Patent ID: 7559633
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A liquid-droplet jetting apparatus which jets a liquid droplet, comprising: a channel unit which includes a plurality of nozzles; a plurality of pressure chambers arranged along a plane and communicating with the nozzles respectively; and a common liquid chamber arranged along the plane and adjacent to the pressure chambers; and a piezoelectric actuator which is arranged on one surface of the channel unit so as to cover the pressure chambers, and extended from an area above the channel unit and facing the pressure chambers up to another area above the channel unit and facing the common liquid chamber; which applies a pressure to a liquid in the pressure chambers by selectively changing volumes of the pressure chambers; and which includes: a piezoelectric layer arranged at the area facing the pressure chambers; a plurality of individual electrodes which are arranged on one surface of the piezoelectric layer, at the area facing the pressure chambers so as to correspond to the pressure chambers respectively; a common electrode arranged on the other surface of the piezoelectric layer; and a plurality of contact points which are connected to the individual electrodes respectively, and are exposed on the one surface of the piezoelectric layer, on a side opposite to the pressure chambers and the common liquid chamber; wherein each of the contact points is drawn, on the one surface of the piezoelectric layer on the side opposite to the pressure chambers and the common liquid chamber, from one of the individual electrodes up to the another area facing the common liquid chamber; and the channel unit is provided with a plurality of supporting sections which are formed in the channel unit, which are in contact with a surface of the piezoelectric actuator on a side of the common liquid chamber, and which are extended from an inner surface of the common liquid chamber up to positions each facing one of the contact points.