member 60 (direction X2 in FIG. 35), or conversely, as shown in FIG. 36, the height adjustment member 70B can be moved in the backward direction relative to the connecting member 60 (direction X4 in FIG. 36), thereby adjusting the position of the liquid ejection head 20 in the height direction relative to the support member 50. In this case, the connecting member 60 may be integrated with the liquid ejection head 20. Even when the connecting member 60 is integrated with the liquid ejection head 20 (i.e., when a part of the liquid ejection head 20 has a contact surface that comes into contact with the inclined surface 72b), the height adjustment member 70B can be moved in the forward direction relative to the liquid ejection head 20 (direction X2 in FIG. 35), or conversely, the height adjustment member 70B can be moved in the backward direction relative to the liquid ejection head 20 (direction X4 in FIG. 36).

[0124] As in the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention described above, by providing only one of the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B and moving the height adjustment member 70A or 70B, it is possible to easily adjust the height of the liquid ejection head 20 without significantly changing the shapes of the liquid ejection head 20 and the support member 50. However, when height adjustment is performed using one height adjustment member, the range of height adjustment that can be performed is limited compared to when height adjustment is performed using two height adjustment members. Therefore, when it is desired to make a large change in the height of the liquid ejection head 20, it is preferable to perform height adjustment using two height adjustment members (the first height adjustment member 70A and the second height adjustment member 70B).

[0125] Note that if either one of the inclined surfaces 72a, 72b of each height adjustment member 70A, 70B or the inclined surfaces 61a, 61b of the connecting member 60 is an inclined surface, it is possible to adjust the height of the liquid ejection head 20 even if the surface opposite the inclined surface is not an inclined surface. However, in that case, the contact area becomes small, and the contact surface may be deformed by the pressure when fixed by the fixing member 51. Therefore, it is preferable that parallel inclined surfaces contact each other. Furthermore, when the connecting member 60 of FIG. 34 is integrated with the liquid ejection head 20, or when the connecting member 60 of FIG. 31 is integrated with the support member 50, at least one of the first contact surface of the liquid ejection head 20 that contacts the height adjustment member 70B of FIG. 34, the second contact surface of the support member 50 that contacts the height adjustment member 70A of FIG. 31, and each of the contact surfaces of the height adjustment members 70A, 70B that contact the first and second contact surfaces may be an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the height direction. In this case, the first contact surface, the second contact surface, and the contact surfaces of the height adjustment members 70A and 70B that come into contact with either of these contact surfaces are preferably inclined surfaces that are parallel to each other.

[0126] <Modification of height adjustment member> Next, modified examples of the height adjustment members 70A and 70B according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, the modified example will be described using the second height adjustment member 70B as an example, but the modified example can also be applied to the first height adjustment member 70A in the same way.

[0127] FIG. 37 is a plan view showing a modified example of the height adjusting member.

[0128] In the modification shown in Fig. 37, height adjustment member 70B has scales 74b provided along its movement direction (X direction). The "movement direction" here refers to the movement direction of height adjustment member 70B during height adjustment, such as the X2 direction in Fig. 28 or the X4 direction in Fig. 29.

[0129] 37, the height adjustment member 70B has a scale 74b provided along its movement direction, allowing the operator to check the position (amount of movement) of the height adjustment member 70B by referring to the scale 74b, making it easier to accurately adjust the height of the liquid ejection head 20.

[0130] In this modified example, the scale 74b is provided on the inclined surface 72b of the height adjustment member 70B (see Figure 37), but the scale 74b may be provided in a location other than the inclined surface 72b as long as it is visible to the operator.

[0131] Fig. 38 is a plan view showing another modified example of the height adjusting member, and Fig. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along line MM in Fig. 38.

[0132] 38 and 39, height adjustment member 70B has a groove-shaped guide portion 75b extending in its movement direction (X direction). Note that the "movement direction" here also refers to the movement direction of height adjustment member 70B during height adjustment, the same as the above-mentioned "movement direction."

[0133] In this modification, the connecting member 60 has a convex slide portion 62b that is inserted into the guide portion 75b and is relatively slidable along the guide portion 75b.

[0134] 38 and 39, the height adjustment member 70B has the guide portion 75b as described above, and the connecting member 60 has the slide portion 62b that is slidable along the guide portion 75b. This prevents the height adjustment member 70B from moving obliquely when the height adjustment member 70B is inserted between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50 or when the height adjustment member 70B is moved for height adjustment. That is, when the height adjustment member 70B is inserted or moved, the slide portion 62b slides relatively along the guide portion 75b, thereby guiding the height adjustment member 70B in a predetermined direction, thereby preventing the height adjustment member 70B from moving obliquely. This allows the inclined surfaces 72b, 61b of the height adjustment member 70B and the connecting member 60 to contact each other in a predetermined direction, enabling accurate height adjustment.

[0135] In this modified example, two sets of guide portions 75b and two sets of slide portions 62b are provided (see FIG. 38 ). However, as long as the slide portion 62b is configured not to rotate within the guide portion 75b, a single set of guide portion 75b and slide portion 62b may be provided. Furthermore, a second slide portion 62b′ (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 39 ) may be provided at a position spaced apart from one slide portion (first slide portion) 62b in the movement direction (X direction) of the height adjustment member 70B. In this case, the two slide portions 62b, 62b′, which are spaced apart from each other, restrict rotation of the height adjustment member 70B, thereby further improving the parallelism of the inclined surfaces 72b, 61b. In the example of FIGS. 38 and 39 , the guide portion 75b is provided on the height adjustment member 70B, and the slide portion 62b is provided on the connecting member 60. However, the guide portion 75b and slide portion 62b may be provided in the opposite positions. That is, the guide portion 75b may be provided on the connecting member 60, and the slide portion 62b may be provided on the height adjustment member 70B.

[0136] Fig. 40 is a plan view showing yet another modified example of the height adjusting member, and Fig. 41 is a cross-sectional view taken along line NN in Fig. 40.

[0137] 40 and 41, a height adjustment member 70B has a plurality of engagement recesses 76b provided at different positions along its movement direction (X direction). Note that the "movement direction" here also refers to the movement direction of the height adjustment member 70B during height adjustment, the same as the "movement direction" described above.

[0138] In this modified example, the connecting member 60 has an engaging protrusion 63b that can be inserted into and engaged with one engaging recess 76b that is arbitrarily selected from the plurality of engaging recesses 76b.

[0139] 40 and 41 , the height adjustment member 70B has the above-described multiple engagement recesses 76b, and the connecting member 60 has an engagement protrusion 63b that can engage with one of the multiple engagement recesses 76b. This prevents the height adjustment member 70B from moving when the height adjustment member 70B is interposed between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50, as shown in FIG. 42 . That is, when the height adjustment member 70B is interposed between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50 and the inclined surface 72b of the height adjustment member 70B and the inclined surface 61b of the connecting member 60 are in contact with each other, the engagement protrusion 63b engages with one of the engagement recesses 76b, thereby preventing the height adjustment member 70B from moving. This prevents the height adjustment member 70B from being pushed out from between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50. That is, when the connecting member 60 is fixed by the fixing member 51 with the height adjustment member 70B interposed between the connecting member 60 and the support member 50, the fixing force of the fixing member 51 generates a force that pushes the height adjustment member 70B to the right in FIG. 42 . However, at this time, the engagement between the engaging protrusion 63b and the engaging recess 76b prevents the height adjustment member 70B from being pushed to the right or being displaced. This makes it possible to hold the height adjustment member 70B in a predetermined position, preventing fluctuations in the height of the liquid ejection head 20 due to displacement of the height adjustment member 70B and making it possible to hold the liquid ejection head 20 at a desired height. Furthermore, the height of the liquid ejection head 20 can be changed by changing the engagement location of the engaging protrusion 63b (the engaging recess 76b that engages) to a different location (a different engaging recess 76b).

[0140] In this modification, the engaging protrusions 63b and the engaging recesses 76b may be provided in the reversed order. That is, the engaging protrusions 63b may be provided on the height adjustment member 70B, and the engaging recesses 76b may be provided on the connecting member 60.

[0141] Although the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and appropriate design modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the above-described modifications may be applied in appropriate combinations. For example, the modification of FIG. 37 (scale 74b) may be applied in combination with the modification of FIG. 38 (guide portion 75b) or the modification of FIG. 40 (multiple engagement recesses 76b).

[0142] Furthermore, according to the configurations of the third to fifth embodiments of the present invention, it is also possible to adjust the heights of the plurality of liquid ejection heads 20 individually.

[0143] For example, as shown in Figure 21, when a support member 50 supporting multiple liquid ejection heads 20A, 20B is arranged parallel (horizontally) to a sheet S transported horizontally, the height of each liquid ejection head 20A, 20B lined up on the upstream and downstream sides of the sheet transport direction E can be set to the same height using height adjustment members 70A, 70B, thereby making the distance of the nozzle surface relative to the sheet S constant (the same distance).

[0144] On the other hand, when the sheet S is transported in an arc along the transport drum 10 as shown in Figure 22, the heights of the liquid ejection heads 20A, 20B arranged on the upstream and downstream sides of the sheet transport direction E can be made different using height adjustment members 70A, 70B, respectively, so that the distance of the nozzle surface to the sheet S can be kept constant (the same distance).

[0145] In this way, in the configurations of the third to fifth embodiments of the present invention, the height of multiple liquid ejection heads can be adjusted individually, making it possible to maintain a constant distance between the nozzle surface of each liquid ejection head and the sheet depending on the sheet transport path.

[0146] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments and modifications, the present invention has been described as being applied to a liquid ejection head unit mounted on an image forming apparatus, but the present invention can also be applied to liquid ejection head units mounted on liquid ejection apparatuses other than image forming apparatuses. For example, the following electrode manufacturing apparatus can be given as an example of another liquid ejection apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

[0147] <Electrode manufacturing equipment> FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

[0148] The electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 shown in FIG. 43 is an apparatus that uses a liquid ejection head 122 to eject a liquid composition containing an electrode material onto an object 704 to manufacture an electrode on the object 704 .

[0149] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 43 , an electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 includes a discharge process unit 150 that discharges a liquid composition containing an electrode material onto a target object 704 to form a liquid composition layer, and a heating process unit 130 that heats the liquid composition layer to form an electrode mixture layer. Examples of the target object 704 include an electrode substrate (current collector), an active material layer, and a layer containing a solid electrode material. The target object 704 may also be an electrode mixture layer containing an active material on an electrode substrate (current collector). The electrode mixture layer can be suitably used, for example, as part of the configuration of an electrochemical element. The components other than the electrode mixture layer in an electrochemical element are not particularly limited, and known components can be appropriately selected. Examples of components other than the electrode mixture layer include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator.

[0150] The electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 also includes a transport unit 705 that transports the target object 704. The transport unit 705 transports the target object 704 at a preset speed from the discharge process unit 150 to the heating process unit 130 in that order. The discharge process unit 150 includes a liquid discharge head 122 that performs an application process of applying a liquid composition onto the target object 704, a storage container 281b that stores the liquid composition 707, and a supply tube 281c that supplies the liquid composition 707 stored in the storage container 281b to the liquid discharge head 122.

[0151] In the discharge process unit 150, the liquid composition 707 is applied onto the target object 704 by being discharged from the liquid discharge head 122, and a thin film of the liquid composition layer is formed. Furthermore, the discharge process unit 150 may be a process of directly discharging the liquid composition 707, or a process of indirectly discharging the liquid composition 707, as long as it is possible to form a layer having an electrode material on the target object 704.

[0152] 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. The storage container 281b may be configured to be integrated with the electrode manufacturing apparatus 700, or may be configured to be detachable from the electrode manufacturing apparatus 700.

[0153] In the heating process section 130, a solvent removal step is carried out in which the solvent remaining in the liquid composition layer is heated and removed. Specifically, the solvent remaining in the liquid composition layer is heated and dried by the heating device 703 in the heating process section 130, thereby removing the solvent from the liquid composition layer. This results in the formation of an electrode mixture layer. The solvent removal step in the heating process section 130 may also be carried out under reduced pressure.

[0154] The heating device 703 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, the heating device 703 can be a substrate heater, an IR heater, a hot air heater, or the like. The heating device 703 may also be a combination of at least two of the substrate heater, the IR heater, and the hot air heater. The heating temperature and heating time can be appropriately selected depending on the boiling point of the solvent contained in the liquid composition 707 or the thickness of the formed film.

[0155] By applying the configuration of the present invention to a liquid ejection head unit (a unit equipped with a liquid ejection head 122) mounted on the electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 described above, it is possible to easily adjust the height of the liquid ejection head 122 without significantly changing the shape of the liquid ejection head 122 and the support member that supports it.

[0156] In addition, the liquid ejection device according to the present invention may be an image forming device, an electrode manufacturing device, or a three-dimensional modeling device (three-dimensional modeling device) that ejects modeling liquid onto a powder layer formed by layering powder in order to form a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional model).

[0157] Furthermore, the liquid ejection device according to the present invention is not limited to a device that ejects liquid onto an object onto which the liquid can adhere, but may also be a device that ejects liquid into air or liquid. Furthermore, the liquid ejection device may include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging the object onto which the liquid can adhere, as well as other pre-processing devices, post-processing devices, etc.

[0158] Thus, the liquid ejected by the liquid ejection device according to the present invention is not limited to inks for forming meaningful images such as letters and figures. It may also be liquids for forming meaningless patterns, treatment liquids for applying treatment liquids to paper surfaces for purposes such as modifying the paper surface, or modeling liquids for modeling three-dimensional images. The ejected liquids are not particularly limited as long as they have a viscosity and surface tension that allows them to be ejected from the liquid ejection head. However, it is preferable that the viscosity of the ejected liquid be 30 mPa·s or less at room temperature and pressure, or upon heating or cooling. More specifically, the liquids include solutions, suspensions, emulsions, etc. containing solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, functional materials such as polymerizable compounds, resins, and surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids, proteins, and calcium, and edible materials such as natural dyes. These liquids can be used for applications such as inkjet inks, surface treatment liquids, components of electronic or light-emitting elements, liquids for forming electronic circuit resist patterns, and material liquids for three-dimensional modeling.

[0159] Furthermore, the objects to which a liquid can adhere used in the present invention include objects to which a liquid can adhere at least temporarily, and objects to which the liquid can adhere and stick, objects to which the liquid can adhere and penetrate, etc. Specific examples include media such as paper, recording paper, film, and cloth, electronic substrates, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers, organ models, and test cells, and unless otherwise specified, all objects to which a liquid can adhere are included.

[0160] The material to which the liquid can be attached may be any material, such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, or ceramics, as long as the liquid can be attached even temporarily.

[0161] To summarize the above-described aspects of the present invention, the present invention includes at least the following aspects.

[0162] [First aspect] The first aspect is a liquid ejection head unit comprising a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid, a support member that supports the liquid ejection head, and a connection member that connects the liquid ejection head to the support member, wherein the support member has an opening through which the liquid ejection head is inserted so as not to come into contact with the liquid ejection head, and the connection member has a first contact portion that contacts the liquid ejection head when inserted into the opening, and a second contact portion that contacts the support member, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion are positioned at different positions in the height direction, which is the direction in which the liquid ejection head is inserted into the opening.

[0163] [Second aspect] In a second aspect, in the first aspect, the first contact portion and the second contact portion are arranged to face in the same direction.

[0164] [Third aspect] A third aspect is the first or second aspect, further comprising a height adjustment member interposed between the first contact portion and the liquid ejection head, or between the second contact portion and the support member.

[0165] [Fourth aspect] A fourth aspect is any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the connecting members are respectively arranged at opposite ends of the liquid ejection head, and the height direction distance between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is different between the connecting member arranged at one end of the liquid ejection head and the connecting member arranged at the other end of the liquid ejection head.

[0166] [Fifth aspect] A fifth aspect is any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the connecting members are respectively arranged at opposite ends of the liquid ejection head, and a height adjustment member is interposed at least either between the first contact portion of the connecting member arranged at one end of the liquid ejection head and the liquid ejection head, or between the second contact portion of the connecting member arranged at the other end of the liquid ejection head and the support member.

[0167] [Sixth aspect] A sixth aspect is any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the liquid ejection heads are arranged in a row in a sheet transport direction in which a sheet is transported, and the heightwise distance between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is different between the connecting member arranged upstream in the sheet transport direction and the connecting member arranged downstream in the sheet transport direction.

[0168] [Seventh aspect] A seventh aspect is any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the liquid ejection heads are arranged in a row in the sheet transport direction in which the sheet is transported, and a height adjustment member is interposed between the first contact portion of one of the connecting members arranged upstream in the sheet transport direction and the liquid ejection head, or between the second contact portion of the other connecting member and the support member, among the connecting members arranged downstream in the sheet transport direction.

[0169] [Eighth aspect] An eighth aspect is any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the first contact portion contacts a surface of the liquid ejection head facing in a direction opposite to the liquid ejection direction.

[0170] [Ninth aspect] A ninth aspect is any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the first contact portion contacts a surface of the liquid ejection head facing the liquid ejection direction.

[0171] [Tenth aspect] A tenth aspect is a liquid ejection head unit comprising: a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid; a support member that supports the liquid ejection head and has an opening through which the liquid ejection head is inserted so as not to come into contact with the liquid ejection head; a connecting member that connects the liquid ejection head and the support member; and a height adjustment member that is interposed at least between the connecting member and the liquid ejection head and between the connecting member and the support member in the height direction, which is the direction in which the liquid ejection head is inserted into the opening, wherein the contact surface between the connecting member and the height adjustment member is an inclined surface that is inclined relative to the contact surface of the height adjustment member that contacts at least one of the liquid ejection head and the support member, and the height adjustment member is configured to be movable in a direction intersecting the inclined surface of the height adjustment member.

[0172] [Eleventh aspect] An eleventh aspect is the tenth aspect, further comprising a fixing member for fixing at least one of the liquid ejection head and the support member to the connecting member, and the height adjustment member has a recess for avoiding interference with the fixing member.

[0173] [Twelfth aspect] The 12th aspect is the 11th aspect, wherein the recess opens toward the mounting direction when the height adjustment member is mounted at least one between the connecting member and the liquid ejection head, and between the connecting member and the support member.

[0174] [13th aspect] A thirteenth aspect is any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects, wherein the height adjustment member has a scale provided across the movement direction of the height adjustment member.

[0175] [14th aspect] A fourteenth aspect is any one of the tenth to thirteenth aspects, wherein one of the height adjustment member and the connecting member has a guide portion extending in the movement direction of the height adjustment member, and the other of the height adjustment member and the connecting member has a sliding portion that can slide relatively along the guide portion.

[0176] [15th aspect] A 15th aspect is any one of the 10th to 13th aspects, wherein one of the height adjustment member and the connecting member has a plurality of engaging recesses provided at different positions across the movement direction of the height adjustment member, and the other of the height adjustment member and the connecting member has an engaging protrusion that is selectively inserted into and engages with one of the plurality of engaging recesses while the inclined surfaces of the height adjustment member and the connecting member are in contact with each other.

[0177] [16th aspect] A sixteenth aspect is a liquid ejection head unit comprising: a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid; a support member that supports the liquid ejection head and has an opening through which the liquid ejection head is inserted so as not to come into contact with the liquid ejection head; a height adjustment member that is arranged between the liquid ejection head and the support member; and at least one contact surface of a first contact surface of the liquid ejection head that contacts the height adjustment member or a second contact surface of the support member that contacts the height adjustment member, wherein at least one contact surface of the first contact surface, the second contact surface, and the contact surface of the height adjustment member that contacts the at least one contact surface is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the height direction, which is the direction in which the liquid ejection head is inserted into the opening, and the height adjustment member is configured to be movable in a direction intersecting the inclined surface of the height adjustment member.

[0178] [17th aspect] The 17th aspect is the 16th aspect, wherein at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface is an inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction, and the contact surface of the height adjustment member that contacts the one contact surface is a surface parallel to the inclined surface.

[0179] [18th aspect] An eighteenth aspect is a liquid ejection apparatus including the liquid ejection head unit according to any one of the first to seventeenth aspects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0180] 13 Liquid ejection head unit 20 Liquid ejection head 50 Support member 60 Connecting member 60a First contact part 60b 2nd contact part 61a Inclined surface (contact surface) 61b Inclined surface (contact surface) 62b Slide part 63b Engagement protrusion 70 Height adjustment member 70A First height adjustment member 70B Second height adjusting member 71a Recess 71b Recess 72a Inclined surface (contact surface) 72b Inclined surface (contact surface) 73a Contact surface 73b Contact surface 74b Scale 75b Guide part 76b Engagement recess 100 Image forming device (liquid ejection device) B Mounting direction S seat [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0181] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-211074

Claims

1. a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid; a support member for supporting the liquid ejection head; a connecting member for connecting the liquid ejection head to the support member; Equipped with the support member has an opening through which the liquid ejection head is inserted so as not to come into contact with the liquid ejection head; the connecting member has a first contact portion that contacts the liquid ejection head when inserted into the opening, and a second contact portion that contacts the support member; The liquid ejection head unit is characterized in that the first contact portion and the second contact portion are arranged at different positions in a height direction, which is a direction in which the liquid ejection head is inserted into the opening portion.

2. The liquid ejection head unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are arranged to face in the same direction.

3. The liquid ejection head unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a height adjusting member interposed between the first contact portion and the liquid ejection head, or between the second contact portion and the support member.

4. the connecting members are disposed at opposite ends of the liquid ejection head, A liquid ejection head unit as described in claim 1, wherein the height direction distance between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is different between the connecting member arranged at one end of the liquid ejection head and the connecting member arranged at the other end of the liquid ejection head.

5. the connecting members are disposed at opposite ends of the liquid ejection head, 2. A liquid ejection head unit as described in claim 1, wherein a height adjustment member is interposed at least either between the first contact portion of the connecting member arranged at one end of the liquid ejection head and the liquid ejection head, or between the second contact portion of the connecting member arranged at the other end of the liquid ejection head and the support member.

6. a plurality of the liquid ejection heads are arranged side by side in a sheet conveying direction in which the sheet is conveyed; 2. A liquid ejection head unit as described in claim 1, wherein the height direction distance between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is different between the connecting member arranged upstream in the sheet transport direction and the connecting member arranged downstream in the sheet transport direction.

7. a plurality of the liquid ejection heads are arranged side by side in a sheet conveying direction in which the sheet is conveyed; The connecting member disposed on the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction and the connecting member disposed on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction, 2. A liquid ejection head unit according to claim 1, wherein a height adjustment member is interposed at least either between the first contact portion of one of the connecting members and the liquid ejection head, or between the second contact portion of the other of the connecting members and the support member.

8. The liquid ejection head unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact portion contacts a surface of the liquid ejection head facing in a direction opposite to the liquid ejection direction.

9. The liquid ejection head unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact portion contacts a surface of the liquid ejection head facing the liquid ejection direction.

10. a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid; a support member that supports the liquid ejection head and has an opening through which the liquid ejection head is inserted so as not to come into contact with the liquid ejection head; a connecting member that connects the liquid ejection head and the support member; a height adjustment member interposed between the connecting member and the liquid ejection head and / or between the connecting member and the support member in a height direction, which is a direction in which the liquid ejection head is inserted into the opening; Equipped with a contact surface between the connection member and the height adjustment member that contacts each other is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to a contact surface of the height adjustment member that contacts at least one of the liquid ejection head and the support member, The liquid ejection head unit is characterized in that the height adjustment member is configured to be movable in a direction intersecting the inclined surface of the height adjustment member.

11. a fixing member that fixes at least one of the liquid ejection head and the support member to the connecting member, The liquid ejection head unit according to claim 10 , wherein the height adjusting member has a recess for avoiding interference with the fixing member.

12. The liquid ejection head unit according to claim 11, wherein the recess opens toward the mounting direction when the height adjustment member is mounted at least one between the connecting member and the liquid ejection head and between the connecting member and the support member.

13. The liquid ejection head unit according to claim 10 , wherein the height adjustment member has a scale provided across the movement direction of the height adjustment member.

14. one of the height adjustment member and the connection member has a guide portion extending in a moving direction of the height adjustment member, The liquid ejection head unit according to claim 10 , wherein the other of the height adjusting member and the connecting member has a slide portion that is relatively slidable along the guide portion.

15. one of the height adjustment member and the connection member has a plurality of engagement recesses provided at different positions across the movement direction of the height adjustment member; A liquid ejection head unit as described in claim 10, wherein the other of the height adjustment member and the connecting member has an engaging convex portion that is selectively inserted into and engaged with one of the multiple engaging recesses when the inclined surfaces of the height adjustment member and the connecting member are in contact with each other.

16. a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid; a support member that supports the liquid ejection head and has an opening through which the liquid ejection head is inserted so as not to come into contact with the liquid ejection head; a height adjusting member disposed between the liquid ejection head and the support member; at least one of a first contact surface of the liquid ejection head that contacts the height adjustment member and a second contact surface of the support member that contacts the height adjustment member; Equipped with at least one of the first contact surface, the second contact surface, and a contact surface of the height adjustment member that comes into contact with at least one of the contact surfaces is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to a height direction that is a direction in which the liquid ejection head is inserted into the opening, The liquid ejection head unit is characterized in that the height adjustment member is configured to be movable in a direction intersecting the inclined surface of the height adjustment member.

17. at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface is an inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction, 17. The liquid ejection head unit according to claim 16, wherein the contact surface of the height adjustment member that comes into contact with the one contact surface is a surface that is parallel to the inclined surface.

18. A liquid ejection apparatus comprising the liquid ejection head unit according to claim 1 .

Images