Liquid Ejection Head with Coupled Piezoelectric Actuator Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piezoelectric actuators used in liquid ejection apparatuses, such as inkjet printer heads, are brittle and have a fine shape, making them difficult to mount easily.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection head design featuring a coupling portion with a mounting portion that integrates a plurality of piezoelectric elements, allowing for easier mounting through anisotropic conductive film or solder mounting, and a common electrode configuration that enhances structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piezoelectric elements are divided into fine columnar shapes with grooves, then the actuator performance is improved, but the ease of mounting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The piezoelectric body is divided into multiple columnar piezoelectric elements by forming grooves, which improves actuator performance while the patent addresses the mounting difficulty through additional coupling structures
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling portion is formed to integrally couple multiple piezoelectric elements together, creating a unified structure that improves ease of mounting while maintaining the performance benefits of divided elements
Solution Approach 3:
The coupling portion extends in a direction intersecting the groove directions, adding a new dimensional aspect to the structure that provides mounting surfaces without interfering with the columnar element division
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design improves ease of mounting and ensures reliable connection of piezoelectric elements, enhancing the overall structural strength and reliability of the liquid ejection apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
A piezoelectric actuator using a piezoelectric body such as lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) is used as a drive source of a liquid ejection apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection head includes a nozzle plate including nozzles arranged in a first direction, pressure chambers arranged along the first direction and capable of storing liquid, each pressure chamber communicating with one of the nozzles, a structure including a first base portion continuously extending along the first direction and first actuator elements separate from each other, each actuator element extending from the first base portion to one of the pressure chambers, first electrodes separate from each other, each first electrode extending from one side surface of the base portion to one side surface of one of the actuator elements, and a first driving circuit connected to each of the first electrodes on said one side surface of the first base portion and configured to output signals for actuating the first actuator elements to the first electrodes.