INK-JET HEAD

Abstract

An ink-jet head includes a first passage forming member, a second passage forming member, and a circuit board. The first passage forming member has an ink inlet port, an ink outlet port, and a first ink passage extending from the ink inlet port to the ink outlet port. The first passage forming member is sandwiched between the circuit board and the second passage forming member. An electronic element is mounted on the circuit board. A projection defining a recess is formed on a surface of the first passage forming member. The electronic element is mounted on position facing the recess of the circuit board, and is received therein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ink-jet head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the internal construction of the ink-jet head illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a circuit board illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a reservoir unit;

FIGS. 6A to 6E each are a plan view of the reservoir unit illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a passage forming member illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B as obliquely viewed from downward;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the passage forming member illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B as obliquely viewed from upward;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a head main body;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of an area indicated by the dashed dotted line in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view taken along lines XI-XI illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12A is an enlarged sectional view of an actuator unit; and

FIG. 12B is a plan view illustrating individual electrodes disposed on the surface of the actuator unit in FIG. 12A.

Claims

1. An ink-jet head comprising: a first passage forming member elongated in one direction and having an ink inlet port in the vicinity of one longitudinal end thereof, an ink outlet port in the middle section in the longitudinal direction thereof, and a first ink passage extending from the ink inlet port to the ink outlet port, the ink inlet and outlet ports being open in first and second directions opposite to each other, respectively;a second passage forming member having therein a second ink passage connected to the first ink passage via the ink outlet port; anda circuit board disposed at a position where the first passage forming member is sandwiched between the circuit board and the second passage forming member with respect to the first direction, an electronic element being mounted on the circuit board,wherein a projection defining a recess opened in the first direction is formed on a surface of the first passage forming member, the surface being at least between the other longitudinal end thereof and the middle section thereof and facing the circuit board, andwherein the electronic element is mounted on position facing the recess of the circuit board, and is received therein.

2. The ink-jet head according to claim 1, wherein one or more electronic elements are respectively disposed on a first face of the circuit board facing the first passage forming member and a second face opposite to the first face, and wherein among the plurality of electronic elements, the tallest electronic part that has the largest protruding height from either first and second faces is mounted on the first face at a position facing the recess.

3. The ink-jet head according to claim 2, wherein the projection is an annular projection surrounding the recess, and wherein the protruding height of the annular projection from the surface is larger than that of the tallest electronic element from the first face.

4. The ink-jet head according to claim 3, wherein the first face of the circuit board is in contact with the projection.

5. The ink-jet head according to claim 1, wherein the electronic element is surface-mounted on the circuit board.

6. The ink-jet head according to claim 1, wherein an ink passage is not formed between the other longitudinal end and the middle section of the first passage forming member.