Patent Grant
11724514
The present disclosure relates to liquid discharging heads, liquid discharging units, and devices for discharging liquid.
As a liquid discharging head (also referred to as a droplet discharging head) for discharging liquid, a circulation-type head that circulates liquid through multiple individual liquid chambers is known in the art.
For example, according to a known technique, a common liquid chamber for supplying liquid to each of individual liquid chambers (i.e., pressure generating chambers) and a circulation common liquid chamber that leads to a circulation channel that leads to each of the individual liquid chambers are formed of a channel member including multiple plate members for fabricating each of the individual liquid chambers (i.e., pressure generating chambers) and circulation channels (cf. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-290292).
One aspect of the present invention provides a liquid discharging head including a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles from which liquid is discharged; a plurality of individual liquid chambers that are communicably connected to the plurality of nozzles, respectively; a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to the plurality of individual liquid chambers; and a circulation common liquid chamber that leads to a plurality of circulation channels, wherein a part of the common liquid chamber overlaps the circulation common liquid chamber from a direction in which liquid is discharged from the nozzles, and another part of the common liquid chamber overlaps the circulation common liquid chamber from a direction orthogonal to both the direction in which liquid is discharged from the nozzles and a direction in which the nozzles are aligned.
Here, ensuring dimensional accuracy to a predetermined extent is necessary because dimension of a channel including an individual liquid chamber affects discharging quality.
Therefore, in a case where a circulation common liquid chamber is formed of a channel member for forming an individual liquid chamber as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-290292, dimension (or size) of the circulation common liquid chamber is restricted in accordance with dimension of the individual liquid chamber.
The present invention, which has been made in consideration of the above problem, aims to provide a liquid discharging head, a liquid discharging unit, and a device for discharging liquid, by which restriction against a circulation common liquid chamber can be effectively reduced.
The present invention enables to provide a liquid discharging head, a liquid discharging unit, and a device for discharging liquid, by which restriction against a circulation common liquid chamber can be effectively reduced.
The following description explains embodiments of the present invention with reference to accompanying drawings.
The following description explains an example of a liquid discharging head according to the first embodiment of the present invention with reference to
The part of the liquid discharging head illustrated in
Furthermore,
The liquid discharging head includes a nozzle plate 1, a channel plate 2, and a diaphragm member 3 as a wall surface member, which are joined to form layers. The liquid discharging head further includes a piezoelectric actuator 11 for causing displacement of the diaphragm member 3, a common liquid chamber member 20, and a cover 29. Note that illustration of the cover 29 is omitted in each of the drawings following
The nozzle plate 1 includes multiple nozzles 4 from which liquid is discharged.
In the channel plate 2, there are individual liquid chambers 6 that lead to the nozzles 4, respectively, fluid resistance portions 7 that lead to the individual liquid chambers 6, respectively, and a liquid introduction portion (i.e., channel) 8 that leads to the fluid resistance portions 7.
The diaphragm member 3 includes filter portions 9 as openings, through which the liquid introduction portion 8 and a common liquid chamber 10 formed in the common liquid chamber member 20 are connected.
The diaphragm member 3 is a wall surface member which is formed to be a wall surface of individual liquid chambers 6 of the channel plate 2. The diaphragm member 3 is configured to have a two-layer structure, which is simply an example and the diaphragm member 3 is not limited to have the structure. The diaphragm member 3 includes the first layer formed as a thin portion, which is arranged closer to the channel plate 2, and the second layer formed as a thick portion. Deformable vibration areas 30 are formed on the first layer at sections that correspond to the individual liquid chamber 6, respectively.
Furthermore, the piezoelectric actuator 11, which includes an electro-mechanical conversion element as a driving unit (i.e., an actuator unit or a pressure generating unit) for deforming the vibration areas 30 of the diaphragm member 3, is disposed on a surface of the diaphragm member 3 opposite to the individual liquid chambers 6.
The piezoelectric actuator 11 includes a piezoelectric member 12 that is joined to a base member 13. Further, the piezoelectric member 12 is in a comb-teeth shape, having a desired number of pillar-shaped piezoelectric elements 12A and 12B that are formed at predetermined intervals in grooving by means of half-cut dicing (cf.
The piezoelectric element 12A of the piezoelectric member 12 is driven in accordance with application of a driving waveform, and the piezoelectric element 12B of the piezoelectric member 12 is simply used as a support to which no driving waveform is applied. However, aside from the above example, all of the piezoelectric elements 12A and 12B may be used as piezoelectric elements that are driven by driving waveforms.
The piezoelectric element 12A is joined to a convex portion 30a, which is an island-shaped thick portion formed on a vibration area 30 of the diaphragm member 3 (cf.
The piezoelectric member 12 includes piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes that are alternately disposed to form layers. Further, the internal electrodes are drawn out of an end surface to form external electrodes, to which a flexible wiring member 15 is connected (cf.
The common liquid chamber member 20 includes the common liquid chamber 10 to which liquid is supplied from a supply tank and a main tank, which are described below with reference to
Furthermore, in a channel member 40, which includes the channel plate 2 and the diaphragm member 3, there is a fluid resistance portion 51, which is formed along the surface of the channel plate 2, that leads to each of individual liquid chambers 6; a circulation channel 52; and a circulation channel 53, which is formed along the thickness direction of the channel member 40, that leads to the circulation channel 52. The circulation channel 53 leads to the circulation common liquid chamber 50.
As the liquid discharging head is provided with such a configuration as described above, for example, when voltage applied to a piezoelectric element 12A is decreased to be lower than a reference voltage, which causes the piezoelectric element 12A to contract, a vibration area 30 of the diaphragm member 3 is elevated, such that an individual liquid chamber 6 is enlarged in volume. Consequently, liquid flows into the individual liquid chamber 6 (cf.
Then, voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 12A is increased in order to extend the piezoelectric element 12A in the layering direction, so that the vibration area 30 of the diaphragm member 3 is deformed in the direction towards a nozzle 4 to compress the individual liquid chamber 6 in volume. Consequently, liquid inside the individual liquid chamber 6 is pressured and discharged from the nozzle 4.
Then, when voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 12A is returned to the reference voltage, the vibration area 30 of the diaphragm member 3 returns to the original position, such that the individual liquid chamber 6 expands to generate negative pressure. Consequently, the individual liquid chamber 6 is replenished with liquid from the common liquid chamber 10. After vibration of a meniscus surface of the nozzle 4 is attenuated to a stable state, operation for the next liquid discharge is started.
Noted that the method of driving the liquid discharging head is not limited to the above example (i.e., what may be termed a “pull to push discharge” method); what is termed a “pull discharge” method or a “push discharge” method may be used, by changing the way of applying a drive waveform.
Next, the following description explains a part that relates to a common liquid chamber and a circulation common liquid chamber of the liquid discharging head.
According to the first embodiment, as described above, the channel member 40 includes the channel plate 2 and the diaphragm member 3 formed as a wall surface member.
Further, the common liquid chamber member 20 includes a first common liquid chamber member 21 and a second common liquid chamber member 22. The first common liquid chamber member 21 is joined to the diaphragm member 3 of the channel member 40. Further, the second common liquid chamber member 22 is joined to the upper part of the first common liquid chamber member 21, as illustrated in
The first common liquid chamber member 21 includes a downstream common liquid chamber 10A, which is a part of the common liquid chamber 10, that leads to the liquid introduction portion 8 and includes a circulation common liquid chamber 50 that leads to the circulation channel 53. The second common liquid chamber member 22 includes an upstream common liquid chamber 10B, which is the remainder of the common liquid chamber 10.
The downstream common liquid chamber 10A, which is a part of the common liquid chamber 10, and the circulation common liquid chamber 50 are arranged side by side in the direction (i.e., the transverse direction in
Furthermore, the circulation common liquid chamber 50 is covered by the common liquid chamber 10 from a surface opposite (i.e., the upward direction in
As described above, the common liquid chamber member 20 (or more specifically, the first common liquid chamber member 21), in which the circulation common liquid chamber 50 is formed, is joined to the above surface of the channel member 40 as illustrated in
Accordingly, dimension (or size) of the circulation common liquid chamber 50 is not restrained by dimensions necessary for the channel including the individual liquid chamber 6, the fluid resistance portion 7, and the liquid introduction portion 8, which are formed in the channel member 40.
Furthermore, as described above, the circulation common liquid chamber 50 and a part of the common liquid chamber 10 (i.e., the downstream common liquid chamber 10A) are arranged side by side in the transverse direction as illustrated in
Next, the following description explains an example of a liquid circulation system using the liquid discharging head according to the first embodiment, with reference to
As illustrated in
The supply-side pressure sensor 1010 is arranged between the supply tank 1003 and the liquid discharging head 1002, and is connected to a supply channel that leads to a supply port 71 (cf.
The circulation-side pressure sensor 1011 is arranged between the liquid discharging head 1002 and the circulation tank 1004, and is connected to a circulation channel that leads to a circulation port 81 (cf.
One end of the circulation tank 1004 is connected to the supply tank 1003 via the first liquid delivering pump 1007, and another end of the circulation tank 1004 is connected to the main tank 1001 via the second liquid delivering pump 1008.
Accordingly, liquid flows from the supply tank 1003 to the liquid discharging head 1002 via the supply port 71, and is ejected into the circulation tank 1004 via the circulation port 81. Furthermore, liquid is delivered from the circulation tank 1004 to the supply tank 1003 via the first liquid delivering pump 1007, such that liquid circulates.
Furthermore, the compressor 1005 is connected to the supply tank 1003. The compressor 1005 is controlled, such that the supply-side pressure sensor 1010 detects a predetermined value of positive pressure.
Additionally, the vacuum pump 1006 is connected to the circulation tank 1004. The vacuum pump 1006 is controlled, such that the circulation-side pressure sensor 1011 detects a predetermined value of negative value. Accordingly, negative pressure applied to a meniscus of a nozzle 4 can be kept stable, while liquid flowing through the liquid discharging head 1002 is circulated.
Furthermore, when the liquid discharging head 1002 discharges a droplet from a nozzle 4, the amount of liquid in the supply tank 1003 and the circulation tank 1004 decreases. Therefore, it is preferable that the circulation tank 1004 is replenished with liquid from the main tank 1001 via the second liquid delivering pump 1008.
Timing of liquid replenishment from the main tank 1001 to the circulation tank 1004 may be controlled, based on a detection result of a liquid surface sensor, etc., provided inside the circulation tank 1004, such that liquid replenishment is conducted when liquid surface of ink inside the circulation tank 1004 gets lower than a predetermined level.
Next, the following description explains circulation of liquid in the liquid discharging head.
As illustrated in
Note that, although liquid inside an individual liquid chamber 6 is discharged from a nozzle 4 by driving the piezoelectric member 12, liquid remained inside the individual liquid chamber 6 without being discharged is partially or entirely circulated to the circulation tank 1004 through the fluid resistance portion 51, the circulation channels 52 and 53, the circulation common liquid chamber 50, and the circulation port 81 (cf.
Note that circulation of liquid is preferred to be performed, not only while the liquid discharging head is operating, but also while the liquid discharging head is not operating. Circulation of liquid while the liquid discharging head is not operating helps liquid inside an individual liquid chamber 6 be always refreshed and helps components contained in liquid avoid from being agglomerated or accumulated.
Note that, in the example of the liquid circulation system as described above with reference to
Next, a modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the first embodiment is described below.
The liquid discharging head according to the first embodiment and the modification of the liquid discharging head according to the first embodiment are almost the same in terms of configurations and functions. In the modification example, constituent elements that are the same as or correspond to constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the first embodiment are assigned the same reference signs as assigned to the constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the first embodiment, so as to omit explanation.
Next, the following description explains a liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
The second embodiment and, for example, the above-described first embodiment are almost the same in terms of configurations and functions. The following description mainly explains parts that differ from the first embodiment, and explanations of parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment are omitted, as appropriate.
In the second embodiment, multiple plate members (i.e., thin layer members) 41 through 45 are layered on the nozzle plate 1 and joined to form the channel plate 2. The plate members 41 through 45 and the diaphragm member 3 are layered and joined to form the channel member 40.
Furthermore, similarly to the above-described first embodiment, the common liquid chamber member 20 includes the first common liquid chamber member 21 and the second common liquid chamber member 22.
Note that, on the nozzle plate 1, multiple nozzles 4 align in a zigzag manner as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Similarly, as illustrated in
Furthermore, with reference to
Similarly, through-holes 81a and 81b, which connect another end (i.e., the opposite end of the through-holes 71a) of each circulation common liquid chamber 50 in the direction in which the nozzles are aligned with a corresponding circulation port (or liquid port) 81, are formed on the first common liquid chamber member 21 and the second common liquid chamber member 22.
Note that, in
As described above, complex channels can be formed in a relatively easy way, such that multiple plate members are layered and joined to form the channel member 40.
The following description explains a modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment.
The modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment and the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment described above are almost the same in terms of configurations and functions. In the modification example, constituent elements that are the same as or correspond to constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment are assigned the same reference signs as assigned to the constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment, so as to omit explanation.
Furthermore, as clearly seen when comparing
In the modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment, as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
The following description explains a liquid discharging head according to the third embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
The third embodiment and, for example, each of the liquid discharging head according to the above-described second embodiment and the modification of the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment are almost the same in terms of configurations and functions. The following description mainly explains parts that differ from the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment and the modification of the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment, and explanations of parts that are the same as those in the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment and the modification of the liquid discharging head according to the second embodiment are omitted, as appropriate.
According to the third embodiment, regarding the first common liquid chamber member 21, through-holes 81a to be connected to liquid ports 81 are formed on both ends of the circulation common liquid chamber 50 in the direction in which the nozzles are aligned. Regarding the second common liquid chamber member 22, through-holes 81b to form the liquid ports 81 are formed on both ends of the circulation common liquid chamber 50 in the direction in which the nozzles are aligned, and through-holes 71a to be connected to liquid ports 71 are formed on both ends of each of common liquid chambers 10 in the direction in which the nozzles are aligned.
Accordingly, as each of the common liquid chambers 10 receives supply from the both ends, probability of faulty refill can be reduced.
The following description explains a liquid discharging head according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
The fourth embodiment and, for example, the above-described third embodiment are almost the same in terms of configurations and functions. The following description mainly explains parts that differ from the third embodiment, and explanations of parts that are the same as those in the third embodiment are omitted, as appropriate.
According to the fourth embodiment, as illustrated in
Then, as illustrated in
Accordingly, thin dividing walls 55 between each common liquid chamber 10 (i.e., downstream common liquid chamber 10A) and each circulation common liquid chamber 50 are formed with high accuracy.
The following description explains a liquid discharging head according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
The fifth embodiment and, for example, the second embodiment as described above with reference to
Unlike
According to the embodiment 5, a common liquid chamber member 120 includes at least three members that are joined to be layers: a first common liquid chamber member 121, a second common liquid chamber member 122, a third common liquid chamber member 123, and a housing member 124 that functions also as a fourth common liquid chamber member. That is to say, a common liquid chamber member 120 includes four members 121 through 124 in total. Note that, similarly to the second common liquid chamber member 22 in each of the above embodiments, the third common liquid chamber member 123 may be replaced by a member having a unified wall part, which is otherwise formed by the housing member 124.
Note that the first common liquid chamber member 121 is an example of “one of two members arranged in series in the direction of layering, which are among the three members”. As illustrated in
The second common liquid chamber member 122 is an example of “another one of two members arranged in series in the direction of layering, which are among the three members”. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Furthermore, through-holes 171a to become supply port portions that connect an end of each common liquid chamber 10 in the direction in which the nozzles are aligned and a corresponding supply port (or liquid port; cf.
Furthermore, through-holes 181a, 181b, 181c, and 181d that connect another end (i.e., the opposite end of the through-holes 171a) of each circulation common liquid chamber 50 in the direction in which the nozzles are aligned with a corresponding circulation port (or liquid port; cf.
Note that reference holes 143 and elliptical holes 144 are provided on the first common liquid chamber member 121, the second common liquid chamber member 122, the third common liquid chamber member 123, and the housing member 124, as alignment marks for assembly.
Next, the following description explains a modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the fifth embodiment.
The modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the fifth embodiment and the liquid discharging head according to the fifth embodiment described above have almost the same configurations and functions. In the modification example, constituent elements that are the same as or correspond to constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the fifth embodiment are assigned the same reference signs as assigned to the constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the fifth embodiment, so as to omit explanation.
Furthermore, as clearly seen when comparing
Next, the following description explains a liquid discharging head according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
The sixth embodiment and, for example, each of the fifth embodiment and the modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the fifth embodiment as described above with reference to
According to the sixth embodiment, alignment marks 145 are provided at two positions on the first common liquid chamber member 121 of the above-described fifth embodiment, instead of the reference hole 143 and the elliptical hole 144. Each of the alignment marks includes a reference hole 145a and slit holes 145b that are arranged around the reference hole 145a at four positions in the same distance from each other. Alignment marks 145 are similarly provided on the second common liquid chamber member 122, the third common liquid chamber member 123, and the housing member 124.
Given such a configuration, positioning with higher accuracy can be achieved, compared to the fifth embodiment.
Next, the following description explains a liquid discharging head according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
The seventh embodiment and, for example, the fifth embodiment described above with reference to
According to the seventh embodiment, as illustrated in
For example, the first common liquid chamber member 121, the second common liquid chamber member 122, and the third common liquid chamber member 123 may be formed in press processing to have such deformation. The members 121 through 124 with the deformation are joined, such that ledge parts 146 are created between each of the first common liquid chamber member 121, the second common liquid chamber member 122, the third common liquid chamber member 123, and the housing member 124, due to the deformation.
As described above, the ledge parts 146 are created between each of the first common liquid chamber member 121, the second common liquid chamber member 122, the third common liquid chamber member 123, and the housing member 124. Accordingly, even in a case where adhesive agent 90 used for joining each of the members 121 through 124 is protruded from the joint parts, the protruded adhesive agent 90 is accommodated by the ledge parts 146. Therefore, the adhesive agent 90 is prevented from flowing into the common liquid chamber 10 and then getting solidified, which may cause bubbles to get trapped.
Next, the following description explains a modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the seventh embodiment.
The modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the seventh embodiment and the liquid discharging head according to the seventh embodiment described above are almost the same in terms of configurations and functions. In the modification example, constituent elements that are the same as or correspond to constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the seventh embodiment are assigned the same reference signs as assigned to the constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the seventh embodiment, so as to omit explanation.
Furthermore, as clearly seen when comparing
Next, the following description explains a liquid discharging head according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
The eighth embodiment and, for example, the fifth embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 10A and
According to the embodiment 8, width of the second common liquid chamber member 122, which is between the first common liquid chamber member 121 and the third common liquid chamber member 123, is configured to be narrower than widths of the first common liquid chamber member 121 and the third common liquid chamber member 123, with respect to the direction (i.e., the transverse direction in
Given such a configuration, ledge parts 146 are created between each of the first common liquid chamber member 121, the second common liquid chamber member 122, and the third common liquid chamber member 123. Therefore, similarly to the above-described seventh embodiment, adhesive agent 90 protruded in a joining process are accommodated by the ledge parts 146. Consequently, similarly to the seventh embodiment, the adhesive agent 90 is prevented from flowing into the common liquid chamber 10 and then becoming solidified, which may cause bubbles to get trapped.
Note that width of the second common liquid chamber member 122 may be configured to be wider than widths of the first common liquid chamber member 121 and the third common liquid chamber member 123, with respect to the direction (i.e., the transverse direction in
Next, the following description explains a modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the eighth embodiment.
The modification example of the liquid discharging head according to the eighth embodiment and the liquid discharging head according to the eighth embodiment described above have almost the same configurations and functions. In the modification example, constituent elements that are the same as or correspond to constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the eighth embodiment are assigned the same reference signs as assigned to the constituent elements of the liquid discharging head according to the eighth embodiment, so as to omit explanation.
Furthermore, as clearly seen when comparing
(Device for Discharging Liquid)
Next, the following description explains an example of the device for discharging liquid according to the first embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
The device for discharging liquid is a serial type device in which a main-scanning movement mechanism 493 causes a carriage 403 to reciprocate in a main-scanning direction. The main-scanning movement mechanism 493 includes a guide member 401, a main-scanning motor 405, a timing belt 408, etc. The guide member 401 is disposed across right and left side plates 491A and 491B, to support the carriage 403 in a movable manner. Moreover, the main-scanning motor 405 enables the carriage 403 to reciprocate in the main-scanning direction via the timing belt 408 that extends over a driving pulley 406 and a driven pulley 407.
The above carriage 403 is mounted with a liquid discharging head 404 according to an embodiment or a modification example of the embodiment described above. The liquid discharging head 404 discharges liquid of respective colors of, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). Furthermore, the liquid discharging head 404 is provided with a nozzle line that includes multiple nozzles aligning in a sub-scanning direction, which is orthogonal to the main-scanning direction; the multiple nozzles are installed on the liquid discharging head 404 with the discharging directions downwards.
There is a supply-circulation mechanism 494, which is described above with reference to
The device is provided with a conveyance mechanism 495 to convey a sheet 410. The conveyance mechanism 495 includes a conveyer belt 412 as a conveyance means and includes a sub-scanning motor 416 to drive the conveyer belt 412.
The conveyer belt 412 attracts and conveys the sheet 410 to a position that faces the liquid discharging head 404. The conveyer belt 412 is an endless belt that extends over a conveyance roller 413 and a tension roller 414. To attract, as mentioned above, electrostatic adsorption, air absorption, etc., may be employed.
The conveyer belt 412 performs circular movement in the sub-scanning direction as the sub-scanning motor 416 drives, via a timing belt 417 and a timing pulley 418, the conveyance roller 413 to rotate.
Furthermore, a maintenance/recovery mechanism 420 is arranged by the conveyer belt 412 near one of the ends of the main-scanning direction of the carriage 403, for conducting maintenance and recovery for the liquid discharging head 404.
The maintenance/recovery mechanism 420, for example, includes a cap member 421 for capping the nozzle surface (i.e., the surface having the nozzles 4) of the liquid discharging head 404 and includes a wiper member 422 for wiping the nozzle surface.
The main-scanning movement mechanism 493, the supply-circulation mechanism 494, the maintenance/recovery mechanism 420, and the conveyance mechanism 495 are disposed on a case including the side plates 491A and 491B and a back plate 491C.
In the device having such configurations as described above, a sheet 410 is fed onto and attracted by the conveyer belt 412 and is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with circular movement of the conveyer belt 412.
Then, the liquid discharging head 404 is driven, based on an image signal, while the carriage 403 is moved in the main-scanning direction, so that liquid is discharged onto the sheet 410 to form an image when the sheet 410 is not moving.
As described above, provided with a liquid discharging head according to one of the embodiments or one of the modification examples of the embodiments described above, the device is capable of stably forming a high quality image.
(Liquid Discharging Unit)
Next, the following description explains the liquid discharging unit according to the embodiments of the present invention, with reference to
Among the above-described constituent elements of the device for discharging liquid, the liquid discharging unit includes: the case part including the side plates 491A and 491B and the back plate 491C; the main-scanning movement mechanism 493; the carriage 403; and a liquid discharging head 404 according to an above-described embodiment or modification example of the embodiment.
Note that at least one of the above-described maintenance/recovery mechanism 420 and the supply-circulation mechanism 494 may be additionally mounted, for example, on the side plate 491B of the liquid discharging unit.
Next, the following description explains another example of a liquid discharging unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to
The liquid discharging unit includes a liquid discharging head 404 according to an embodiment or a modification example of the embodiment described above, which is provided with a channel part 444, and includes tubes 456 connected to the channel part 444.
Note that the channel part 444 is arranged inside a cover 442. Instead of the channel part 444, the supply-circulation mechanism 494 may be included. Furthermore, a connector 443 that enables electrical connection with the liquid discharging head 404 is provided on an upper portion of the channel part 444.
Note that, in the present application, the “device for discharging liquid” includes a liquid discharging head or a liquid discharging unit; the “device for discharging liquid” drives the liquid discharging head to discharge liquid. The “device for discharging liquid” is not limited to be a device that is capable of discharging liquid to something that liquid can adhere to; the “device for discharging liquid” may be a device for discharging liquid into gas or liquid fluid.
The “device for discharging liquid” may include means that relates to feeding, conveying, and ejecting something that liquid can adhere to, and moreover may include a pre-processing device, a post-processing device, etc.
For example, the “device for discharging liquid” may be an image forming device that discharges ink to form an image on a sheet, and may be a solid modeling device (i.e., a three-dimensional modeling device) that discharges modeling liquid to a powder layer formed of powdery material to produce a solid model (i.e., a three-dimensional model).
Furthermore, the “device for discharging liquid” is not limited to a device that discharges liquid for visualizing significative images such as letters and figures. For example, the “device for discharging liquid” may be a device that forms a pattern, etc., that is not significative by itself, and may be a device that produces a three dimensional model.
The above-mentioned “something that liquid can adhere to” means to be something that liquid can adhere to at least temporarily. Material of the “something that liquid can adhere to” may be anything such as paper, string, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, or ceramics, as far as being something that liquid can adhere to at least temporarily.
Furthermore, “liquid” may be ink, processing liquid, DNA samples, resists, pattern materials, binding agents, modeling liquid, etc.
Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the “device for discharging liquid” may be a serial type device in which a liquid discharging head is moved, and may be a line type device in which a liquid discharging head is not moved.
Furthermore, various other devices may be the “device for discharging liquid”. For example, the “device for discharging liquid” may be a processing liquid applying device that discharges processing liquid to a sheet to apply the processing liquid to the sheet surface for improving quality of the sheet surface, and may be a spray granulation device that sprays composition liquid containing raw materials dispersed inside of the liquid through a nozzle to granulate the raw materials into micro-particles.
The “liquid discharging unit” may be an assembly of parts related to discharging liquid, in which functional parts or mechanisms are unified with a liquid discharging head. For example, the “liquid discharging unit” may be a combination of a liquid discharging head and at least one of a carriage, a supply-circulation mechanism, a maintenance/recovery mechanism, and a main-scanning movement mechanism.
Note that “unified” may mean, for example, that a liquid discharging head and functional parts or mechanisms are fastened, adhered, engaged, etc., so as to be fixed to each other and that one is supported by the other in a movable manner. Moreover, a liquid discharging head and functional parts or mechanisms may be configured to be attachable to or detachable from each other.
For example, the liquid discharging unit may be a unit in which a liquid discharging head and a supply-circulation mechanism are unified. Furthermore, the liquid discharging unit may be a unit in which a liquid discharging head and a supply-circulation mechanism are unified through tubes, etc., that connect each other. Note that such a liquid discharging unit may be additionally provided with a unit including a filter disposed between a liquid discharging head and a supply-circulation mechanism.
Furthermore, the liquid discharging unit may be a unit in which a liquid discharging head and a carriage are unified.
Furthermore, the liquid discharging unit may be a unit in which a liquid discharging head is unified with a main-scanning movement mechanism, such that the liquid discharging head is supported in a movable manner by a guide member that is configured to be a part of the main-scanning movement mechanism. Furthermore, as illustrated in
Furthermore, the liquid discharging unit may be a unit in which a liquid discharging head, a carriage, and a maintenance/recovery mechanism are unified, such that a cap member that is a part of the maintenance/recovery mechanism is fixed to the carriage that is provided with the liquid discharging head.
Furthermore, as illustrated in
The main-scanning movement mechanism may be simply a guide member. Furthermore, a supply-circulation mechanism may be simply tubes or a loading unit.
Furthermore, there is no specific limitation regarding the pressure generating unit employed for the “liquid discharging head”. For example, besides the piezoelectric actuator (which may be a multilayer piezoelectric element) as explained in the above embodiments or the modification examples of the embodiments, the pressure generating unit may be a thermal actuator provided with an electricity-heat converting element such as a heating resistor and may be an electrostatic actuator configured with a diaphragm and a counterpart electrode.
Furthermore, among the terms of the present application, terms such as image forming, recording, letter printing, photo printing, printing, and modeling are considered to be synonyms.
Although the present invention is explained by the above description along with embodiments or modifications of the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modifications of the embodiments, and variations and further modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, combinations or replacements of constituent elements may be made in the above described embodiments and modifications of the embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-000612 | Jan 2015 | JP | national |
| 2015-096721 | May 2015 | JP | national |
The present application is a continuation application of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/881,276, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,420,447, which was filed on May 22, 2020, and is a continuation application of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/695,790, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,696,057, which was filed on Nov. 26, 2019, and is a continuation application of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/191,912, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,538,101, which was filed on Nov. 15, 2018, and is a continuation application of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/638,724, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,160,226, which was filed on Jun. 30, 2017, and is a continuation application of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 and 365(c) of International Application No. PCT/JP2015/085574, filed Dec. 18, 2015, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Applications No. 2015-000612 filed on Jan. 6, 2015 and No. 2015-096721 filed on May 11, 2015. The contents of the applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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| 20220250392 A1 | Aug 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16881276 | May 2020 | US |
| Child | 17660705 | US | |
| Parent | 16695790 | Nov 2019 | US |
| Child | 16881276 | US | |
| Parent | 16191912 | Nov 2018 | US |
| Child | 16695790 | US | |
| Parent | 15638724 | Jun 2017 | US |
| Child | 16191912 | US | |
| Parent | PCT/JP2015/085574 | Dec 2015 | US |
| Child | 15638724 | US |
