JP7031399B2 - Liquid discharge head, head module, head unit, liquid discharge unit, liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head, a head module, a head unit, a liquid discharge unit, and a device for discharging a liquid.

In the liquid discharge head that discharges the liquid, it is necessary to suppress crosstalk in which the pressure fluctuation accompanying the liquid discharge affects the discharge characteristics of other pressure chambers (individual liquid chambers) via the common flow path.

Conventionally, as a liquid discharge head, a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, two liquid supply paths for supplying different colors are alternately arranged, and liquids of different colors are discharged along the longitudinal direction of the liquid supply path. It is known that the nozzles are arranged alternately (Patent Document 1).

Further, it is known that a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, two liquid supply paths for supplying different colors are alternately arranged, and nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction eject different colors. (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-193678 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-118109

In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a group of nozzles arranged along the longitudinal direction of the liquid supply path is used as a nozzle row, the width of the liquid supply path in the same direction is larger than the distance between adjacent nozzle rows. It gets narrower. Further, even in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, the width of the liquid supply path is narrower than the distance of the nozzle rows arranged along the sub-scanning direction.

As described above, when the width of the liquid supply path is narrow, there is a problem that the crosstalk generated by the pressure wave accompanying the discharge propagating to the liquid supply path becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to reduce crosstalk.

In order to solve the above problems, the liquid discharge head according to the present invention is
Multiple nozzles that eject liquid and
A plurality of pressure chambers communicating with each of the plurality of nozzles,
A plurality of individual supply channels, each communicating with the plurality of pressure chambers, are provided.
The plurality of nozzles are arranged along the first direction and along the second direction that intersects the first direction with a predetermined inclination.
It communicates with the first common flow path tributary communicating with the individual supply flow path leading to one of the two nozzles adjacent to each other in the first direction and the individual supply flow path communicating with the other nozzle. A second common flow path tributary is provided,
The first common flow path tributary and the second common flow path tributary extend in the second direction and are alternately arranged in the first direction.
When an array of two or more nozzles arranged along the second direction is used as a nozzle array,
The width of each of the first common flow path tributary and the second common flow path tributary is wider than the distance between the adjacent nozzle rows.

According to the present invention, crosstalk can be reduced.

It is a plane explanatory view explaining the flow path arrangement structure of the liquid discharge head which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the 3rd direction T of the head. A plane for explaining the flow path arrangement configuration of the liquid discharge head according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which provides the evaluation of the occurrence state of the wood grain unevenness about the head module which arranged the plurality of heads of 1st Embodiment. It is also an explanatory diagram provided for the explanation of the comparative example. It is a perspective view of the main part of the liquid discharge head which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective explanatory view of an example of the head module which concerns on this invention. It is an exploded perspective explanatory view seen from the nozzle surface side of the head module. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of an example of the apparatus which discharges a liquid which concerns on this invention. It is a plane explanatory view of an example of the head unit of the same apparatus. It is a plane explanatory view of the main part of another example of the printing apparatus as the apparatus which ejects a liquid which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the main part side surface of the apparatus. It is a plane explanatory view of the main part of another example of the liquid discharge unit which concerns on this invention. It is a front explanatory view of still another example of the liquid discharge unit which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a plan explanatory view for explaining a flow path arrangement configuration of a liquid discharge head according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view along a third direction T of the head, and FIG. An explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line A, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

The liquid discharge head 1 includes a nozzle plate 10, a flow path plate (individual flow path member) 20, a diaphragm member 30, a piezoelectric element 40, a common flow path member 50, and the like.

The nozzle plate 10 has a plurality of nozzles 11 for discharging a liquid. The plurality of nozzles 11 are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. Here, the plurality of nozzles 11 are arranged side by side in the first direction F, the second direction S intersecting the first direction F, and the third direction T intersecting the first direction F and the second direction S. There is.

In the present embodiment, the first direction F is the direction in which the distance between the nozzles 11 is the shortest among the three directions in which the nozzles 11 are lined up, and the direction in which the nozzle rows of the plurality of nozzles 11 arranged in the second direction S are lined up. Is.

Further, the second direction S is a direction in which the common supply channel tributaries 52A and 52B, which will be described later, extend.

The third direction T is a direction arranged in the pressure chamber 21 and the individual supply flow path 22 described later.

The individual flow path member 20 forms a plurality of pressure chambers (individual liquid chambers) 21 communicating with each of the plurality of nozzles 11 and an individual supply flow path 22 which is a plurality of individual flow paths communicating with the plurality of pressure chambers 21. is doing. The individual supply flow path 22 is composed of a fluid resistance portion (thin portion in FIG. 1).

The diaphragm member 30 forms a diaphragm 31 which is a deformable wall surface of the pressure chamber 21, and the diaphragm 31 is integrally provided with a piezoelectric element 40. Further, the diaphragm member 30 is formed with an opening 32 leading to the individual supply flow path 22. The piezoelectric element 40 is a pressure generating means that deforms the diaphragm 31 to pressurize the liquid in the pressure chamber 21.

The common flow path member 50 leads to a first common supply flow tributary 52A, which is a plurality of first common flow path tributaries leading to two or more individual supply flow paths 22, and also to two or more other individual supply flow paths 22. It forms a second common supply channel tributary 52B, which is a plurality of second common channel tributaries.

Here, the first common supply channel tributary 52A communicating with the individual supply channel 22 communicating with one of the two nozzles 11A and 1B adjacent to each other in the first direction F , and the other nozzle 11B. The second common supply channel tributary 52B communicating with the individual supply channel 22 extends in the second direction and is arranged alternately adjacent to the first direction F.

The common flow path member 50 is formed with a supply port 54 through which the opening 32 of the individual supply flow path 22 and the first common supply flow path tributary 52A or the second common supply flow path tributary 52B pass.

Further, the common flow path member 50 includes one or a plurality of first common supply flow path main streams 56A leading to a plurality of first common supply flow path tributaries 52A and one or a plurality of common flow path members 50 leading to a plurality of second common supply flow path tributaries 52B. The second common supply flow path main stream 56B is formed.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the first common supply flow path main stream 56A and the second common supply flow path main stream 56B are arranged across the arrangement region of the nozzle 11. Therefore, the first common supply channel tributary 52A extends from the first common supply channel main stream 56A toward the second common supply channel main stream 56B, and the second common supply channel tributary 52B is the second common. It extends from the main stream 56B of the supply channel toward the main stream 56A of the first common supply channel.

On the upper surface of the common flow path member 50, a first damper 62A forming a wall surface of a plurality of first common supply flow path tributaries 52A and a second damper 62B forming a wall surface of a second common supply flow path tributary 52B are configured. A damper member 60 is provided.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of nozzles 11 are 75 npi in the first direction F (this direction is referred to as a "sub-scanning direction") and are orthogonal to the first direction (this direction is referred to as a "main scanning direction"). .) Is arranged at 50 npi. Since the nozzles 11A and 11B for discharging different types of liquids (for example, liquids of the same color) are alternately arranged for each type of liquid, the nozzle interval in the sub-scanning direction for discharging the same type of liquid is 32.5 npi. become.

Then, in the present embodiment, as described above, of the two nozzles 11 adjacent to each other in the first direction F, the first common supply channel tributary 52A communicating with the individual supply channel 22 communicating with one of the nozzles 11A. A second common supply channel tributary 52B communicating with the individual supply channel 22 communicating with the other nozzle 11B is provided.

Further, the supply port 54, which is a communication port, is arranged at a position closer to the nozzles 11 adjacent to each other in the first direction F than to the nozzles 11 adjacent to each other in the second direction S. As a result, in the second direction S, the nozzle rows separated by one can communicate with one first common supply channel tributary 52A or 52B.

Further, the individual supply flow paths 22 leading to the two adjacent nozzles 11 in the second direction S are drawn out in the same direction with respect to the pressure chamber 21, and one of the individual supply flow paths 22 is the first common supply flow path. The other individual supply flow path 22 is connected to the tributary 52A, and the other individual supply flow path 22 is connected to the second common supply flow path tributary 52B.

In the example of FIG. 1, the supply port 54 of the leftmost nozzle 11A is arranged near the row of the nozzle 11B in the second direction S, and the supply port 54 of the third nozzle 11A from the left is also from the left. It is located near the row of the second nozzle 11B. As a result, the rows of the nozzles 11A for the two rows on both sides communicate with the same first common supply channel tributary 52A across the row of the second nozzles 11B.

Similarly, the rows of nozzles 11B are also arranged so that the supply ports 54 communicate with the same second common supply flow path tributary 52B in two rows.

In this way, by configuring the two rows to communicate with one first common supply channel tributary 52A or second common supply channel tributary 52B, they are arranged in the second direction S as shown in FIG. The width W1 of the first common supply channel tributary 52A and the second common supply channel tributary 52B can be made wider (W1> P2) than the nozzle row spacing P2.

By widening the width W1 of the first common supply channel tributary 52A and the second common supply channel tributary 52B, the cross-sectional area can be widened to increase the liquid supply capacity, and the compliance of the liquid volume can be increased. Crosstalk can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first damper 62A and the second damper 62B are provided on the wall surfaces of the first common supply channel tributary 52A and the second common supply channel tributary 52B, respectively.

In the damper, the bending rigidity of the beam is proportional to the fourth power of the width. Therefore, by widening the width of the first common supply channel tributary 52A and the second common supply channel tributary 52B, the first damper corresponding to the first common supply channel tributary 52A and the second common supply channel tributary 52B is used. The compliance of 62A and the second damper 62B is increased.

As a result, the residual pressure propagated to the first common supply channel tributary 52A and the second common supply channel tributary 52B due to the discharge of the liquid can be reduced, crosstalk can be reduced, and stable discharge can be performed. Can be done.

That is, in the present embodiment, a plurality of nozzles 11 are connected via one common supply channel tributary 52 (52A, 52B). Therefore, it is possible to reduce the crosstalk in which the pressure at the time of discharge generated in the pressure chamber 21 corresponding to one nozzle 11 propagates to another nozzle 11 connected to the same common supply flow path tributary 52.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan explanatory view of the flow path arrangement configuration of the liquid discharge head according to the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the individual supply flow paths 22 and 22 leading to the two adjacent nozzles 11 and 11 in the second direction S are drawn out in the direction opposite to the pressure chamber 21 in the third direction T. One of the individual supply flow paths 22 is connected to the first common supply flow path tributary 52A, and the other individual supply flow path 22 is connected to the second common supply flow path tributary 52B.

Here, it is assumed that the liquid A is supplied from the first common supply channel tributary 52A and the liquid B is supplied from the second common supply channel tributary 52B.

At this time, in the above configuration, the landing order of the liquid A and the liquid B is switched when projected in the main scanning direction. When the landing order is switched in the sub-scanning direction, the color difference due to the landing order becomes inconspicuous even if the secondary colors formed by the liquid A and the liquid B are printed in both directions.

Therefore, by mounting the head of the present embodiment on the serial printing apparatus, it is possible to print a high-quality image having a small color difference in bidirectional printing with high productivity.

Further, when viewed in the arrangement of the nozzles 11 for discharging the same liquid species in a plane, the nozzles 11 are arranged in a staggered manner with respect to the second direction S, so that the arrangement interval P2 of the nozzles 11 is longer than that of the first embodiment. Become.

As a result, the arrangement density of the nozzles 11 becomes high, and the droplets are bent and the landing position shifts due to the airflow created by the ejected droplets and the conveyed airflow generated by the movement of the carriage on which the head is mounted or the transportation of the print medium. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of wood grain unevenness that occurs in.

Next, the evaluation of the occurrence state of wood grain unevenness in the head module in which the plurality of heads of the first embodiment is arranged will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is an example in which two types of liquids are alternately assigned, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram used for explaining a comparative example.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the head shown in FIG. 1 is regarded as one block, and the head modules MA and MB in which the two blocks are integrated are configured. Here, the blocks HB1 and HB2 are integrated, and the blocks HB3 and HB4 are integrated.

The nozzle spacing projected in the main scanning direction of each block HB1 to HB4 is 75 npi × 4 steps = 300 npi, and these are arranged 2 blocks with a half pitch shift, and 600 npi = 2 when projected in the main scanning direction. The configuration was a module x 300 npi.

With reference to FIG. 4, for the head module MA, the nozzle 11A of the block HB1 is supplied with the liquid A (indicated by a black circle), and the nozzle 11B is supplied with the liquid B (indicated by a white circle). There is. In the block HB2, the liquid B is supplied to the nozzle 11A, and the liquid A is supplied to the nozzle 11B.

Regarding the head module MB, the liquid B is supplied to the nozzle 11A of the block HB3, and the liquid A is supplied to the nozzle 11B. In the block HB4, the liquid A is supplied to the nozzle 11A and the liquid B is supplied to the nozzle 11B. To.

In the comparative example of FIG. 5, the head module MA supplies the liquid A to all the nozzles 11, and the head module MB supplies the liquid B to all the nozzles 11.

In the configurations of FIGS. 4 and 5, under the condition of a high gap with a head-paper gap of 3 mm, a solid image of liquid A, a solid image of liquid B, and a secondary color image of 60% each of liquid A and liquid B. Was printed and compared.

As a result, it was confirmed that the wood grain unevenness was clearly reduced in the configuration of FIG. 4 as compared with Comparative Example 1 of FIG.

This is because the nozzle spacing of the same color in the sub-scanning direction to be ejected at the same time is 75 npi in the comparative example 1 of FIG. 5, whereas it is 32.5 npi in the configuration of FIG. This is because it was not easily affected by the discharge airflow (because the transport airflow is the same).

From this result, it can be seen that the module area (chip size) for the same two colors can be reduced by alternating the colors of the liquids to be discharged while widening the nozzle spacing of the same color.

As described above, the head of the first embodiment has small mutual interference, can perform stable ejection, and can suppress wood grain-like unevenness without further increasing the chip size.

Here, one block is composed of 75 npi × 4 stages, but the nozzle arrangement is not limited to this, such as a block configuration of 75 npi × 8 stages (the amount of nozzle shift is half).

Further, as described above, in the configuration shown in FIG. 4, when printing is performed using two sets of the head modules MA and MB in which the block HB1 and the block HB2 are half-pitch-shifted, the second direction S of the blocks HB1 and HB2 The liquid types are staggered in the row, and the liquid types to be supplied are exchanged in the head module MA and the head module MB.

As a result, the landing orders of liquids of the same liquid type are not adjacent to each other.

In other words, if the landing order is consecutively adjacent in the sub-scanning direction, the next drop will land before the liquid landed on the print medium is fixed, and the surface tension of the liquid will attract it to the liquid side that landed first, which is the target. It is known that dots cannot be formed at positions.

Therefore, by arranging the nozzles that discharge two types of liquids, the dots can be formed by landing at the target position without the landing orders being consecutively adjacent to each other, so that stable printing can be performed.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of a main part of the liquid discharge head according to the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the nozzle arrangement of the first embodiment is set to one block HB (HB1, HB2), and the first common supply channel tributary 52A and the second common supply channel tributary common to the two blocks HB1 and HB2. This is an example in which 52B is arranged.

As a result, the head can be miniaturized.

Next, an example of the head module according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective explanatory view of the head module, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective explanatory view of the head module as viewed from the nozzle surface side.

The head module 100 includes a plurality of heads 1 that are liquid discharge heads for discharging liquid, a base member 103 that holds the plurality of heads 1, and a cover member 113 that serves as a nozzle cover for the plurality of heads 1.

Further, the head module 100 includes a heat radiating member 104, a manifold 105 forming a flow path for supplying liquid to a plurality of heads, a printed circuit board (PCB) 106 connected to the flexible wiring member 101, and a module case. It is equipped with 107.

Next, an example of the device for discharging the liquid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory view of the device, and FIG. 10 is a plan view of an example of the head unit of the device.

The printing device 500, which is a device for discharging this liquid, includes a carry-in means 501 for carrying in the continuous body 510, a guide transport means 503 for guiding and transporting the continuous body 510 carried in from the carry-in means 501 to the printing means 505, and a continuous body. It is provided with a printing means 505 that discharges a liquid to 510 to form an image, a drying means 507 that dries the continuum 510, and a unloading means 509 that carries out the continuum 510.

The continuum 510 is sent out from the original winding roller 511 of the carrying-in means 501, guided and conveyed by the rollers of the carrying-in means 501, the guiding and transporting means 503, the drying means 507, and the carrying-out means 509, and is guided and conveyed by the winding roller 591 of the carrying-out means 509. It is wound up at.

The continuum 510 is conveyed by the printing means 505 on the transfer guide member 559 facing the head unit 550, and an image is printed by the liquid discharged from the head unit 550.

Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the head unit 550 is provided with two head modules 100A and 100B according to the present invention in the common base member 552.

Then, when the arrangement direction of the heads 1 in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the head module 100 is the head arrangement direction, the liquids of the same color are discharged in the head rows 1A1 and 1A2 of the head module 100A. Similarly, the head rows 1B1 and 1B2 of the head module 100A are set as a set, the head rows 1C1 and 1C2 of the head module 100B are set as a set, and the head rows 1D1 and 1D2 are set as a set to discharge the liquid of the required color.

Next, another example of the printing device as the device for discharging the liquid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the device, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a side surface of the main part of the device.

The printing device 500 is a serial type device, and the carriage 403 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the main scanning moving mechanism 493. The main scanning movement mechanism 493 includes a guide member 401, a main scanning motor 405, a timing belt 408, and the like. The guide member 401 is bridged over the left and right side plates 491A and 491B to movably hold the carriage 403. Then, the carriage 403 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the main scanning motor 405 via the timing belt 408 bridged between the drive pulley 406 and the driven pulley 407.

The carriage 403 is equipped with a liquid discharge unit 440 in which the head 1 and the head tank 441, which are the droplet discharge heads according to the present invention, are integrated. The head 1 of the liquid discharge unit 440 discharges, for example, liquids of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). Further, the liquid discharge head 1 has a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles arranged in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and is mounted with the discharge direction facing downward.

The liquid discharge head 1 is connected to the liquid circulation device 600 described above, and a liquid of a required color is circulated and supplied.

The printing device 500 includes a transport mechanism 495 for transporting the paper 410. The transport mechanism 495 includes a transport belt 412, which is a transport means, and a sub-scanning motor 416 for driving the transport belt 412.

The transport belt 412 attracts the paper 410 and transports it at a position facing the head 1. The transport belt 412 is an endless belt, and is hung between the transport roller 413 and the tension roller 414. Adsorption can be performed by electrostatic adsorption, air suction, or the like.

Then, the transport belt 412 orbits in the sub-scanning direction by rotationally driving the transport roller 413 via the timing belt 417 and the timing pulley 418 by the sub-scanning motor 416.

Further, on one side of the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 for maintaining / recovering the liquid discharge head 1 is arranged on the side of the transport belt 412.

The maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 is composed of, for example, a cap member 421 that caps the nozzle surface of the head 1, a wiper member 422 that wipes the nozzle surface, and the like.

The main scanning movement mechanism 493, the maintenance / recovery mechanism 420, and the transport mechanism 495 are attached to a housing including the side plates 491A and 491B and the back plate 491C.

In the printing apparatus 500 configured in this way, the paper 410 is fed onto the transport belt 412 and sucked, and the paper 410 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the circumferential movement of the conveyor belt 412.

Therefore, by driving the head 1 in response to the image signal while moving the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction, the liquid is discharged to the stopped paper 410 to form an image.

Next, another example of the liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the unit.

Among the members constituting the liquid discharge unit 440 and the device for discharging the liquid, the housing portion composed of the side plates 491A, 491B and the back plate 491C, the main scanning moving mechanism 493, the carriage 403, and the head. It is composed of 1.

It is also possible to form a liquid discharge unit in which the above-mentioned maintenance / recovery mechanism 420 is further attached to, for example, the side plate 491B of the liquid discharge unit 440.

Next, still another example of the liquid discharge unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a front explanatory view of the unit.

The liquid discharge unit 440 includes a head 1 to which the flow path component 444 is attached and a tube 456 connected to the flow path component 444.

The flow path component 444 is arranged inside the cover 442. A head tank 441 may be included instead of the flow path component 444. Further, a connector 443 that electrically connects to the liquid discharge head 1 is provided on the upper part of the flow path component 444.

In the present application, the liquid to be discharged may have a viscosity and surface tension that can be discharged from the head, and is not particularly limited, but the viscosity becomes 30 mPa · s or less at room temperature, under normal pressure, or by heating or cooling. It is preferable that it is a thing. More specifically, solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, polymerizable compounds, resins, functionalizing materials such as surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids and proteins, and calcium. , Solvents, suspensions, emulsions, etc. containing edible materials such as natural pigments, such as inks for inkjets, surface treatment liquids, components of electronic and light emitting elements, and formation of electronic circuit resist patterns. It can be used in applications such as liquids and material liquids for three-dimensional modeling.

Piezoelectric actuators (laminated piezoelectric elements and thin-film piezoelectric elements), thermal actuators that use electric heat conversion elements such as heat-generating resistors, and electrostatic actuators that consist of a vibrating plate and counter electrodes are used as energy sources for discharging liquid. Includes what to do.

The "liquid discharge unit" is a liquid discharge head integrated with functional parts and a mechanism, and includes a collection of parts related to liquid discharge. For example, the "liquid discharge unit" includes a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance / recovery mechanism, a main scanning movement mechanism, a liquid circulation device in which at least one of the configurations is combined with a liquid discharge head, and the like.

Here, the term "integration" means, for example, a liquid discharge head and a functional component, a mechanism in which the mechanism is fixed to each other by fastening, bonding, engagement, etc., or one in which one is movably held with respect to the other. include. Further, the liquid discharge head, the functional component, and the mechanism may be configured to be detachable from each other.

For example, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a head tank are integrated. In some cases, the liquid discharge head and the head tank are integrated by being connected to each other by a tube or the like. Here, a unit including a filter can be added between the head tank of these liquid discharge units and the liquid discharge head.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a unit in which a liquid discharge head and a carriage are integrated.

Further, there is a liquid discharge unit in which the liquid discharge head and the scanning movement mechanism are integrated by holding the liquid discharge head movably by a guide member constituting a part of the scanning movement mechanism. In some cases, the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the main scanning movement mechanism are integrated.

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a carriage to which a liquid discharge head is attached, in which a cap member which is a part of the maintenance / recovery mechanism is fixed, and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance / recovery mechanism are integrated. ..

Further, as a liquid discharge unit, there is a liquid discharge unit in which a tube is connected to a head tank or a liquid discharge head to which a flow path component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and a supply mechanism are integrated. The liquid of the liquid storage source is supplied to the liquid discharge head through this tube.

The main scanning movement mechanism shall include a single guide member. Further, the supply mechanism includes a single tube and a single loading unit.

Although the "liquid discharge unit" is described here in combination with the liquid discharge head, the "liquid discharge unit" includes the above-mentioned head module or head unit including the liquid discharge head and the functions as described above. It also includes integrated parts and mechanisms.

The "device for discharging a liquid" includes a device including a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge unit, a head module, a head unit, and the like, and driving the liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid. The device for discharging a liquid includes not only a device capable of discharging a liquid to a device to which the liquid can adhere, but also a device for discharging the liquid into the air or into the liquid.

The "device for discharging the liquid" may include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging paper to which the liquid can adhere, as well as a pretreatment device, a posttreatment device, and the like.

For example, as a "device that ejects a liquid", an image forming device that is a device that ejects ink to form an image on paper, and a three-dimensional model (three-dimensional model) are formed in layers in order to form a three-dimensional model. There is a three-dimensional modeling device (three-dimensional modeling device) that discharges the modeling liquid into the powder layer.

Further, the "device for discharging a liquid" is not limited to a device in which a significant image such as characters and figures is visualized by the discharged liquid. For example, those that form patterns that have no meaning in themselves and those that form a three-dimensional image are also included.

The above-mentioned "thing to which a liquid can adhere" means a material to which a liquid can adhere at least temporarily, such as a material to which the liquid adheres and adheres, and a material to which the liquid adheres and permeates. Specific examples include paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, recorded media such as cloth, electronic substrates, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and media such as inspection cells. Yes, and includes everything to which the liquid adheres, unless otherwise specified.

The material of the above-mentioned "material to which a liquid can adhere" may be paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like as long as the liquid can adhere even temporarily.

Further, the "device for discharging the liquid" includes, but is not limited to, a device in which the liquid discharge head and the device to which the liquid can adhere move relatively. Specific examples include a serial type device that moves the liquid discharge head, a line type device that does not move the liquid discharge head, and the like.

In addition, as a "device for ejecting a liquid", a treatment liquid coating device for ejecting a treatment liquid to the paper in order to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper, etc. There is an injection granulator that granulates fine particles of the raw material by injecting a composition liquid in which the raw material is dispersed in the solution through a nozzle.

In addition, in the term of this application, image formation, recording, printing, printing, printing, modeling, etc. are all synonymous.

1 Liquid discharge head 10 Nozzle plate 11 Nozzle 20 Individual flow path member 21 Pressure chamber 22 Individual supply flow path 30 Diaphragm member 40 Piezoelectric element 50 Common flow path member 52A 1st common flow path member 52B 2nd common supply flow path tributary 54 Supply port 56A 1st common supply flow path main flow 56B 2nd common supply flow path main flow 100 Head module 403 Carriage 440 Liquid discharge unit 500 Printing device (device that discharges liquid)
550 head unit

Claims (10)

Multiple nozzles that eject liquid and
A plurality of pressure chambers communicating with each of the plurality of nozzles,
A plurality of individual supply channels, each communicating with the plurality of pressure chambers, are provided.
The plurality of nozzles are arranged along the first direction and along the second direction that intersects the first direction with a predetermined inclination.
It communicates with the first common flow path tributary communicating with the individual supply flow path leading to one of the two nozzles adjacent to each other in the first direction and the individual supply flow path communicating with the other nozzle. A second common flow path tributary is provided,
The first common flow path tributary and the second common flow path tributary extend in the second direction and are alternately arranged in the first direction.
When an array of two or more nozzles arranged along the second direction is used as a nozzle array,
A liquid discharge head characterized in that the width of each of the first common flow path tributary and the second common flow path tributary is wider than the distance between adjacent nozzle rows. The first common flow path tributary and the second common flow path tributary are provided with a communication port leading to the individual supply flow path.
The liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the communication port is arranged at a position closer to the nozzles adjacent to each other in the first direction than to the nozzles adjacent to each other in the second direction. The individual supply flow paths leading to the two adjacent nozzles in the second direction are drawn out in the opposite direction to the pressure chamber.
One of the individual supply channels leads to the first common channel tributary.
The liquid discharge head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the other individual supply flow path is connected to the second common flow path tributary. The liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a damper forming a wall surface of the first common flow path tributary and the second common flow path tributary. The plurality of nozzles are adjacent to each other when the liquid is discharged from the nozzles leading to the same first common flow path tributary or the second common flow path tributary to form dots in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the liquids discharged from the nozzles are arranged in an order in which they do not land continuously. A head module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of liquid discharge heads are arranged. A head unit according to claim 6, wherein the head modules are arranged side by side. A liquid discharge unit comprising the liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the head module according to claim 6, or the head unit according to claim 7. A head tank that stores the liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head, a carriage on which the liquid discharge head is mounted, a supply mechanism that supplies the liquid to the liquid discharge head, a maintenance / recovery mechanism that maintains and recovers the liquid discharge head, and the liquid. The liquid discharge unit according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the main scanning moving mechanisms for moving the discharge head in the main scanning direction is integrated with the liquid discharge head. At least one of the liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the head module according to claim 6, the head unit according to claim 7, and the liquid discharge unit according to claim 8 or 9. A device for discharging a liquid, which is characterized by having a module.

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