Liquid dispensing head, head unit, and liquid dispensing device

Abstract

Increase the width of the damper member. [Solution] A liquid discharge head 20 comprises a nozzle plate 21 having a plurality of nozzles 30 for discharging liquid, a liquid chamber member 22 having a plurality of individual liquid chambers 31 that communicate individually with the plurality of nozzles 30, a diaphragm member 23 that constitutes a part of the wall surface of the plurality of individual liquid chambers 31, a piezoelectric element 40 that drives the diaphragm member 23 to deform, a base member 41 that supports the piezoelectric element 40, a common flow path member 24 having a common flow path 36 that communicates in common with the plurality of individual liquid chambers 31, and a damper member 50 that constitutes a part of the wall surface of the common flow path 36, wherein the damper member 50 is positioned on the same side as the base member 41 with respect to the nozzle plate 21, and further away from the nozzle plate 21 than the base member 41.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head, a head unit, and a liquid ejection device.

Background Art

[0002] As an example of a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid, an inkjet image forming device that forms an image by ejecting liquid ink onto a sheet such as paper is known.

[0003] Also, in this type of image forming device, a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid from a nozzle by pressurizing the liquid (ink) in a liquid chamber using an actuator such as a piezoelectric element is mounted.

[0004] By the way, in a liquid ejection head having a plurality of nozzles and liquid chambers, in order to reduce the influence (crosstalk) caused by the propagation of pressure fluctuations generated in one liquid chamber to the liquid in other liquid chambers, there is a liquid ejection head provided with a damper member that suppresses the propagation of pressure fluctuations (see Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 7021523).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Since the damper member can reduce larger pressure fluctuations as the width (size) is larger, it is preferable to increase the width of the damper member in order to effectively reduce pressure fluctuations and perform stable liquid ejection. However, since a piezoelectric element and a base member for supporting the piezoelectric element are provided around the location where the damper member is installed, there is a difficulty in increasing the width of the damper member.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to propose a configuration of a liquid ejection head in which the width of the damper member can be increased.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a liquid discharge head comprising: a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid; a liquid chamber member having a plurality of individual liquid chambers communicating individually with the plurality of nozzles; a diaphragm member constituting a part of the wall surface of the plurality of individual liquid chambers; a piezoelectric element that drives the diaphragm member to deform; a base member that supports the piezoelectric element; a common flow path member having a common flow path communicating in common with the plurality of individual liquid chambers; and a damper member constituting a part of the wall surface of the common flow path, wherein the damper member is positioned on the same side as the base member with respect to the nozzle plate, and at a position further away from the nozzle plate than the base member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the width of the damper member can be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an inkjet-type image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a control block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the liquid dispensing head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing head according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken in the Y direction in Figure 1. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a characteristic portion of a liquid dispensing head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of a liquid dispensing head according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing head according to the second embodiment of the present invention, taken along line AA in Figure 6. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of a liquid dispensing head according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]This is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing head according to the third embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line BB in Figure 8. [Figure 10] This is a plan view showing the configuration of a line-type head unit. [Figure 11] This is a plan view showing the configuration of a serial-type head unit. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an electrode manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. [Figure 13] This is a cross-sectional view of a liquid dispensing head relating to a comparative example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. In each drawing used to explain the present invention, components such as members and parts having the same function or shape will be denoted by the same reference numerals as far as possible to distinguish them, and their description will be omitted after they have been described once.

[0011] <Overall configuration of the image forming apparatus> First, with reference to Figure 1, we will describe an inkjet-type image forming apparatus, which is an example of a liquid ejection apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an inkjet-type image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a sheet supply unit 1, a sheet transport unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a drying unit 4, and a sheet recovery unit 5.

[0014] The sheet supply unit 1 includes a supply roller 11 for supplying the sheet S and a tension adjustment mechanism 12 for adjusting the tension of the supplied sheet S. A long sheet S is wound around the supply roller 11 in a roll shape. When the supply roller 11 rotates, the sheet S is fed out from the supply roller 11 and supplied. The tension adjustment mechanism 12 is a mechanism for adjusting the tension of the sheet S in order to supply the sheet S with a constant tension. Specifically, the tension adjustment mechanism 12 has a plurality of support rollers around which the sheet S is stretched. The tension adjustment mechanism 12 adjusts the tension of the sheet S by changing the distance between the support rollers. Thereby, the sheet S is supplied with a constant tension.

[0015] The sheet conveyance unit 2 has a plurality of conveyance rollers 15 for conveying the sheet S supplied from the sheet supply unit 1 to the image forming unit 3. The conveyance roller 15 is an example of a conveyance means for conveying the sheet S. Also, as the conveyance means, in addition to the conveyance roller 15, a conveyance belt or the like may be used. With the sheet S stretched between the plurality of conveyance rollers 15, when the conveyance rollers 15 rotate, the sheet S is conveyed to the image forming unit 3.

[0016] The image forming unit 3 has a head unit 13 equipped with a plurality of liquid ejection heads 20. Also, in the image forming unit 3, a conveyance guide 14 for guiding the conveyed sheet S is disposed at a position facing the head unit 13. When the sheet S is conveyed to the image forming unit 3, the sheet S is guided by the conveyance guide 14, and at the same time, ink is ejected from the liquid ejection head 20 onto the sheet S, and an image is formed on the sheet S.

[0017] The drying unit 4 has a heating roller 16 as heating means for heating the sheet S. The heating roller 16 is a cylindrical heating member having a heating source such as a halogen heater inside. After an image is formed on the sheet S, when the sheet S is conveyed to the drying unit 4, the sheet S is heated by contacting the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 16. Thereby, the liquid component contained in the ink on the sheet S evaporates, and the sheet S is dried. Further, as heating means for heating the sheet S, in addition to the contact type heating means such as the heating roller 16, non-contact type heating means such as a hot air generating device that blows hot air on the sheet S may be used.

[0018] The sheet collecting unit 5 has a collecting roller 17 for collecting the sheet S and a tension adjusting mechanism 18 for adjusting the tension of the sheet S. When the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet collecting unit 5, the rotating collecting roller 17 winds up the sheet S in a roll shape for collection. The tension adjusting mechanism 18 has a plurality of support rollers over which the sheet S is stretched, similar to the tension adjusting mechanism 12 of the sheet supply unit 1, and the tension of the sheet S is adjusted by changing the distance between the support rollers. Thereby, the sheet S is wound up and collected by the collecting roller 17 with a constant tension.

[0019] <Control Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus> FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] 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) 50, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, a 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.

[0021] The CPU 501 is a processing unit that controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the CPU 501 controls the operation of the head unit 13, the rotational speed 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 non-volatile storage medium that stores programs used to drive the CPU 501, such as IPL. The RAM 503 is a volatile storage medium that allows high-speed reading and writing of information and is used as a workspace when the CPU 501 processes information. The NVRAM 504 is a non-volatile storage medium that allows reading and writing of information and stores various data such as setting values ​​and programs necessary for controlling each part of the image forming apparatus 100. When a program stored in the ROM 502 is read into the RAM 503, the CPU 501 controls each part of the image forming apparatus 100 by performing calculations according to the program loaded into the RAM 503. Furthermore, during this process, CPU501 uses settings stored in NVRAM504.

[0022] The external device connection interface 505 is connected to a PC (Personal Computer) via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, etc., and communicates control signals and printable image data with the PC. The network interface 506 is an interface for data communication using communication networks such as the Internet. The bus line 507 is an address bus and data bus for electrically connecting various components such as the CPU 501.

[0023] The control panel 508 is a touch-panel type input unit that displays current settings and selection screens and accepts input from the operator. When various information such as image information, sheet transport speed, and sheet type is input via the control panel 508, the CPU 501 controls various operations of the image forming apparatus 100 based on the input information.

[0024] <Configuration of the liquid dispensing head> Next, the configuration of the liquid discharge head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0025] Figure 3 is an external perspective view of the liquid discharge head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the liquid discharge 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 figure. The X, Y, and Z directions in Figure 3 represent the three-dimensional coordinate axes of the liquid discharge head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the X direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head 20, and the Y direction is perpendicular to the X direction when the liquid discharge head 20 is viewed from above in the Z direction. The Z direction is perpendicular to both the X and Y directions. The X, Y, and Z directions in other drawings also represent the same directions as in Figure 3.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the liquid discharge head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a nozzle plate 21, a liquid chamber member 22, a diaphragm member 23, a common flow path member 24, a cover member 25, and the like. The nozzle plate 21, liquid chamber member 22, diaphragm member 23, and common flow path member 24 are stacked and joined in this order. The cover member 25 is a member that covers and protects the piezoelectric element that deforms the diaphragm member 23 (described later), the drive IC that controls the driving of the piezoelectric element, and the flexible wiring board that transmits drive signals to the piezoelectric element. The common flow path member 24 is provided with a supply port 8 for supplying liquid from a circulation device to the liquid discharge head 20 and a recovery port 9 for recovering the liquid in the liquid discharge head 20 to the circulation device.

[0028] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, cut in the Y direction in Figure 1.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4, the nozzle plate 21 has a surface 21a through which the nozzle 30 opens. In Figure 4, only one nozzle 30 is shown, but multiple nozzles 30 are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head 20 (the X direction in Figure 3).

[0030] The liquid chamber member 22 includes a plurality of individual liquid chambers 31 that communicate individually with a plurality of nozzles 30, a plurality of individual supply channels 32 that communicate individually with the plurality of individual liquid chambers 31, and one or more intermediate supply channels 33 that communicate with one or more individual supply channels 32.

[0031] The common flow channel member 24 has a common flow channel (common supply channel) 36 that communicates with multiple individual liquid chambers 31 in common. Specifically, the common flow channel 36 communicates with multiple intermediate supply channels 33 via the filter section 23b of the diaphragm member 23, and communicates with multiple individual liquid chambers 31 via the intermediate supply channels 33 and individual supply channels 32. In addition, a supply port 8 (see Figure 3) is connected to the common flow channel 36. Therefore, when liquid is supplied into the common flow channel 36 from the supply port 8, the liquid is supplied from the common flow channel 36 through the intermediate supply channels 33 and individual supply channels 32 into the individual liquid chambers 31.

[0032] The diaphragm member 23 is a deformable member that constitutes a part of the wall surface of the individual liquid chamber 31. When the diaphragm member 23 is joined to the liquid chamber member 22, the grooves that make up the individual liquid chamber 31 of the liquid chamber member 22 are sealed by the diaphragm member 23, and a deformable vibration region 23a is formed at the sealed portion by the diaphragm member 23. In addition, a piezoelectric actuator 26 is provided in the vibration region 23a of the diaphragm member 23 as a driving means for deforming the diaphragm member 23.

[0033] The piezoelectric actuator 26 includes a piezoelectric element 40 and a base member 41 that supports the piezoelectric element 40. The piezoelectric element 40 is constructed by alternately stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes, for example. The internal electrodes are connected to a flexible wiring member 27 via external electrodes 28. As a result, when a driving voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 40 via the flexible wiring member 27, the piezoelectric element 40 expands and contracts, and the vibration region 23a of the diaphragm member 23 deforms. Then, as the vibration region 23a deforms, the liquid in the individual liquid chamber 31 is discharged from the nozzle 30. Specifically, when the piezoelectric element 40 contracts, the vibration region 23a of the diaphragm member 23 is pulled upward in Figure 4, causing the volume of the individual liquid chamber 31 to expand and liquid to flow into the individual liquid chamber 31. Then, when the piezoelectric element 40 extends, the vibration region 23a of the diaphragm member 23 is pushed downward in Figure 4, and the volume of the individual liquid chamber 31 contracts. As a result, the liquid in the individual liquid chamber 31 is pressurized and discharged from the nozzle 30. Furthermore, any liquid that is not discharged from the nozzle 30 is sent to the recovery tank of the circulation system via the recovery port 9 (see Figure 3) and recovered. The liquid is then sent to the supply tank of the circulation system and supplied again from the supply tank to the individual liquid chambers 31 via the supply port 8.

[0034] However, in a liquid discharge head 20 having a plurality of individual liquid chambers 31, such as in the first embodiment of the present invention, there is a problem of crosstalk in which pressure fluctuations in one individual liquid chamber 31 propagate to the liquid in other individual liquid chambers 31, affecting the discharge performance. For this reason, such a liquid discharge head 20 is provided with a damper member to suppress the propagation of pressure fluctuations.

[0035] The wider (larger) the damper member, the greater the pressure fluctuations it can reduce. On the other hand, increasing the width of the damper member requires securing additional installation space, which leads to the challenge of increasing the width of the liquid discharge head. Therefore, it has not been possible to easily increase the width of the damper member in conventional liquid discharge head configurations. The challenges of increasing the width of the damper member will be explained below using a comparative example configuration as an example.

[0036] <Challenges when increasing the width of the damper member> Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid dispensing head 200 according to a comparative example.

[0037] As shown in Figure 13, in the comparative example liquid discharge head 200, a sheet-shaped damper member 50 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the common flow path member 24 and the damper frame 29. As a result, a portion of the wall surface of the common flow path 36 is made up of the deformable damper member 50, and thus the wall surface of the common flow path 36 can be given a damping function. Therefore, pressure fluctuations generated in the individual liquid chambers 31 are absorbed by the damping function of the common flow path 36 that communicates with the individual liquid chambers 31, and the propagation of pressure fluctuations from one individual liquid chamber 31 to another is suppressed.

[0038] In the comparative example liquid discharge head 200, a base member 41 supporting the piezoelectric element 40 is positioned next to the damper member 50. Therefore, if the width of the damper member 50 is increased laterally, the damper member 50 and the base member 41 will interfere with each other. To avoid interference between the damper member 50 and the base member 41, it is necessary to widen the spacing between the base members 41 to secure a larger installation space for the damper member 50. However, this results in the problem of increasing the size of the liquid discharge head 200 laterally.

[0039] Thus, in the comparative example of the liquid discharge head 200, increasing the width of the damper member 50 may cause the damper member 50 to interfere with the base member 41. Furthermore, if a wider installation space for the damper member 50 is secured to avoid interference, the liquid discharge head 200 becomes larger in the width direction.

[0040] Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention proposes a configuration that allows for an increase in the width of the damper member while avoiding an increase in the size of the liquid discharge head. The following describes the characteristic parts of the liquid discharge head according to the present invention, using the configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention as an example.

[0041] <Structure of the liquid dispensing head> Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a characteristic portion of the liquid discharge head 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5, in the first embodiment of the present invention, similar to the comparative example, a damper member 50 constituting a part of the wall surface of the common channel 36 is provided on the side of the common channel member 24 opposite to the nozzle plate 21 (upper side in Figure 5). That is, the damper member 50 is positioned on the same side as the base member 41 (upper side in Figure 5) relative to the nozzle plate 21. However, in the first embodiment of the present invention, unlike the comparative example, the common channel member 2 extends to a position higher than the base member 41 that supports the piezoelectric element 40, and the damper member 50 is provided on the extended tip side of the common channel member 24. For this reason, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the damper member 50 is positioned further away from the nozzle plate 21 than the base member 41.

[0043] Thus, in the first embodiment of the present invention, since the damper member 50 is positioned further away from the nozzle plate 21 than the base member 41, the widthwise dimension W1 of the damper member 50 can be increased when the direction in which the common flow path member 24 and the base member 41 are adjacent to each other (the Y direction in Figure 5) is defined as the widthwise direction. In other words, even if the widthwise dimension W of the damper member 50 is increased, there is no risk of the damper member 50 interfering with the base member 41, so the size of the damper member 50 can be increased to improve the damper function.

[0044] Specifically, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the widthwise dimension W1 of the damper member 50 is made larger than the widthwise dimension W3 of the common flow path member 24. In addition, corresponding to the damper member 50, the widthwise dimension W2 of the damper frame 29 that supports the damper member 50 is also made larger than the widthwise dimension W3 of the common flow path member 24. That is, although the damper frame 29 is also positioned on the same side as the base member 41 with respect to the nozzle plate 21, in the first embodiment of the present invention, since the damper frame 29 is located further away from the nozzle plate 21 than the base member 41, it is possible to increase the widthwise dimension W2 of the damper frame 29 without interfering with the base member 41.

[0045] Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, since the common flow channel member 24 extends to a position higher than the base member 41 (to a position further from the nozzle plate 21 than the base member 41), space for installing the heater 52 can be secured on the outer surface of the common flow channel member 24. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, by arranging the heater 52 on the outer surface of the common flow channel member 24, the heat from the heater 52 is more easily transferred to the liquid in the common flow channel 36 compared to the case where the heater 52 is arranged on the outer surface of the damper frame 29, as in the comparative example (Figure 13). As a result, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the liquid in the common flow channel 36 can be efficiently heated, improving the discharge performance.

[0046] Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a recess 24a is formed on the outer surface of the common flow channel member 24 where the heater 52 is installed. Therefore, the step of this recess 24a can be used as a reference for positioning when installing the heater 52. This makes it easier to position the heater 52, thereby improving the workability of installing the heater 52. Also, in the first embodiment of the present invention, since the widthwise dimension W2 of the damper frame 29 is larger than the widthwise dimension W3 of the common flow channel member 24, a step is formed between the common flow channel member 24 and the damper frame 29 when the damper frame 29 is joined to the common flow channel member 24. Therefore, this step may be used as a reference for positioning the heater 52.

[0047] The damper member 50 is preferably a sheet-like elastic member made of silicone or the like. Furthermore, it is preferable that the damper member 50 is as thin as possible and made of a material with a low Young's modulus. For example, the thickness of the damper member 50 is preferably 50 [μm] or more and 500 [μm] or less, and the Young's modulus is preferably 10 [MPa] or less. Note that the damper member 50 is not necessarily limited to a sheet shape; it may also be in a shape other than a sheet.

[0048] Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the following description, we will mainly describe parts that differ from the first embodiment of the present invention, and descriptions of the same parts will be omitted as appropriate.

[0049] <Second Embodiment of the Present Invention> Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, cut along line AA in Figure 6.

[0050] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, in the liquid discharge head 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a columnar reinforcing portion 37 is provided in the common flow path 36. The reinforcing portion 37 extends in the width direction of the common flow path 36 (Y direction in Figure 6) and connects the opposing inner surfaces of the common flow path member 24.

[0051] Here, in the second embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment, the damper member 50 is positioned further away from the nozzle plate 21 than the base member 41 by extending the common flow path member 24 to a position higher than the base member 41. However, there is a concern that extending the common flow path member 24 to a position higher than the base member 41 will reduce the strength of the common flow path member 24.

[0052] Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the strength of the common flow channel member 24 is improved by providing a reinforcing portion 37 that connects the inner surfaces of the common flow channel member 24. This suppresses vibration caused by a decrease in the strength of the common flow channel member 24 and allows the discharge function to be maintained in good condition.

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, in the second embodiment of the present invention, multiple reinforcing portions 37 are provided at equal intervals in the direction of the nozzle arrangement (the X direction in Figure 7) where the multiple nozzles 30 are lined up, thereby improving the strength of the common flow path member 24 across the nozzle arrangement direction. However, the number and arrangement of the reinforcing portions 37 are not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 7 and can be changed as appropriate.

[0054] <Third Embodiment of the Invention> Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head 20 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid discharge head 20 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, cut along the line BB in Figure 8.

[0055] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, in the liquid discharge head 20 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, multiple reinforcing portions 37 are provided in the direction of the nozzle arrangement (X direction in Figure 9), similar to the second embodiment of the present invention, but adjacent reinforcing portions 37 are arranged offset from each other in a direction that approaches or moves away from the nozzle plate 21 (Z direction in Figure 9).

[0056] Thus, in the third embodiment of the present invention, adjacent reinforcing portions 37 are arranged offset from each other in a direction that moves them closer to or further away from the nozzle plate 21, thereby suppressing variations in liquid supply caused by the presence of the reinforcing portions 37. That is, if multiple reinforcing portions 37 are arranged in a row along the nozzle arrangement direction (see Figure 7), the flow of liquid in the common channel 36 may be obstructed by the reinforcing portions 37, potentially causing variations in liquid supply in areas where the reinforcing portions 37 are present and areas where they are not. In contrast, in the third embodiment of the present invention, by offsetting adjacent reinforcing portions 37 in a direction that moves them closer to or further away from the nozzle plate 21, the liquid can more easily pass between the reinforcing portions 37, thus suppressing variations in liquid supply caused by the presence of the reinforcing portions 37. Therefore, according to the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to suppress variations in the discharge characteristics of each nozzle 30.

[0057] As described above, various embodiments of the present invention are explained. According to the present invention, by positioning the damper member 50 further away from the nozzle plate 21 than the base member 41, it is possible to increase the width of the damper member 50 while avoiding an increase in the width of the liquid discharge head 20. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the damper function is improved and large pressure fluctuations can be suppressed, thereby stabilizing the discharge performance.

[0058] Furthermore, the liquid dispensing head to which the present invention is applied may be a so-called line-type liquid dispensing head that dispenses liquid without moving relative to the conveyed sheet, or a so-called serial-type liquid dispensing head that dispenses liquid while moving relative to the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet's conveying direction (sheet width direction). The present invention is applicable to either type of liquid dispensing head. Below, the configuration of a head unit equipped with each type of liquid dispensing head will be briefly described.

[0059] <Configuration of a line-type head unit> Figure 10 is a plan view showing the configuration of the line-type head unit 13A.

[0060] The line-shaped head unit 13A shown in Figure 10 includes a head holding member 55 that holds a plurality of liquid dispensing heads 20. The plurality of liquid dispensing heads 20 are arranged in a staggered pattern, for example, as shown in Figure 10. When the sheet S is transported in the direction of arrow C in Figure 10 and reaches a position facing the head unit 13A, liquid is dispensed from the liquid dispensing heads 20. At this time, the head unit 13A does not move relative to the transported sheet S, and liquid is dispensed from the liquid dispensing heads 20. As a result, an image is formed on the sheet S.

[0061] <Configuration of a serial-type head unit> Next, we will explain the configuration of a serial-type head unit.

[0062] Figure 11 is a plan view showing the configuration of the serial-type head unit 13B.

[0063] The serial head unit 13B shown in Figure 11 comprises a carriage 62 on which multiple liquid discharge heads 20 are mounted, a guide member (guide rod) 63 for guiding the carriage 62 in the main scanning direction D, which is in the sheet width direction (a direction perpendicular to the transport direction C), and a drive device 64 for moving the carriage 62.

[0064] The drive unit 64 includes, for example, a motor 65 which is a drive source, and a timing belt 68 wrapped around a drive pulley 66 and a driven pulley 67. When the motor 65 is driven and the drive pulley 66 rotates, the timing belt 68 rotates, causing the carriage 62 to reciprocate along the guide member 63 in the main scanning direction D.

[0065] As shown in Figure 11, the sheet S is transported in the direction of arrow C, and when the sheet S reaches a predetermined image formation position, the movement of the sheet S stops temporarily. Then, as the carriage 62 moves in the main scanning direction D, liquid (ink) is ejected from the liquid ejection head 20. This forms an image of a predetermined width on the stationary sheet S. Subsequently, the intermittent transport (transport and stop) of the sheet S in the direction of arrow C and the liquid ejection operation accompanying the reciprocating movement of the carriage 62 in the main scanning direction D are repeated, and images are sequentially formed on the sheet S.

[0066] Furthermore, the liquid ejection head and head unit according to the present invention may be mounted on an image forming apparatus, which is an example of a liquid ejection device, or on other liquid ejection devices.

[0067] For example, the liquid discharge head and head unit according to the present invention may be mounted on an electrode manufacturing apparatus that discharges a liquid composition to manufacture electrodes. An example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied will be described below.

[0068] <Configuration of electrode manufacturing equipment> Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 to which the present invention can be applied.

[0069] Here, as an example of an electrode manufacturing apparatus 700, a manufacturing apparatus for forming an electrode composite layer containing an active material on an electrode substrate (current collector) will be described. The electrode composite layer is used, for example, as part of the configuration of an electrochemical element. There are no particular restrictions on the components of the electrochemical element other than the electrode composite layer, and known components can be appropriately selected. For example, components other than the electrode composite layer include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator.

[0070] The electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 shown in Figure 12 includes an ejection process section 110 which includes a step of applying a liquid composition for manufacturing electrodes onto a printing substrate 704 having an object to be ejected to form a liquid composition layer, and a heating process section 130 which includes a heating step of heating the liquid composition layer to obtain an electrode composite layer.

[0071] Furthermore, the electrode manufacturing apparatus 700 includes a transport unit 705 for transporting the printing substrate 704. The transport unit 705 transports the printing substrate 704 at a preset speed in the order of the discharge process unit 110 and the heating process unit 130. There are no particular restrictions on the method for manufacturing the printing substrate 704 having an object to be discharged, such as an active material layer, and known methods can be appropriately selected. The discharge process unit 110 includes a liquid discharge head 281a that realizes a dispensing process for applying a liquid composition onto the printing substrate 704, a container 281b that contains the liquid composition 707, and a supply tube 281c that supplies the liquid composition 707 contained in the container 281b to the liquid discharge head 281a.

[0072] In the discharge process section 110, the liquid composition 707 is discharged from the liquid discharge head 281a and applied to the printing substrate 704, forming a thin film layer of the liquid composition. The containment container 281b may be integrated with the electrode manufacturing apparatus or may be detachable from the electrode manufacturing apparatus. Alternatively, the containment container 281b may be a container used for adding to a containment container integrated with the electrode manufacturing apparatus or a containment container detachable from the electrode manufacturing apparatus.

[0073] The containment container 281b and the supply tube 281c can be arbitrarily selected as long as they are capable of stably containing and supplying the liquid composition 707.

[0074] In the heating section 130, a solvent removal step is performed 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 of the heating section 130, thereby removing the solvent from the liquid composition layer. This forms the electrode composite layer. Furthermore, the solvent removal step in the heating section 130 may be performed under reduced pressure.

[0075] There are no particular restrictions on the heating device 703, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the heating device 703 can be a substrate heater, an IR heater, or a hot air heater. Alternatively, the heating device 703 may be a combination of at least two of the substrate heater, IR heater, and hot air heater. Furthermore, the heating temperature and heating time can be appropriately selected according to the boiling point of the solvent contained in the liquid composition 707 or the film thickness to be formed.

[0076] The object onto which the liquid composition is discharged (discharge target) is not particularly limited as long as it is an object on which a layer containing electrode material is formed, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. For example, the object may be an electrode substrate (current collector), an active material layer, or a layer containing solid electrode material. Alternatively, the object may be an electrode composite layer containing active material on an electrode substrate (current collector). Furthermore, the discharge means and discharge process may be means and processes for forming a layer containing electrode material by directly discharging the liquid composition, as long as it is possible to form a layer containing electrode material on the object (discharge target). Alternatively, the discharge means and discharge process may be means and processes for forming a layer containing electrode material by indirectly discharging the liquid composition.

[0077] Furthermore, the present invention is broadly applicable not only to liquid dispensing devices that dispense liquid onto objects such as sheets or electrode substrates, but also to liquid dispensing devices that dispense liquid onto objects (targets) to which liquid can at least temporarily adhere. Examples of objects to which liquid is dispensed include paper, resin films, wallpaper, and electronic circuit boards. Examples of materials for objects to which liquid is dispensed include paper, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, and ceramics.

[0078] Furthermore, the liquid discharged by the liquid dispensing device according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but may include solutions, suspensions, emulsions, etc., containing water, solvents such as organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, functional materials such as polymerizable compounds, resins, and surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids and proteins, and calcium, and edible materials such as natural pigments. These are used, for example, in inkjet inks, surface treatment liquids, components of electronic elements and light-emitting elements, liquids for forming electronic circuit resist patterns, and material liquids for 3D molding.

[0079] To summarize the embodiments of the present invention described above, the present invention includes at least the following embodiments.

[0080] [First aspect] The first embodiment is a liquid discharge head comprising: a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles for discharging liquid; a liquid chamber member having a plurality of individual liquid chambers communicating individually with the plurality of nozzles; a diaphragm member constituting a part of the wall surface of the plurality of individual liquid chambers; a piezoelectric element that drives the diaphragm member to deform; a base member that supports the piezoelectric element; a common flow path member having a common flow path communicating in common with the plurality of individual liquid chambers; and a damper member constituting a part of the wall surface of the common flow path, wherein the damper member is positioned on the same side as the base member with respect to the nozzle plate, and further away from the nozzle plate than the base member.

[0081] [Second aspect] In the second embodiment, if the direction in which the common flow path member and the base member are adjacent to each other is defined as the width direction, then the width dimension of the damper member is larger than the width dimension of the common flow path member.

[0082] [Third aspect] A third embodiment, in the first or second embodiment, includes a damper frame provided on the side of the common flow path member opposite to the nozzle plate side, which supports the damper member, wherein the damper frame is positioned on the same side as the base member with respect to the nozzle plate, and further away from the nozzle plate than the base member.

[0083] [Fourth aspect] A fourth aspect is that, in the third aspect, the widthwise dimension of the damper frame is greater than the widthwise dimension of the common flow path member.

[0084] [Fifth aspect] A fifth embodiment is a configuration in which, in any one of the first to fourth embodiments, the common flow channel member has a recess on its outer surface, and a heater is disposed within the recess.

[0085] [Sixth aspect] The sixth embodiment is one of the first to fifth embodiments, wherein the common flow channel member has a reinforcing portion extending in the width direction within the common flow channel.

[0086] [Seventh aspect] The seventh aspect is the sixth aspect, wherein the reinforcing portion is provided in a plurality in the direction of the nozzle arrangement where the plurality of nozzles are lined up, and adjacent reinforcing portions are provided offset from each other in a direction that moves closer to or further away from the nozzle plate.

[0087] [Eighth aspect] The eighth embodiment is a head unit comprising a plurality of liquid dispensing heads according to any one embodiment of the first to seventh embodiments.

[0088] [Ninth aspect] The ninth embodiment is a liquid dispensing device that dispenses liquid onto an object using a liquid dispensing head according to any one of the first to seventh embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0089] 13 Head Unit 20 liquid dispensing heads 21 Nozzle Plate 22 Liquid chamber component 23. Diaphragm component 24 Common flow channel member 24a recess 29 Damper Frame 30 nozzles 31 Individual liquid chambers 36 Common channel 37 Reinforcement section 40 Piezoelectric elements 41 Base member 50 Damper components 52 Heater 100 Image forming device (liquid ejection device) S Sheet (Target Object) [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0090] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7021523

Claims

1. A nozzle plate having multiple nozzles for dispensing liquid, A liquid chamber member having a plurality of individual liquid chambers that communicate individually with the plurality of nozzles, A vibrating plate member that constitutes a part of the wall surface of the plurality of individual liquid chambers, A piezoelectric element that drives the diaphragm member to deform, A base member supporting the piezoelectric element, A common flow path member having a common flow path that communicates with the plurality of individual liquid chambers, A damper member that constitutes a part of the wall surface of the common channel, In a liquid dispensing head equipped with, The liquid discharge head is characterized in that the damper member is positioned on the same side as the base member with respect to the nozzle plate, and at a position further away from the nozzle plate than the base member.

2. If the direction in which the common flow channel member and the base member are adjacent to each other is defined as the width direction, The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the widthwise dimension of the damper member is greater than the widthwise dimension of the common flow path member.

3. The common flow channel member is provided on the side opposite to the nozzle plate and includes a damper frame that supports the damper member, The liquid discharge head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the damper frame is positioned on the same side as the base member with respect to the nozzle plate, and at a position further away from the nozzle plate than the base member.

4. The liquid discharge head according to claim 3, wherein the widthwise dimension of the damper frame is greater than the widthwise dimension of the common flow path member.

5. The common flow channel member has a recess on its outer surface, The liquid dispensing head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a heater is disposed in the recess.

6. The liquid discharge head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the common flow channel member has a reinforcing portion extending in the width direction within the common flow channel.

7. The reinforcing portions are provided in multiple locations in the direction of the nozzle arrangement where the multiple nozzles are lined up. The liquid discharge head according to claim 6, wherein adjacent reinforcing portions are provided offset from each other in a direction that moves them closer to or further away from the nozzle plate.

8. A head unit characterized by comprising a plurality of liquid discharge heads as described in claim 1.

9. A liquid dispensing device characterized by dispensing liquid onto an object using the liquid dispensing head described in claim 1.

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