JP2017007119A - Liquid jet head and liquid jet device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid jet head which performs alignment of a head chip and a flexible circuit board with high accuracy.SOLUTION: A liquid jet head 1 is provided with: a head chip 2 which discharges droplets; and a flexible circuit board 3 which has a crimping area A at one end Ea, and of which the crimping area A is connected with the head chip 2, in which the flexible circuit board 3 has ear parts 4a, 4b which bend along a corner part C of the head chip 2 on a side of the other end Eb of the crimping area A, are coupled with the crimping area A, and consist of small pieces.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus that eject and record liquid droplets on a recording medium.

  In recent years, an ink jet type liquid ejecting head has been used in which ink droplets are ejected onto recording paper or the like to record characters and figures, or a liquid material is ejected onto the surface of an element substrate to form a functional thin film. In this method, a liquid such as ink or a liquid material is supplied from a liquid tank to a channel of a liquid ejecting head via a supply pipe, and pressure is applied to the liquid in the channel to discharge the liquid from a nozzle communicating with the channel. When ejecting droplets, the liquid ejecting head and the recording medium are moved to record characters and figures, or a functional thin film or a three-dimensional structure having a predetermined shape is formed.

  The liquid ejecting head receives an image signal from the control unit, and ejects droplets according to the image signal. The liquid ejecting head moves relative to the control unit. Therefore, the transmission of the image signal between the control unit and the liquid ejecting head is performed via a deformable flexible circuit board.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a flexible cable in which a large number of signal lines are formed between a carriage that is movable with respect to an apparatus main body of a liquid ejecting apparatus on which a recording head is mounted and a chassis of the apparatus main body. . The flexible cable has a long shape, one end is connected to the carriage, and the other end bent at a right angle is provided with an insertion plug. The flexible cable is in the vicinity of a bent portion that is bent at a right angle, and includes a protruding portion on one side of the carriage with respect to the bent portion. The protruding portion protrudes in the short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flexible cable and includes positioning holes. A positioning boss protrudes from the chassis, and a positioning hole is attached to the positioning boss so that the flexible cable is positioned and fixed to the chassis. Therefore, the flexible cable is deformed between one end on the carriage side and the bent portion on the chassis side, thereby allowing the carriage to move.

  Patent Literature 2 describes a bending method and a bending device that bend a flexible substrate on which a heater board (liquid ejecting head) is mounted. The flexible board is connected to a heater board at one end and a contact pad at the other end. The flexible substrate includes protrusions extending from the other side of the flexible substrate in the vicinity of both ends of the connection region to which the heater board is connected. The protrusion is used as a positioning member when the flexible substrate is mounted on the bending apparatus. Specifically, the bending apparatus includes a positioning member on the mounting table, and when the flexible substrate is mounted on the mounting table, the protruding end of the flexible substrate is brought into contact with the positioning member of the mounting table to place the flexible substrate on the mounting table. Position to. Thereafter, the flexible substrate is fixed to the mounting table by the clamper. Next, the other end portion of the flexible substrate is gripped and pulled by the gripping clamper, and the flexible substrate is hung on the rod bar and bent. Next, the heater block is brought into contact with the flexible board hung on the rod bar, and the flexible board is bent and brazed.

JP-A-4-142968 JP 2000-223864 A

  Patent Document 1 describes a flexible cable in which positioning perforations are formed in the vicinity of a bent portion. How a flexible substrate is connected to a carriage or a liquid jet head mounted on the carriage. Is unknown. Further, Patent Document 2 describes a flexible substrate that includes a connection region that is connected to a heater board (liquid ejecting head) at one end, and positioning protrusions near both ends of the connection region. However, in patent document 2, since it connects to a heater board before bending a flexible substrate and bends a flexible substrate after that, connecting a bent flexible substrate to a heater board is not indicated. In addition, the positioning protrusion described in Patent Document 2 is not connected to the connection region where the flexible substrate is crimped to the heater board, so that the flexible substrate and the heater board can be made highly accurate using the positioning protrusion. It is difficult to align.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a liquid ejecting head includes: a head chip that discharges droplets; and a flexible circuit board that has a crimping region at one end and the crimping region is connected to the head chip. In addition, it is bent along the corner of the head chip on the other end side of the crimping region, and has an ear portion connected to the crimping region.

  The one end is surrounded by a broken line that is bent along the corner, two sides that intersect the folded line, and an end that is opposite to the folded line and intersects the two sides. The ear portion is connected to the side.

  Moreover, the said ear | edge part shall protrude in the broken line direction bent along the said corner | angular part from said one edge part.

  The one end is surrounded by a broken line that is bent along the corner, two sides that intersect the folded line, and an end that is opposite to the folded line and intersects the two sides. The side is provided with a notch, and the ear is located between the notch and the end.

  Further, a connecting portion narrower than the width of the ear portion is provided between the ear portion and the crimping region.

  The flexible circuit board includes a base substrate, a wiring located on a surface of the base substrate, and a cover layer that covers the surface of the base substrate and the wiring, and the crimping region includes a region that does not include the cover layer. The ear portion does not have the cover layer.

  The flexible circuit board further includes a bending member that bends the flexible circuit board along the corner.

  The head chip includes a channel row in which pressure chambers for discharging droplets are arranged, and an electrode terminal row in which electrode terminals are arranged along the corners, and the flexible circuit board has wiring terminals arranged in the crimping region. The electrode terminal and the wiring terminal are electrically connected.

  The head chip has a through hole, the electrode terminals are arranged along the corner formed by the through hole, and the flexible circuit board is bent along the corner through the through hole. The electrode terminal and the wiring terminal are electrically connected.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention includes the liquid ejecting head, a moving mechanism that relatively moves the liquid ejecting head and the recording medium, a liquid supply pipe that supplies liquid to the liquid ejecting head, and the liquid And a liquid tank for supplying the liquid to the supply pipe.

  A liquid ejecting head according to the present invention includes a head chip that discharges droplets, and a flexible circuit board that has a crimping region at one end and the crimping region is connected to the head chip. In addition, it bends along the corner of the head chip on the other end side, and has an ear portion made of a small piece connected to the crimping region. Thereby, the head chip 2 and the flexible circuit board 3 can be aligned with high accuracy.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid ejecting head according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view in which a folded flexible circuit board of a liquid jet head according to a second embodiment of the present invention is developed on a plane. FIG. 10 is a partial plan view schematically illustrating a folded flexible circuit board of a liquid jet head according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid jet head according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid jet head according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a liquid jet head according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid jet head 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid jet head 1, and FIG. 1B is a schematic plan view of the folded flexible circuit board 3 developed on a plane. The liquid ejecting head 1 includes a head chip 2 that discharges droplets from a nozzle 2 e and a flexible circuit board 3 that has a crimping area A at one end Ea and the crimping area A is connected to the head chip 2. The flexible circuit board 3 is bent along the corner C of the head chip 2 on the side of the other end Eb from the crimping area A, and has ears 4a and 4b connected to the crimping area A. As a result, the head chip 2 and the bent flexible circuit board 3 can be aligned with high accuracy. This will be specifically described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the head chip 2 includes a plate-shaped actuator substrate 2a, a pressure chamber 2b for holding liquid, a nozzle plate 2d located on the droplet discharge side of the actuator substrate 2a, and an actuator substrate. And an electrode terminal 2c positioned on the surface of the droplet discharge side 2a. A large number of pressure chambers 2b are arranged in the depth direction of the paper to form a channel row CR. The nozzle plate 2d includes a nozzle 2e communicating with the pressure chamber 2b, and a large number of nozzles 2e are arranged in the depth direction of the paper surface to constitute a nozzle row NR. The electrode terminal 2c is electrically connected to an actuator (not shown) that generates pressure in the liquid in the pressure chamber 2b, and is arranged in a large number in the depth direction of the paper to constitute an electrode terminal array ER. The corner C of the head chip 2 is located on the droplet discharge side in the vicinity of the electrode terminal array ER.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the flexible circuit board 3 has a crimping area A at one end Ea, and the corner C of the head chip 2 is located on the other end Eb side of the crimping area A. A broken line B that bends along is located. The crimping area A is an area where the flexible circuit board 3 and the head chip 2 are crimped by thermocompression bonding. One end portion Ea is a region surrounded by a broken line B, two side edges Sa and Sb that intersect the broken line B, and an edge Sc that is opposite to the broken line B and intersects the two side edges Sa and Sb. is there. The side edges Sa and Sb do not include the crimping region A outside the side edges Sa and Sb. In other words, the flexible circuit board 3 and the head chip 2 are not pressure-bonded in the region outside the side edges Sa and Sb.

  The ear 4a is connected to the side Sa of the one end Ea, and the ear 4b is connected to the side Sb of the one end Ea. Further, the ears 4a and 4b are connected to a crimping region A included in one end Ea. In other words, the ears 4a and 4b protrude in the line direction x of the broken line B that is bent along the corner C of the head chip 2 from one end Ea. As for the ear | edge parts 4a and 4b connected with one edge part Ea, the width | variety of the cross direction y which cross | intersects the line direction x is narrower than the length of the side edge Sa or the side edge Sb.

  The flexible circuit board 3 includes a base substrate 3a, a large number of wirings 3b located on the surface of the base substrate 3a, and a cover layer 3c that covers the surfaces of the base substrate 3a and the wirings 3b. The crimping region A included in one end Ea has a region that does not have the cover layer 3c. The ears 4a and 4b are made of the base substrate 3a and do not have the cover layer 3c, the wiring 3b, and the wiring terminal 3d. The flexible circuit board 3 includes a wiring terminal 3d that is electrically connected to the wiring 3b in the crimping region A of one end Ea. The wiring terminal 3d is illustrated in FIG. In b), the wiring terminal row WR is configured by arranging a large number in the line direction x of the broken line B. Each wiring terminal 3 d of the wiring terminal row WR is electrically connected to each electrode terminal 2 c of the electrode terminal row ER of the head chip 2.

  As described above, the flexible circuit board 3 includes the ear portions 4a and 4b which are connected to the one end Ea and are formed of small pieces, so that even if the flexible circuit board 3 is bent along the fold line B, the flexible circuit board 3 The wiring terminal 3d of the substrate 3 can be easily aligned and pressure-bonded to the electrode terminal 2c of the head chip 2. For example, the wiring terminal 3d in the vicinity of the ear part 4a is aligned with the electrode terminal 2c of the head chip 2, and then the wiring terminal 3d and the electrode terminal 2c in the vicinity thereof are aligned while holding the ear part 4b. In this way, the wiring terminal row WR and the electrode terminal row ER can be aligned. In particular, since the ears 4a and 4b protrude from the one end Ea in the line direction x of the broken line B, the ears 4a and 4b can be brought close to the installation surface of the electrode terminal 2c, and the wiring terminal 3d and the electrode terminal 2c can be aligned with high accuracy. Since the flexible circuit board 3 is bent to the side opposite to the droplet discharge direction of the head chip 2, the width in the intersecting direction y orthogonal to the nozzle row NR of the head chip 2 can be configured to be narrow.

  Actually, an anisotropic conductive sheet (not shown) is interposed between the flexible circuit board 3 and the head chip 2 in the crimping region A, and the wiring terminals 3d near one ear 4a and the electrode terminals 2c of the head chip 2 The flexible circuit board 3 in the vicinity of the ear 4a is pressed against the head chip 2 and temporarily fixed. Next, while holding the other ear 4b, the wiring terminal 3d and the electrode terminal 2c in the vicinity of the ear 4b are aligned, and the flexible circuit board 3 in the vicinity of the ear 4b is pressed against the head chip 2 and temporarily fixed. To do. Then, the heating plate is pressed against one end Ea to join the crimping area A to the head chip 2 and electrically connect each wiring terminal 3d of the wiring terminal row WR and each electrode terminal 2c of the electrode terminal row ER. To do.

  The actuator substrate 2a may be a piezo-type actuator that changes the volume of the pressure chamber 2b by the piezoelectric effect of the piezoelectric element and pressurizes the liquid, or a heating element is provided in the pressure chamber 2b to generate bubbles in the liquid. Alternatively, a thermal actuator that pressurizes the liquid in the pressure chamber 2b may be used. When a piezoelectric actuator is used, a piezoelectric material is used for the side wall of the adjacent pressure chamber 2b, an electrode is provided on the side wall surface, a voltage is applied to the electrode, and the side wall is subjected to thickness sliding deformation, or the pressure chamber 2b. It is possible to use a longitudinal mode method or a bending mode method in which a diaphragm is provided on the upper portion of the plate and the diaphragm is deformed by a piezoelectric effect of a piezoelectric element. Each electrode terminal 2c of the electrode terminal row ER is electrically connected to an actuator substrate (not shown) that drives each pressure chamber 2b of the channel row CR. The nozzle plate 2d can use a synthetic resin such as polyimide resin or a metal film.

  The flexible circuit board 3 includes a base substrate 3a made of polyimide resin or the like, wiring 3b made of copper foil or the like, and a cover layer 3c made of polyimide resin or the like covering the surface thereof. The crimping area A connected to the head chip 2 does not have the cover layer 3c, and the wiring terminal 3d is exposed. In the present embodiment, the ears 4a and 4b connected to one end Ea do not have the cover layer 3c and the wiring 3b, but the wiring 3b and the cover layer 3c may remain. The flexible circuit board 3 bends along the corner C of the head chip 2, but the flexible circuit board 3 and the corner C of the head chip 2 may be in contact with each other at the position of the fold line B or may be separated from each other. The bending angle of the flexible circuit board 3 may be 90 °, smaller than 90 °, or larger than 90 °. The flexible circuit board 3 may be brazed so that the flexible circuit board 3 itself bends by heat treatment or the like, or includes a bending member along a fold line B on the surface of the flexible circuit board 3, as described later. It may be bent by a bending member.

  In addition, the ear | edge parts 4a and 4b are good also as either one ear | edge part 4a or the other ear | edge part 4b. Moreover, although the width | variety of the cross direction y which cross | intersects the line direction x of the ear | edge part 4a or the ear | edge part 4b is formed narrower than the length of the side edge Sa or the side edge Sb of one edge part Ea, It may be equivalent to the width in the cross direction y of the ear 4b and the length of the side Sa or the side Sb of one end Ea. That is, the width in the intersecting direction y of the ears 4a and 4b may not exceed the length of the side edges Sa and Sb of the one end Ea. Further, the ears 4a and 4b may be protruded from the end Sc in the cross direction y instead of protruding from one end Ea, that is, the sides Sa and Sb in the line direction x. In this case, the ears 4a and 4b may be installed in the vicinity of both ends in the line direction x of the end side Sc, may be installed only on one end, or installed on the center side of the end side Sc. May be. Even in this case, the ears 4 a and 4 b are not pressure-bonded to the head chip 2. That is, the ears 4a and 4b are not bonded to the head chip 2 via an adhesive or the like. Further, a recess or a punch hole can be provided in the ear portion 4a or 4b. For example, the ears 4a or 4b can be easily pinched through tweezers or the like through the punch holes, and the wiring terminals 3d can be reliably aligned with the electrode terminals 2c.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the folded flexible circuit board 3 of the liquid jet head 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention developed on a plane. A different point from 1st embodiment is a point provided with the notch parts 5a and 5b between the ear | edge parts 4a and 4b and the broken line B, and the other structure is the same as 1st embodiment. Accordingly, the following mainly describes differences from the first embodiment. The same portions or portions having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 2, one end Ea of the flexible circuit board 3 includes a broken line B that is bent along a corner C of the head chip 2 (not shown), two side edges Sa and Sb that intersect with the bent line B, The opposite side of the polygonal line B is surrounded by two side edges Sa and Sb and an end side Sc that intersects the two side edges Sa and Sb. Here, the side Sa has a notch 5a, the side Sb has a notch 5b, the ear 4a is located between the notch 5a and the end Sc, and the ear 4b is notched. Located between the portion 5b and the end Sc, the ear portions 4a and 4b are connected to the crimping region A. In addition, as demonstrated in 1st embodiment, the ear | edge parts 4a and 4b do not contain the crimping | compression-bonding area | region A. FIG.

  Thereby, since the ear | edge parts 4a and 4b do not protrude from both sides Sa and Sb, the width | variety of the line direction x of the flexible circuit board 3 and the head chip 2 can be comprised narrowly. Further, even when the flexible circuit board 3 is bent at the fold line B during alignment between the wiring terminal 3d and the electrode terminal 2c of the head chip 2 (not shown), the ears 4a and 4b are pinched and easily held. be able to. Moreover, since the ear | edge parts 4a and 4b can be made to adjoin to the installation surface of the electrode terminal 2c similarly to 1st embodiment, the wiring terminal 3d approaches the electrode terminal 2c, and it can position with high precision. it can. In addition, the ear | edge part 4a or 4b may be installed only in the side edge Sa or Sb of either one side of the line direction x, and the ear | edge parts 4a and 4b are side edge Sa like 1st embodiment. , Sb may be projected in the line direction x.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a partial plan view schematically illustrating the folded flexible circuit board 3 of the liquid jet head 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first or second embodiment is that a connecting portion 6 is provided between the ear portion 4 and the crimping region A so that the width in the intersecting direction y is narrower than the width of the ear portion 4. The same as in the first or second embodiment. The same portions or portions having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible circuit board 3 includes a connecting portion 6 that is narrower than the width of the ear portion 4 between the ear portion 4 and the crimping region A. The width W1 in the intersecting direction y intersecting the line direction x of the connecting portion 6 is narrower than the width W2 in the intersecting direction y of the ear portion 4. Thereby, after aligning the wiring terminal 3d of the flexible circuit board 3 with the electrode terminal 2c of the head chip 2 and connecting the flexible circuit board 3 to the head chip 2, the connecting part 6 is cut and the ear part 4 is easily formed. Can be removed. Therefore, since the projecting length that projects in the line direction x from both sides Sa and Sb can be reduced, the width of the flexible circuit board 3 and the head chip 2 in the line direction x can be reduced.

  Instead of providing the ears 4 so as to project from the side Sa in the line direction x, the ears 4 are projected from the end Sc in the intersecting direction y intersecting the line direction x. A connecting portion 6 that connects the ear portion 4 and the end side Sc (that is, the ear portion 4 and the crimping region A) is provided between the end side Sc (that is, between the ear portion 4 and the crimping region A). It is possible to form a constriction in which the width of the line direction x of 6 is narrower than the width of the ear part 4 in the line direction x. Further, unlike the second embodiment, the ear 4 is not protruded from the side Sa, and the notch 5 is provided on the side line Sa of the side line Sa, and the ear 4 is connected to the notch 5 and the end side. It is comprised between Sc. And the connection part 6 which connects the ear | edge part 4 and the crimping | compression-bonding area | region A is provided between this ear | edge part 4 and the crimping | compression-bonding area | region A, and the width | variety of the intersection direction y of the connection part 6 is the width | variety of the intersection direction y of the ear | edge part 4 A narrower neck may be formed. In addition, the ear | edge part 4 may be installed only in the side S of the one side of the line direction x, and the ear | edge part 4 of any one side is like 1st or 2nd embodiment. It can be set as the ear | edge part 4 which does not provide the connection part 6. FIG.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the liquid jet head 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid jet head 1, and FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view of the folded flexible circuit board 3 developed on a plane. The difference from the first embodiment is that the flexible circuit board 3 includes a bending member 7 at the bent portion, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, differences from the first embodiment will be described below. The same portions or portions having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the flexible circuit board 3 includes a bending member 7 that bends the flexible circuit board 3 along the corner C of the head chip 2. The flexible circuit board 3 includes ears 4a and 4b that protrude from both sides Sa and Sb of one end Ea in the line direction x of the broken line B that is bent along the corner C of the head chip 2. The bending member 7 is the surface of the flexible circuit board 3 on the side of the base substrate 3a, that is, the outer surface of the bent portion of the flexible circuit board 3, and is located over both ends of the broken line B. The bending member 7 is formed of a solid pattern of a metal film. The bending member may be made of, for example, a metal plate or a bent plastic plate, and may be bonded to the base substrate 3a with an adhesive. The bending member 7 may be installed on the surface of the flexible circuit board 3 on the cover layer 3c side, that is, on the inner surface of the bent portion of the flexible circuit board 3.

  In this way, by attaching the bending member 7 to the flexible circuit board 3, a necessary portion of the flexible circuit board 3 can be easily bent. In addition, the bending member 7 may not be installed across the both ends of the flexible circuit board 3 in the line direction x, but may be installed in the central region of the width in the line direction x, or from one end in the line direction x to the other. You may install by dividing into multiple between edge parts. In addition, the ear | edge part 4 of the flexible circuit board 3 may be a thing of 2nd and 3rd embodiment.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid jet head 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the liquid jet head 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the head chip 2 includes a through hole 8, and the flexible circuit board 3 is connected to the head chip 2 through the through hole 8. The same portions or portions having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the head chip 2 includes electrode terminals along channel columns CR1 to CR4 in which four pressure chambers 2b for discharging droplets are arranged and four corners C1 to C4 of the head chip 2. 2c includes electrode terminal rows ER1 to ER4 arranged in four rows. The flexible circuit board 3 includes four flexible circuit boards 3w to 3z, and each of the flexible circuit boards 3w to 3z includes wiring terminal rows WR1 to WR4 in which wiring terminals 3d are arranged at one end portions Ea1 to Ea4, and electrode terminals 2c and wiring terminal 3d are electrically connected. The head chip 2 has a through hole 8 in the center, the electrode terminal rows ER2 and ER3 are arranged along the corners C2 and C3 formed by the through hole 8, and the flexible circuit boards 3x and 3y The electrode terminal 2c and the wiring terminal 3d are electrically connected by being bent along the corners C2 and C3 formed by the through hole 8. A flow path member and a cooling member are mounted on the opposite side of the head chip 2 from the droplet discharge side, but are omitted in FIGS. 5 and 6 and the following description. This will be specifically described below.

  The head chip 2 includes an actuator substrate 2a through which a long and narrow through hole 8 passes in the center. The actuator substrate 2a includes a channel row CR1 and a channel row CR2 that are parallel between the through hole 8 and the left end of the actuator substrate 2a, and a channel row CR3 and a channel row CR4 that are parallel to the through hole 8 and the right end of the actuator substrate 2a. Prepare. The actuator substrate 2a includes a nozzle plate 2d1 and a nozzle plate 2d2 on the droplet discharge side between the through hole 8 and the left end of the actuator substrate 2a and between the through hole 8 and the right end of the actuator substrate 2a. The nozzle plate 2d1 on the left side of the through hole 8 includes a nozzle row NR1 and a nozzle row NR2 in which nozzles 2e communicating with the pressure chambers 2b of the channel rows CR1 and CR2 are arranged, and a nozzle plate on the right side of the through hole 8 2d2 includes a nozzle row NR3 and a nozzle row NR4 in which nozzles 2e communicating with the pressure chambers 2b of the channel row CR3 and the channel row CR4 are arranged. The actuator substrate 2a includes an electrode terminal row ER1 and an electrode terminal row ER2 between the nozzle plate 2d1 on the surface on the droplet discharge side and the left end of the actuator substrate 2a, and between the nozzle plate 2d1 and the through hole 8, respectively. An electrode terminal row ER3 and an electrode terminal row ER4 are provided between the plate 2d2 and the through hole 8, and between the nozzle plate 2d2 and the right end of the actuator substrate 2a, respectively.

  The flexible circuit board 3w has one end Ea1 connected to the surface between the left end of the actuator substrate 2a on the droplet discharge side of the actuator substrate 2a and the nozzle plate 2d1, and a liquid along the corner C1 on the droplet discharge side of the actuator substrate 2a. Bends on the opposite side to the droplet ejection side. The flexible circuit board 3w includes ears 4a1 and 4b1 protruding in the line direction x of a broken line B (not shown) that bends along one corner Ea1 along the corner C1. The flexible circuit board 3x has one end Ea2 connected to the surface between the through hole 8 on the droplet discharge side of the actuator substrate 2a and the nozzle plate 2d1, and the droplet discharge formed by the through hole 8 through the through hole 8. It bends along the corner C2 on the side to the side opposite to the droplet discharge side. The flexible circuit board 3x includes ear portions 4a2 and 4b2 protruding in the line direction x of a broken line B (not shown) that is bent along the corner portion C2 from one end portion Ea2. The liquid jet head 1 further includes a circuit board 9a, and the other end Eb1 of the flexible circuit board 3w and the other end Eb2 (not shown) of the flexible circuit board 3x are connected to the same surface of the circuit board 9a.

  The flexible circuit board 3y has one end Ea3 connected to the surface between the through hole 8 on the droplet discharge side of the actuator substrate 2a and the nozzle plate 2d2, and the droplet discharge formed by the through hole 8 through the through hole 8. It bends to the side opposite to the droplet discharge side along the corner C3 on the side. The flexible circuit board 3y includes ears 4a3 and 4b3 protruding in the line direction x of a broken line B (not shown) that bends from one end Ea3 along the corner C3. One end Ea4 of the flexible circuit board 3z is connected to the surface between the right end of the actuator substrate 2a on the droplet discharge side and the nozzle plate 2d2, and the liquid circuit board 3z is liquid along the corner C4 on the droplet discharge side of the actuator substrate 2a. Bends on the opposite side to the droplet ejection side. The flexible circuit board 3z includes ear portions 4a4 and 4b4 protruding in the line direction x of a broken line B (not shown) that bends along the corner portion C4 from one end portion Ea4. The liquid jet head 1 further includes a circuit board 9b, and the other end Eb3 (not shown) of the flexible circuit board 3y and the other end Eb4 of the flexible circuit board 3z are connected to the same surface of the circuit board 9b.

  Thus, since each flexible circuit board 3w-3z has the ear | edge parts 4a and 4b which protrude in the line direction x of each broken line B in each one edge part Ea, each wiring terminal row | line | column of flexible circuit board 3w-3z WR1 to WR4 can be aligned with each of the electrode terminal arrays ER1 to ER4 with high accuracy.

  The plate-like actuator substrate 2a of the head chip 2, the pressure chamber 2b for holding the liquid, the nozzle plate 2d positioned on the droplet discharge side of the actuator substrate 2a, and the nozzle plate 2d positioned on the droplet discharge side of the actuator substrate 2a The configuration and materials are the same as in the first embodiment. Moreover, the structure and material of each flexible circuit board 3w-3z are the same as that of 1st embodiment. Moreover, the ear | edge parts 4a and 4b can be installed in the location similar to 2nd embodiment and 3rd embodiment. Moreover, the bending member 7 which bends each flexible circuit board 3w-3z along each corner | angular part C1-C4 of the head chip 2 like 4th embodiment can be installed in each flexible circuit board 3w-3z. Further, in the present embodiment, there is one through-hole 8, but a larger number of through-holes are formed, and through-holes 8 are formed in the respective through-holes 8 through the flexible circuit board 3 having the ears 4. The head chip 2 may be bent along the corner C of the head chip 2 and connected to the head chip 2.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a liquid ejecting apparatus 30 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The liquid ejecting apparatus 30 includes a moving mechanism 40 that reciprocates the liquid ejecting heads 1 and 1 ′, and a flow path unit that supplies the liquid to the liquid ejecting heads 1 and 1 ′ and discharges the liquid from the liquid ejecting heads 1 and 1 ′. 35, 35 ′, liquid pumps 33, 33 ′ and liquid tanks 34, 34 ′ communicating with the flow path portions 35, 35 ′. Each liquid ejecting head 1, 1 ′ uses any of the first to fifth embodiments already described.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus 30 includes a pair of conveying units 41 and 42 that convey a recording medium 44 such as paper in the main scanning direction, liquid ejecting heads 1 and 1 ′ that eject liquid onto the recording medium 44, and a liquid ejecting head. 1, 1 ′ carriage unit 43, liquid tanks 34, 34 ′ and liquid pumps 33, 33 ′ that supply the liquid stored in the liquid tanks 34, 34 ′ to the flow path parts 35, 35 ′, And a moving mechanism 40 that scans 1 ′ in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. A control unit (not shown) controls and drives the liquid ejecting heads 1, 1 ′, the moving mechanism 40, and the conveying units 41 and 42.

  The pair of conveying means 41 and 42 includes a grid roller and a pinch roller that extend in the sub-scanning direction and rotate while contacting the roller surface. The recording medium 44 sandwiched between the rollers is rotated in the main scanning direction by rotating the grid roller and the pinch roller around the axis by a motor (not shown). The moving mechanism 40 couples a pair of guide rails 36 and 37 extending in the sub-scanning direction, a carriage unit 43 slidable along the pair of guide rails 36 and 37, and the carriage unit 43 to move in the sub-scanning direction. An endless belt 38 is provided, and a motor 39 that rotates the endless belt 38 via a pulley (not shown) is provided.

  The carriage unit 43 mounts a plurality of liquid jet heads 1, 1 ′, and ejects, for example, four types of liquid droplets of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The liquid tanks 34 and 34 'store liquids of corresponding colors and supply them to the liquid jet heads 1 and 1' via the liquid pumps 33 and 33 'and the flow path portions 35 and 35'. Each liquid ejecting head 1, 1 ′ ejects droplets of each color according to the drive signal. An arbitrary pattern is recorded on the recording medium 44 by controlling the timing at which liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting heads 1, 1 ′, the rotation of the motor 39 that drives the carriage unit 43, and the conveyance speed of the recording medium 44. I can.

  In this embodiment, the moving mechanism 40 moves the carriage unit 43 and the recording medium 44 to perform recording, but instead, the carriage unit is fixed and the moving mechanism is the recording medium. May be a liquid ejecting apparatus that moves and records two-dimensionally. That is, the moving mechanism may be any mechanism that relatively moves the liquid ejecting head and the recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid ejecting head 2 Head chip 2a Actuator board, 2b Pressure chamber, 2c Electrode terminal, 2d, 2d1, 2d2 Nozzle plate, 2e Nozzle 3, 3w, 3x, 3y, 3z Flexible circuit board 3a Base board, 3b Wiring, 3c Cover Layer, 3d Wiring terminal 4, 4a, 4b Ear part 5a, 5b Notch part 6, 6a, 6b Connecting part 7 Bending member 8 Through hole 8
9a, 9b Circuit board A Crimp area, B Polyline, C, C1, C2, C3, C4 Corners Ea, Ea1, Ea2, Ea3, Ea4 One end Eb, Eb1, Eb2, Eb3, Eb4 The other end W1 , W2 width CR, CR1, CR2, CR3, CR4 Channel row ER, ER1, ER2, ER3, ER4 Electrode terminal row WR, WR1, WR2, WR3, WR4 Wiring terminal row NR, NR1, NR2, NR3, NR4 Nozzle row x Line direction, y intersecting direction, Sa, Sb side, Sc end

Claims (10)

A head chip for discharging droplets;
A flexible circuit board having a crimping region at one end and the crimping region connected to the head chip,
The flexible circuit board is a liquid ejecting head having an ear portion that is bent along a corner portion of the head chip on the other end side of the crimping region and connected to the crimping region.   The one end is surrounded by a fold line that bends along the corner, two sides that intersect the fold line, and an end that is opposite to the fold line and intersects the two sides. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the ear is connected to the side.   The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the ear portion protrudes in a fold line direction that is bent along the corner portion from the one end portion.   The one end is surrounded by a fold line that bends along the corner, two sides that intersect the fold line, and an end that is opposite to the fold line and intersects the two sides. 2. The liquid jet head according to claim 1, wherein a side side includes a notch portion, and the ear portion is located between the notch portion and the end side.   The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting portion that is narrower than a width of the ear portion between the ear portion and the crimping region.   The flexible circuit board has a base substrate, a wiring located on the surface of the base substrate, and a cover layer that covers the surface of the base substrate and the wiring, and the crimping region has a region that does not have the cover layer, The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the ear portion does not include the cover layer.   The liquid ejecting head according to claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit board further includes a bending member that bends the flexible circuit board along the corner portion.   The head chip includes a channel row in which pressure chambers for discharging droplets are arranged, and an electrode terminal row in which electrode terminals are arranged along the corners, and the flexible circuit board is a wiring in which wiring terminals are arranged in the crimping region. The liquid jet head according to claim 1, further comprising a terminal row, wherein the electrode terminal and the wiring terminal are electrically connected.   The head chip has a through hole, the electrode terminals are arranged along the corner formed by the through hole, and the flexible circuit board is bent along the corner through the through hole. The liquid ejecting head according to claim 8, wherein the terminal and the wiring terminal are electrically connected. A liquid ejecting head according to claim 1;
A moving mechanism for relatively moving the liquid ejecting head and the recording medium;
A liquid supply pipe for supplying a liquid to the liquid ejecting head;
And a liquid tank that supplies the liquid to the liquid supply pipe.

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