The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2022-053020, filed Mar. 29, 2022, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a liquid ejecting head, a support body, and a liquid ejecting apparatus.
In the related art, a liquid ejecting apparatus typified by an ink jet type printer generally includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid such as an ink as a droplet.
For example, JP-A-2010-23378 discloses a liquid ejecting apparatus including a head (liquid ejecting head) having a positioning pin member (positioning pin) and an array base member (support body) having a positioning hole (positioning portion). The head is positioned with respect to the array base member by inserting the positioning pin member into the positioning hole.
In a configuration in which the liquid ejecting head is positioned with respect to the support body by inserting the positioning pin into the positioning portion as disclosed in JP-A-2010-23378, it is desirable that the liquid ejecting head can be easily attached to and detached from the support body.
According to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, in order to solve the above-described problems, there is provided a liquid ejecting head supported by a support body having a first positioning pin and ejecting a liquid. The liquid ejecting head includes a first positioning portion that positions the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body by inserting the first positioning pin. When a virtual cylinder inserted to a deepest position of the first positioning portion and having a maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in a first direction which is a depth direction of the first positioning portion is defined as a first virtual cylinder, a side surface of the first virtual cylinder includes a first region, a second region, and a third region disposed between the first region and the second region, as three regions divided in the first direction. The first region comes into contact with the first positioning portion on a first side which is one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion on a second side which is the other side in the second direction, with respect to a first center line which is a center line of the first virtual cylinder. The second region does not come into contact with the first positioning portion on the first side, and comes into contact with the first positioning portion on the second side, with respect to the first center line. The third region does not come into contact with the first positioning portion on both the first side and the second side, with respect to the first center line.
According to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a support body for supporting a liquid ejecting head ejecting a liquid. The support body includes a first positioning portion that positions the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body by inserting a first positioning pin provided in the liquid ejecting head. When a virtual cylinder inserted to a deepest position of the first positioning portion and having a maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in a first direction which is a depth direction of the first positioning portion is defined as a first virtual cylinder, a side surface of the first virtual cylinder includes a first region, a second region, and a third region disposed between the first region and the second region, as three regions divided in the first direction. The first region comes into contact with the first positioning portion on a first side which is one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion on a second side which is the other side in the second direction, with respect to a first center line which is a center line of the first virtual cylinder. The second region does not come into contact with the first positioning portion on the first side, and comes into contact with the first positioning portion on the second side, with respect to the first center line. The third region does not come into contact with the first positioning portion on both the first side and the second side, with respect to the first center line.
According to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid ejecting head according to the above-described aspect, and a support body including the first positioning pin.
According to another preferred aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including the support body according to the above-described aspect, and a liquid ejecting head including the first positioning pin.
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, dimensions or scales of respective parts are appropriately different from actual ones, and some portions are schematically illustrated to facilitate understanding. In addition, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the forms unless the present disclosure is particularly limited in the following description.
The following description will be given by appropriately using an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis which intersect with each other. In addition, hereinafter, one direction along the X-axis is an X1 direction, and a direction opposite to the X1 direction is an X2 direction. Similarly, directions opposite to each other along the Y-axis are a Y1 direction and a Y2 direction. In addition, directions opposite to each other along the Z-axis are a Z1 direction and a Z2 direction.
Here, the Z1 direction or the Z2 direction is an example of a “first direction”. The Y1 direction or the Y2 direction is an example of a “second direction”. The Y2 direction is an example of a “first side which is one side in the second direction”, and the Y1 direction is an example of a “second side which is the other side in the second direction”. The X1 direction or the X2 direction is an example of a “third direction”. Hereinafter, viewing in a direction along the Z-axis may be referred to as a “plan view” in some cases.
The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis in the first embodiment are coordinate axes of a local coordinate system based on a three-dimensionally disposed liquid ejecting head 1 (to be described later). Therefore,
As illustrated in
The liquid container 10 stores an ink. For example, specific aspects of the liquid container 10 include a cartridge attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejecting apparatus 100, a bag-shaped ink pack formed of a flexible film, and an ink tank refillable with the ink.
Although not illustrated, the liquid container 10 of the present embodiment has a plurality of containers that store inks of mutually different types. The ink stored in the plurality of containers is not particularly limited, and for example, may include an aqueous ink in which a coloring material such as a dye or a pigment is dissolved in an aqueous solvent, a solvent-based ink in which the coloring material is dissolved in an organic solvent, and an ultraviolet ray curable ink.
For example, the control unit 20 includes a processing circuit such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and a storage circuit such as a semiconductor memory, and controls an operation of each element of the liquid ejecting apparatus 100. The control unit 20 controls an ink ejection operation of the head module 50.
The transport mechanism 30 transports the medium M in a transport direction DM which is the Y1 direction under the control of the control unit 20. The moving mechanism 40 causes the head module 50 to reciprocate in the X1 direction and the X2 direction under the control of the control unit 20. In an example illustrated in
Under the control of the control unit 20, the head module 50 ejects the ink supplied from the liquid container 10 via the circulation mechanism 60 onto the medium M in the Z2 direction respectively from a plurality of nozzles. The ink is simultaneously ejected when the medium M is transported by the transport mechanism 30 and the head module 50 is caused to reciprocate by the moving mechanism 40. In this manner, an image is formed on a surface of the medium M by using the ink. The head module 50 has a plurality of liquid ejecting heads 1. Details of the liquid ejecting head 1 will be described later with reference to
In the example illustrated in
The support body 51 is a plate-shaped member that supports the plurality of liquid ejecting heads 1. The support body 51 is provided with a plurality of opening portions 51a, a plurality of positioning pins 51b, and a plurality of screw holes 51c. The support body 51 is fixed to the transport body 41 by fixing means (not illustrated). The support body 51 itself may be the transport body 41. In addition, a shape of the support body 51 may not be the plate shape, and for example, the shape may be a recessed portion shape capable of accommodating the plurality of liquid ejecting heads 1.
The opening portion 51a is a hole for inserting the liquid ejecting head 1 while an ejecting surface FN is directed in the Z2 direction, and penetrates the support body 51 in a thickness direction. In an example illustrated in
The positioning pin 51b is a rod-shaped protrusion disposed near a peripheral edge of the opening portion 51a and protruding from a protruding surface FP which is a surface of the support body 51 directed in the Z1 direction. A shape of the positioning pin 51b in a plan view in the present embodiment is a circular shape, and is specifically a perfect circle. The positioning pin 51b is inserted into a positioning portion 13e provided in the liquid ejecting head 1 (to be described later) by press fitting. A shape of the positioning portion 13e may be a through-hole or a blind hole. In the present embodiment, the shape is the through-hole. In addition, the press fitting will be described in detail later. The press fitting is so-called tight fitting or intermediate fitting. In the example illustrated in
The screw hole 51c is a female screw disposed near the peripheral edge of the opening portion 51a and provided on a surface of the support body 51 directed in the Z1 direction. A screw (not illustrated) is fitted to the screw hole 51c. The screw is inserted into a hole 13f of the liquid ejecting head 1 (to be described later), and fixes the liquid ejecting head 1 to the support body 51. In the example illustrated in
As described above, the plurality of liquid ejecting heads 1 are attached to the support body 51. In the example illustrated in
The number and the disposition of the liquid ejecting heads 1 included in the head module 50 are not limited to the example illustrated in
The flow path structure 11 is a structure internally provided with a flow path for supplying the ink from the circulation mechanism 60 to the four head chips HC. The flow path structure 11 has a flow path member 11a and four joining tubes 11b to 11e. Although not illustrated in
The wiring substrate 12 is a mounting component for electrically joining the liquid ejecting head 1 to the control unit 20, and is disposed on the flow path structure 11. A connector 12a is installed on a surface of the wiring substrate 12 directed in the Z1 direction. The connector 12a is a joining component for electrically joining the liquid ejecting head 1 and the control unit 20. In addition, although not illustrated, wires joined to the four head chips HC are joined to the wiring substrate 12.
The holder 13 is a structure that accommodates and supports the four head chips HC. The holder 13 is provided with a plurality of holder flow paths 13a, a plurality of wiring holes 13b, a plurality of recessed portions 13c, a plurality of screw holes 13d, a plurality of holes 13f, and a plurality of positioning portions 13e.
For example, the holder 13 is formed of a resin material or a metal material. In the present embodiment, the positioning pin 51b is press-fitted to the positioning portion 13e. Therefore, the holder 13 and the positioning pin 51b are respectively formed of a metal material. For example, the metal material may include iron, titanium, aluminum, magnesium, or an alloy containing at least one of these metal elements. Examples of the alloy may include stainless steel, 42 alloy, and Inver. A material of the holder 13 and a material of the positioning pin 51b of the present embodiment are the same metal material, and are specifically stainless steel. The positioning pin 51b and the support body 51 may be integrally formed, or the positioning pin 51b and the support body 51 which are separated bodies may be integrally formed by bonding.
The plurality of holder flow paths 13a are respectively holes for causing the ink to flow between the head chip HC and the flow path structure 11. The holder flow paths 13a are provided to respectively correspond to an introduction port R_in and a discharge port R_out (to be described later). The plurality of wiring holes 13b are respectively holes through which wires (not illustrated) for joining the head chip HC and the wiring substrate 12 pass. The plurality of recessed portions 13c are respectively open in the Z2 direction, and are spaces in which the head chip HC is disposed. The plurality of screw holes 13d are respectively female screws fitted to the screws SC. The screw SC inserted into the hole 11f of the flow path member 11a is fastened to the screw hole 13d. In this manner, the flow path member 11a is pressed toward the holder 13. Screws (not illustrated) for fixing the liquid ejecting head 1 to the support body 51 described above are respectively inserted into the plurality of holes 13f. The positioning pins 51b of the support body 51 described above are respectively inserted into the plurality of positioning portions 13e. Details of the plurality of positioning portions 13e will be described later with reference to
Each head chip HC ejects the ink. Each head chip HC is provided with the introduction port R_in for introducing the ink and the discharge port R_out for discharging the ink. The introduction port R_in and the discharge port R_out are respectively bonded to the head chip HC and the holder 13 with an adhesive. In this manner, both ports are liquid-tightly joined to the corresponding holder flow path 13a.
The fixing plate 14 is a plate member for fixing the four head chips HC to the holder 13. Specifically, the fixing plate 14 is disposed in a state where four head chips HC are pinched between the fixing plate 14 and the holder 13, and is fixed to the holder 13 with an adhesive. For example, the fixing plate 14 is formed of a metal material. The fixing plate 14 is provided with a plurality of opening portions 14a for exposing the plurality of nozzles N respectively included in the four head chips HC. Here, a surface FN_B of the fixing plate 14 directed in the Z2 direction and four nozzle forming surfaces FN_A form an ejecting surface FN of the liquid ejecting head 1 directed in the Z2 direction. That is, the ejecting surface FN is a surface having the plurality of nozzles N. The plurality of opening portions 14a are individually provided for each head chip HC.
The reinforcing plate 15 is a plate-shaped member disposed between the holder 13 and the fixing plate 14 and reinforcing the fixing plate 14. The reinforcing plate 15 is disposed on the fixing plate 14 in an overlapping manner, and is fixed to the fixing plate 14 with an adhesive. The reinforcing plate 15 is provided with a plurality of opening portions 15a in which the four head chips HC are disposed. For example, the reinforcing plate 15 is formed of a metal material.
The cover 16 is a box-shaped member that accommodates the flow path member 11a of the flow path structure 11 and the wiring substrate 12, and is formed of a resin material, for example. The cover 16 is provided with four through-holes 16a and an opening portion 16b. Any one of the joining tubes 11b to 11e is inserted into the four through-holes 16a. The connector 12a passes outward through the opening portion 16b from the inside of the cover 16.
The sealing member 17 is an elastic member for liquid-tightly joining the flow path of the flow path structure 11 and the holder flow path 13a of the holder 13. In an example illustrated in
The first positioning pin 51b_1 and the second positioning pin 51b_2 are respectively positioning pins 51b illustrated in
In an example illustrated in
The screw hole 51c_1 and the screw hole 51c_2 are respectively screw holes 51c illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
The first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 are respectively positioning portions 13e illustrated in
In an example illustrated in
The hole 13f_1 and the hole 13f_2 are respectively holes 13f illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
The first through-hole 2 is a hole penetrating the flange portion 13h of the holder 13. Here, the flange portion 13h has a first surface F1 which is a surface directed in the Z1 direction and a second surface F2 which is a surface directed the Z2 direction. The first through-hole 2 penetrates from the first surface F1 to the second surface F2 in the direction along the Z-axis. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in
The first recessed portion 3 is provided on the first surface F1, and is adjacent to a portion of the first through-hole 2 on a side in the Y1 direction in a plan view. On the other hand, the second recessed portion 4 is provided on the second surface F2, and is adjacent to a portion of the first through-hole 2 on a side in the Y2 direction in a plan view.
Here, a total sum of a depth of the first recessed portion 3 and a depth of the second recessed portion 4 is greater than a distance between the first surface F1 and the second surface F2 (that is, a thickness of the flange portion 13h of the holder 13). In other words, the total sum of the length of the first contact portion CT1 (to be described later) in the direction along the Z-axis and the length of the second contact portion CT2 in the direction along the Z-axis is smaller than the distance between the first surface F1 and the second surface F2 (that is, the thickness of the flange portion 13h of the holder 13). A shape of the first recessed portion 3 in a plan view is not limited to the example illustrated in
As illustrated in
The first region RE1 is a region which comes into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on a side in the Y2 direction, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on a side in the Y1 direction, with respect to a first center line LC1 which is a center line of the first virtual cylinder VC1. The second region RE2 is a region which does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the side in the Y2 direction, and comes into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the side in the Y1 direction, with respect to the first center line LC1. The third region RE3 is a region which does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on both sides in the Y2 direction and the Y1 direction, with respect to the first center line LC1. The first center line LC1 is a straight line passing through the center of the bottom surface of the first virtual cylinder VC1 and extending in the direction along the Z-axis.
Here, the first recessed portion 3 is adjacent to a portion of the first region RE1 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the first center line LC1. The second recessed portion 4 is adjacent to a portion of the second region RE2 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the first center line LC1. The first recessed portion 3 and the second recessed portion 4 are respectively adjacent to the third region RE3. The first virtual cylinder VC1 extends from the first surface F1 to the second surface F2 along the first through-hole 2. The first virtual cylinder VC1 of the present embodiment extends from one end to the other end of the first through-hole 2 in the direction along the Z-axis, and corresponds to a shape of the first through-hole 2. That is, the deepest position of the first positioning portion 13e_1 is an end portion of the first through-hole 2 in the Z1 direction (that is, a position of the first surface F1 on the Z-axis), when the first virtual cylinder VC1 is inserted in the Z1 direction from an opening of the first positioning portion 13e_1 formed on the second surface F2, and is an end portion of the first through-hole 2 in the Z2 direction (that is, a position of the second surface F2 on the Z-axis), when the first virtual cylinder VC1 is inserted in the Z2 direction from an opening of the first positioning portion 13e_1 formed on the first surface F1.
In an example illustrated in
In this way, the first positioning portion 13e_1 does not come into contact with the respective portions of the second region RE2 and the third region RE3 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, comes into contact with the portion of the first region RE1 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, does not come into contact with the respective portions of the first region RE1 and the third region RE3 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, and comes into contact with the portion of the second region RE2 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the first center line LC1.
Therefore, the first positioning portion 13e_1 has a first contact portion CT1 which comes into contact with the portion of the first region RE1 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, and a second contact portion CT2 which comes into contact with the portion of the second region RE2 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the first center line LC1. The first contact portion CT1 and the second contact portion CT2 of the present embodiment respectively and continuously extend in the direction along the Z-axis.
In addition, due to the presence of the third region RE3 as described above, in a cross section illustrated in
In addition, the maximum length Da in the present embodiment is equal to or greater than a maximum dimension Dv of the first virtual cylinder VC1 in the direction along the Y-axis. The maximum dimension Dv corresponds to a diameter of a cross section of the first virtual cylinder VC1 which is perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. Furthermore, the shortest distance Ds is greater than the maximum dimension Dv. The shortest distance Ds, the maximum length Da, and the maximum dimension Dv represent the distance, the length or the dimension measured before the first positioning pin 51b_1 is inserted into the first positioning portion 13e_1, that is, in a state where the first positioning pin 51b_1 is inserted into the first positioning portion 13e_1.
Here, a fact that the positioning pin 51b is press-fitted to the positioning portion 13e indicates that the maximum length of the positioning pin 51b when viewed in the depth direction of the positioning portion 13e is equal to or greater than the diameter of the cross section perpendicular to the depth direction of a virtual regular cylinder inserted to the deepest position of the positioning portion 13e and having the maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in the depth direction of the positioning portion 13e. When the positioning portion 13e is press-fitted to the positioning pin 51b, the positioning portion 13e generally deforms outward with respect to the positioning pin 51b so that the positioning portion 13e can be inserted.
As illustrated in
In a state illustrated in
Therefore, as illustrated in
The second through-hole 5 is a hole penetrating the flange portion 13h of the holder 13. Here, the second through-hole 5 penetrates from the first surface F1 to the second surface F2 in the direction along the Z-axis. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in
The third recessed portion 6 is provided on the first surface F1, and is adjacent to a portion of the second through-hole 5 on the side in the Y1 direction in a plan view. On the other hand, the fourth recessed portion 7 is provided on the second surface F2, and is adjacent to a portion of the second through-hole 5 on the side in the Y2 direction in a plan view.
Here, the total sum of the depth of the third recessed portion 6 and the depth of the fourth recessed portion 7 is greater than the distance between the first surface F1 and the second surface F2 (that is, the thickness of the flange portion 13h of the holder 13). In other words, the total sum of the length of the third contact portion CT3 (to be described later) in the direction along the Z-axis and the length of the fourth contact portion CT4 in the direction along the Z-axis is smaller than the distance between the first surface F1 and the second surface F2 (that is, the thickness of the flange portion 13h of the holder 13). A shape of the third recessed portion 6 in a plan view is not limited to the example illustrated in
As illustrated in
The fourth region RE4 is a region which comes into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on the side in the Y2 direction, and does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on the side in the Y1 direction, with respect to a second center line LC2 which is a center line of the second virtual cylinder VC2. The fifth region RE5 is a region which does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on the side in the Y2 direction, and comes into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on the side in the Y1 direction, with respect to the second center line LC2. The sixth region RE6 is a region which does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on both sides in the Y2 direction and the Y1 direction, with respect to the second center line LC2. The second center line LC2 is a straight line passing through the center of the bottom surface of the second virtual cylinder VC2 and extending in the direction along the Z-axis.
Here, the third recessed portion 6 is adjacent to a portion of the fourth region RE4 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the second center line CL2. The fourth recessed portion 7 is adjacent to a portion of the fifth region RE5 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the second center line CL2. The third recessed portion 6 and the fourth recessed portion 7 are respectively adjacent to the sixth region RE6. The second virtual cylinder VC2 extends from the first surface F1 to the second surface F2 along the second through-hole 5. The second virtual cylinder VC2 of the present embodiment extends from one end to the other end of the second through-hole 5 in the Z-axis direction. That is, the deepest position of the second positioning portion 13e_2 is an end portion of the second through-hole 5 in the Z1 direction (that is, a position of the first surface F1 on the Z-axis) when the second virtual cylinder VC2 is inserted in the Z1 direction from an opening of the second positioning portion 13e_2 formed on the second surface F2, and is an end portion of the second through-hole 5 in the Z2 direction (that is, a position of the second surface F2 on the Z-axis) when the second virtual cylinder VC2 is inserted in the Z2 direction from an opening of the second positioning portion 13e_2 formed on the first surface F1.
In an example illustrated in
In this way, the second positioning portion 13e_2 comes into contact with the portion of the fourth region RE4 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the second center line LC2 without coming into contact with the respective portions of the fifth region RE5 and the sixth region RE6 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the second center line LC2, and comes into contact with the portion of the fifth region RE5 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the second center line LC2 without coming into contact with the respective portions of the fourth region RE4 and the sixth region RE6 with respect to the second center line LC2.
Therefore, the second positioning portion 13e_2 has a third contact portion CT3 which comes into contact with the portion of the fourth region RE4 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the second center line LC2, and a fourth contact portion CT4 which comes into contact with the portion of the fifth region RE5 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the second center line LC2. The third contact portion CT3 and the fourth contact portion CT4 respectively and continuously extend in the direction along the Z-axis.
As illustrated in
Here, as described above, the length of the second through-hole 5 in the direction along the Y-axis is longer than the length of the second through-hole 5 in the direction along the X-axis. Therefore, when a shape of the second positioning pin 51b_2 in a plan view is a circular shape, as illustrated in
Moreover, due to the presence of the fourth region RE4 and the sixth region RE6 as described above, the shortest distance between the third contact portion CT3 and the fourth contact portion CT4 in a cross section illustrated in
In addition, in a state where the second positioning pin 51b_2 is inserted into the second positioning portion 13e_2, the second positioning portion 13e_2 comes into contact with both ends of the side surface of the second positioning pin 51b_2 in the direction along the X-axis. Through this contact, the movement of the second positioning portion 13e_2 with respect to the second positioning pin 51b_2 in the direction along the X-axis is restricted. In addition to inserting the first positioning pin 51b_1 into the first positioning portion 13e_1 described above, the second positioning pin 51b_2 is inserted into the second positioning portion 13e_2. In this manner, the rotation of the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 is restricted in a plane orthogonal to the Z-axis.
As described above, the liquid ejecting apparatus 100 includes the liquid ejecting head 1 and the support body 51 including the first positioning pin 51b_1. The liquid ejecting head 1 is supported by the support body 51 having the first positioning pin 51b_1, and ejects the ink which is an example of a “liquid”. Here, as described above, the liquid ejecting head 1 includes the first positioning portion 13e_1 that positions the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 by inserting the first positioning pin 51b_1.
When the first virtual cylinder inserted to the deepest position of the first positioning portion 13e_1 and having the maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) which is the depth direction of the first positioning portion 13e_1 is defined as the first virtual cylinder VC1, the side surface of the first virtual cylinder VC1 has the first region RE1, the second region RE2, and the third region RE3 disposed between the first region RE1 and the second region RE2, as three regions divided in the first direction.
The first region RE1 comes into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on a first side (side in the Y2 direction) which is one side in a second direction (direction along the Y-axis) orthogonal to the first direction, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on a second side (side in the Y1 direction) which is the other side in the second direction, with respect to the first center line LC1 which is the center line of the first virtual cylinder VC1. The second region RE2 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the first side (side in the Y2 direction), and comes into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the second side (side in the Y1 direction), with respect to the first center line LC1. The third region RE3 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on both the first side (side in the Y2 direction) and the second side (side in the Y1 direction), with respect to the first center line LC1.
In the above-described liquid ejecting head 1, the first region RE1 comes into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1, and the second region RE2 comes into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1. Therefore, when the side surface of the first positioning pin 51b_1 corresponds to the side surface of the first virtual cylinder VC1, the first positioning pin 51b_1 is inserted into the first positioning portion 13e_1. In this manner, the liquid ejecting head 1 can be positioned with respect to the support body 51.
Here, a comparative example may be assumed as follows. The positioning portion of the liquid ejecting head into which the positioning pin of the support body is inserted is configured to include only the through-hole extending in the direction along the Z-axis. The comparative example does not have the first recessed portion 3 or the second recessed portion 4 as in the first positioning portion 13e_1. Therefore, in the comparative example, in order that the positioning portion is inserted into and removed from the positioning pin, the liquid ejecting head needs to be slidably moved with respect to the support body along a protruding direction of the positioning pin. In this comparative example, inserting/removing performance of the positioning portion with respect to the positioning pin is poor. Specifically, as a gap between the positioning pin and the positioning portion is narrower in a state where the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning portion, the inserting/removing performance is poorer. In particular, when the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning portion by press-fitting, friction occurs between the positioning pin and the positioning portion when inserted and removed. Therefore, the positioning pin needs to be inserted and removed with a strong force. In addition, when the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning portion, the two positioning pins need to be respectively inserted into the two positioning portions at the same time. However, this work is not easy. Furthermore, in this case, an operator is less likely to visually recognize a position of the ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head. Therefore, there is a possibility that the ejecting surface may be damaged by hitting the positioning pin.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the first region RE1 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1, the second region RE2 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1, and the third region RE3 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on both the first side (side in the Y2 direction) and the second side (side in the Y1 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1. Therefore, the liquid ejecting head 1 can be attached to and detached from the support body 51 by inclining the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the extending direction of the first positioning pin 51b_1. That is, according to this configuration, the shortest distance Ds between the first contact portion CT1 and the second contact portion CT2 is greater than the maximum dimension Dv (corresponding to the maximum dimension of the first through-hole 2 in the direction along the Y-axis) in the direction along the Y-axis of the first virtual cylinder VC1. Therefore, compared to the above-described comparative example, the first positioning portion 13e_1 is excellent in the inserting/removing performance with respect to the first positioning pin 51b_1. Therefore, attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 can be improved. In addition, the first positioning portion 13e_1 can be inserted into the first positioning pin 51b_1 before the second positioning portion 13_2 is inserted into the second positioning pin 51b_2. Therefore, unlike the comparative example, the two positioning portions no longer need to be inserted into the two positioning pins at the same time, and the attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 can be improved. Furthermore, when the liquid ejecting head 1 is attached to or detached from the support body 51, the operator is likely to visually recognize the position of the ejecting surface FN by inclining the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the extending direction of the first positioning pin 51b_1. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a possibility that the ejecting surface FN may come into contact with the positioning pin 51b.
As described above, the liquid ejecting head 1 includes the holder 13 which is an example of a “first member”. The holder 13 has the first positioning portion 13e_1, the first surface F1, and the second surface F2 on a side opposite to the first surface F1. The first positioning portion 13e_1 has the first through-hole 2 penetrating from the second surface F2 to the first surface F1 in the first direction (Z1 direction), the first recessed portion 3 provided on the first surface F1, and the second recessed portion 4 provided on the second surface F2.
Here, the first through-hole 2 is disposed between the first recessed portion 3 and the second recessed portion 4 in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis). The first recessed portion 3 is adjacent to the second side (side in the Y1 direction) of the first region RE1 with respect to the first center line LC1. The second recessed portion 4 is adjacent to the first side (side in the Y2 direction) of the second region RE2 with respect to the first center line LC1. The first recessed portion 3 and the second recessed portion 4 are respectively adjacent to the third region RE3. The first virtual cylinder VC1 extends from the first surface F1 to the second surface F2 along the first through-hole 2. Therefore, the first through-hole 2, the first recessed portion 3, and the second recessed portion 4 can be formed by processing both surfaces of the first surface F1 and the second surface F2. As a result, the liquid ejecting head 1 can be more simply manufactured, compared to a configuration in which the first positioning portion 13e_1 is a blind hole (bottomed hole).
In addition, as described above, the length of the first region RE1 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) and the length of the second region RE2 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) are equal to each other. Therefore, rigidity of the first contact portion CT1 and rigidity of the second contact portion CT2 of the first positioning portion 13e_1 can be equal, and thus, it is possible to preferably prevent a possibility that one of the first contact portion CT1 and the second contact portion CT2 may have insufficient rigidity compared to the other.
Furthermore, as described above, the respective lengths of the first region RE1 and the second region RE2 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) are 20% or more and 45% or less of the length of the first virtual cylinder VC1 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). Therefore, the rigidity of the first positioning portion 13e_1 can be improved while the inserting/removing performance of the first positioning pin 51b_1 with respect to the first positioning portion 13e_1 can be satisfactorily achieved.
In addition, as described above, the first positioning portion 13e_1 has the first contact portion CT1 which comes into contact with the first side (side in the Y2 direction) of the first region RE1 with respect to the first center line LC1, and the second contact portion CT2 which comes into contact with the second side (side in the Y1 direction) of the second region RE2 with respect to the first center line LC1. The first contact portion CT1 and the second contact portion CT2 respectively and continuously extend in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). Therefore, the first contact portion CT1 and the second contact portion CT2 can be respectively brought into surface contact with the first positioning pin 51b_1 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). As a result, the liquid ejecting head 1 can be highly accurately positioned with respect to the support body 51.
Here, as described above, in a cross section obtained by cutting the first positioning portion 13e_1 on a plane along both the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) and the second direction (direction along the Y-axis) at the position where the first virtual cylinder VC1 has the maximum length along the second direction (direction along the Y-axis) when viewed in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis), at positions in the third direction (direction along the X-axis) orthogonal to the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) and the second direction (direction along the Y-axis), the shortest distance Ds between the first contact portion CT1 and the second contact portion CT2 is equal to or longer than the maximum length Da of the first positioning pin 51b_1 along the second direction (direction along the Y-axis). Therefore, compared to a case where the shortest distance Ds is smaller than the maximum length Da, when the first positioning portion 13e_1 is inclined with respect to the extending direction of the first positioning pin 51b_1, a tightening allowance between the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the first positioning pin 51b_1 can be reduced. As a result, the attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 can be improved. The shortest distance Ds is more preferably greater than the maximum length Da. In this manner, when the first positioning portion 13e_1 is inclined with respect to the extending direction of the first positioning pin 51b_1, a gap is provided between the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the first positioning pin 51b_1. Therefore, the attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 can be further improved.
Furthermore, as described above, the liquid ejecting head 1 includes the ejecting surface FN having the plurality of nozzles N for ejecting the ink, and the ejecting surface FN is disposed on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) when viewed from the first positioning portion 13e_1. The second region RE2 is disposed in the direction (Z2 direction) facing the ejecting surface FN with respect to the first region RE1 in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). In other words, the second region RE2 is closer to the protruding surface FP than the first region RE1 in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). In this manner, the liquid ejecting head 1 can be attached to and detached from the support body 51 so that the liquid ejecting head 1 is inclined with respect to the extending direction of the first positioning pin 51b_1. In addition, it is preferable that the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejecting head 1 is the direction along the Y-axis as in the present embodiment. In this case, visibility of the ejecting surface FN is further improved in combination with the above-described configuration. As illustrated in
In addition, as described above, the liquid ejecting head 1 further includes the second positioning portion 13e_2 that positions the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 by inserting the second positioning pin 51b_2 provided in the support body 51. The first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 are aligned in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis). Therefore, a position and a posture of the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 can be restricted by the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2. In addition, the second positioning pin 51b_2 can be inserted into the second positioning portion 13e_2 after the first positioning pin 51b_1 is inserted into the first positioning portion 13e_1. Therefore, the attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 can be improved. As illustrated in
Furthermore, as described above, the second positioning portion 13e_2 is disposed on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) with respect to the first positioning portion 13e_1. The second region RE2 is disposed closer to the protruding surface FP on which the first positioning pin 51b_1 of the support body 51 protrudes than the first region RE1 in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis).
In addition, as described above, when the virtual cylinder inserted to the deepest position of the second positioning portion 13e_2 and having the maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) is defined as the second virtual cylinder VC2, the side surface of the second virtual cylinder VC2 includes the fourth region RE4, the fifth region RE5, the sixth region RE6 disposed between the fourth region RE4, and the fifth region RE5, as three regions divided in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis).
The fourth region RE4 comes into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on the first side (side in the Y2 direction), and does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on the second side (side in the Y1 direction), with respect to the second center line LC2 which is the center line of the second virtual cylinder VC2. The fifth region RE5 does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on the first side (side in the Y2 direction), and comes into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on the second side (side in the Y1 direction), with respect to the second center line LC2. The sixth region RE6 does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 on both the first side (side in the Y2 direction) and the second side (side in the Y1 direction), with respect to the second center line LC2. A direction from the second region RE2 toward the first region RE1 is the same as a direction from the fifth region RE5 toward the fourth region RE4. Therefore, the second positioning portion 13e_2 is excellent in inserting/removing performance with respect to the second positioning pin 51b_2. Therefore, the attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to the support body 51 can be improved.
As described above, in the first embodiment, the second positioning portion 13e_2 is configured to include the second through-hole 5, the third recessed portion 6, and the fourth recessed portion 7. However, a configuration may be adopted so that the second positioning portion 13e_2 includes only the second through-hole 5 without providing the third recessed portion 6 and the fourth recessed portion 7. The reason is as follows. The second positioning portion 13e_2 is elongated in the direction along the Y-axis, and is provided with respect to the ejecting surface FN in a state where the liquid ejecting head 1 is supported by the support body 51. An inclination angle of the ejecting surface FN when the second positioning pin 51b_2 is inserted into the second positioning portion 13e_2 is smaller than an inclination angle of the ejecting surface FN when the first positioning pin 51b_1 is inserted into the first positioning portion 13e_1. In this manner, a structure of the second positioning portion 13e_2 can be simplified.
In addition, in the above-described first embodiment, the first recessed portion 3 and the second recessed portion 4 are point-symmetrical with respect to the center of the first positioning portion 13e_1. Therefore, the maximum dimension D1_a of the first recessed portion 3 in the direction along the Y-axis coincides with the maximum dimension D1_b of the second recessed portion 4 in the direction along the Y-axis. In addition, the maximum dimensions D1_a are equal at all positions on the X-axis. The same applies to the maximum dimension D1_b. In addition, the third recessed portion 6 and the fourth recessed portion 7 are point-symmetrical with respect to the center of the second positioning portion 13e_2. Therefore, the maximum dimensions D2_a of the third recessed portion 6 in the direction along the Y-axis coincides with the maximum dimension D2_b of the fourth recessed portion 7 in the direction along the Y-axis. In addition, the maximum dimensions D2_a are equal at all positions on the X-axis. The same applies to the maximum dimension D2_b.
In addition, as described above, the second positioning portion 13e_2 is elongated in the direction along the Y-axis, and is provided with respect to the second ejecting surface FN in a state where the liquid ejecting head 1 is supported by the support body 51. The inclination angle of the ejecting surface FN when the second positioning pin 51b_2 is inserted into the second positioning portion 13e_2 is smaller than the inclination angle of the ejecting surface FN when the first positioning pin 51b_1 is inserted into the first positioning portion 13e_1. Therefore, the maximum dimension D2_a and the maximum dimension D2_b can be respectively reduced than the maximum dimension D1_a and the maximum dimension D1_b, and the dimension of the second positioning portion 13e_2 along the Y-axis direction can be reduced.
As illustrated in
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. As in the first embodiment, the second to sixth embodiments and Modification Examples 1 to 4 (to be described later) will be described with reference to the coordinate axes based on the local coordinate system based on the liquid ejecting head.
The first through-hole 2A is configured in the same manner as the first through-hole 2 of the first embodiment, except that a shape in a plan view is different. The shape of the first through-hole 2A in a plan view is a substantially square shape. Here, the first through-hole 2A has a pair of sides along the Y-axis and a pair of sides along the X-axis in a plan view. In addition, the length of the first through-hole 2A in the direction along the Y-axis is equal to the length of the first through-hole 2A in the direction along the X-axis. For example, the substantially square shape indicates a shape in which corners of the square shape are R-chamfered or C-chamfered. The shape of the first through-hole 2A in a plan view may be a substantially quadrangular shape, a quadrangular shape, or a square shape.
Therefore, the first contact portion CT1 and the second contact portion CT2 can be respectively brought into line contact with the first positioning pin 51b_1 illustrated in the first embodiment along the direction along the Z-axis. Therefore, the first through-hole 2A having this shape in a plan view can also restrict the movement of the first positioning portion 13e_1 with respect to the first positioning pin 51b_1 in a plane orthogonal to the Z-axis. A magnitude correlation between the length of the first through-hole 2A in the direction along the Y-axis and the length of the first through-hole 2A in the direction along the X-axis is determined according to the shape of the first positioning pin 51b_1, and is not particularly limited.
The first recessed portion 3A is configured in the same manner as the first recessed portion 3 of the first embodiment, except that the shape in a plan view is different. The shape of the first recessed portion 3A in a plan view is substantially a quadrangular shape. Here, the first recessed portion 3A has a longitudinal shape along the side of the first through-hole 2A in the Y1 direction. In addition, the first recessed portion 3A has a pair of sides along the Y-axis and a pair of sides along the X-axis in a plan view. Furthermore, the length of the first recessed portion 3A in the direction along the Y-axis is shorter than the length of the first recessed portion 3A in the direction along the X-axis. In addition, the length of the first recessed portion 3A in the direction along the X-axis is equal to the length of the first through-hole 2A in the direction along the X-axis. The magnitude correlation between the lengths is not particularly limited.
The second recessed portion 4A is configured in the same manner as the second recessed portion 4 of the first embodiment, except that the shape in a plan view is different. The shape of the second recessed portion 4A in a plan view is a substantially C-shape along three sides other than the side of the first through-hole 2A in the Y1 direction.
According to the second embodiment as described above, the attachability/detachability can also be improved while required positioning accuracy of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be secured.
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
The first through-hole 2B is configured in the same manner as the first through-hole 2 of the first embodiment, except that the shape in a plan view is different. The shape of the first through-hole 2B in a plan view is a shape obtained by combining a semicircle and a quadrangular shape. Here, in a plan view, the first through-hole 2B has a pair of sides along the Y-axis, one side joining ends in the Y1 direction of the pair of sides along the Y-axis to each other along the X-axis, and a convex arc joining ends in the Y2 direction of the pair of sides along the Y-axis to each other. In
The first recessed portion 3B is configured in the same manner as the first recessed portion 3 of the first embodiment, except that the shape in a plan view is different. The shape of the first recessed portion 3B in a plan view is a semicircular shape. The first positioning portion 13e_1 has the first contact portion CT1 which comes into contact with a portion of the first region RE1 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the first center line LC1.
The second recessed portion 4B is configured in the same manner as the second recessed portion 4 of the first embodiment, except that the shape in a plan view is different. The shape of the second recessed portion 4B in a plan view is a substantially C-shape along the peripheral edge of the first through-hole 2B other than the side in the Y1 direction. The first positioning portion 13e_1 has the second contact portion CT2 which comes into contact with a portion of the second region RE2 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the first center line LC1.
According to the third embodiment as described above, the attachability/detachability can also be improved while required positioning accuracy of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be secured.
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
The first recessed portion 3C is configured in the same manner as the first recessed portion 3 of the first embodiment, except that chamfering is performed near the boundary with the first through-hole 2. The second recessed portion 4C is configured in the same manner as the second recessed portion 4 of the first embodiment, except that chamfering is performed near the boundary with the first through-hole 2. In the illustration, the chamfering is C-chamfering,. However, without being limited thereto, for example, the chamfering may be R-chamfering.
In the present embodiment, the first positioning portion 13e_1 includes the first contact portion CT1 which comes into contact with the first side (side in the Y2 direction) of the first region RE1 with respect to the first center line LC1, and the first inclined surface FL1 continuous with the first contact portion CT1 and extending in a direction intersecting with the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) without being orthogonal to the first direction. Therefore, when the first positioning portion 13e_1 is inclined with respect to the extending direction of the first positioning pin 51b_1, a gap between the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the first positioning pin 51b_1 can be increased, compared to a configuration having no first inclined surface FL1. As a result, the attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be improved.
Here, the first positioning portion 13e_1 has the second contact portion CT2 which comes into contact with the second side (side in the Y1 direction) of the second region RE2 with respect to the first center line LC1, and the second inclined surface FL2 continuous with the second contact portion CT2 and extending in a direction intersecting with the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) without being orthogonal to the first direction. The first inclined surface FL1 and the second inclined surface FL2 are parallel to each other. The first inclined surface FL1 and the second inclined surface FL2 have an advantage in that a wall thickness of a member forming the first positioning portion 13e_1 is easily secured. The first positioning portion 13e_1 may be provided with only one of the first inclined surface FL1 and the second inclined surface FL2.
In addition, the first inclined surface FL1 and the second inclined surface FL2 have portions overlapping each other when viewed in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis). The first inclined surface FL1 and the second inclined surface FL2 have an advantage in that a wall thickness of a member forming the first positioning portion 13e_1 is easily secured. In the present embodiment, a portion of the first inclined surface FL1 and a portion of the second inclined surface FL2 overlap each other when viewed in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis). However, all of the first inclined surface FL1 and all of the second inclined surface All of FL2 may overlap each other when viewed in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis). The first inclined surface FL1 and the second inclined surface FL2 may not overlap each other when viewed in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis).
In addition, it is preferable that the length of the first inclined surface FL1 and the length of the second inclined surface FL2 are the same as each other. Furthermore, as illustrated in
In addition, it is preferable that an angle θ1 formed by the first inclined surface FL1 and a straight line along the Z-axis is equal to an angle θ2 formed by the second inclined surface FL2 and the straight line along the Z-axis. As illustrated in
Furthermore, in a cross section obtained by cutting the first positioning portion 13e_1 on a plane parallel to both the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) and the second direction (direction along the Y-axis) at the position where the first virtual cylinder VC1 has the maximum length along the second direction (direction along the Y-axis) when viewed in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis), at the positions in the third direction (direction along the X-axis) orthogonal to the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) and the second direction (direction along the Y-axis), an angle θs formed by a line segment LS joining the first contact portion CT1 and the second contact portion CT2 and the first inclined surface FL1 at a shortest time is 90 degrees or larger. Therefore, when the first positioning portion 13e_1 is inclined with respect to the extending direction of the first positioning pin 51b_1, a gap between the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the first positioning pin 51b_1 can be increased, compared to a configuration in which the angle is smaller than 90 degrees. As a result, the attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be improved. The line segment LS of the present embodiment is a line segment joining the boundary portion between the first inclined surface FL1 and the first contact portion CT1 and the boundary portion between the second inclined surface FL2 and the second contact portion CT2.
In other words, the formed angle θs is the rotation angle obtained by rotating the first inclined surface FL1 to be parallel to the line segment LS while the boundary portion between the first inclined surface FL1 and the first contact portion CT1 is used as the rotation axis. It is preferable that the angle θs is approximately 90 degrees. In this manner, rigidity of the first positioning portion 13e_1 can be secured. In addition, approximately 90 degrees indicates 90 degrees ± 2 degrees in view of a manufacturing error. In addition, approximately 90 degrees include 90 degrees.
The third recessed portion 6C is configured in the same manner as the third recessed portion 6 of the first embodiment, except that the chamfering is performed near the boundary with the second through-hole 5. In addition, the fourth recessed portion 7C is configured in the same manner as the fourth recessed portion 7 of the first embodiment, except that chamfering is performed near the boundary with the second through-hole 5. In the illustration, the chamfering is C-chamfering,. However, without being limited thereto, for example, the chamfering may be R-chamfering.
The second positioning portion 13e_2 includes the third contact portion CT3 which comes into contact with the first side (side in the Y2 direction) of the fourth region RE4 with respect to the second center line LC2, the fourth contact portion CT4 which comes into contact with the second side (side in the Y1 direction) of the fifth region RE5 with respect to the second center line LC2, the third inclined surface FL3 continuous with the third contact portion CT3 and extending in a direction intersecting with the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) without being orthogonal to the first direction, and the fourth inclined surface FL4 continuous with the fourth contact portion CT4 and extending in a direction intersecting with the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) without being orthogonal to the first direction.
In addition, it is preferable that an angle θ3 formed by the third inclined surface FL3 and the straight line along the Z-axis is equal to an angle θ4 formed by the fourth inclined surface FL4 and the straight line along the Z-axis. In addition, it is preferable that the formed angle θ3 and the formed angle θ4 are respectively smaller than the formed angle θ1 and the formed angle θ2. In this manner, rigidity of the second positioning portion 13e_2 can be secured without impairing the inserting/removing performance of the second positioning portion 13e_2 with respect to the second positioning pin 51b_2. The formed angle θ3 and the formed angle θ4 are defined in the same manner as the formed angle θ1.
According to the fourth embodiment as described above, the attachability/detachability can also be improved while required positioning accuracy of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be secured.
Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
The bottomed hole 8 is a hole having a shape obtained by combining a substantially cylindrical bottomed hole in which the first center line LC1 serves as a central axis and a substantially cylindrical bottomed hole in which an axis line LL inclined around the X-axis with respect to the first center line LC1 serves as the center. The bottomed hole 8 is formed in a hole forming surface FO facing the protruding surface FP of the support body 51 of the holder 13D. Here, the first center line LC1 and the axis line LL intersect with each other, and an intersection thereof is located inside the bottomed hole 8. In an example illustrated in
In this way, the shape of the first positioning portion 13e_1 is the bottomed hole instead of the through-hole. The bottom wall FB includes the curved surface, and an area of the bottom wall FB in a plan view when viewed in the direction along the Z-axis is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the first positioning pin 51b_1 in a plan view when viewed in the direction along the Z-axis, the bottom wall FB is not provided in a range where the first positioning pin 51b_1 of the first positioning portion 13e_1 is inserted. Therefore, it is not preferable that the bottom wall FB is interpreted as the deepest position of the first positioning portion 13e_1 into which the first virtual cylinder VC1 is inserted. Therefore, in this case, it is desirable that the deepest position of the first positioning portion 13e_1 into which the first virtual cylinder VC1 is inserted is set to a tip of the first positioning pin 51b_1 (end portion of the first positioning pin 51b_1 in the Z1 direction).
When the deepest position of the first positioning portion 13e_1 into which the first virtual cylinder VC1 is inserted is defined as described above, the first region RE1 comes into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the side in the Y1 direction. The second region RE2 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the side in the Y2 direction, and comes into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on the side in the Y1 direction, with respect to the first center line LC1. The third region RE3 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on both the side in the Y2 direction and the side in the Y1 direction, with respect to the first center line LC1. In this way, the bottomed hole 8 is formed at a depth required for inserting the first positioning pin 51b_1. In this manner, the first positioning portion 13e_1 is obtained. As a result, there is an advantage in that rigidity of the holder 13D can be easily improved.
In addition, the wall surface of the bottomed hole 8 is provided with the first contact portion CT1 which comes into contact with the first region RE1, the second contact portion CT2 which comes into contact with the second region RE2, the first inclined surface FL1 continuous with the first contact portion CT1 and extending in the intersecting direction without being orthogonal to the direction along the Z-axis, and the second inclined surface FL2 continuous with the second contact portion CT2 and extending in the intersecting direction without being orthogonal to the direction along the Z-axis.
According to the fifth embodiment as described above, the attachability/detachability can also be improved while required positioning accuracy of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be secured.
Hereinafter, a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
The bottomed hole 8A is formed on the hole forming surface FO facing the protruding surface FP of the support body 51 of the holder 13D. The bottom wall FB of the present embodiment extends along an X-Y plane orthogonal to the Z-axis. The bottomed hole 8A has a recessed portion formed on the hole forming surface FO, a cylindrical hole recessed to the bottom wall FB, and a space which cannot be visually recognized by the hole forming surface FO when the hole forming surface FO is viewed in the Z1 direction. In the direction along the Y-axis, the cylindrical hole is located between the recessed portion and the invisible space. In addition, when viewed in the direction along the Y-axis, the recessed portion and the invisible space have portions overlapping each other.
The first region RE1 of the first virtual cylinder VC1 comes into contact with the first contact portion CT1 of the first positioning portion 13e_1 in a portion on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 in a portion on the side in the Y1 direction. The second region RE2 comes into contact with the second contact portion CT2 of the first positioning portion 13e_1 in a portion on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 in a portion on the side in the Y2 direction. The third region RE3 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 on both the side in the Y2 direction and the side in the Y1 direction, with respect to the first center line LC1.
The liquid ejecting head of the present embodiment includes the holder 13D′ which is an example of a “first member”, and the holder 13D′ has the bottomed hole 8A having the bottom wall FB as the first positioning portion 13e_1. The deepest position at which the first virtual cylinder VC1 is inserted is the bottom wall FB.
According to the sixth embodiment as described above, the attachability/detachability can also be improved while required positioning accuracy of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be secured.
The first through-hole 2 illustrated in the first embodiment is the through-hole into which the first positioning pin 51b_1 is inserted. Therefore, for example, when through-hole is formed at a position where the first positioning pin 51b_1 cannot be inserted on the bottom wall FB of the bottomed hole 8A, or when a small through-hole is formed to such an extent that the first positioning pin 51b_1 cannot be inserted into the bottom wall FB, the through-holes are not interpreted as a portion of the first through-hole 2. Therefore, when a through-hole different from this first through-hole 2 is formed on the bottom wall FB, it is desirable that the deepest position at which the first virtual cylinder VC1 is inserted is set as the bottom wall FB.
The forms described above as example can be modified in various ways. Specific modification aspects that can be applied to the above-described forms will be described below as examples. Two or more aspects selected from the following examples in any desired way can be appropriately combined with each other within the scope in which the aspects do not contradict each other.
Specifically, the present modification example is different from the fourth embodiment in the following point. A shape of the second recessed portion 4E is changed so that the first inclined surface FL1 of the present Modification Example extends to the second surface F2 from a joining portion between the first contact portion CT1 and the first inclined surface FL1. Similarly, the present modification example is different from the fourth embodiment in the following point. The shape of the first recessed portion 3E is changed so that the second inclined surface FL2 of the present Modification Example extends to the first surface F1 from a joining portion between the second contact portion CT2 and the second inclined surface FL2.
Here, it is preferable that the length of the first inclined surface FL1 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) is equal to or longer than the total sum of the lengths of the second region RE2 and the third region RE3 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). In the present embodiment, the length of the first inclined surface FL1 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) is the same as the total sum of the lengths of the second region RE2 and the third region RE3 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). Therefore, there is an advantage in that the wall thickness of the member forming the first positioning portion 13e_1 is easily secured. In addition, the first inclined surface FL1 can be used as a guide for inserting the first positioning pin 51b_1 into the first positioning portion 13e_1. As a result, the attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be improved. Similarly, it is preferable that the length of the second inclined surface FL2 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) is equal to or longer than the total sum of the length of the first region RE1 and the third region RE3 along the first direction (direction along the Z-axis).
According to Modification Example 1 described above, the attachability/detachability can also be improved while required positioning accuracy of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be secured. 6-2. Modification Example 2
The holder 13G has a pair of flange portions 13h protruding in the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction with respect to the ejecting surface FN in a plan view. The pair of flange portions 13h respectively extend in the direction along the X-axis, and the respective surfaces of the pair of flange portions 13h directed in the Z2 direction come into contact with the protruding surface FP which is a surface of the support body 51 directed in the Z1 direction. Out of the pair of flange portions 13h, a flange portion 13h_1 protruding from the ejecting surface FN in the Y2 direction is provided with the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2, and a flange portion 13h_2 protruding from the ejecting surface FN in the Y1 direction is not provided with the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2. Although not illustrated, the pair of flange portions 13h are appropriately provided with a plurality of holes 13f.
In Modification Example 2, the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 are aligned in the direction along the X-axis. Specifically, the first positioning portion 13e_1 is provided near an end of the flange portion 13h_1 in the X2 direction, and the second positioning portion 13e_2 is provided near an end of the flange portion 13h_1 in the X1 direction. The direction in which the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 are aligned is a direction orthogonal to the direction along the Z-axis and intersecting with the direction along the Y-axis (orthogonal in the present modification example). The direction along the X-axis of the present modification example is an example of a “third direction”. In addition, the ejecting surface FN is elongated in the direction along the X-axis which is the direction in which the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 are aligned. Incidentally, for example, when the first positioning portion 13e_1 is provided near the end of the flange portion 13h_1 in the X2 direction and the second positioning portion 13e_2 is provided near the end of the flange portion 13h_2 in the X1 direction, the direction in which the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 are aligned is the direction orthogonal to the direction along the Z-axis and intersecting with the direction along the Y-axis without being orthogonal to the direction along the Y-axis.
Here, the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 of Modification Example 2 will be described.
The first positioning portion 13e_1 of Modification Example 2 is configured in the same manner as an example in which the first positioning portion 13e_1 of the first embodiment is rotated by 90° counterclockwise around the first center line LC1 when viewed in the Z2 direction. The second positioning portion 13e_2 of Modification Example 2 is configured in the same manner as an example in which the second positioning portion 13e_2 of the first embodiment is rotated by 90° counterclockwise around the second center line LC2 and the longitudinal direction of the second through-hole 5 is set as the direction along the X-axis when viewed in the Z2 direction.
The first positioning portion 13e_1 of Modification Example 2 has the first contact portion CT1 which comes into contact with the side of the first region RE1 in the Y2 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, and the second contact portion CT2 which comes into contact with the side of the second region RE2 in the Y1 direction with respect to the first center line LC1. The first positioning portion 13e_1 does not come into contact with the portion of the first region RE1 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, does not come into contact with the portion of the second region RE2 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the first center line LC1, and does not come into contact with both portions of the third region RE3 on the side in the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction. Here, the direction along the Y-axis is an example of the “second direction”, the side in the Y2 direction is an example of the “first side” in the present modification example, and the side in the Y1 direction is an example of the “second side” in the present modification example. In addition, the direction along the Z-axis is an example of the “first direction”.
The second positioning portion 13e_2 of Modification Example 2 has the third contact portion CT3 which comes into contact with the side of the fourth region RE4 in the Y2 direction with respect to the second center line LC2, and the fourth contact portion CT4 which comes into contact with the side of the fifth region RE5 in the Y1 direction with respect to the second center line LC2. The second positioning portion 13e_2 does not come into contact with the portion of the fourth region RE4 on the side in the Y1 direction with respect to the second center line LC2, does not come into contact with the portion of the fifth region RE5 on the side in the Y2 direction with respect to the second center line LC2, and does not come into contact with both portions of the sixth region RE6 on the side in the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction.
As in the first embodiment, the ejecting surface FN of the liquid ejecting head 1G of the present modification example is disposed on the side in the Y1 direction when viewed from the first positioning portion 13e_1. In addition, the second region RE2 is disposed in the Z2 direction which is a direction in which the ejecting surface FN faces the first region RE1 in the direction along the Z-axis. In other words, the second region RE2 is closer to the protruding surface FP than the first region RE1 in the direction along the Z-axis. The ejecting surface FN is not disposed on the side in the Y2 direction when viewed from the first positioning portion 13e_1.
In addition, the ejecting surface FN of the liquid ejecting head 1G is disposed on the side in the Y1 direction when viewed from the second positioning portion 13e_2. In addition, the fifth region RE5 is disposed in the Z2 direction which is a direction in which the ejecting surface FN faces the fourth region RE4 in the direction along the Z-axis. In other words, the fifth region RE5 is closer to the protruding surface FP than the fourth region RE4 in the direction along the Z-axis. The ejecting surface FN is not disposed on the side in the Y2 direction when viewed from the second positioning portion 13e_2. In other words, the direction from the second region RE2 toward the first region RE1 (Z1 direction) is the same as the direction from the fifth region RE5 toward the fourth region RE4 (Z1 direction).
According to Modification Example 2 described above, the attachability/detachability can also be improved while required positioning accuracy of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body 51 can be secured. In each of the above-described forms, a configuration in which the liquid ejecting head is attached to and detached from the support body 51 by inclining the liquid ejecting head around an axis along a short direction of the liquid ejecting head having a longitudinal shape in a plan view has been described as an example. In Modification Example 2, the liquid ejecting head 1G can be attached to and detached from the support body 51 by inclining the liquid ejecting head 1G around the X-axis along the longitudinal direction of the liquid ejecting head 1G.
The holder 13H has a pair of flange portions 13h protruding in the X1 direction and the X2 direction with respect to the ejecting surface FN, near the end of the ejecting surface FN in the Y2 direction in a plan view. The respective surfaces of the pair of flange portions 13h directed in the Z2 direction come into contact with the protruding surface FP which is a surface of the support body 51 directed in the Z1 direction. Out of the pair of flange portions 13h, the flange portion 13h protruding in the X2 direction with respect to the ejecting surface FN is provided with the first positioning portion 13e_1, and the flange portion 13h protruding in the X1 direction with respect to the ejecting surface FN is provided with the second positioning portion 13e_2. Although not illustrated, the pair of flange portions 13h are appropriately provided with a plurality of holes 13f.
In Modification Example 3, the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 are aligned in the direction along the X-axis. The direction in which the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 are aligned is a direction orthogonal to the direction along the Z-axis and intersecting with the direction along the Y-axis (orthogonal in the present modification example). The direction along the X-axis of the present modification example is an example of a “third direction”. In addition, the ejecting surface FN is elongated in the direction along the X-axis which is the direction in which the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 are aligned.
Here, the first positioning portion 13e_1 of Modification Example 3 is configured in the same manner as the first positioning portion 13e_1 of Modification Example 2 described above. In addition, the second positioning portion 13e_2 of Modification Example 3 is configured in the same manner as the second positioning portion 13e_2 of Modification Example 2 described above. That is, the first positioning portion 13e_1 of the present modification example is the same as the first positioning portion 13e_1 of Modification Example 2 illustrated in
The ejecting surface FN of the liquid ejecting head 1H of the present modification example is different from that of Modification Example 2 in that the ejecting surface FN is disposed on the side in the X1 direction when viewed from the first positioning portion 13e_1, and is disposed on the side in the X2 direction when viewed from the second positioning portion 13e_2. In addition, the second region RE2 is disposed in the Z2 direction which is a direction in which the ejecting surface FN faces the first region RE1 in the direction along the Z-axis, and the fifth region RE5 is disposed in the Z2 direction which is a direction in which the ejecting surface FN faces the fourth region RE4 in the direction along the Z-axis. In other words, the second region RE2 is closer to the protruding surface FP than the first region RE1 in the direction along the Z-axis, and the fifth region RE5 is closer to the protruding surface FP than the fourth region RE4 in the direction along the Z-axis. In other words, the direction from the second region RE2 toward the first region RE1 (Z1 direction) is the same as the direction from the fifth region RE5 toward the fourth region RE4 (Z1 direction). The positions of the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2 on the Y-axis are located in the Y2 direction from the center of the ejecting surface FN in the direction along the Y-axis, and specifically, are positions the same as that of the end portion of the ejecting surface FN in the Y2 direction. The ejecting surface FN is not disposed on the side in the Y1 direction and on the side the Y2 direction when viewed from the first positioning portion 13e_1, and the ejecting surface FN is not disposed on the side in the Y1 direction and on the side in the Y2 direction when viewed from the second positioning portion 13e_2.
According to Modification Example 3 described above, the attachability/detachability can also be improved while required positioning accuracy of the liquid ejecting head 1H with respect to the support body 51 can be secured. 6-4. Modification Example 4
Although details will be described later, the first positioning portion 13e_1 of Modification Example 4 has the configuration the same as that of the first positioning portion 13e_1 of the first embodiment, except that the second region RE2, the third region RE3, and the first region RE1 are aligned in this order in the directed direction of the ejecting surface FN (Z2 direction). The second positioning portion 13e_2 of Modification Example 4 also has the configuration the same as that of the second positioning portion 13e_2 of the first embodiment, except that the fifth region RE5, the sixth region RE6, and the fourth region RE4 are aligned in this order in the directed direction of the ejecting surface FN (Z2 direction).
The first positioning portion 13e_1 has a first through-hole 2I penetrating the flange portion 13h in the direction along the Z-axis, a first recessed portion 3I formed on the first surface F1, and a second recessed portion 4I formed on the second surface F2. The second recessed portion 4I, the first through-hole 2I, and the first recessed portion 3I are aligned in this order in the Y1 direction. In addition, the side surface of the first virtual cylinder VC1 set in the first positioning portion 13e_1 of the present modification example includes the first region RE1 and the first region RE1, the second region RE2, and the third region RE3 disposed between the first region RE1 and the second region RE2, as three regions divided in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). The second region RE2, the third region RE3, and the first region RE1 are aligned in this order in the directed direction of the ejecting surface FN faces (Z2 direction). Although not illustrated, as in the first embodiment, a shape of the first virtual cylinder VC1 in a plan view is a perfect circle.
The first region RE1 comes into contact with the first contact portion CT1 of the first positioning portion 13e_1 in the portion on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis) with respect to the first center line LC1, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 in the portion on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis) with respect to the first center line LC1. The second region RE2 comes into contact with the second contact portion CT2 of the first positioning portion 13e_1 in the portion on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis) with respect to the first center line LC1, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 in the portion on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis) with respect to the first center line LC1. The third region RE3 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 13e_1 in both portions on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) and the first side (side in the Y2 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1.
The second positioning portion 13e_2 has a second through-hole 5I penetrating the flange portion 13h in the direction along the Z-axis, a third recessed portion 6I formed on the first surface F1, and a fourth recessed portion 7I formed on the second surface F2. The fourth recessed portion 7I, the second through-hole 5I, and the third recessed portion 6I are aligned in this order in the Y1 direction. In addition, the side surface of the second virtual cylinder VC2 set in the second positioning portion 13e_2 of the present modification example includes the fourth region RE4, the fifth region RE5, and the sixth region RE6 disposed between the fourth region RE4 and the fifth region RE5, as three regions divided in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). The fifth region RE5, the sixth region RE6, and the fourth region RE4 are aligned in this order in the directed direction of the ejecting surface FN (Z2 direction). Although not illustrated, as in the first embodiment, a shape of the second virtual cylinder VC2 in a plan view is an ellipse in which the direction along the Y-axis is set as the longitudinal direction.
The fourth region RE4 comes into contact with the third contact portion CT3 of the second positioning portion 13e_2 in the portion on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) with respect to the second center line LC2, and does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 in the portion on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) with respect to the second center line LC2. The fifth region RE5 comes into contact with the fourth contact portion CT4 of the second positioning portion 13e_2 in the portion on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) with respect to the second center line LC2, and does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 in the portion on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) with respect to the second center line LC2. The sixth region RE6 does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 13e_2 in both portions on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) and the first side (side in the Y2 direction) with respect to the second center line LC2.
Here, as illustrated in
The X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis in Modification Example 5 are coordinate axes of a local coordinate system based on the three-dimensionally disposed support body 51J. Therefore,
The first positioning pin 13g_1 and the second positioning pin 13g_2 are configured in the same manner as the first positioning pin 51b_1 and the second positioning pin 51b_2. However, the first positioning pin 13g_1 and the second positioning pin 13g_2 respectively protrude from the protruding surface FP in the Z2 direction. The protruding surface FP is a surface directed in the Z2 direction which is the direction the same as that of the ejecting surface FN of the holder 13J.
The first positioning portion 51d_1 and the second positioning portion 51d_2 are configured in the same manner as the first positioning portion 13e_1 and the second positioning portion 13e_2. The first positioning pin 13g_1 is inserted into the first positioning portion 51d_1 with respect to the support body 51J in the Z2 direction. In addition, the second positioning pin 13g_2 is inserted into the second positioning portion 51d_2 with respect to the support body 51J in the Z2 direction.
The first positioning portion 51d_1 has a first through-hole 2J penetrating the support body 51J in the direction along the Z-axis, a first recessed portion 3J formed on the first surface F1 of the support body 51J, and a second recessed portion 4J formed on the second surface F2 of the support body 51J. The second recessed portion 4J, the first through-hole 2J, and the first recessed portion 3J are aligned in this order in the Y1 direction.
The second positioning portion 51d_2 has a second through-hole 5J penetrating the support body 51J in the direction along the Z-axis, a third recessed portion 6J formed on the first surface F1 of the support body 51J, and a fourth recessed portion 7J formed on the second surface F2 of the support body 51J. The fourth recessed portion 7J, the second through-hole 5J, and the third recessed portion 6J are aligned in this order in the Y1 direction.
Here, the side surface of the first virtual cylinder VC1 set in the first positioning portion 51d_1 has the first region RE1, the second region RE2, and the third region RE3 disposed between the first region RE1 and the second region RE2, as three regions divided in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). The first region RE1 comes into contact with the first positioning portion 51d_1 on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) which is one side in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis) orthogonal to the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) with respect to the first center line LC1 which is the center line of the first virtual cylinder VC1, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 51d_1 on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) which is the other side in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis). The second region RE2 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 51d_1 on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1, and comes into contact with the first positioning portion 51d_1 on the second side (side in the Y1 direction). The third region RE3 does not come into contact with the first positioning portion 51d_1 on both the first side (side in the Y2 direction) and the second side (side in the Y1 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1. Although not illustrated, as in the first embodiment, a shape of the first virtual cylinder VC1 in a plan view is a perfect circle.
In addition, the side surface of the second virtual cylinder VC2 set in the second positioning portion 51d_2 has the fourth region RE4, the fifth region RE5, and the sixth region RE6 disposed between the fourth region RE4 and the fifth region RE5, as three regions divided in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). The fourth region RE4 comes into contact with the second positioning portion 51d_2 on the side in the Y2 direction, and does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 51d_2 on the side in the Y1 direction, with respect to the second center line LC2 which is the center line of the second virtual cylinder VC2. The fifth region RE5 does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 51d_2 on the side in the Y2 direction, and comes into contact with the second positioning portion 51d_2 on the side in the Y1 direction, with respect to the second center line LC2. The sixth region RE6 does not come into contact with the second positioning portion 51d_2 on both sides in the Y2 direction and the Y1 direction, with respect to the second center line LC2. Although not illustrated, as in the first embodiment, a shape of the second virtual cylinder VC2 in a plan view is an ellipse in which the direction along the Y-axis is set as the longitudinal direction.
In addition, the support body 51J includes the opening portion 51a into which a portion of the liquid ejecting head 1J is inserted. In the present modification example, a portion of the liquid ejecting head 1J including the ejecting surface FN is inserted into the opening portion 51a. The opening portion 51a is disposed on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) when viewed from the first positioning portion 51d_1. When the plurality of liquid ejecting heads 1J are inserted into one opening portion 51a as in the first embodiment, the “opening portion 51a” described here indicates only a space into which one liquid ejecting head 1J is inserted in the opening portion 51a. In other words, the opening portion 51a corresponding to the liquid ejecting head 1J is not disposed on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) when viewed from the first positioning portion 51d_1. The second region RE2 is disposed closer to the protruding surface FP on which the first positioning pin 13g_1 of the liquid ejecting head 1J protrudes than the first region RE1 in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis).
Similarly, the opening portion 51a is disposed on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) when viewed from the second positioning portion 51d_2. Although the description is repeated, when the plurality of liquid ejecting heads 1J are inserted into one opening portion 51a, the “opening portion 51a” described here indicates only the space into which one liquid ejecting head 1J is inserted in the opening portion 51a. In other words, the opening portion 51a corresponding to the liquid ejecting head 1J is not disposed on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) when viewed from the second positioning portion 51d_2. The fifth region RE5 is disposed closer to the protruding surface FP of the liquid ejecting head 1J than the fourth region RE4 in the first direction (direction along the Z-axis). In other words, the direction from the first region RE1 toward the second region RE2 (Z1 direction) and the direction from the fourth region RE4 toward the fifth region RE5 (Z1 direction) are the same as each other.
The first positioning portion 51d_1 may have the first inclined surface FL1 and the second inclined surface FL2, as in the first positioning portion 13e_1 of the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment, or Modification Example 1 which are described above. In this case, the first positioning portion 51d_1 includes the first contact portion CT1 which comes into contact with the portion of the first region RE1 on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1, and the first inclined surface FL1 continuous with the first contact portion CT1 and extending in the direction intersecting with the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) without being orthogonal to the first direction. Furthermore, the first positioning portion 51d_1 includes the second contact portion CT2 which comes into contact with the portion of the second region RE2 on the second side (side in the Y1 direction) with respect to the first center line LC1, and the second inclined surface FL2 continuous with the second contact portion CT2 and extends in the direction intersecting with the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) without being orthogonal to the first direction.
Similarly, the second positioning portion 51d_2 may have the third inclined surface FL3 and the fourth inclined surface FL4, as in the second positioning portion 13e_2 of the fourth embodiment described above. In this case, the second positioning portion 51d_2 includes the third contact portion CT3 which comes into contact with the portion of the first region RE1 on the first side (side in the Y2 direction) with respect to the second center line LC2, the fourth contact portion CT4 which comes into contact with the portion of the fifth region RE5 on the second side (side in the Y1direction) with respect to second center line LC2, third inclined surface FL3 continuous with the third contact portion CT3 and extending in the direction intersecting with the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) without being orthogonal to the first direction, and the fourth inclined surface FL4 continuous with the fourth contact portion CT4 and extending in the direction intersecting with the first direction (direction along the Z-axis) without being orthogonal to the first direction.
As described above, the support body 51J includes the second positioning portion 51d_2 that positions the liquid ejecting head 1J by being inserted into the second positioning pin 13g_2 provided in the liquid ejecting head 1J. The first positioning portion 51d_1 and the second positioning portion 51d_2 are aligned in the second direction (direction along the Y-axis). Specifically, the second positioning portion 51d_2 is disposed in the Y1 direction with respect to the first positioning portion 51d_1.
According to the liquid ejecting apparatus including the support body 51J and the liquid ejecting head 1J of Modification Example 5 described above, the attachability/detachability can also be improved while required positioning accuracy of the liquid ejecting head 1J with respect to the support body 51J can be secured.
A part or all of each of the above-described embodiments and each of the above-described modification examples, and combinations thereof may be applied to the support body 51J of the present modification example within the scope in which the combinations do not contradict each other.
In each of the above-described embodiments and each of the above-described modification examples, the positioning pin is press-fitted to the positioning portion by press-fitting, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The liquid ejecting head may be positioned with respect to the support body by inserting the positioning pin into the positioning portion by clearance-fitting. Here, the clearance-fitting when the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning portion indicates that the maximum length of the positioning pin when viewed in the depth direction of the positioning portion is smaller than the diameter of the cross section perpendicular to the depth direction of the virtual regular cylinder inserted to the deepest position of the positioning portion and having the maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in the depth direction of the positioning portion. That is, any insertion method may be used so that the positioning pin does not come into contact with the positioning portion or comes into contact with the positioning portion only at one location of the positioning pin. Even according to this insertion method, the attachability/detachability of the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body can be improved by adopting the configuration of the positioning portion described in each embodiment and each modification example.
In each of the above embodiments and each of the above-described modification examples, a so-called serial printer has been adopted to perform a printing operation by ejecting the ink from the liquid ejecting head while a carriage including the support body reciprocates in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction DM of the medium M. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this aspect. For example, the present disclosure may adopt a line printer equipped with a line head having a printing region larger than the width in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction DM of the medium M by aligning the plurality of liquid ejecting heads in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction DM of the medium M. That is, the support body may be a print bar for supporting the plurality of liquid ejecting heads to form the line head.
The liquid ejecting apparatus described as an example in the above-described embodiment can be adopted in various types of apparatuses such as a facsimile apparatus and a copy machine, in addition to an apparatus dedicated to printing. However, the application of the liquid ejecting apparatus is not limited to the printing. For example, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a solution of a coloring material is used as a manufacturing apparatus for forming a color filter of a display apparatus such as a liquid crystal display panel. In addition, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a solution of a conductive material is used as a manufacturing apparatus for forming wires or electrodes on a wiring substrate. In addition, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a solution of an organic substance related to a living body is used as a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a biochip, for example.
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be realized in various forms within the scope not departing from the concept of the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure can also be realized by the following forms (aspects). In order to partially or entirely solve the problems of the present disclosure, or in order to partially or entirely achieve advantageous effects of the present disclosure, technical features in the above-described embodiments corresponding to technical features in each form described below can be replaced or combined with each other as appropriate. In addition, when the technical features are not described herein as essential elements, the technical features can be deleted as appropriate.
(1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid ejecting head supported by a support body having a first positioning pin and ejecting a liquid. The liquid ejecting head includes a first positioning portion that positions the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body by inserting the first positioning pin. When a virtual cylinder inserted to a deepest position of the first positioning portion and having a maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in a first direction which is a depth direction of the first positioning portion is defined as a first virtual cylinder, a side surface of the first virtual cylinder includes a first region, a second region, and a third region disposed between the first region and the second region, as three regions divided in the first direction. The first region comes into contact with the first positioning portion on a first side which is one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and does not come into contact with the first positioning portion on a second side which is the other side in the second direction, with respect to a first center line which is a center line of the first virtual cylinder. The second region does not come into contact with the first positioning portion on the first side, and comes into contact with the first positioning portion on the second side, with respect to the first center line. The third region does not come into contact with the first positioning portion on both the first side and the second side, with respect to the first center line.
(2) In the above-described form, the liquid ejecting head may further include a first member having the first positioning portion. The first member may have a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface. The first positioning portion may include a first through-hole penetrating from the second surface to the first surface in the first direction, a first recessed portion provided on the first surface, and a second recessed portion provided on the second surface. The first through-hole may be disposed between the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion in the second direction. The first virtual cylinder may extend from the first surface to the second surface along the first through-hole.
(3) In the above-described form, the liquid ejecting head may further include a first member having a bottomed hole having a bottom wall as the first positioning portion. The deepest position may be the bottom wall.
(4) In the above-described form, a length of the first region along the first direction and a length of the second region along the first direction may be equal to each other.
(5) In the above-described form, lengths of the first region and the second region along the first direction may be respectively 20% or more and 45% or less of a length of the first virtual cylinder along the first direction.
(6) In the above embodiment, the first positioning portion may have a first contact portion which comes into contact with the first side of the first region with respect to the first center line, and a second contact portion which comes into contact with the second side of the second region with respect to the first center line. The first contact portion and the second contact portion may respectively and continuously extend in the first direction.
(7) In the above-described form, the liquid ejecting head may further include an ejecting surface having a plurality of nozzles ejecting the liquid. The ejecting surface may be disposed on the second side when viewed from the first positioning portion. The second region may be disposed in a direction in which the ejecting surface faces the first region in the first direction.
(8) In the above-described form, the liquid ejecting head may further include an ejecting surface having a plurality of nozzles ejecting the liquid. The ejecting surface may be disposed on the second side when viewed from the first positioning portion. The first region may be disposed in a direction in which the ejecting surface faces the second region in the first direction.
(9) In the above-described form, the first positioning portion may include a first contact portion which comes into contact with the first side of the first region with respect to the first center line, and a first inclined surface which is a surface continuous with the first contact portion and extends in a direction intersecting with the first direction without being orthogonal to the first direction.
(10) In the above-described form, a length of the first inclined surface along the first direction may be equal to or longer than a sum of lengths of the second region and the third region along the first direction.
(11) In the above-described form, the first positioning portion may have a second contact portion which comes into contact with the second side of the second region with respect to the first center line, and a second inclined surface which is a surface continuous with the second contact portion and extends in a direction intersecting with the first direction without being orthogonal to the first direction. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface may be parallel to each other.
(12) In the above-described form, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface may have portions overlapping each other when viewed in the second direction.
(13) In the above embodiment, the first positioning portion may have a second contact portion which comes into contact with the second side of the second region with respect to the first center line. In a cross section obtained by cutting the first positioning portion on a plane parallel to both the first direction and the second direction at a position where the first virtual cylinder has a maximum length along the second direction when viewed in the first direction, at positions in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, an angle formed by a line segment joining the first contact portion and the second contact portion at a shortest distance and the first inclined surface may be 90 degrees or larger.
(14) In the above-described form, the liquid ejecting head may further include a second positioning portion that positions the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body by inserting a second positioning pin provided in the support body. The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion may be aligned in the second direction.
(15) In the above embodiment, the second positioning portion may be disposed on the second side with respect to the first positioning portion. The second region may be disposed closer to a protruding surface on which the first positioning pin of the support body protrudes from the first region in the first direction.
(16) In the above-described form, when a virtual cylinder inserted to a deepest position of the second positioning portion and having a maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in the first direction is defined as a second virtual cylinder, a side surface of the second virtual cylinder may include a fourth region, a fifth region, and a sixth region disposed between the fourth region and the fifth region, as three regions divided in the first direction. The fourth region may come into contact with the second positioning portion on the first side, and may not come into contact with the second positioning portion on the second side, with respect to a second center line which is a center line of the second virtual cylinder. The fifth region may not come into contact with the second positioning portion on the first side, and may come into contact with the second positioning portion on the second side, with respect to the second center line. The sixth region may not come into contact with the second positioning portion on both the first side and the second side with respect to the second center line. A direction from the second region toward the first region may be the same as a direction from the fifth region toward the fourth region.
(17) In the above-described form, the liquid ejecting head may further include a second positioning portion that positions the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body by inserting a second positioning pin provided in the support body. The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion may be aligned in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and intersecting with the second direction. When a virtual cylinder inserted to a deepest position of the second positioning portion and having a maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in the first direction is defined as a second virtual cylinder, a side surface of the second virtual cylinder may include a fourth region, a fifth region, and a sixth region disposed between the fourth region and the fifth region, as three regions divided in the first direction. The fourth region may come into contact with the second positioning portion on the first side, and may not come into contact with the second positioning portion on the second side, with respect to a second center line which is a center line of the second virtual cylinder. The fifth region may not come into contact with the second positioning portion on the first side, and may come into contact with the second positioning portion on the second side, with respect to the second center line. The sixth region may not come into contact with the second positioning portion on both the first side and the second side, with respect to the second center line. A direction from the second region toward the first region may be the same as a direction from the fifth region toward the fourth region.
(18) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid ejecting head according to the above-described forms and a support body including the first positioning pin.
(19) In the above-described form, the first positioning portion may have a first contact portion which comes into contact with the first side of the first region with respect to the first center line and a second contact portion which comes into contact with the second side of the second region with respect to the first center line. In a cross section obtained by cutting the first positioning portion on a plane along both the first direction and the second direction at a position where the first virtual cylinder has a maximum length along the second direction when viewed in the first direction, at positions in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, a shortest distance between the first contact portion and the second contact portion may be equal to or longer than a maximum length of the first positioning pin along the second direction.
(20) According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a support body for supporting a liquid ejecting head ejecting a liquid. The support body includes a first positioning portion that positions the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body by inserting a first positioning pin provided in the liquid ejecting head. When a virtual cylinder inserted to a deepest position of the first positioning portion and having a maximum cross-sectional area when viewed in a first direction which is a depth direction of the first positioning portion is defined as a first virtual cylinder, a side surface of the first virtual cylinder may include a first region, a second region, and a third region disposed between the first region and the second region, as three regions divided in the first direction. The first region may come into contact with the first positioning portion on a first side which is one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and may not come into contact with the first positioning portion on a second side which is the other side in the second direction, with respect to a first center line which is a center line of the first virtual cylinder. The second region may not come into contact with the first positioning portion on the first side, and comes into contact with the first positioning portion on the second side, with respect to the first center line. The third region may not come into contact with the first positioning portion on both the first side and the second side, with respect to the first center line.
(21) According to the above-described form, the support may further include an opening portion into which a portion of the liquid ejecting head is inserted. The opening portion may be disposed on the second side when viewed from the first positioning portion.
(22) According to the above-described form, the first positioning portion may include a first contact portion which comes into contact with the first side of the first region with respect to the first center line, and a first inclined surface which is a surface continuous with the first contact portion and extends in a direction intersecting with the first direction without being orthogonal to the first direction.
(23) According to the above-described form, the support body may further include a second positioning portion that positions the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body by inserting a second positioning pin provided in the liquid ejecting head. The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion may be aligned in the second direction.
(24) According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus including the support body according to the above-described form and a liquid ejecting head including the first positioning pin.
(25) According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid ejecting head supported by a support body having a first positioning pin and ejecting a liquid. The liquid ejecting head includes a first member having a first positioning portion that positions the liquid ejecting head with respect to the support body by inserting the first positioning pin. The first member may have a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface. The first positioning portion may include a first through-hole penetrating from the second surface to the first surface in a first direction, a first recessed portion provided on the first surface, and a second recessed portion provided on the second surface. The first through-hole may be disposed between the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A portion of the first recessed portion and a portion of the second recessed portion may overlap each other when viewed in the second direction.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2022-053020 | Mar 2022 | JP | national |