LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD

Abstract

To provide a liquid discharge head which obtains records having good record quality, and to provide a manufacturing method of the liquid discharge head.SOLUTION: As a passage member used in a recording head, warped passage members are joined to form a passage member which is warped in a direction opposite to a direction of a warpage caused by increase of a temperature during recording.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid and a method for manufacturing the liquid ejection head. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes how, when the sealing resin between the printed circuit board and the head substrate on which the heating element is mounted is cured, a convex warp occurs in the head substrate due to thermal contraction when the sealing resin is cured.Then, it describes how the head substrate is made straight by offsetting the convex warp with a concave warp that occurs in the head substrate due to heat generated by the heating element during printing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-175981 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when a highly rigid material is used for the liquid ejection head, even if the method of Patent Document 1 is used to offset the warping of the highly rigid material caused by heat generation, the amount of warping caused by thermal contraction during hardening of the sealing resin may not be enough to offset the warping of the highly rigid material. As a result, there is a risk that the liquid ejection head manufactured by the method of Patent Document 1 may not be able to provide print results of good print quality.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection head capable of obtaining recording with good recording quality, and a method for manufacturing such a liquid ejection head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Therefore, the liquid ejection head of the present invention comprises an element substrate having a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting liquid and an element for generating energy for ejecting liquid from the ejection ports, a first flow path member having a surface on which a plurality of the element substrates are arranged and mounted and a part of a flow path that supplies liquid to the ejection ports, and a second flow path member that is stacked with the first flow path member to form a liquid supply member having a flow path, the liquid supply member being a liquid ejection head that warps convexly in a first direction when ejecting liquid, and further comprising a support member that supports the liquid supply member, and the liquid supply member having a warp that is concave in the first direction when not ejecting liquid is fixed to the support member at both ends in the arrangement direction in which the element substrates are arranged by a fixing member and a biasing member that is combined with the fixing member and is capable of biasing a fixed object fixed by the fixing member. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid ejection head capable of obtaining recording with good recording quality and a method for manufacturing a liquid ejection head. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a liquid ejection device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first circulation path which is one embodiment of the circulation path. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a liquid ejection head. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing each part or unit that constitutes the liquid ejection head. [Diagram 5] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a liquid discharge unit supported by a liquid discharge unit support portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a liquid discharge unit supported by a liquid discharge unit support portion. [Figure 8] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a liquid discharge unit supported by a liquid discharge unit support portion. [Figure 9] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a liquid discharge unit supported by a liquid discharge unit support portion. [Figure 10] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a liquid discharge unit supported by a liquid discharge unit support portion. [Figure 11] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a liquid discharge unit supported by a liquid discharge unit support portion. [Figure 12] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a liquid discharge unit supported by a liquid discharge unit support portion. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. [Figure 14] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a liquid discharge unit supported by a liquid discharge unit support portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a liquid ejection device 1000. The liquid ejection device 1000 is a line-type recording device that includes a conveying unit 1 that conveys a recording medium 2 and a line-type liquid ejection head 3 that is arranged approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium 2, and performs continuous recording while conveying a plurality of recording media 2 continuously or intermittently. The recording media 2 are not limited to cut paper, and may be continuous rolled paper. The liquid ejection head 3 is capable of full-color printing using CMYK inks (cyan: C, magenta: M, yellow: Y, black: K). As will be described later, a liquid supplying means, which is a supply path that supplies liquid to the liquid ejection head 3, a main tank, and a buffer tank (see FIG. 2 described later) are fluidly connected. In addition, an electric control unit that transmits power and an ejection control signal to the liquid ejection head 3 is electrically connected to the liquid ejection head 3. The liquid path and the electric signal path in the liquid ejection head 3 will be described later.

[0011] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first circulation path, which is one form of the circulation path applied to the liquid ejection device 1000 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the liquid ejection device 1000 that circulates liquid such as ink between the buffer tank 1003 and the liquid ejection head 3 will be described, but other forms may be used. For example, instead of circulating liquid such as ink, two tanks may be provided on the upstream side and downstream side of the liquid ejection head, and ink may flow from one tank to the other tank to cause ink to flow in the pressure chamber. Note that in FIG. 2, only a path through which one color of ink among CMYK ink flows is shown for the sake of simplicity of explanation.

[0012] In the liquid ejection device 1000, the liquid ejection head 3, the first circulation pump 1002, and the buffer tank 1003 are fluidly connected. The liquid ejection unit (liquid supply member) 300 is provided with a common supply path 211, a common recovery flow path 212, and individual supply paths 213a and individual recovery paths 213b that communicate with each recording element substrate. The individual supply path 213a communicates with the common supply path 211, and the individual recovery path 213b communicates with the common recovery path 212. Therefore, a part of the liquid flowed by the first circulation pump 1002 passes through the internal flow path of the recording element substrate 10 from the common supply path 211 and flows to the common recovery path 212. This is because a pressure difference is provided between the pressure adjustment mechanism H connected to the common supply path 211 and the pressure adjustment mechanism L connected to the common recovery path 212, and the first circulation pump 1002 is connected only to the common recovery path 212.

[0013] In this way, in the liquid ejection unit 300, a flow of liquid passing through the common recovery flow path 212 and a flow that passes through each recording element substrate 10 from the common supply flow path 211 and joins the common recovery flow path 212 are generated. Therefore, heat generated in each recording element substrate 10 can be discharged to the outside of the recording element substrate 10 by the flow from the common supply flow path 211 to the common recovery flow path 212. In addition, with this configuration, when recording is being performed by the liquid ejection head 3, an ink flow can be generated even in ejection ports and pressure chambers that are not performing recording, so that thickening of the ink in those areas can be suppressed. Also, thickened ink and foreign matter in the ink can be discharged to the common recovery flow path 212. Therefore, the liquid ejection head 3 of this embodiment is capable of high-speed, high-quality printing.

[0014] 3 is a perspective view showing a liquid ejection head 3 in this embodiment. The liquid ejection head 3 is a line-type liquid ejection head in which 15 recording element substrates 10, each capable of ejecting ink of multiple colors, are arranged in a straight line in the arrangement direction. The liquid ejection head 3 includes a signal input terminal 91 and a power supply terminal 92 electrically connected to each recording element substrate 10 via a flexible wiring substrate 40 and an electric wiring substrate 90. The signal input terminal 91 and the power supply terminal 92 are electrically connected to a control unit of the liquid ejection device 1000, and supply an ejection drive signal and power required for ejection, respectively, to the recording element substrate 10.

[0015] A plurality of recording elements are mounted on the recording element substrate 10. The recording elements are elements that generate energy for ejecting liquid, and in this embodiment, heat generating elements are used as the recording elements, and a thermal method is used in which the heat generating elements generate bubbles in the liquid to eject the liquid. However, the recording elements are not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to liquid ejection heads that employ a piezo method or various other liquid ejection methods.

[0016] By consolidating the wiring by the electric circuit in the electric wiring board 90, the number of signal output terminals 91 and power supply terminals 92 can be reduced compared to the number of recording element boards 10. This reduces the number of electrical connections that need to be removed when assembling the liquid ejection head 3 to the liquid ejection device 1000 or when replacing the liquid ejection head. As shown in FIG. 3B, the liquid connection part 111 provided on one side of the liquid ejection head 3 is connected to the liquid supply system of the liquid ejection device 1000. In this way, ink is supplied from the supply system of the liquid ejection device 1000 to the liquid ejection head 3, and the ink that has passed through the liquid ejection head 3 is collected by the supply system of the liquid ejection device 1000. In this way, the ink of each color is configured to be circulated through the path of the liquid ejection device 1000 and the path of the liquid ejection head 3.

[0017] 4 is an exploded perspective view showing each part or unit constituting the liquid ejection head 3. The liquid ejection head 3 is configured by mounting a liquid ejection unit 300, a liquid supply unit 220, and an electric wiring board 90 to a housing 80. The liquid supply unit 220 is provided with a liquid connection section 111 (see FIG. 3), and is provided with filters 221 (see FIG. 2) for each color (four colors) for removing foreign matter from the ink being supplied. The liquid supply unit 220 is supplied with liquid from a buffer tank 1003, and the liquid that has passed through the filters 221 in the liquid supply unit 220 is supplied to negative pressure control units 230 arranged on the supply unit 220 in correspondence with each color.

[0018] The negative pressure control unit 230 is a unit consisting of pressure adjustment valves for each color, and each of them is provided with a valve, a spring member, and the like. The action of these valves and spring members can significantly attenuate the pressure loss change in the supply system of the liquid ejection device 1000 (the supply system upstream of the liquid ejection head 3) that occurs with the flow rate fluctuation of the liquid. This makes it possible to stabilize the negative pressure change downstream of the negative pressure control unit 230 (the liquid ejection unit 300 side) within a certain range. Two pressure adjustment valves for each color are built into the negative pressure control unit 230 for each color (see FIG. 2). The two pressure adjustment valves are set to different control pressures, and the high-pressure side pressure adjustment valve communicates with the common supply flow path 211 in the liquid ejection unit 300 via the liquid supply unit 220, and the low-pressure side pressure adjustment valve communicates with the common recovery flow path 212.

[0019] The housing 80 includes a liquid discharge unit support portion 81 and an electric wiring board support portion 82, and supports the liquid discharge unit 300 and the electric wiring board 90 while ensuring the rigidity of the liquid discharge head 3. The electric wiring board support portion 82 supports the electric wiring board 90 and is fixed to the liquid discharge unit support portion 81 by screwing. The liquid discharge unit support portion 81 is provided with openings 83 and 84 into which the joint rubber 100 is inserted. The liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit 220 is guided to the flow path member 210 constituting the liquid discharge unit 300 via the joint rubber. The liquid discharge unit support portion 81 is formed of a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel.

[0020] The liquid ejection unit 300 includes a plurality of ejection modules 200 and a flow path member 210, and a cover member 130 is attached to the recording medium side surface of the liquid ejection unit 300. Here, the cover member 130 is a member having a frame-shaped surface with a long opening 131 provided therein, and the recording element substrate 10 (see FIG. 3) and the sealant portion provided in the ejection module 200 are exposed from the opening 131. The frame portion around the opening 131 functions as a contact surface for a cap member that caps the liquid ejection head 3 during standby for recording. For this reason, it is preferable to apply an adhesive, sealant, filler, or the like along the periphery of the opening 131 to fill in unevenness and gaps on the ejection port surface of the liquid ejection unit 300, so that a closed space is formed when capped.

[0021] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a liquid discharge unit 300 supported by a liquid discharge unit support part (support member) 81, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 5. The flow path member (joint member) 210 is formed by laminating a first flow path member 50 and a second flow path member 60, and distributes the liquid supplied from the liquid supply unit 220 to each discharge module 200, and returns the liquid returning from the discharge modules to the liquid supply unit 220.

[0022] In the liquid ejection head 3, in order to supply ink to each of the multiple ejection ports that eject liquid, a hollow flow path is formed by stacking long flow path forming members, and an ejection module is disposed on the flow path forming member. A common method for forming the hollow liquid supply path described above is to mold multiple parts separately, and then assemble them by ultrasonic welding or bonding with an adhesive to form the liquid supply path. In this embodiment, multiple flow paths 51 are formed by a box-shaped flow path member 50 that joins the ejection module 200 and a plate-shaped flow path member 60 that serves as a lid for the box-shaped flow path member 50.

[0023] The flow path member 210 in the liquid ejection head 3 of this embodiment is molded in a state in which warping occurs due to the difference in shrinkage during molding. That is, the liquid ejection unit 300 is formed in a warped state. The warping direction is such that the liquid ejection unit 300 is warped convexly in the direction of the arrow X, and the liquid ejection unit 300 is molded in a state in which it is warped convexly in the direction of the arrow X by a predetermined amount. The liquid ejection head 3 warps the liquid ejection unit 300 due to the heat of the heating element by repeatedly ejecting liquid. In this case, the warping is a warping convex in the direction of the arrow -X. Therefore, the liquid ejection head 3 of this embodiment is provided with the liquid ejection unit 300 that is warped convexly in the direction of the arrow X at room temperature, and the warping of the liquid ejection unit 300 that is warped convexly in the direction of the arrow -X during liquid ejection offsets the warping at room temperature. In this way, a liquid ejection device capable of printing with high print quality is realized by printing in a state in which the warping of the liquid ejection unit 300 is suppressed. Hereinafter, the method will be described in detail.

[0024] The box-shaped flow path member 50 is warped in a convex shape in the direction of the arrow X due to the shrinkage difference at the center of the direction of the arrow Y during injection molding by adjusting the balance between the thickness t1 of the joint surface of the discharge module 200, the thickness t2 of the side wall in contact with the joint surface, and the thickness t3 of the wall between each flow path. In this embodiment, the warping of the flow path member 50 as a single member is caused by the shrinkage difference between the joint surface and the side wall of the recording element substrate 10 during injection molding. Therefore, by setting the thickness of each wall of the flow path member 50, it is possible to stably form a flow path member warped in a convex shape in the direction of the arrow X. In addition, the plate-shaped flow path member 60 has a thickness t4, and warping can be caused by applying a temperature difference between the molds on the front and back sides.

[0025] The two molded parts are then joined together to obtain the desired amount of warping C. For example, when ink adjusted to a temperature of 20° C. is supplied to and circulated through the flow path member 50 and the heat generated from the discharge module 200 is 40° C., the liquid discharge unit 300 generates a warp in which the center portion in the direction of the arrow Y is convex by about 50 μm in the direction of the arrow -X. For this reason, in injection molding, the bonding between the flow path member 50 and the flow path member 60 is also taken into consideration, and molding conditions are set by balancing the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 so that after bonding, the center portion of the discharge module 20 in the direction of the arrow Y is warped in a convex shape of about 50 μm in the direction of the arrow X.

[0026] Specifically, the flow path member 50 is 400 mm long, has a thickness t1 of 2.5 mm, a thickness t2 of 2.5 mm, and a thickness t3 of 2 mm, and is warped by injection molding at its center in the direction of the arrow Y by 0.2 mm in a convex shape in the direction of the arrow X. The flow path member 60 has a thickness t4 of 3 mm, and is warped by injection molding at its center in the direction of the arrow Y by 0.1 mm in a convex shape in the direction of the arrow -X. In this way, the flow path member 50 and the flow path member 60, which are molded with warping in opposite directions, are bonded and fixed in a flat state, and finally, the liquid discharge unit 300 is formed in which the center of the discharge module 20 is warped in a convex shape of about 50 μm in the direction of the arrow X.

[0027] In this embodiment, the flow path member 50 and the flow path member 60 are described as having warpage in opposite directions, but the direction of the warpage is not limited to this. In other words, it is sufficient that the flow path member 50 and the flow path member 60 are joined to each other to have warpage in a direction that offsets the warpage of the liquid discharge unit 300 caused by the temperature rise due to discharge.

[0028] The liquid discharge unit 300 has holes 61a at the four corners of the flow path member 60, and the fixing members 62a are fixed to the liquid discharge unit support parts 81 at a predetermined height h1 at the four corners, and the liquid discharge unit 300 is biased by the biasing members 63a. Therefore, the liquid discharge unit support parts 81 and the flow path member 60 are spaced apart at the four corners of the flow path member 60. If the expected value of the warp amount is, for example, 50 μm, the predetermined height h1 is set to about 50 μm, the thickness of the biasing members 63a in a contracted state, and the thickness of the flow path member 60. The biasing force of the biasing members 63a is sufficient to eliminate rattling between the holes 61a and the heads of the fixing members 62a, and is not sufficient to correct the warp of the liquid discharge unit 300.

[0029] The fixing member 62a, which is set to a predetermined height, and the biasing member 63a can absorb variations in the amount of warping of the liquid discharge unit 300 and keep it within a desired range. Also, a hole 61b is provided in the flow path member 60 at the center, and the fixing member 62b crushes the biasing member 63b to fix the liquid discharge unit 300 to the liquid discharge unit support part 81. In other words, the flow path member 60 is fixed to the liquid discharge unit support part 81 at the center so that it cannot be separated from the liquid discharge unit support part 81.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the liquid discharge unit 300 supported by the liquid discharge unit support part 81 during printing. The liquid discharge unit 300 warps convexly in the direction of the arrow -X due to the temperature rise during printing. However, since the center of the liquid discharge unit in the direction of the arrow Y is fixed to the liquid discharge unit support part 81 by the fixing member 62b, both ends of the liquid discharge unit are aligned with the liquid discharge unit support part 81, and the biasing member 63a extends to eliminate wobbling with the head of the fixing member 62a. Since the amount of warping of the liquid discharge unit 300 at room temperature and the amount of warping caused by the temperature rise during printing are set to be the same, during printing, the liquid discharge unit 300 is approximately parallel to the liquid discharge unit support part 81, and the discharge surface is nearly flat. In the present invention, the center of the liquid discharge unit refers to the area located in the middle when the liquid discharge unit is divided into three equal parts in the direction of the arrow Y. In the present invention, both ends of the liquid discharge unit refer to the areas located at both ends when the liquid discharge unit is divided into three equal parts in the direction of the arrow Y.

[0031] According to the method of this embodiment, the warping caused by the difference in shrinkage during molding is alleviated by the temperature rise related to printing, so the warping can be restored in a natural way. By making the ejection surface flat, the ink ejection direction becomes straight toward the recording medium, and the distance to the recording medium is also uniform, making it possible to perform high-quality printing. This form is particularly effective when the position reference of the liquid ejection unit 300 is at the center, as there is little position change.

[0032] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the liquid discharge unit 300 is warped in the opposite direction to the liquid discharge direction when the liquid discharge unit 300 becomes convex in the liquid discharge direction due to a rise in temperature caused by discharge, but the present invention is not limited to this. In other words, it is sufficient if the liquid discharge unit 300 has a warp that offsets the warp of the liquid discharge unit 300 caused by a rise in temperature due to discharge.

[0033] In this way, both ends in the arrangement direction of the recording element substrate of the liquid ejection unit 300 having a warp that is convex in a predetermined direction are fixed to the liquid ejection unit support part 81 by the fixing member and the biasing member that is combined with the fixing member and is capable of biasing a fixed object fixed by the fixing member. This makes it possible to provide a liquid ejection head that can obtain recording with good recording quality and a manufacturing method for a liquid ejection head.

[0034] Second embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that since the basic configuration of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, the following will describe its characteristic configuration.

[0035] 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the liquid discharge unit 300 supported by the liquid discharge unit support part 81 in this embodiment. In the first embodiment, at the center of the liquid discharge unit 300 in the direction of the arrow Y, the fixing member 62b crushes the urging member 63b to fix the liquid discharge unit 300 to the liquid discharge unit support part 81.

[0036] When the liquid ejection unit 300 is warped in a convex shape in the direction of the arrow -X due to the temperature rise during printing, the amount of warping may exceed the amount of warping in the direction of the arrow X formed at room temperature. In this case, when the liquid ejection unit 300 is fixed without any gaps by the fixing member 62b in the center in the direction of the arrow Y as in the first embodiment, the liquid ejection unit 300 is warped in a convex shape in the direction of the arrow -X between the fixing member 62a and the fixing member 62b. That is, two convex warps in the direction of the arrow -X are formed in a W-shape, sandwiching the fixing member 62b. When such a W-shaped warp occurs in the liquid ejection unit 300, the landing position of the ejected ink becomes distorted, which has a large effect on the print quality. As a result, there is a risk that the print will not be uniform.

[0037] 8, in the present embodiment, when the liquid discharge head 3 holds the warped liquid discharge unit 300 on the liquid discharge unit support part 81, the fixing member 62b at the center is fixed at a predetermined height h1, similar to the fixing members 62a at the ends. Therefore, in a stretched state, the biasing member 63b biases the center of the liquid discharge unit 300 against the liquid discharge unit support part 81, eliminating rattling.

[0038] During printing, as shown in FIG. 9, both ends of the liquid ejection unit 300 are aligned with the liquid ejection unit support 81, and the urging member 63a extends to eliminate wobbling with the head of the fixed member 62a. By holding the center of the liquid ejection unit 300 by urging force instead of fixing it, even if the amount of warping due to temperature rise during printing exceeds the amount of warping formed at room temperature, the liquid ejection unit 300 pushes up the urging member 63b at the center within a range of a predetermined height h1. Although the liquid ejection unit 300 pushes up the urging member 63b, overall warping occurs, but W-shaped warping does not occur. If the liquid ejection unit 300 as a whole is in a convex warp rather than a W-shaped warp, uniform printing is possible and disturbance in the landing position of the ejected ink can be suppressed.

[0039] In this way, even with a configuration in which the center portion of the liquid ejection unit 300 in the direction of the arrow Y is held by a biasing force rather than being fixed, it is possible to obtain a liquid ejection head that can obtain recording with good recording quality.

[0040] (Third embodiment) Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that since the basic configuration of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, the following will describe its characteristic configuration.

[0041] 10 and 11 are diagrams showing the liquid discharge unit 300 supported by the liquid discharge unit support part 81 in this embodiment. In the second embodiment, the liquid discharge unit 300 is held by the biasing force of the biasing member 63b at the center of the liquid discharge unit 300 in the arrow Y direction. In this embodiment, the liquid discharge unit 300 is not held at the center of the liquid discharge unit 300 in the arrow Y direction, but is held by the fixing member 62a and the biasing member 63a provided at both ends. In other words, the liquid discharge unit 300 is held so as to be separable from the liquid discharge unit support part 81 at the center of the liquid discharge unit 300 in the arrow Y direction.

[0042] During printing, as shown in Fig. 11, both ends of the liquid ejection unit 300 are aligned with the liquid ejection unit support parts 81, and the urging members 63a extend to eliminate wobbling with the heads of the fixed members 62a. Because the center of the liquid ejection unit 300 is not supported, even if the amount of warping due to temperature rise during printing exceeds the amount of warping formed at room temperature, the liquid ejection unit 300 does not warp in a W-shape. Therefore, as with the second embodiment, uniform printing is possible and disturbance in the landing position of the ejected ink can be suppressed.

[0043] (Fourth embodiment) Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that since the basic configuration of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, the following will describe its characteristic configuration.

[0044] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the liquid discharge unit 300 supported by the liquid discharge unit support part 81 in this embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the liquid discharge unit 300 supported by the liquid discharge unit support part 81 during printing. In the liquid discharge head 3 of this embodiment, the liquid discharge unit support part 81 has an opening (opening) 85, and is configured so that a part of the flow path member 210 enters into the opening 85. When the warped liquid discharge unit 300 is held by the liquid discharge unit support part 81, one end is fixed to the liquid discharge unit support part 81 by the fixing member 62c crushing and cutting the biasing member 63c. The other end is biased and held by the fixing member 62a and the biasing member 63a to the liquid discharge unit support part 81. Since the part of the flow path member 210 enters (intrudes into) the opening 85, the warped liquid discharge unit 300 can be held without being deformed.

[0045] During printing, as shown in Fig. 14, the warping is offset by a rise in temperature and the liquid discharge unit 300 assumes a flat shape. This form is particularly effective when the position reference for the liquid discharge unit 300 is on one end side, as there is little positional change when the fixing member 62c crushes and cuts the urging member 63c on the reference side to fix the liquid discharge unit to the liquid discharge unit support part 81. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 Recording element board 50 Flow path member 60 Flow path member 81 Liquid discharge unit support part 85 Aperture 200 Dispensing Module 210 Flow path components 220 Liquid Supply Unit 230 Negative pressure control unit 300 Liquid Dispensing Unit

Claims

1. an element substrate including a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting liquid and elements for generating energy for ejecting the liquid from the ejection ports; a first flow path member including a surface on which a plurality of the element substrates are arranged and mounted, and a part of a flow path that supplies liquid to the ejection port; a second flow path member that is laminated with the first flow path member to form a liquid supply member having a flow path; the liquid supply member is a liquid ejection head that warps convexly in a first direction when ejecting liquid, a support member for supporting the liquid supply member, A liquid ejection head characterized in that the liquid supply member, which has a concave warp in the first direction when not ejecting liquid, is fixed to the support member at both ends in the arrangement direction in which the element substrates are arranged by a fixing member and a biasing member that is combined with the fixing member and is capable of biasing a fixed object fixed by the fixing member.

2. 2. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the support member is made of a metallic material such as aluminum or stainless steel, and has a higher rigidity than the liquid supply member.

3. 3. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the first flow path member and the second flow path member are formed by injection molding, and warping occurs due to a difference in shrinkage during injection molding.

4. 4. The liquid ejection head according to claim 3, wherein the first flow path member has a first predetermined amount of warping as a single member, and the second flow path member has a second predetermined amount of warping as a single member.

5. 5. The liquid ejection head according to claim 4, wherein the first predetermined amount of warping of the first flow path member is in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second predetermined amount of warping of the second ...

6. 6. A liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein a third predetermined amount of warping that is concave in the first direction is formed by stacking the second flow path member on the first flow path member.

7. 7. The liquid ejection head according to claim 6, wherein the third predetermined amount of warp of the liquid supply member that is concave in the first direction is offset by warp that is convex in the first direction when the liquid is ejected.

8. A liquid ejection head as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the liquid supply member, having a third predetermined amount of warp that is concave in the first direction, abuts the support member at a central portion in the arrangement direction and is fixed at a distance from the support member at both ends.

9. 9. The liquid ejection head according to claim 8, wherein the liquid supply member is fixed at the central portion by the fixing member in a state in which the liquid supply member cannot be separated from the supporting member.

10. 9. The liquid ejection head according to claim 8, wherein the liquid supply member is fixed at the central portion in a separable state from the support member.

11. 11. The liquid ejection head according to claim 10, wherein the liquid supply member is fixed at the central portion by the biasing force of the biasing member.

12. The support member has an opening, A liquid ejection head as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the liquid supply member abuts the support member at one end in the arrangement direction and is spaced apart from the support member at the other end in the arrangement direction, with a portion of the liquid supply member entering the opening and fixed to the support member.

13. 13. A liquid ejection head according to claim 12, wherein the liquid supply member is fixed at the one end by the fixing member in a state in which it cannot be separated from the support member, and is fixed at the other end by the biasing force of the biasing member.

14. A step of forming an element substrate including a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting liquid and an element for generating energy for ejecting the liquid from the ejection ports; a first forming step of forming a first flow path member having a surface on which a plurality of the element substrates are arranged and mounted, the first flow path member having a part of a flow path that supplies liquid to the ejection port; and a second forming step of forming a second flow path member to be laminated on the first flow path member to form the flow path, A method for manufacturing a liquid ejection head in which warpage that is convex in a first direction occurs when ejecting liquid, comprising the steps of: In the first forming step, a first predetermined amount of warp is formed in the first flow path member, In the second forming step, a second predetermined amount of warp is formed in the second flow path member, A method for manufacturing a liquid ejection head, further comprising a bonding process, after the first forming process and the second forming process, stacking and bonding the first flow path member and the second flow path member to form a third predetermined amount of convex warp in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

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