JP2008200911A - Liquid ejecting head unit and liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a liquid jet head unit capable of achieving multiple deterioration of nozzle openings and improving print quality.
A plurality of liquid ejecting heads for ejecting liquid, and the liquid ejecting head in contact with a head reference surface B defined based on the liquid ejecting surface A in the liquid ejecting direction of each liquid ejecting head. 2 and a holding member 3 that contacts the support member 220 and holds the plurality of liquid jet heads 2 via the support member 220, and the holding member 3 includes the support member 220. A reference surface C for positioning the plurality of liquid jet heads 2 in contact with the member 220 is provided, and the reference surface C is provided so as to be aligned on the same line as the head reference surface B in the surface direction.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head unit and a liquid ejecting apparatus including a plurality of liquid ejecting heads that eject liquid and a holding member that holds the plurality of liquid ejecting heads.

  A liquid ejecting apparatus typified by an ink jet recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer or a plotter is configured by mounting a plurality of liquid ejecting heads for ejecting a liquid such as ink on a holding member such as a carriage.

  When holding a plurality of liquid jet heads on a holding member such as a carriage, the head reference surface defined by the liquid jet surface of the liquid jet head is brought into contact with one surface of the plate, and the reference surface of the holding member is set on the plate. The holding member holds the liquid jet head via the plate in contact with the other surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3823590 (pages 4-6, FIGS. 1-2)

  However, if the plate thickness varies, the print quality such that the position of each liquid ejecting head in the liquid ejecting direction varies, and the landing position of the liquid such as ink varies, resulting in deterioration of image quality. There is a problem that the degradation of.

  Such a problem is not limited to an ink jet recording head unit including a plurality of ink jet recording heads that eject ink, but also in a liquid ejecting head unit including a plurality of liquid ejecting heads that eject liquid other than ink. Exists.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a liquid jet head unit capable of increasing the number of nozzle openings and improving the printing quality.

An aspect of the present invention that solves the above-described problems includes a plurality of liquid ejecting heads that eject liquid, and a head reference surface that is defined based on the liquid ejecting surface in the liquid ejecting direction of each liquid ejecting head, A support member that holds the liquid ejecting head; and a holding member that contacts the support member and holds the plurality of liquid ejecting heads via the support member. The holding member contacts the support member. The liquid ejecting head unit is provided with a reference surface for positioning the plurality of liquid ejecting heads, and is provided so that the reference surface is aligned with the head reference surface.
In this aspect, the plurality of liquid ejecting heads can increase the number of nozzle rows, and the head reference surface and the reference surface in the liquid ejecting direction are aligned on the same line. Even if there is a variation, the height of the liquid ejecting surface in the liquid ejecting direction of the liquid ejecting head can be made uniform. Therefore, the print quality can be improved.

  Here, the support member is in contact with the head reference surface to hold the head reference surface, and the first support member holds the first support member and is held by the holding member. It is preferable that it is comprised with this support member. According to this, when mounting a plurality of liquid ejecting heads on the carriage, it can be easily assembled by the support member composed of the first support member and the second support member.

  Further, the first support member is provided independently for each liquid ejecting head, and has a first opening that exposes the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head, and the second support member includes It is preferable that the first support member is provided in common over the plurality of first support members. According to this, when mounting a plurality of liquid ejecting heads on the carriage, it can be easily assembled by the support member composed of the first support member and the second support member.

  Further, it is preferable that the liquid jet head is detachably held on the support member. According to this, by making the liquid ejecting head and the support member detachable, all of the liquid ejecting head units are replaced when the liquid ejecting heads do not have the same liquid ejecting characteristics or when the liquid ejecting head fails. Even if it does not, only the liquid ejecting head having a defect can be easily replaced, and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, it is preferable that the first support member is detachably held by the second support member. According to this, only a liquid ejecting head having a problem can be easily obtained even if a plurality of liquid ejecting heads do not have liquid ejecting characteristics or the liquid ejecting head unit does not have to be completely replaced when the liquid ejecting head fails. The cost can be reduced.

  The liquid ejecting head includes a head main body having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid and a cartridge case for holding the head main body, and the head reference surface is in the same direction as the liquid ejection surface on the cartridge case. Is preferably provided. According to this, even in the liquid ejecting head including the head main body and the cartridge case, the heights of the liquid ejecting surfaces of the plurality of liquid ejecting heads can be made uniform, and the print quality can be improved.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the holding member is a carriage provided so as to be movable in the main scanning direction. According to this, the heights of the liquid ejection surfaces of the plurality of liquid ejection heads mounted on the movable carriage can be made uniform, and the print quality can be improved.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including the liquid ejecting head unit according to the above aspect.
In this aspect, a liquid ejecting apparatus with improved print quality can be realized.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus that is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet recording apparatus I includes an ink jet recording head unit 1. The ink jet recording head unit 1 includes a plurality of ink jet recording heads 2 in which cartridges constituting ink supply means are detachably provided, and a carriage 3 that is a holding member on which the ink jet recording head 2 is mounted. ing.

  The carriage 3 of the ink jet recording head unit 1 is provided on a carriage shaft 5 attached to the apparatus main body 4 so as to be movable in the axial direction. In addition, the two ink jet recording heads 2 of the ink jet recording head unit 1 discharge, for example, a black ink composition and a color ink composition, respectively.

  Then, the driving force of the driving motor 6 is transmitted to the carriage 3 via a plurality of gears and a timing belt 7 (not shown), whereby the carriage 3 on which the ink jet recording head 2 is mounted (that is, the ink jet recording head unit 1). Is moved along the carriage shaft 5 (main scanning direction). On the other hand, the apparatus body 4 is provided with a platen 8 along the carriage shaft 5, and a recording sheet S, which is a recording medium such as paper fed by a not-shown paper feed roller, is moved on the platen 8 in the sub-scanning direction. It is designed to be conveyed.

  Here, the ink jet recording head unit 1 which is an example of the liquid jet head unit of the present embodiment will be described in detail. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording head unit that is an example of the liquid jet head unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ink jet recording head unit.

  As shown in the figure, the ink jet recording head unit 1 includes a plurality of ink jet recording heads 2 that eject ink as a liquid, and a carriage 3 that is a holding member that holds the plurality of ink jet recording heads 2.

  The ink jet recording head 2 includes a head main body 200 in which a liquid ejection surface A (ink ejection surface) for ejecting ink (liquid) is provided on one surface side, and a surface opposite to the liquid ejection surface A of the head main body 200. And a cartridge case 210 provided in the container.

  The liquid ejecting surface A of the ink jet recording head 2 is a surface on which nozzle openings for ejecting ink of the head main body 200 are opened, as will be described in detail later.

  The cartridge case 210 is provided on the side opposite to the liquid ejecting surface A of the head chip 400, which will be described in detail later, and is capable of mounting a liquid container such as an ink cartridge that stores ink.

  The cartridge case 210 includes a head reference surface B defined by the liquid ejection surface A of the head body 200. In the present embodiment, the cartridge case 210 has a flange portion 214 protruding from the side surface, and a surface in the same direction as the liquid ejection surface A of the flange portion 214 is used as the head reference surface B. By providing the flange portion 214 in the cartridge case 210 in this manner, it is not necessary to provide a contact area with the support member 220 in the head main body 200, and thus the head main body 200 can be reduced in size. The head reference surface B is provided such that the distance from the liquid ejection surface A in the ink ejection direction (liquid ejection direction) is the same distance in the plurality of ink jet recording heads 2. In this way, when the cartridge case 210 is attached to another member, if the head reference surface B and the reference surface of the other member are aligned on the same line in the surface direction, the liquid ejecting surface A is automatically moved to another member. When the cartridge case 210 is attached to another member, the liquid ejection surface A is again parallel to the reference surface of the other member in the surface direction. There is no need to make adjustments. The cartridge case 210 need not be composed of a single member, and may be configured by combining a plurality of members, provided that there is a surface (area) that can conceptualize the head reference surface B. There are no fine restrictions on the shape.

  As described above, the carriage 3 which is a holding member of the present embodiment is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus I and provided to be movable in the main scanning direction. Here, the main scanning direction is a direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction, which is the transport direction of a recording medium such as paper in the ink jet recording apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, the carriage 3 has a box shape that opens to the upper side, and has a holding portion 3 a that is an opening for holding a plurality of ink jet recording heads 2 on the bottom surface. Of course, the carriage 3 is not limited to a box shape, and may be, for example, a plate shape. The shape is not particularly limited as long as the carriage 3 can be mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus I (liquid ejecting apparatus). However, it is necessary to have the holding part 3a even if it is other than the box shape.

  The carriage 3 holds a plurality of ink jet recording heads 2 via support members 220.

  The support member 220 includes a first support member 230 and a second support member 240. The first support member 230 is a plate-like member that is provided independently for each ink jet recording head 2, is larger than the head main body 200 of the ink jet recording head 2, and from the flange portion 214 of the cartridge case 210. Also has a first opening 231 provided with a small opening.

  Such a first support member 230 is joined in a state in which the head main body 200 of the ink jet recording head 2 protrudes from the first opening 231 and one surface is in contact with the head reference surface B. Yes.

  The second support member 240 is a plate-like member that is continuously provided across the plurality of ink jet recording heads 2. The second support member 240 is a second opening 241 provided with an opening larger than the first opening 231 of the first support member 230 and smaller than the outer periphery of the first support member 230. Have

  The second support member 240 holds the first support member 230 by contacting one surface of the second support member 240 with the head reference surface B of the first support member. The second support member 240 is held with one surface abutting against the first support member 230 abutting against the reference surface C of the carriage 3. That is, the plurality of ink jet recording heads 2 are held by the carriage 3 via the support member 220 including the first support member 230 and the second support member 240.

  With this configuration, the reference surface C of the carriage 3 is provided so as to be aligned with the head reference surface B of the ink jet recording head 2 in the same plane. That is, one surface of the first support member 230 that contacts the head reference surface B of the ink jet recording head 2 is aligned with the head reference surface B in the surface direction, and one surface of the first support member 230 is aligned. One surface of the second support member 240 in contact with the head is aligned with the head reference surface B in the same line in the surface direction. Therefore, the reference surface C of the carriage 3 that is in contact with one surface of the second support member 240 that is aligned with the head reference surface B in the surface direction is aligned with the head reference surface B in the same direction in the surface direction. It becomes.

  In this way, by using the support member 220 to align the reference surface C of the carriage 3 and the head reference surface B on the same line in the surface direction, the liquid ejection surfaces (ink ejection surfaces) of the plurality of ink jet recording heads 2 are arranged. The height in the liquid ejection direction can be made uniform, and the print quality can be improved. Incidentally, for example, when the head reference surface B of the ink jet recording head 2 is joined to one surface side of the plate-like member and the other surface side of the plate-like member is joined to the reference surface C of the carriage 3, the thickness of the plate-like member is increased. Due to the variation in the height, the height of the liquid ejection surface in the liquid ejection direction of each ink jet recording head 2 varies. Further, since it is difficult to form the plate-like member while suppressing variations in thickness, the manufacturing cost of the plate-like member increases. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the head reference surface B of the ink jet recording head 2 is joined to one surface of the first support member 230, and the second support is attached to the same one surface of the first support member 230. Since one surface of the member 240 is joined and the reference surface C of the carriage 3 is joined to the same one surface of the second support member 240, the thicknesses of the first support member 230 and the second support member 240 are the same. Even if there is a variation in the height, the height of the liquid ejection surface in the liquid ejection direction of the ink jet recording head 2 can be made uniform. Therefore, the print quality can be improved. The flatness in the plane of the plate-shaped member can be easily formed with a lower level than the variation in thickness of the plate-shaped member. Therefore, the first support member 230 made of such a plate-shaped member is used. In addition, the use of the support member 220 including the second support member 240 can reduce the manufacturing cost.

  Each ink jet recording head 2 and the support member 220 may be detachably provided by screws or clips (not shown). Specifically, the first support member 230 and the inkjet recording head 2 may be detachable, and the first support member 230 and the second support member 240 may be detachable. In this way, by making each ink jet recording head 2 and the support member 220 detachable, the liquid jet characteristics can be obtained with a plurality of ink jet recording heads 2 once the ink jet recording head 2 is incorporated in the ink jet recording apparatus I. Even if the inkjet recording head unit 1 is not completely replaced when the inkjet recording head 2 is out of order, or when the inkjet recording head 2 is out of order, only the defective inkjet recording head 2 can be easily replaced.

  Here, a representative example of the ink jet recording head 2 which is an example of the liquid ejecting head of the present embodiment will be described in detail. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the ink jet recording head according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an assembly perspective view of the ink jet recording head unit, and FIG. FIG.

  As shown in the drawing, the cartridge case 210 constituting the ink jet recording head 2 has a cartridge mounting portion 211 to which an ink cartridge (not shown) as an ink supply means is mounted. For example, in this embodiment, the ink cartridge is configured as a separate body filled with black and three color inks, and the ink cartridges of the respective colors are mounted in the cartridge case 210. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of ink communication paths 212 having one end opened to each cartridge mounting portion 211 and the other end opened to the head case side described later are provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge case 210. . Further, an ink supply needle 213 inserted into the ink supply port of the ink cartridge is formed in the ink communication path 212 in order to remove bubbles and foreign matters in the ink at the opening of the ink communication path 212 of the cartridge mounting portion 211. It is fixed through a filter (not shown).

  A head body 200 is provided on the bottom surface side of the cartridge case 210. The head body 200 includes a plurality of head chips 400. Each head chip 400 has a plurality of piezoelectric elements 300 and ejects ink droplets from the nozzle openings 21 by driving the piezoelectric elements 300 from the end surface (liquid ejection surface A) opposite to the cartridge case 210. In the present embodiment, four head chips 400 that discharge ink of each color of the ink cartridge are provided on one head chip 400 corresponding to each ink color.

  Here, the head chip 400 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the head chip, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the head chip. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the flow path forming substrate 10 constituting the head chip 400 is made of a silicon single crystal substrate in the present embodiment, and one surface thereof is made of silicon dioxide previously formed by thermal oxidation. An elastic film 50 is formed. This flow path forming substrate 10 is formed with two rows in which pressure generation chambers 12 partitioned by a plurality of partition walls are arranged in parallel in the width direction by anisotropic etching from the other side. Further, on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the pressure generating chambers 12 in each row, there is communication with a reservoir unit 31 provided on a reservoir forming substrate 30 described later, and a communication composing a reservoir 100 serving as a common ink chamber for each pressure generating chamber 12. A portion 13 is formed. The communication portion 13 is in communication with one end portion in the longitudinal direction of each pressure generating chamber 12 via the ink supply path 14.

  Further, a nozzle plate 20 having a nozzle opening 21 communicating with the side opposite to the ink supply path 14 of each pressure generating chamber 12 on the opening surface side of the flow path forming substrate 10 is an adhesive, a heat-welded film, or the like. It is fixed through. In other words, in the present embodiment, two nozzle rows 21 </ b> A in which the nozzle openings 21 are arranged in parallel are provided in one head chip 400.

  In the present embodiment, the surface of the nozzle plate 20 where the nozzle openings 21 are opened is the liquid ejection surface A. Here, the surface on which the nozzle openings 21 of the nozzle plate 20 open is defined as the liquid ejecting surface A because the distance between each head chip 400 and a medium to be ejected (such as a recording medium such as paper) or each head body 200. Since the distance between the nozzle opening 21 for ejecting ink droplets and the ejected medium needs to be constant in order for the ink droplets to land in a desired region, the distance between the nozzle plate 20 and the medium to be ejected is necessary. This is because it is necessary to grasp the surface where the nozzle opening 21 is opened, that is, the position of the liquid ejection surface A.

  On the other hand, on the side opposite to the opening surface of the flow path forming substrate 10, on the elastic film 50, a lower electrode film made of metal, a piezoelectric layer made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) or the like, and made of metal. A piezoelectric element 300 formed by sequentially laminating the upper electrode film is formed. On the flow path forming substrate 10 on which such a piezoelectric element 300 is formed, a reservoir forming substrate 30 having a reservoir portion 31 that constitutes at least a part of the reservoir 100 is joined. In this embodiment, the reservoir portion 31 is formed across the reservoir forming substrate 30 in the thickness direction and across the width direction of the pressure generating chamber 12, and as described above, the communication portion of the flow path forming substrate 10 is formed. The reservoir 100 is connected to the pressure generation chamber 12 and serves as a common ink chamber for the pressure generation chambers 12.

  A piezoelectric element holding portion 32 having a space that does not hinder the movement of the piezoelectric element 300 is provided in a region facing the piezoelectric element 300 of the reservoir forming substrate 30.

  Furthermore, a drive IC 110 for driving each piezoelectric element 300 is provided on the reservoir forming substrate 30. Each terminal of the drive IC 110 is connected to a lead wiring drawn from the individual electrode of each piezoelectric element 300 via a bonding wire or the like (not shown). Each terminal of the drive IC 110 is connected to the outside via an external wiring 111 such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC), and receives various signals such as a print signal from the outside via the external wiring 111. .

  A compliance substrate 40 is bonded on the reservoir forming substrate 30. An ink inlet 44 for supplying ink to the reservoir 100 is formed in a region facing the reservoir 100 of the compliance substrate 40 by penetrating in the thickness direction. In addition, the region of the compliance substrate 40 other than the ink introduction port 44 in the region facing the reservoir 100 is a flexible portion 43 formed thin in the thickness direction, and the reservoir 100 is sealed by the flexible portion 43. Has been. Compliance is given to the reservoir 100 by the flexible portion 43.

  An ink supply communication path 411 that communicates with the ink introduction port 44 and communicates with the ink communication path 212 of the cartridge case 210 and supplies ink from the cartridge case 210 to the ink introduction port 44 on the compliance substrate 40. A provided head case 410 is provided. The head case 410 is formed with a recess 412 in a region facing the flexible portion 43 so that the flexible portion 43 is appropriately deformed. The head case 410 is provided with a drive IC holding part 413 penetrating in the thickness direction in a region facing the drive IC 110 provided on the reservoir forming substrate 30, and the external wiring 111 is connected to the drive IC holding part. 413 is inserted and connected to the driving IC 110.

  Such a head chip 400 of this embodiment takes in ink from the ink cartridge from the ink introduction port 44 via the ink communication path 212 and the ink supply communication path 411, and inks the interior from the reservoir 100 to the nozzle opening 21. Then, in accordance with a recording signal from the drive IC 110, a voltage is applied to each piezoelectric element 300 corresponding to the pressure generating chamber 12 to bend and deform the elastic film 50 and the piezoelectric element 300, whereby each pressure generating chamber 12 The internal pressure increases and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle openings 21.

  In the head chip 400 described above, a large number of chips are simultaneously formed on a single silicon wafer, the nozzle plate 20 and the compliance substrate 40 are bonded and integrated, and then a single chip size as shown in FIG. The head chip 400 is obtained by dividing each flow path forming substrate 10.

  Four such head chips 400 are fixed to the cartridge case 210 via the head case 410 at predetermined intervals in the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows 21A. That is, one nozzle type recording head 2 of this embodiment is provided with eight nozzle rows 21A. In this way, by increasing the number of nozzle rows 21 </ b> A including the nozzle openings 21 arranged in parallel using a plurality of head chips 400, the nozzle rows 21 </ b> A are formed in multiple rows on one head chip 400. A decrease in yield can be prevented. Also, by using a plurality of head chips 400 to increase the number of nozzle rows 21A, the number of head chips 400 that can be formed from one silicon wafer can be increased, and a wasteful area of the silicon wafer Can be reduced to reduce the manufacturing cost.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the four head chips 400 are positioned and held by a common fixing plate 420 joined to the liquid ejecting surfaces A of the plurality of head chips 400. The fixed plate 420 is formed of a flat plate, defines an exposed opening 421 that exposes the nozzle opening 21, an exposed opening 421, and is bonded to at least both ends of the nozzle row 21 </ b> A on the liquid ejection surface of the head chip 400. And a joint portion 422.

  In the present embodiment, the joint portion 422 is extended and exposed between the fixing frame portion 423 provided along the outer periphery of the liquid ejection surface A across the plurality of head chips 400 and the adjacent head chip 400. The fixing beam portion 424 that divides the opening 421 is formed, and a joint portion 422 including the fixing frame portion 423 and the fixing beam portion 424 is simultaneously bonded to the liquid ejecting surfaces A of the plurality of head chips 400.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the head main body 200 is provided with a cover head 430 having a box shape so as to cover the plurality of head chips 400 on the opposite side of the fixing plate 420 from the head chips 400. ing. The cover head 430 includes a fixing portion 432 provided with an opening 431 corresponding to the exposed opening 421 of the fixing plate 420, and a side surface side of the ink droplet ejection surface of the head chip 400 over the outer periphery of the fixing plate 420. And a side wall portion 435 provided so as to be bent.

  In this embodiment, the fixing portion 432 is provided corresponding to the frame portion 433 provided corresponding to the fixing frame portion 423 of the fixing plate 420 and the opening portion 431 provided corresponding to the fixing beam portion 424 of the fixing plate 420. It is comprised with the beam part 434 which divides | segments. Further, the fixing part 432 including the frame part 433 and the beam part 434 is joined to the joining part 422 of the fixing plate 420.

  As described above, since the liquid ejection surface A of the head chip 400 and the cover head 430 are joined without a gap, the recording medium is prevented from entering the gap to prevent deformation of the cover head 430 and paper jam. be able to. Further, since the side wall portion 435 of the cover head 430 covers the outer peripheral edge portions of the plurality of head chips 400, it is possible to reliably prevent the ink from flowing into the side surfaces of the head chips 400.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fixing portion 432 is provided with a support portion 436 provided with a fixing hole 437 for positioning and fixing the cover head 430 to the cartridge case 210. The support portion 436 is bent and provided so as to protrude from the side wall portion 435 in the same direction as the surface direction of the droplet discharge surface. In this embodiment, the cover head 430 is fixed to the cartridge case 210. That is, the cartridge case 210 is provided with a protrusion 215 that protrudes toward the liquid ejecting surface A and is inserted into the fixing hole 437 of the cover head 430. The protrusion 215 is formed in the fixing hole 437 of the cover head 430. The cover head 430 is fixed to the cartridge case 210 by inserting and heating and caulking the tip of the protrusion 215.

  In the above-described example, the cover head 430 is bonded to the surface of the fixed plate 420 opposite to the head chip 400. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cover head 430 is bonded to the fixed plate 420. Instead, it may be provided at a predetermined interval or may be provided so as to abut. In the above-described example, the fixing plate 420 and the cover head 430 are separate members. However, the fixing plate 420 may be omitted by making the cover head 430 also function as the fixing plate 420.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an ink jet recording head unit that is an example of a liquid ejecting head unit according to Embodiment 2 of the invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member similar to Embodiment 1 mentioned above, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The ink jet recording head unit 1A of this embodiment includes an ink jet recording head 2 and a carriage 3A that is a holding member that holds the ink jet recording head 2 via a support member 220A.

  The support member 220 </ b> A is made of a single flat plate member, and has an opening 221 having an opening larger than the head main body 200 of the ink jet recording head 2 and having an opening smaller than the cartridge case 210.

  In addition, the carriage 3A is provided with a reference surface C ′ that is in contact with the support member 220A and on which the support member 220A is held on the same side as the droplet ejection surface A.

  In such an ink jet recording head unit 1A, the head reference surface B of the ink jet recording head 2 is in contact with and joined to one surface of the support member 220A, and one surface of the support member 220A is in contact with the head reference surface B. They will be aligned on the same line in the surface direction. Further, since one surface of the support member is brought into contact with and joined to the reference surface C ′ of the carriage 3, the reference surface C ′ of the carriage 3 is aligned with the head reference surface B in the same line direction.

  Even with such a configuration, the heights of the liquid ejection surfaces A of the plurality of inkjet recording heads 2 can be made uniform, and the printing quality can be improved.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although Embodiment 1 and 2 of this invention were demonstrated, the basic composition of this invention is not limited to what was mentioned above. For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the plurality of inkjet recording heads 2 are held by the carriage 3 that is a holding member, but the holding member is not particularly limited thereto. For example, in a line-type recording apparatus that performs printing only by moving a recording medium such as paper in the sub-scanning direction, a holding member that fixes a plurality of ink-jet recording heads to the apparatus main body can be used.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the ink jet recording head 2 having the flexural vibration type piezoelectric element 300 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, piezoelectric materials and electrode forming materials are alternately stacked. Applied to head units with ink jet recording heads of various structures, such as longitudinal vibration type ink jet recording heads that expand and contract in the axial direction and ink jet recording heads that eject ink droplets by bubbles generated by heat generated by heating elements, etc. It goes without saying that you can do it.

  The head unit and the ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head that discharges ink as the liquid ejecting head have been described as an example. However, the present invention broadly includes a liquid ejecting head unit having a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus in general. It is intended. Examples of the liquid ejecting head include a recording head used for an image recording apparatus such as a printer, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, and an electrode formation such as an FED (field emission display). Electrode material ejecting heads used in manufacturing, bioorganic matter ejecting heads used in biochip production, and the like.

1 is a schematic diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording head unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ink jet recording head unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ink jet recording head according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the ink jet recording head according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the ink jet recording head according to the first embodiment. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a head chip according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the head chip according to the first embodiment. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ink jet recording head unit according to Embodiment 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  A liquid ejection surface, B head reference surface, C, C ′ reference surface, I ink jet recording apparatus, 1, 1A ink jet recording head unit, 2 ink jet recording head, 3, 3A carriage, 10 flow path forming substrate, 12 Pressure generating chamber, 100 reservoir, 200 head body, 210 cartridge case, 400 head chip, 410 head case, 420 fixing plate, 430 cover head

Claims (8)

A plurality of liquid ejecting heads that eject liquid; a support member that holds the liquid ejecting head in contact with a head reference surface defined based on the liquid ejecting surface in the liquid ejecting direction of each liquid ejecting head; and A holding member that contacts the support member and holds the plurality of liquid jet heads via the support member;
The holding member is provided with a reference surface that contacts the support member and positions the plurality of liquid jet heads, and the reference surface is provided so as to be aligned with the head reference surface. A liquid ejecting head unit.   The support member is in contact with the head reference surface and holds the first reference member, and the second support member holds the first support member and is held by the holding member. The liquid jet head unit according to claim 1, comprising:   The first supporting member is provided independently for each liquid ejecting head, has a first opening that exposes the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head, and the second supporting member includes a plurality of second supporting members. The liquid jet head unit according to claim 2, wherein the liquid jet head unit is provided in common over the first support member.   The liquid ejecting head unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting head is detachably held on the support member.   The liquid ejecting head unit according to claim 2, wherein the first support member is detachably held by the second support member.   The liquid ejecting head includes a head main body having a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid and a cartridge case for holding the head main body, and the head reference surface is provided in the cartridge case so as to be in the same direction as the liquid ejecting surface. The liquid ejecting head unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting head unit is provided.   The liquid ejecting head unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is a carriage provided to be movable in the main scanning direction.   A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising the liquid ejecting head unit according to claim 1.

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