Head System

Abstract

To provide a head system which can heat a liquid flowing in a plurality of supply flow channels by one heater and can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost by reducing the number of components.SOLUTION: A head system HS includes a head 60, two flow channel forming members 40, and a sheet heater 30. The head 60 includes a plurality of nozzles 3 arranged in a medium feeding direction, and manifold flow channels M1-M4 respectively extending in the medium feeding direction. The one flow channel forming member 40 includes a supply flow channel SC for supplying ink to one end of the manifold flow channel M1 and other end of the manifold flow channel M2. The other flow channel forming member 40 includes the supply flow channel SC for supplying the ink to one end of the manifold flow channel M3 and other end of the manifold flow channel M4. The sheet heater 30 is arranged between the two flow channel forming members 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a head system including a head and a supply flow path through which a liquid to be supplied to the head flows. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a liquid ejection device that includes a head that ejects liquid and a supply flow path through which the liquid flows to be supplied to the head. For example, a liquid ejection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a head that ejects liquid and two relay module components for supplying liquid to liquid supply ports formed at both ends of the head in the longitudinal direction. Each relay module component is provided with a supply flow path through which the liquid flows to be supplied to the head, and a heater for heating the liquid flowing in the supply flow path to reduce the viscosity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-79616 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the liquid ejection device of Patent Document 1, two heaters are provided for two supply flow paths, which increases the number of parts and is one factor in increasing manufacturing costs.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a head system that can efficiently heat liquid flowing through multiple supply flow paths with a single heater and can suppress increases in manufacturing costs by reducing the number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head system, comprising: A plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction; a first common flow path extending in the first direction; a first inlet connected to one end of the first common flow path in the first direction; a second common flow path extending in the first direction; a second inlet connected to the other end of the second common flow path in the first direction; a third common flow path extending in the first direction; a third inlet connected to one end of the third common flow path in the first direction; a fourth common flow path extending in the first direction; a head having a fourth inlet connected to the other end of the fourth common flow path in the first direction; a first flow path forming member having a first supply port to which a liquid is supplied and a first supply flow path that branches the liquid supplied to the first supply port to the first inlet and the second inlet of the head; a second flow path forming member that has a second supply port to which the liquid is supplied and a second supply flow path that branches the liquid supplied to the second supply port to the third inlet and the fourth inlet of the head, and is arranged with the first flow path forming member in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the up-down direction; A head system is provided that includes a heater that is arranged between the first flow path forming member and the second flow path forming member in the second direction and that heats the liquid flowing through the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the head system of the present invention, the number of parts can be reduced, thereby suppressing increases in manufacturing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the circulation of ink between an ink tank and a head system. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a head system according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 1A is a top view of the flow path forming member, FIG. 1B is a bottom view of the flow path forming member, and FIG. 1C is a side view of the flow path forming member. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which one side wall is removed from the main body of the flow path forming member. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a frame member and a head. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a flow path unit and an actuator. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The schematic configuration of a printer 1000 equipped with a head system of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The front, back, left, and right directions shown in Figure 1 are defined as the "front," "rear," "left," and "right" of the printer 1000. The front side of the paper is defined as "up," and the far side of the paper is defined as "down." In the following description, the front, back, left, right, top, and bottom directions will be used as appropriate.

[0010] <General Configuration of Printer 1000> As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1000 mainly includes a head system HS, a carriage 300, a platen 700, transport rollers 801 and 802, an ink tank IT, and a control device CONT.

[0011] A recording medium PM, such as paper, is placed on the upper surface of the platen 700. The carriage 300 is configured to be able to move back and forth in the left-right direction (hereinafter also referred to as the "scanning direction") along two guide rails 110, 120 in an area facing the platen 700. An endless belt 130 is connected to the carriage 300. The carriage 300 moves in the scanning direction as the endless belt 130 is driven by a carriage drive motor 140.

[0012] The head system HS is mounted on the carriage 300 and moves in the scanning direction together with the carriage 300. A plurality of nozzles 3 are formed on the underside of the head system HS. The head system HS ejects ink supplied from an ink tank IT from the plurality of nozzles 3 toward a recording medium PM placed on a platen 700.

[0013] The transport rollers 801 and 802 are arranged to sandwich the platen 700 in the front-rear direction. The transport rollers 801 and 802 transport the recording medium PM placed on the platen 700 forward (hereinafter also referred to as the "medium feed direction").

[0014] The control device CONT includes a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The control device CONT executes various processes, such as printing on the recording medium PM, using the ASIC in accordance with programs stored in the ROM. For example, in a printing process, the control device CONT controls the head system HS, the carriage drive motor 140, a conveyance motor (not shown) that drives the conveyance rollers 801 and 802, etc., based on a print command input from an external device (not shown) such as a PC, to print an image or the like on the recording medium PM. Specifically, while moving the head system HS together with the carriage 300 in the scanning direction, the control device CONT alternately performs an ink ejection operation that ejects ink from the nozzles 3 and a conveyance operation that conveys the recording medium PM a predetermined distance in the medium feed direction using the conveyance rollers 801 and 802.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the ink tank IT and the head system HS are connected by an ink supply pipe ST and an ink discharge pipe DT. The ink supply pipe ST forms a flow path through which ink supplied from the ink tank IT to the head system HS flows. The ink supply pipe ST is a branched pipe with one upstream end and two downstream ends. The upstream end of the ink supply pipe ST is connected to the ink tank IT. The two downstream ends of the ink supply pipe ST are respectively connected to two supply ports CP1 of the head system HS. The ink discharge pipe DT forms a flow path through which ink discharged from the head system HS flows to the ink tank IT. The ink discharge pipe DT is a branched pipe with two upstream ends and one downstream end. The two upstream ends of the ink discharge pipe DT are respectively connected to two discharge ports CP2 of the head system HS. One downstream end of the ink discharge pipe DT is connected to the ink tank IT.

[0016] A pump PP is provided in the flow path formed by the ink supply pipe ST, and when the pump PP is driven, a flow of ink circulates between the ink tank IT and the head system HS. Note that the pump PP may be provided in the flow path formed by the ink discharge pipe DT, rather than in the flow path formed by the ink supply pipe ST.

[0017] <Head System HS> 3, the head system HS includes a seat heater 30, two flow path forming members 40, a frame member 50 consisting of an alignment frame 51, a back end frame 52, and a front end frame 53, and a head 60. The two flow path forming members 40 are joined to the upper surface of the alignment frame 51, aligned in the scanning direction with the seat heater 30 sandwiched between them. The frame member 50 is a laminated body in which the front end frame 53, the back end frame 52, and the alignment frame 51 are stacked in this order from the bottom. The frame member 50 is joined to the upper surface of the head 60.

[0018] <Seat heater 30> The sheet heater 30 is a heater having a sheet shape that extends in the vertical direction and the medium feed direction. The sheet heater 30 is arranged so as to be in contact with a side wall located on the other side in the scanning direction of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction, and a side wall located on one side in the scanning direction of the flow path forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction. The sheet heater 30 heats the ink flowing inside the two flow path forming members 40 to a temperature appropriate for ejecting the ink from the nozzles 3.

[0019] <Flow path forming member 40> The flow path forming member 40 is a member in which a flow path for supplying ink supplied from the ink tank IT to the head 60 and a flow path for returning ink discharged from the head 60 to the ink tank IT are formed.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c), the flow path forming member 40 has a main body 40A and two protruding portions 40B. The main body 40A has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the medium feed direction and in the up-down direction. The two protruding portions 40B also have a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and protrude from the lower end of the main body 40A and both ends in the medium feed direction to one side in the scanning direction. As shown in FIG. 4(a), a supply port CP1 and a discharge port CP2 are formed in the top wall 40a of the flow path forming member 40. The supply port CP1 and the discharge port CP2 are aligned in the medium feed direction. As shown in FIG. 4(b), four circulation ports CP3 to CP6 are formed in the bottom wall 40b of the flow path forming member 40. The circulation ports CP3 and CP4 are formed at one end of the bottom wall 40b in the medium feed direction, and the circulation ports CP5 and CP6 are formed at the other end of the bottom wall 40b in the medium feed direction. The flow ports CP3 and CP4 are aligned in the scanning direction, and the flow ports CP5 and CP6 are also aligned in the scanning direction. The flow port CP3 is located in the protruding portion 40B on one side in the medium feed direction, and the flow port CP6 is located in the protruding portion 40B on the other side in the medium feed direction. The flow ports CP4 and CP5 are located in the main body portion 40A. As shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c), the main body portion 40A has a pair of side walls 40c and 40d facing each other in the scanning direction. Of the pair of side walls 40c and 40d, the side wall 40d on the other side in the scanning direction, i.e., the side wall 40d opposite the two protruding portions 40B, is formed from a metal plate such as aluminum or copper. The flow path forming member 40, except for the side wall 40d of the main body portion 40A, is formed from a resin material such as POM. The sheet heater 30 contacts the side wall 40d of the flow path forming member 40.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 5, three partition walls PW1, PW2, and PW3 are provided in the space inside the flow path forming member 40. Each of the partition walls PW1, PW2, and PW3 has a constant width in the scanning direction and extends in the medium feed direction. The partition wall PW2 is located above the partition wall PW3, and the partition wall PW1 is located above the partition wall PW2. The partition walls PW1 and PW2 are curved upward so that they are highest near the center in the medium feed direction. The partition wall PW3 extends approximately horizontally along the medium feed direction. One end of the partition wall PW1 in the medium feed direction is connected to one end of the partition wall PW2 in the medium feed direction, and the other end of the partition wall PW1 in the medium feed direction is connected to the other end of the partition wall PW2 in the medium feed direction. Furthermore, one end of the partition wall PW2 in the medium feed direction is connected to one end of the partition wall PW3 in the medium feed direction, and the other end of the partition wall PW2 in the medium feed direction is connected to the other end of the partition wall PW3 in the medium feed direction. The lower surface of the partition wall PW1, the upper surface of the partition wall PW2, and the side walls 40c and 40d of the main body 40 form a discharge flow path DC through which ink discharged from the head 60 flows. The lower surface of the partition wall PW2, the upper surface of the partition wall PW3, and the side walls 40c and 40d of the main body 40 form a supply flow path SC through which ink supplied to the head 60 flows. In other words, the supply flow path SC and the discharge flow path DC are integrally formed inside the flow path forming member 40. The supply flow path SC and the discharge flow path DC are formed along the side walls 40c and 40d of the main body 40. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the side walls 40c and 40d, i.e., in the scanning direction, the supply flow paths SC and the discharge flow paths DC are formed so as not to overlap with each other. The seat heater 30 is disposed so as to face the supply flow paths SC and the discharge flow paths DC in the scanning direction.

[0022] A through hole communicating with the supply port CP1 via the supply pipe SP is formed at the upper end of the partition wall PW2. A communication port communicating with the flow port CP3 is formed at the connecting portion between the partition walls PW2 and PW3 on one side in the medium feed direction, and a communication port communicating with the flow port CP5 is formed at the connecting portion on the other side in the medium feed direction. The communication port formed at the connecting portion on one side in the medium feed direction communicates with the flow port CP3 via a communication passage (not shown) formed in the protrusion 40B. The communication port formed at the connecting portion on the other side in the medium feed direction communicates with the flow port CP5 via a communication passage (not shown) formed in the main body 40A. Ink flowing in from the supply port CP1 flows into the supply channel SC via the supply pipe SP and the through hole in the partition wall PW2. The ink flowing into the supply channel SC is then divided into one side and the other side in the medium feed direction and passes through the communication ports formed at the connecting portions on one side and the other side in the medium feed direction to reach the flow ports CP3 and CP5.

[0023] A through hole communicating with the discharge port CP2 via the discharge pipe DP is formed at the upper end of the partition wall PW1. A communication port communicating with the flow port CP4 is formed at the connecting portion between the partition walls PW1 and PW2 on one side in the medium feed direction, and a communication port communicating with the flow port CP6 is formed at the connecting portion on the other side in the medium feed direction. The communication port formed at the connecting portion on one side in the medium feed direction communicates with the flow port CP4 via a communication passage formed in the main body 40A. The communication port formed at the connecting portion on the other side in the medium feed direction communicates with the flow port CP6 via a communication passage formed in the protrusion 40B. Ink discharged from the head 60, passing through the frame member 50, and flowing into the flow ports CP4 and CP6 flows into the discharge flow path DC through the communication port formed at the connecting portions on one and the other sides in the medium feed direction. The ink flowing into the discharge flow path DC then passes through the through hole in the partition wall PW1 and the discharge pipe DP and is discharged from the discharge port CP2.

[0024] As described above, the sidewall 40d of the main body 40 is formed from a metal plate such as aluminum or copper, and therefore functions as a heat transfer member that transfers heat from the seat heater 30 to the ink flowing through the supply flow path SC and the discharge flow path DC. In other words, the temperature of the ink flowing through the supply flow path SC and the discharge flow path DC is increased by the heat transferred from the seat heater 30 via the sidewall 40d. As shown in FIG. 5, the area of ​​the portion of the sidewall 40d that forms the supply flow path SC is larger than the area of ​​the portion that forms the discharge flow path DC. In other words, the area of ​​the inner wall surface IS1 of the supply flow path SC, which is formed by the sidewall 40d, is larger than the area of ​​the inner wall surface IS2 of the discharge flow path DC, which is formed by the sidewall 40d.

[0025] <Frame member 50> The frame member 50 is a member that connects the two flow path forming members 40 and the head 60 and fixes them to the carriage 300.

[0026] As described above, the frame member 50 is a structure in which the alignment frame 51, the back end frame 52, and the front end frame 53 are stacked in this order from the top.

[0027] The alignment frame 51 is a flat plate member made of, for example, SUS. The alignment frame 51 has a central through-hole TH that is rectangular in plan view and penetrates the center from top to bottom. 51 and the central through hole TH 51 Eight circular through-holes for flow paths th in a plan view are provided around the 51 The flow path through hole th 51 is the central through hole TH 51 Four of them are provided on each side of the medium feed direction, lined up in the scanning direction.

[0028] The back-end frame 52 is a rectangular parallelepiped member made of resin, for example. The back-end frame 52 has a central through-hole TH that is rectangular in plan view and penetrates the center from top to bottom. 52 and the central through hole TH 52 Eight circular through-holes for flow paths th in a plan view are provided around the 52The flow path through hole th 52 is the central through hole TH 52 Four of them are provided on each side of the medium feed direction, lined up in the scanning direction.

[0029] The front end frame 53 is a flat plate member made of, for example, SUS. The front end frame 53 has a central through-hole TH that is rectangular in plan view and penetrates the center from top to bottom. 53 and the central through hole TH 53 Eight through-holes th for flow passages, each of which is approximately rectangular in plan view, are provided around the 53 The flow path through hole th 53 is the central through hole TH 53 Four of them are provided on each side of the medium feed direction, lined up in the scanning direction.

[0030] When the alignment frame 51, the back-end frame 52, and the front-end frame 53 are stacked in this order from the top, the central through-hole TH of the alignment frame 51 51 , the central through-hole TH of the back end frame 52 52 , and the central through-hole TH of the front end frame 53 53 The eight through holes th for the flow passages of the alignment frame 51 are connected to each other to form a central through hole. 51 Each of the eight through-holes th for the flow passage of the back-end frame 52 52 and the eight through holes th for flow passages of the front end frame 53. 53 These are connected to each other to form eight through holes for flow paths.

[0031] The frame member 50 is fixed to the carriage 300 via an alignment frame 51 .

[0032] Of the four flow path through holes formed on one side of the central through hole in the medium feed direction, the two flow path through holes on one side in the scanning direction are communicated with the flow ports CP3 and CP4 of the flow path forming member 40 arranged on one side in the scanning direction, and the two flow path through holes on the other side in the scanning direction are communicated with the flow ports CP5 and CP6 of the flow path forming member 40 arranged on the other side in the scanning direction. Of the four flow path through holes formed on the other side of the central through hole in the medium feed direction, the two flow path through holes on one side in the scanning direction are communicated with the flow ports CP5 and CP6 of the flow path forming member 40 arranged on one side in the scanning direction, and the two flow path through holes on the other side in the scanning direction are communicated with the flow ports CP3 and CP4 of the flow path forming member 40 arranged on the other side in the scanning direction.

[0033] <Head 60> As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the head 60 includes a flow path unit 61, a piezoelectric actuator 62, and a discharge control unit 63.

[0034] 8, the flow path unit 61 is a structure in which an ink sealing film 61A, plates 61B to 61E, and a nozzle plate 61F are stacked in this order from top to bottom. Inside the flow path unit 61, a flow path CH (FIG. 7) is formed by removing a portion of each of the plates 61B to 61E and the nozzle plate 61F.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the flow channel CH has eight ink flow ports CP 61 ~CP 68 The system includes four manifold channels M1, M2, M3, and M4, and 48 individual channels ICH.

[0036] 8 ink outlets 61 ~CP 68 are provided at both ends of the flow passage unit 61 in the medium feeding direction, four at each end, aligned in the scanning direction. 61 ~CP 68 Each of these is formed by providing a through-hole coaxially in the ink sealing film 61A and the plates 61B and 61C.

[0037] Each of the four manifold flow paths M1 to M4 is a linear flow path extending in the medium feed direction. That is, the four manifold flow paths M1 to M4 extend parallel to one another. The four manifold flow paths M1 to M4 are provided in this order from one side to the other in the scanning direction.

[0038] Each of the four manifold channels M1 to M4 is formed by removing a portion of the plate 61D. That is, the four manifold channels M1 to M4 are formed at the same position in the vertical direction.

[0039] Each of the manifold flow paths M1 to M4 has an ink flow port CP 61 ~CP 68 It is connected to.

[0040] Each of the 48 individual channels ICH includes a pressure chamber 1, a descender channel 2, and a nozzle 3, as shown in FIG.

[0041] The pressure chamber 1 is a space for applying pressure to ink by the piezoelectric actuator 62, and is formed by removing a portion of the plate 61B. The upper surface of the pressure chamber 1 is formed by an ink sealing film 61A. The shape of the pressure chamber 1 in a plan view is an ellipse that is long in the scanning direction (FIG. 7), and one end in the scanning direction is connected to a flow path that extends to the manifold flow path M1 (or one of the manifold flow paths M2 to M4), and the other end in the scanning direction is connected to the descender flow path 2.

[0042] The descender flow paths 2 are flow paths that allow ink in the pressure chambers 1 to flow to the nozzles 3, and are formed by providing circular through-holes coaxially in each of the plates 61C to 61E. The descender flow paths 2 extend vertically from the pressure chambers 1 toward the nozzles 3.

[0043] The nozzles 3 are minute openings that eject ink toward the medium PM, and are formed in the nozzle plate 61F.

[0044] Twelve individual flow paths ICH are connected to each of the four manifold flow paths M1 to M4. The 12 individual flow paths ICH connected to one manifold flow path form an individual flow path row L aligned in the medium feeding direction. ICH In addition, one individual flow path array L ICH The nozzle row L3 is formed by the 12 nozzles 3 of the 12 individual flow paths ICH that form the nozzle row L3. In this embodiment, the 12 nozzles 3 that form a given nozzle row L3 and the 12 nozzles 3 that form the nozzle row L3 adjacent to that nozzle row are provided at positions slightly offset in the medium feed direction.

[0045] As shown in Figure 8, the piezoelectric actuator 62 is composed of a first piezoelectric layer 621 provided on the upper surface of the flow path unit 61, a second piezoelectric layer 622 above the first piezoelectric layer 621, a common electrode 623 sandwiched between the first piezoelectric layer 621 and the second piezoelectric layer 622, and a plurality of individual electrodes 624 provided on the upper surface of the second piezoelectric layer 622.

[0046] The first piezoelectric layer 621 is provided on the upper surface of the ink sealing film 61A so as to cover all of the multiple individual channels ICH formed in the channel unit 61. A common electrode 623 is provided on the upper surface of the first piezoelectric layer 621 so as to cover almost the entire upper surface of the first piezoelectric layer 621, and a second piezoelectric layer 622 is provided on the upper surface of the common electrode 623 so as to cover the entire areas of the first piezoelectric layer 621 and the common electrode 623.

[0047] The common electrode 623 is grounded via a wiring (not shown) and is always maintained at ground potential.

[0048] Each of the individual electrodes 624 has a substantially rectangular planar shape with the scanning direction as its longitudinal direction. The individual electrodes 624 are provided on the upper surface of the second piezoelectric layer 622 so as to face the pressure chambers 1, respectively.

[0049] In the structure in which the first piezoelectric layer 621, the second piezoelectric layer 622, the common electrode 623, and the plurality of individual electrodes 624 are arranged as described above, the portions of the second piezoelectric layer 622 sandwiched between the common electrode 623 and each of the plurality of individual electrodes 624 become active portions 622a polarized in the thickness direction.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 6, the discharge control unit 63 includes a holding plate 631, an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) 632 wrapped around the holding plate 631, and two driver ICs 633 mounted on the FPC 632.

[0051] A plurality of contacts (not shown) are formed on the FPC 632 at a portion located on the lower surface 631d side of the holding plate 631. Two driver ICs 633 are mounted on the FPC 632 at a portion located on the upper surface 631u side of the holding plate 631.

[0052] The discharge control unit 63 is disposed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric actuator 62 so that the multiple contacts of the FPC 632 are electrically connected to the multiple individual electrodes 624 of the piezoelectric actuator 62. As a result, each of the multiple individual electrodes 624 of the piezoelectric actuator 62 is connected to the driver IC 633 via the FPC 632. In addition, the driver IC 633 is connected to the control unit CONT via wiring (not shown).

[0053] The head 60 is fixed to the lower surface of the front end frame 53 of the frame member 50. In this state, the eight ink flow ports CP 61 ~CP 68 Specifically, the four ink flow ports CP 61 ~CP 64 Among them, two ink flow ports CP on one side of the scanning direction 61 , C.P. 62 The four ink flow ports CP on one side in the medium feed direction communicate with two of the four flow path through holes on one side in the scanning direction, which are formed in the frame member 50.61 ~CP 64 Of these, the two ink flow ports CP 63 , C.P. 64 are in communication with two of the four through holes for flow passages on one side in the medium feed direction formed in the frame member 50. Similarly, the four ink circulation ports CP 65 ~CP 68 Among them, two ink flow ports CP on one side of the scanning direction 65 , C.P. 66 The four ink flow ports CP on the other side of the medium feed direction communicate with two of the four flow path through holes on the other side of the medium feed direction formed in the frame member 50. 65 ~CP 68 Of these, the two ink flow ports CP 67 , C.P. 68 are in communication with two flow path through holes on the other side in the scanning direction out of four flow path through holes on the other side in the medium feed direction formed in the frame member 50. In addition, the piezoelectric actuator 62 and the discharge control unit 63 are disposed inside the central through hole TH.

[0054] <Flow of ink in the frame member 50 and the head 60> The ink flowing out from the flow passage forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction passes through the first flow passage through-hole from one side in the scanning direction on one side in the medium feed direction of the frame member 50, and reaches the ink flow passage through the ink flow passage CP 61 After that, the ink flows through the manifold flow path M1 from one side to the other in the medium feeding direction, and passes through the ink flow port CP 65 Then, the ink flow port CP 65 The ink that has reached this position passes through the first flow path through-hole from one side in the scanning direction on the other side of the frame member 50 in the medium feeding direction, and flows into the flow port CP6 of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction.

[0055] The ink flowing out from the flow passage forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction passes through the second flow passage through-hole from one side in the scanning direction on the other side in the medium feed direction of the frame member 50, and reaches the ink flow passage through the ink flow passage CP 66 After that, the ink flows through the manifold flow channel M2 from the other side to the one side in the medium feeding direction, and passes through the ink flow port CP 62 Then, the ink flow port CP 62 The ink that has reached this position passes through the second flow path through-hole from one side in the scanning direction, on one side of the frame member 50 in the medium feeding direction, and flows into the flow port CP4 of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction.

[0056] On the other hand, the ink flowing out from the flow port CP3 of the flow path forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction passes through the fourth flow path through-hole from one side in the scanning direction on the other side in the medium feed direction of the frame member 50, and 68 After that, the ink flows through the manifold flow path M4 from the other side to the one side in the medium feeding direction, and passes through the ink flow port CP 64 Then, the ink flow port CP 64 The ink that has reached this position passes through the fourth flow path through-hole from one side in the scanning direction, on one side of the frame member 50 in the medium feeding direction, and flows into the flow port CP6 of the flow path forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction.

[0057] The ink flowing out from the flow port CP5 of the flow path forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction passes through the third flow path through hole from one side in the scanning direction on one side in the medium feed direction of the frame member 50, and 63 After that, the ink flows through the manifold flow channel M3 from one side to the other in the medium feeding direction, and passes through the ink flow port CP 67 Then, the ink flow port CP 67 The ink that has reached this position passes through the third flow path through-hole from one side in the scanning direction on the other side of the frame member 50 in the medium feeding direction, and flows into the flow port CP4 of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction.

[0058] In this embodiment, the medium feed direction is an example of a "first direction," and the scanning direction is an example of a "second direction." The flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction is an example of a "first flow path forming member," and the supply flow paths SC and discharge flow paths DC of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction are examples of a "first supply flow path" and a "first discharge flow path," respectively. The flow path forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction is an example of a "second flow path forming member," and the supply flow paths SC and discharge flow paths DC of the flow path forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction are examples of a "second supply flow path" and a "second discharge flow path," respectively. The supply port CP1 and discharge port CP2 of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction are examples of a "first supply port" and a "first discharge port," respectively. In the supply flow path SC of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction, the inner wall surface formed by the side wall 40d and the side wall 40c is an example of the "first inner wall surface of the first supply flow path" and the "second inner wall surface of the first supply flow path." In the discharge flow path DC of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction, the inner wall surface formed by the side wall 40d and the side wall 40c is an example of the "first inner wall surface of the first discharge flow path" and the "second inner wall surface of the first discharge flow path." In the supply flow path SC of the flow path forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction, the inner wall surface formed by the side wall 40d and the side wall 40c is an example of the "first inner wall surface of the second supply flow path" and the "second inner wall surface of the second supply flow path." In the discharge flow path DC of the flow path forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction, the inner wall surface formed by the side wall 40d and the side wall 40c is an example of the "first inner wall surface of the second discharge flow path" and the "second inner wall surface of the second discharge flow path." The manifold flow paths M1, M2, M3, and M4 of the head 60 are examples of the "first common flow path," "second common flow path," "third common flow path," and "fourth common flow path," respectively. An ink flow port CP that communicates with one end of the manifold flow path M1 on one side in the medium feeding direction 61 is an example of a "first inlet", and the ink flow port CP 65 is an example of a "first outlet." The ink flow port CP communicates with the end of the manifold flow path M2 on the other side in the medium feeding direction. 66is an example of a "second inlet", and the ink flow port CP 62 is an example of a "second outlet." The ink flow port CP communicates with the end of the manifold flow path M3 on one side in the medium feeding direction. 63 is an example of a "third inlet", and the ink flow port CP 67 is an example of a "third outlet." The ink flow port CP 68 is an example of the "fourth inlet", and the ink flow port CP 64 is an example of a "fourth exit."

[0059] According to this embodiment, one sheet heater 30 is sandwiched between two flow path forming members 40, and a supply flow path SC and a discharge flow path DC are formed in each flow path forming member 40. Therefore, the ink flowing through the supply flow path SC of one flow path forming member 40, the ink flowing through the discharge flow path DC of one flow path forming member 40, the ink flowing through the supply flow path SC of the other flow path forming member 40, and the ink flowing through the discharge flow path DC of the other flow path forming member 40 can be efficiently heated by one sheet heater 30. Therefore, compared to when a heater is provided for each flow path forming member or for each supply flow path and each discharge flow path, the number of parts can be reduced, and an increase in manufacturing costs can be suppressed.

[0060] In this embodiment, the sheet heater 30 has a sheet shape that extends in the vertical and media feed directions and is in contact with the sidewall 40d formed by a metal plate in the main body 40A of the flow path forming member 40. Furthermore, inside the flow path member 40, the supply flow paths SC and the discharge flow paths DC are formed along the sidewall 40d. This allows heat from the sheet heater 30 to be efficiently transferred to the ink flowing through the supply flow paths SC and the discharge flow paths DC. Furthermore, the area of ​​the inner wall surface IS1 of the supply flow path SC formed by the sidewall 40d is larger than the area of ​​the inner wall surface IS2 of the discharge flow path DC formed by the sidewall 40d. This allows the ink flowing through the supply flow path SC to be heated more efficiently than the ink flowing through the discharge flow path DC. Furthermore, for example, when ink is continuously ejected from multiple nozzles 3, negative pressure may cause ink in the discharge flow paths DC to flow back into the head 60 and be ejected from the nozzles 3. In this regard, in this embodiment, the ink flowing through the discharge flow path DC can also be heated, so that even if the ink in the discharge flow path DC flows back into the head 60, the ejection characteristics of the nozzle 3 can be maintained within a certain range.

[0061] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, ink heated to an appropriate temperature by the sheet heater 30 can be divided and flowed into ends of one side of the manifold flow paths M1 and M3 in the medium feed direction and ends of the other side of the manifold flow paths M2 and M4 in the medium feed direction by the two flow path forming members 40 and the frame member 50. As a result, the ink flows in opposite directions in two manifold flow paths adjacent to each other in the scanning direction, and the temperature gradient in the medium feed direction in the two manifold flow paths can be alleviated.

[0062] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the two flow path forming members 40 are arranged so as to overlap one head 60 (nozzle plate 61F) in the vertical direction, which allows the size of the head system HS to be reduced in the scanning direction and the medium feed direction.

[0063] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the two flow path forming members 40 are joined to the upper surface of the alignment frame 51 that constitutes the frame member 50, but this is not limiting. For example, the frame member 50 may not be provided, and the two flow path forming members 40 may be joined to the upper surface of the flow path unit 61 that constitutes the head 60.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the same type (e.g., color) of ink is supplied from one ink tank IT to the two flow path forming members 40 provided in one head system HS, but different types of ink may be supplied from two ink tanks. Also, although one head system HS is mounted on the carriage 300, multiple head systems HS may be mounted on the carriage 300.

[0066] The printer 1000 in the above embodiment is a so-called serial type printer in which ink is ejected from the nozzles 3 of the head 60 onto the recording medium PM while the head system HS moves in the scanning direction together with the carriage 300, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a so-called line type printer in which ink is ejected onto the recording medium PM transported in the medium feed direction from a line head that is fixed to the printer housing and is long in a direction perpendicular to the medium feed direction.

[0067] The liquid ejected from the nozzles is not limited to ink, and may be a liquid other than ink (for example, a treatment liquid that aggregates or precipitates components in the ink).

[0068] The recording medium PM is not limited to paper, but may be, for example, cloth, a resin member, or the like.

[0069] The present invention is not limited to printers, but can also be applied to facsimiles, copiers, multifunction machines, etc. The present invention can also be applied to liquid ejection devices used for purposes other than image recording (for example, liquid ejection devices that eject conductive liquid onto a substrate to form a conductive pattern). [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1. Pressure chamber 3 nozzles HS Head System 30 Seat heater 40 Flow path forming member SC supply channel DC exhaust flow path 50 Frame members 60 head 300 carriages 700 Platen 801, 802 Conveyor rollers 1000 printers

Claims

1. A head system, a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction; a first common flow path extending in the first direction; a first inlet connected to one end of the first common flow path in the first direction; a second common flow path extending in the first direction; a second inlet connected to the other end of the second common flow path in the first direction; a third common flow path extending in the first direction; a third inlet connected to one end of the third common flow path in the first direction; a fourth common flow path extending in the first direction; a head having a fourth inlet connected to the other end of the fourth common flow path in the first direction; a first flow path forming member having a first supply port to which a liquid is supplied and a first supply flow path that branches the liquid supplied to the first supply port to the first inlet and the second inlet of the head; a second flow path forming member that includes a second supply port to which the liquid is supplied and a second supply flow path that branches the liquid supplied to the second supply port to the third inlet and the fourth inlet of the head, and is arranged with the first flow path forming member in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the up-down direction; a heater disposed between the first flow path forming member and the second flow path forming member in the second direction, the heater heating the liquid flowing through the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path.

2. The head system according to claim 1 , wherein the heater has a sheet shape that extends in the first direction and the vertical direction.

3. the first flow path forming member includes a first heat transfer member in contact with the heater, 3. The head system according to claim 1, wherein the second flow path forming member includes a second heat transfer member in contact with the heater.

4. the first flow path forming member further includes a first discharge port through which the liquid is discharged and a first discharge flow path through which the liquid discharged from the first discharge port flows, A head system described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second flow path forming member further has a second discharge port through which the liquid is discharged and a second discharge flow path through which the liquid discharged from the second discharge port flows.

5. When viewed from the second direction, the first supply flow path and the first discharge flow path do not overlap in the second direction, and the second supply flow path and the second discharge flow path do not overlap in the second direction, The head system according to claim 4 , wherein the heater is disposed so as to face the first supply flow path and the second supply flow path in the second direction.

6. the first supply flow path has a first inner wall surface and a second inner wall surface that face each other in the second direction, In the second direction, the first inner wall surface of the first supply flow path is located between the heater and the second inner wall surface of the first supply flow path, the first discharge flow path has a first inner wall surface and a second inner wall surface that face each other in the second direction, In the second direction, the first inner wall surface of the first discharge flow path is located between the heater and the second inner wall surface of the first discharge flow path, the second supply flow path has a first inner wall surface and a second inner wall surface that face each other in the second direction, In the second direction, the first inner wall surface of the second supply flow path is located between the heater and the second inner wall surface of the second supply flow path, the second discharge flow path has a first inner wall surface and a second inner wall surface that face each other in the second direction, In the second direction, the first inner wall surface of the second discharge flow path is located between the heater and the second inner wall surface of the second discharge flow path, an area of ​​the first inner wall surface of the first supply flow path is larger than an area of ​​the first inner wall surface of the first discharge flow path; The head system according to claim 4 , wherein an area of ​​the first inner wall surface of the second supply flow path is larger than an area of ​​the first inner wall surface of the second discharge flow path.

7. The head a first outlet connected to the other end of the first common flow path in the first direction; a second outlet connected to one end of the second common flow path in the first direction; a third outlet connected to the other end of the third common flow path in the first direction; a fourth outlet connected to one end of the fourth common flow path in the first direction, the liquid discharged from the first outlet and the second outlet is combined in the first discharge flow path and discharged from the first discharge port, The head system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the liquid discharged from the third outlet and the fourth outlet is combined in the second discharge flow path and discharged from the second discharge port.

8. 8. The head system according to claim 5, wherein the heater is further disposed so as to face the first discharge flow path and the second discharge flow path in the second direction.

9. the head includes a nozzle plate in which the plurality of nozzles are formed, 9. The head system according to claim 1, wherein the first flow path forming member and the second flow path forming member overlap with the nozzle plate in the vertical direction.

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