Head System

Abstract

To provide a head system which can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost by reducing the number of components.SOLUTION: A head system HS includes: a head 60; and a flow channel forming member 40 in which a supply flow channel SC in which ink supplied to the head 60 flows, and a discharge flow channel DC in which the ink discharged from the head 60 flows are formed integrally. The flow channel forming member 40 includes one film member which forms one surface of the supply flow channel and one surface of the discharge flow channel DC, and compliance of the supply flow channel SC is higher than compliance of the discharge flow channel DC.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a droplet ejection device has been known that includes a head that ejects droplets, a supply flow path through which liquid supplied to the head flows, and a discharge flow path through which the liquid discharged from the head without being ejected as droplets flows. For example, the droplet ejection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a supply-side damper provided in the supply flow path and a discharge-side damper provided in the discharge flow path. In consideration of the influence of pressure fluctuations when droplets are ejected from the head, the supply-side damper is formed to be larger in size than the discharge-side damper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6355164 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the droplet ejection device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the supply-side damper and the discharge-side damper are provided as separate members, 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 has an object to provide a head system that can suppress an increase 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: Head and a first flow path forming member in which a first supply flow path through which the liquid supplied to the head flows and a first discharge flow path through which the liquid discharged from the head flows are integrally formed, the first flow path forming member has one first damper that forms one surface of the first supply flow path and one surface of the first discharge flow path, A head system is provided in which the compliance of the first supply flow path is greater than the compliance of the first exhaust 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 a film member has been removed from a main body portion 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. A heater HT is provided upstream of the branch point of the flow path formed by the ink supply pipe ST. The heater HT heats the ink flowing through the ink supply pipe ST to a temperature appropriate for ejection from the nozzles 3 of the head system HS. The pump PP may be provided not in the flow path formed by the ink supply pipe ST but in the flow path formed by the ink discharge pipe DT.

[0017] <Head System HS> 3, the head system HS includes a frame member 50 consisting of two flow path forming members 40, 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 while being aligned in the scanning direction. 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] <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.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c), the flow path forming member 40 has a main body 40A and two protrusions 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 protrusions 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 on the upper surface 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 on the lower surface 40b of the flow path forming member 40. The circulation ports CP3 and CP4 are formed at one end of the lower surface 40b of the flow path forming member 40 in the medium feed direction, and the circulation ports CP5 and CP6 are formed at the other end of the lower surface 40b of the flow path forming member 40 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 surfaces 40c and 40d that face each other in the scanning direction. Of the pair of side surfaces 40c and 40d, the side surface 40c on one side in the scanning direction, i.e., the side surface from which the two protruding portions 40B protrude, is formed by welding a film member such as a PET film. The outer surface of the flow path forming member 40, except for the side surface 40c of the main body portion 40A, is formed of a resin material such as POM.

[0020] 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 surfaces 40c and 40d of the main body portion 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 surfaces 40c and 40d of the main body portion 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 surfaces 40c and 40d of the main body portion 40. Furthermore, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the side surfaces 40c and 40d, that is, in the scanning direction, the discharge flow path DC is formed so as to partially surround the upper side of the supply flow path SC.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] As described above, the side surface 40c of the main body 40 is formed of a film material such as a PET film, and therefore functions as a damper that absorbs pressure fluctuations of the ink flowing through the supply flow path SC and the discharge flow path DC. In other words, the surface on one side of the supply flow path SC in the scanning direction and the surface on one side of the discharge flow path DC in the scanning direction are formed by a single damper. As shown in FIG. 5, the cross-sectional area of ​​the supply flow path SC in a cross section parallel to the vertical direction and the medium feed direction (i.e., a cross section parallel to the side surfaces 40c and 40d of the main body 40) is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the discharge flow path DC in a cross section parallel to the vertical direction and the medium feed direction (i.e., a cross section parallel to the side surfaces 40c and 40d of the main body 40). In other words, the area of ​​the portion of the side surface 40c formed of a film material that forms one surface of the supply flow path SC is larger than the area of ​​the portion that forms one surface of the discharge flow path DC. Therefore, the volume of the supply flow path SC is larger than the volume of the discharge flow path DC. 5, at and near the center of the supply flow path SC and the discharge flow path DC in the medium feed direction, the vertical length L1 of the supply flow path SC is greater than the vertical length L2 of the discharge flow path DC. Therefore, near the center in the medium feed direction, where the side surface 40c formed by the film member is likely to deform, the amount of deformation of the supply flow path SC can be made greater than the amount of deformation of the discharge flow path DC. As a result, the compliance of the supply flow path SC is greater than the compliance of the discharge flow path DC, and in this embodiment, the compliance of the supply flow path SC is more than twice the compliance of the discharge flow path DC. Specifically, the compliance of the discharge flow path DC is approximately 0.05 to 0.09 ml / kps, while the compliance of the supply flow path SC is approximately 0.1 to 0.2 ml / kps.

[0024] <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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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 52 The 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] The frame member 50 is fixed to the carriage 300 via an alignment frame 51 .

[0031] 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.

[0032] <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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] Each of the manifold flow paths M1 to M4 has an ink flow port CP 61 ~CP 68 It is connected to.

[0039] Each of the 48 individual channels ICH includes a pressure chamber 1, a descender channel 2, and a nozzle 3, as shown in FIG.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] The nozzles 3 are minute openings that eject ink toward the medium PM, and are formed in the nozzle plate 61F.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] The common electrode 623 is grounded via a wiring (not shown) and is always maintained at ground potential.

[0047] 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.

[0048] In a 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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).

[0052] 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 circulation 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 on the other side of the scanning direction 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 on the other side of the scanning direction 67 , C.P. 68are 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.

[0053] <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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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 68After 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.

[0056] The ink flowing out from the flow passage opening CP5 of the flow passage forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction passes through the third 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 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.

[0057] In this embodiment, the medium feed direction is an example of a "first direction," the scanning direction is an example of a "second direction," and the up-down direction is an example of a "third 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 side surfaces 40c and 40d of the main body portion 40A of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction are examples of a "first side surface" and a "second side surface," respectively. The film member forming the side surface 40c of the main body portion 40A of the flow path forming member 40 on one side in the scanning direction is an example of a "first damper," and the film member forming the side surface 40c of the main body portion 40A of the flow path forming member 40 on the other side in the scanning direction is an example of a "second damper." The manifold flow paths M1 and M2 of the head 60 are examples of a "first common flow path" and a "second common flow path," respectively. The ink flow port CP that communicates with the 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. 66 is an example of a "second inlet", and the ink flow port CP 62 is an example of a "second exit."

[0058] According to this embodiment, the supply flow path SC and the discharge flow path DC are formed in one flow path forming member 40, and one surface of the supply flow path SC and one surface of the discharge flow path DC are formed by a single film member (damper). Therefore, compared to when separate dampers are provided for the supply flow path and the discharge flow path, the number of parts can be reduced, and an increase in manufacturing costs can be suppressed.

[0059] In this embodiment, the head system HS ejects ink from the nozzles 3 of the head 60 while moving in the scanning direction together with the carriage 300. Therefore, dynamic pressure accompanying movement in the scanning direction acts on the ink flowing through the supply flow paths SC and discharge flow paths DC of the flow path forming member 40. Furthermore, water hammer pressure acts on the ink flowing through the supply flow paths SC of the flow path forming member 40 when the ink is ejected. In this respect, the supply flow paths SC of this embodiment have greater compliance than the discharge flow paths DC, and therefore can adequately absorb pressure fluctuations in the supply flow paths SC that are greater than those in the discharge flow paths DC.

[0060] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of ​​the supply flow path SC parallel to the vertical direction and the medium feed direction is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the discharge flow path DC parallel to the vertical direction and the medium feed direction. Therefore, the volume of the supply flow path SC is larger than the volume of the discharge flow path DC. Furthermore, of the side surface 40c formed by the film member, the area of ​​the portion that forms one surface of the supply flow path SC is larger than the area of ​​the portion that forms one surface of the discharge flow path DC. Therefore, by making the compliance of the supply flow path SC larger than the compliance of the discharge flow path DC, pressure fluctuations within the supply flow path SC can be sufficiently absorbed.

[0061] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when viewed in the scanning direction, the discharge flow path DC is formed to partially surround the upper side of the supply flow path SC, and near the center, including the center of the supply flow path SC and the discharge flow path DC in the medium feed direction, the vertical length L1 of the supply flow path SC is greater than the vertical length L2 of the discharge flow path DC. Therefore, near the center in the medium feed direction where the side surface 40c formed by the film member is likely to deform, the amount of deformation of the supply flow path SC can be greater than the amount of deformation of the discharge flow path DC. As a result, the compliance of the supply flow path SC can be greater than the compliance of the discharge flow path DC.

[0062] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, ink heated to an appropriate temperature by the heater HT can be divided and flowed into ends of the manifold flow paths M1 and M3 on one side in the medium feed direction and ends of the manifold flow paths M2 and M4 on the other side 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.

[0063] 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.

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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.

[0068] 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).

[0069] The recording medium PM is not limited to paper, but may be, for example, cloth, a resin member, or the like.

[0070] 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]

[0071] 1. Pressure chamber 3 nozzles HS Head System 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, Head and a first flow path forming member in which a first supply flow path through which the liquid supplied to the head flows and a first discharge flow path through which the liquid discharged from the head flows are integrally formed, the first flow path forming member has one first damper that forms one surface of the first supply flow path and one surface of the first discharge flow path, the compliance of the first supply flow path is greater than the compliance of the first discharge flow path; the first flow path forming member has a side surface formed by the first damper, A head system, wherein the first supply flow path and the first discharge flow path are formed along the side surface.

2. The head system according to claim 1 , wherein the first discharge flow path is formed so as to partially surround the first supply flow path when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the side surface of the first flow path forming member.

3. the first supply flow path and the first discharge flow path extend in a first direction along the side surface of the first flow path forming member, 3. A head system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein at the center of the first supply flow path and the first discharge flow path in the first direction, the width of the first supply flow path in a second direction parallel to the side surface and perpendicular to the first direction is greater than the width of the first discharge flow path in the second direction.

4. 4. The head system according to claim 1, wherein the compliance of the first supply flow path is at least twice as large as the compliance of the first discharge flow path.

5. 5. The head system according to claim 1, wherein the first supply flow path has a larger volume than the first discharge flow path.

6. A head system described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the area of ​​the portion of the first damper that forms one side of the first supply flow path is larger than the area of ​​the portion that forms one side of the first discharge flow path.

7. A head system, Head and a first flow path forming member in which a first supply flow path through which the liquid supplied to the head flows and a first discharge flow path through which the liquid discharged from the head flows are integrally formed, the first flow path forming member has one first damper that forms one surface of the first supply flow path and one surface of the first discharge flow path, the compliance of the first supply flow path is greater than the compliance of the first discharge flow path; The head includes: 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 first outlet connected to the other 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 second outlet connected to one end of the second common flow path in the first direction;

8. the first supply flow path extends in the first direction and is connected to the first inlet and the second inlet of the head, The head system according to claim 7 , wherein the first discharge flow path extends in the first direction and is connected to the first outlet and the second outlet of the head, respectively.

9. a second flow path forming member in which a second supply flow path through which the liquid supplied to the head flows and a second discharge flow path through which the liquid discharged from the head flows are integrally formed, the second flow path forming member has one second damper that forms one surface of the second supply flow path and one surface of the second discharge flow path, the head has a plurality of nozzles aligned in a first direction; the first flow path forming member and the second flow path forming member are arranged side by side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first flow path forming member has a first side surface and a second side surface that face each other in the second direction, the second flow path forming member has a third side surface and a fourth side surface facing each other in the second direction, In the second direction, the second side surface is located between the first side surface and the second flow path forming member, and the third side surface is located between the fourth side surface and the first flow path forming member, the first side surface of the first flow path forming member is formed by the first damper, 7. The head system according to claim 1, wherein the fourth side surface of the second flow path forming member is formed by the second damper.

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

Images