Abstract:
A flexible flat cable connects a drive circuit and a liquid jetting head to supply a drive signal to pressure generating elements. The flat cable includes a plurality of laminated layers, each provided with a plurality of first conductive patterns each connecting a positive pole of the drive circuit and a positive pole of one of the pressure generating elements, and a plurality of second conductive patterns each connecting a negative pole of the drive circuit and a negative pole of one of the pressure generating elements. Each of at least one of the first conductive patterns provided in one of the laminated layers faces one of the first conductive patterns provided in adjacent one of the laminated layers. Each of at least one of the second conductive patterns provided in one of the laminated layers faces one of the second conductive patterns provided in adjacent one of the laminated layers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a liquid jetting apparatus such as a recording head for an ink jet recording apparatus, an electrode member ejection head for an electrode forming apparatus, an organic substance jetting head for a bio-chip manufacturing apparatus, or the like, which records images and characters on a recording sheet by ejecting ink droplets from nozzle orifices.  
           [0002]    [0002]FIG. 17 shows a related-art ink jet recording apparatus, which is one kind of the liquid jetting apparatus, comprising: a carriage  3 , wherein an ink cartridge  1  is mounted on the upper face while a recording head  2  is attached to the lower face, and a cap  4  for covering the recording head  2 .  
           [0003]    The carriage  3  is connected by a timing belt  5  to a stepping motor  6 , and reciprocates along a guide bar  7  in the widthwise direction of a recording sheet  8 . A drive circuit  9 , which is arranged in a case  10  fixed to a wall frame  11 , is provided to control the ejection of ink from the recording head  2 . A drive signal output by the drive circuit  9  and various other control signals are transmitted to the recording head  2  by a flexible flat cable  12 .  
           [0004]    The recording head  2  is attached to the face of the carriage  3  that is directed to the recording sheet  8  (in this example, the lower face). While the carriage  3  is moving, ink stored in the ink cartridge  1  is supplied to the recording head  2  and is ejected as droplets onto the top face of the recording sheet  8  to print images and characters formed as matrixes of dots.  
           [0005]    The cap  4  is arranged in a non-printing region within the range of movement of the carriage  3 , and while printing is halted, covers the nozzle face of the recording head  2  to prevent, to the extent possible, ink from drying in the nozzle orifices. Further, the cap  4  is connected to a suction pump  13 , and during a cleaning process, a negative pressure is applied to the recording head  2  to draw ink from the nozzle orifices. Furthermore, the cap  4  can also serve as a reservoir for ink droplets that are discharged from the recording head by a flushing operation.  
           [0006]    While the carriage  3  is reciprocating and printing is being performed, drive signals transmitted by the drive circuit  9  are carried to the recording head  2  by the flexible flat cable  12 , which is repetitively bent. As is shown in FIG. 18, the flexible flat cable  12 , which is formed of a flexible and durable synthetic resin  15  that can withstand repeated bending, is shaped like a belt, and within it and constituting multiple conductive lines, conductive patterns  14  are arranged in parallel. In order for the same durability as that exhibited by the synthetic resin  15  to be provided for the conductive patterns  14 , they are formed by cutting into narrow strips an extremely thin copper alloy plate.  
           [0007]    There are about 30 conductive patterns  14 , and in addition, for the several pressure generating elements that depend on a number of different ink types, a ground line, a temperature detection signal line and other power feed lines are provided. Currently, it is necessary for the number of ink types to be increased in order to improve the printing quality, or for the number of signal types transmitted by the drive circuit  9  to the recording head  2  to be increased so as to adapt a recording apparatus to the environmental conditions, such as the temperature and the humidity, in the location whereat it is installed.  
           [0008]    As the easiest measure for coping with either of these needs, the width of the flexible flat cable  12  and the number of conductive patterns  14  can be increased. However, when a wider flexible flat cable  12  is continuously bent during printing, it can interfere with associated, peripheral members and prevent the printing operation from being performed smoothly. Otherwise, if the torsional deformation of a wide flexible flat cable  12  occurs, its ends may be stretched too far and torn when it is bent during printing.  
           [0009]    In order to resolve these problems, one measure has been proposed whereby, as is shown in FIG. 19, the flexible flat cable  12  is divided into a first flexible flat cable  12 A and a second flexible flat cable  12 B, and these cables  12 A and  12 B are laminated.  
           [0010]    [0010]FIG. 20A shows the polarities of the conductive patterns  14  of the first and second flexible flat cables  12 A and  12   b . The hatched conductive patterns  14  represent the positive polarity, and the non-hatched conductive patterns  14  represent the negative polarity.  
           [0011]    In such a lamination structure, when the opposite polarities face each other and the two types of conductive patterns  14  are rendered conductive at the same time, the magnetic fields of both conductive patterns  14  are generated in reverse directions, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 20A and 20B. In FIG. 20B, only the polarities are depicted for better understanding.  
           [0012]    Therefore, the amount of current supplied to the recording head  2  is reduced by a mutual inductance generated between the conductive patterns  14 . Accordingly, insufficient drive energy tends to be supplied to the pressure generating elements of the recording head  2 , and desired ink ejection can not be performed.  
           [0013]    Specifically, an ink ejection shortage will affect only a specific nozzle orifice array of the recording head  2 , but due to the pertinent nozzle orifice array, a printing failure will occur that renders all printing results abnormal.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    It is therefore an object of the invention to resolve a problem that arises due to a mutual inductance that is generated between the conductive patterns of the first and second laminated flexible flat cables.  
           [0015]    In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an liquid jetting apparatus, comprising:  
           [0016]    a liquid jetting head, provided with nozzle orifices, pressure chambers each commutated with one of the nozzle orifices, and pressure generating elements each associated with one of the pressure chambers to vary pressure of ink contained therein;  
           [0017]    a drive circuit, which generates a drive signal for driving at least one of the pressure generating elements; and  
           [0018]    a flexible flat cable, which connects the drive circuit and the liquid jetting head to supply the drive signal to at least one of the pressure generating elements, the flat cable including a plurality of laminated layers, each provided with a plurality of first conductive patterns each connecting a positive pole of the drive circuit and a positive pole of one of the pressure generating elements, and a plurality of second conductive patterns each connecting a negative pole of the drive circuit and a negative pole of one of the pressure generating elements, wherein:  
           [0019]    each of at least one of the first conductive patterns provided in one of the laminated layers faces one of the first conductive patterns provided in adjacent one of the laminated layers; and  
           [0020]    each of at least one of the second conductive patterns provided in one of the laminated layers faces one of the second conductive patterns provided in adjacent one of the laminated layers.  
           [0021]    In this configuration, the polarities of the conductive patterns provided in adjacent laminated layers and faced with each other are made identical. Therefore, when both conductive patterns are conductive, magnetic fields in these conductive patterns are generated in the same direction, and any affect attributable to mutual inductance is reduced. This phenomenon ensures that the strength of the current transmitted to the pressure generating elements does not fluctuate and conforms to that which is anticipated, shortages of ink for ejection are seldom encountered, and normal printing can be performed.  
           [0022]    Since the problems associated with the lamination of the flexible flat cables can be resolved, an increase in the signal types transmitted through the flexible flat cable can be handled without the width of the flexible flat cable being increased. Actually, because of the laminated structure, the width of the flexible flat cable can be reduced relative to a related-art cable, and the space occupied by the flexible flat cable during printing can be reduced. This can contribute to a reduction in the size of the recording apparatus.  
           [0023]    Preferably, the first conductive patterns facing with each other are associated with pressure generating elements for ejecting different kinds of ink. On the other hand, the second conductive patterns facing with each other are associated with pressure generating elements for ejecting different kinds of ink.  
           [0024]    Therefore, the pressure generating elements for a specific ink type and the pressure generating elements for another ink type are driven normally, and even when the conductive patterns for these ink types are opposed, a shortage of ink for ejection seldom occurs, and there is a considerable reduction in the incidence of printing failures.  
           [0025]    Preferably, at least one of the first conductive patterns and at least one of second conductive patterns provided in each of the laminated layers are connected to at least one of the pressure generating elements for ejecting one kind of ink.  
           [0026]    With this arrangement, the affect attributable to mutual inductance is reduced even when the paired positive conductive and negative conducive patterns face each other in each of the laminated layers. Therefore, the pressure generating elements that cope with the individual ink types can be operated normally, shortages of ink for ejection seldom occur, and there is a considerable reduction in the incidence of printing failures.  
           [0027]    Here, is preferable that one of the first conductive patterns and two of the second conductive patterns provided in each of the laminated layers are connected to at least one of the pressure generating elements for ejecting one kind of ink.  
           [0028]    With this arrangement, since the current in each negative conductive patterns is reduced by half, the affect attributable to the mutual inductance between the first and second flexible flat cables can be reduced. Thus, the pressure generating elements that cope with the individual ink types can be operated more normally, shortages of ink for ejection seldom occur, and there is a considerable reduction in the incidence of printing failures.  
           [0029]    When two of the first conductive patterns and two of the second conductive patterns provided in each of the laminated layers are connected to at least one of the pressure generating elements for ejecting one kind of ink, since the current in each positive conductive pattern and each negative conductive pattern can be reduced, the magnetic effect produced by the conductive patterns can be reduced, and accordingly, the affect attributable to the disturbance relative to the peripheral devices can be lessened.  
           [0030]    Preferably, an arrangement order of the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns provided in one of the laminated layers is identical with an arrangement order of the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns provided in adjacent one of the laminated layers.  
           [0031]    In this case, since the positive and negative conductive patterns of the laminated layers need only directly face with each other, the simplest possible method can be used to avoid the affect attributable to mutual inductance.  
           [0032]    Here, it is preferable that the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns provided in each of the laminated layer are alternately arranged.  
           [0033]    Alternatively, an arrangement order of the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns provided in one of the laminated layers may be inverse to an arrangement order of the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns provided in adjacent one of the laminated layers.  
           [0034]    With this arrangement, even when the inverted order arrangement is selected because the polarities of the terminals of the drive circuit and the pressure generating elements, the arrangement in which conductive patterns having the same poles face each other can be implemented.  
           [0035]    Here, it is preferable that the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns provided in each of the laminated layer are alternately arranged.  
           [0036]    Preferably, one of the laminated layers is shifted relative to adjacent one of the laminated layers in an arrangement direction of the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns by a distance equivalent to at least one of the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns.  
           [0037]    With this arrangement, the principle according to which conductive patterns face conductive patterns having the same poles can be established, even when the orders in which the positive conductive patterns and the negative conductive patterns are arranged differ. Therefore, the degree of freedom with which the orders wherein the positive and negative conductive patterns are arranged is enhanced.  
           [0038]    Preferably, an auxiliary conductive pattern for supplying a signal other than the drive signal to the liquid jetting head is provided in at least one of the laminated patterns so as to face at least one of the first conductive patterns and the second conductive patterns.  
           [0039]    With this arrangement, an extra conductive pattern can be utilized for a ground line, for a temperature detection line or for a power line having another purpose, i.e., the use of an auxiliary conductive pattern that provides no affection for the drive signal can be selected.  
           [0040]    Preferably, the flat cable includes a connecting section extending in a longitudinal direction thereof at one widthwise side end so as to integrally connect one of the laminated layers and adjacent one of the laminated layers.  
           [0041]    With this arrangement, since a wide flexible flat cable is employed, spatial disadvantages can be avoided by folding the flexible flat cable at the connecting section over onto itself. At the same time, since only a single, wide flexible flat cable is folded, the number of parts is not increased and the manufacturing process is simplified, making this an extremely effective cost reduction arrangement.  
           [0042]    Preferably, an adhesive layer is interposed between one of the laminated layers and adjacent one of the laminated layers.  
           [0043]    With this arrangement, since the bonding the two flexible flat cables are integrally bonded, the flexible flat cables are not easily peeled apart, even when repetitively bent during operation, and the principle according to which conductive patterns face conductive patterns having like poles can be maintained.  
           [0044]    Preferably, the pressure generating elements are one of longitudinal oscillation type piezoelectric vibrators, flexure oscillation type piezoelectric vibrators and heating elements for heating ink in the pressure chambers. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0045]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a recording head in the ink jet recording apparatus;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the recording head;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of a flexible flat cable in the ink jet recording apparatus;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable according to a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable according to an eighth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable according to a ninth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable according to a tenth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the flexible flat cable as shown in FIG. 13;  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a flexible flat cable according to an eleventh embodiment of the invention;  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of flexible flat cable according to a twelfth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a related-art ink jet recording apparatus;  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a flexible flat cable in the related-art ink jet recording apparatus;  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a laminated-type flexible flat cables in the related-art ink jet recording apparatus; and  
         [0065]    [0065]FIGS. 20A and 20B are cross-sectional views showing the polarity relationship of the flexible flat cable in the related-art ink jet recording apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0066]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 1 shows an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention. Since this structure is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 17, the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components and detailed explanation will be omitted.  
         [0068]    The recording head  2  will now be explained with reference to FIG. 2. A channel unit  16  is formed by laminating a nozzle plate  18  formed with nozzle orifices  17 , a channel forming substrate  20  formed with pressure chambers  19  communicate with the nozzle orifices  17 , and a vibration plate  21  for closing the lower openings of the pressure chambers  19 . Ink reservoirs  23  which store ink to be introduced into the pressure chambers  19  are formed in the channel forming substrate  20  and communicated with the pressure chambers  19  via ink channels  22 .  
         [0069]    A head case  24 , which is a principal member of the recording head  3 , is formed by the injection molding of a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin. Piezoelectric vibrators  26  (pressure generating elements) are accommodated in spaces  25  that penetrate the head case  24  vertically. The rear ends of the piezoelectric vibrators  26  are bonded to fixed plates  27  that are attached to the head case  24 , and the distal ends thereof are secured to island portions  21 A on the lower face of the vibration plate  21 .  
         [0070]    The pressure chambers  19 , the piezoelectric vibrators  26  and the nozzle orifices  17  are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the sheet surface of FIG. 2. That is, in this example, two nozzle arrays are formed, and the same type of ink is ejected by one nozzle array regarded as a single unit.  
         [0071]    Input conductive lines  28  are connected to the piezoelectric vibrators  26  as shown in FIG. 2, and are also connected to a head board  29  as shown in FIG. 3. The flexible flat cable  12  is coupled with a connector  30  provided at the end of the head board  29 , and the conductive lines  28  are electrically connected to the flexible flat cable  12  by the head board  29 . When a drive signal is transmitted to the piezoelectric vibrators  26  along this conductivity path, the piezoelectric vibrators  26  are longitudinally extended or contracted, varying the pressure in the pressure chambers  19 , so that ink in the pressure chambers  19  is ejected as droplets through the nozzle orifices  17 .  
         [0072]    As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the flexible flat cable  12  is formed by laminating a first flexible flat cable  12 A and a second flexible flat cable  12 B. In FIG. 4A, hatched conductive patterns  14  are positive conductive patterns  14 A and non-hatched conductive patterns  14  are negative conductive patterns  14 B. The positive conductive patterns  14 A and the negative conductive patterns  14 B of the flexible flat cables  12 A and  12 B are arranged facing each other. That is, the conductive patterns  14  facing each other have the same polarity. For better understanding, FIG. 4B depicts only the polarities instead of the conductive patterns  14 . The following explanation of this embodiment will be given by referring to this example.  
         [0073]    In the example in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each of the input lines extending from the drive circuit  9  to the piezoelectric vibrators  26  is formed of one positive conductive pattern  14 A and one negative conductive pattern  14 B are alternately arranged. In other words, a positive conductive pattern  14 A and a negative conductive pattern  14 B are paired to form one input line unit to transmit a drive signal to the piezoelectric vibrator  26  that corresponds to one kind of ink. Therefore, when six pairs of them are provided, as is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a total of six ink kinds (e.g. colors), corresponding to six nozzle arrays, are ejected. For this example the six ink colors are black, yellow, magenta, cyan, light magenta and light cyan.  
         [0074]    According to the first embodiment, since the positive conductive patterns  14 A and the negative conductive patterns  14 B are arranged in the same order, the conductive patterns  14  of the flexible flat cables  12 A and  12 B that face each other have the same polarity. Therefore, the current reduction does not occur due to the mutual inductance described the above, and a desired drive signal is input to the piezoelectric vibrators  26  that normalizes the ink ejection state at the nozzle orifices  17 .  
         [0075]    Since the number of the conductive patterns  14 A and  14 B that can be arranged can be increased considerably because of the laminated structure of the flexible cable  12 , the types of drive signals transmitted by the drive circuit  9  to the piezoelectric vibrators  26  can be increased, and this can effectively improve the function of the recording head  2 .  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, as each input line, one positive conductive pattern  14 A is provided to connect the positive pole of the drive circuit  9  to the positive poles of the piezoelectric vibrators  26 , and two negative conductive patterns  14 B are provided to connect the negative pole of the drive circuit  9  to the negative poles of the piezoelectric vibrators  26 . The “positive” conductive patterns  14 A, the “negative” conductive pattern  14 B and the “negative” conductive patterns  148  are repetitively arranged in this order from left to right. The remainder of the configuration is the same as in for the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components.  
         [0077]    According to the second embodiment, since two negative conductive patterns  14 B are provided for each input line unit, the current flowing in these patterns is reduced, and the affect attributable to the mutual inductance of the first and the second flexible flat cables  12 A and  12 B is reduced. Therefore, the piezoelectric vibrators  26  corresponding to the individual ink colors can be operated more normally, shortages of the ink to be ejected will not occur, and there is a considerable reduction in the incidence of printing failures. The other effects obtained in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, two positive conductive patterns  14 A and two negative conductive patterns  14 B are provided for each input line unit, and these patterns are alternately arranged. In this case, in order the same poles to face each other, the second flexible flat cable  12 B is shifted relative to the first flexible flat cable  12 A a distance equivalent to two conductive patterns. The remainder of the configuration is the same as in the first and the second embodiments, and the same reference numerals are employed to denote corresponding components.  
         [0079]    According to the third embodiment, since the current flowing in one positive conductive pattern  14 A and one negative conductive pattern  14 B is reduced, the magnetic affect attributable to each conductive pattern  14  can be reduced, and the affect attributable to the disturbance relative to a peripheral device can be reduced considerably. The other effects are the same as those obtained in the two embodiments.  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the first flexible flat cable  12 A is shifted widthwise relative to the second flexible flat cable  12 B a distance equivalent to one conductive pattern, and the positive and negative conductive patterns  14 A and  14 B of the first flexible flat cable  12 A are arranged in an inverted order relative to those of the second flexible flat cable  128 . It should be noted that one positive conductive pattern  14 A and one negative conductive pattern  14 B are provided for each input line. That is, in this example, for the upper, first flexible flat cable  12 A, the “positive” conductive patterns  14 A and the “negative” conductive patterns  14 B are arranged in this order from left to right, while for the lower, second flexible flat cable  12 B, the “negative” conductive patterns  14 B and the “positive” conductive patterns  14 A are arranged in this order from left to right. The remainder of the structure is the same as in the previous embodiments, and the same reference numerals are employed to denote corresponding components.  
         [0081]    According to the fourth embodiment, even when the order in which the conductive patterns  14  are arranged for the flexible flat cables  12 A and  12 B is inverted, these cables  12 A and  12 B need only be shifted to establish the principle according to which like poles face each other. In other words, even when due to the polarities of the terminals of the drive circuit  9  and the pressure generating elements the inverted order arrangement is selected, an arrangement can be implemented in which like poles face each other. The other effects are the same as those in the first to third embodiments.  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, as in the fourth embodiment, the first flexible cable  12 A and the second flexible flat cable  12 B are shifted widthwise relative to each other a distance equivalent to one conductive pattern  14 , and the order in which the positive and negative conductive patterns  14 A and  14 B of the first flexible flat cable  12 A are arranged is inverted relative to that of the second flexible flat cable  12 B. For each input line unit, one positive conductive pattern  14 A and two negative conductive patterns  14 B are provided. That is, in this embodiment, for the upper, first flat flexible cable  12 A, the “positive” conductive pattern  14 A, the “negative” conductive patterns  14 B and the “negative” conductive pattern  14 B are repetitively arranged in this order from left to right, while for the lower, second flexible flat cable  12 B, the “negative” conductive patterns  14 B, the “negative” conductive patterns  14 B and the “positive” conductive pattern  14 A are repetitively arranged in this order from left to right. The remainder of the arrangement is the same as that for the first to fourth embodiments, and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components.  
         [0083]    According to the fifth embodiment, even when the conductive patterns  14  for the flexible flat cables  12 A and  12 B are arranged in the inverted order, these cables need only be shifted to establish the principle according to which like poles face each other. In other words, even when due to the polarities of the terminals of the drive circuit and the piezoelectric generating elements the arrangement in the inverted order is selected, an arrangement can be implemented in which like poles face each other. The other effects obtained in this embodiment are the same as those in the first to fourth embodiments.  
         [0084]    [0084]FIG. 9 shows a sixth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the first flexible flat cable  12 A and the second flexible flat cable  12 B are shifted widthwise relative to each other a distance equivalent to one conductive pattern, and the order in which the positive and negative conductive patterns  14 A and  14 B of the first flexible flat cable  12 A are arranged is inverted relative to that of the second flexible flat cable  12 B. That is, for the upper, first flexible flat cable  12 A, the “positve” conductive patterns  14 A and the “negative” conductive patterns  14 B are arranged this order from left to right, while for the lower, second flexible flat cable  12 B, the “negative” conductive patterns  14 B and the “positive” conductive patterns  14 A are arranged in this order from left to right. It should be noted that two positive conductive patterns  14 A and two negative conductive patterns  14 B are provided for each input line unit. The remainder of the arrangement is the same as that for the first to fifth embodiments, and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components.  
         [0085]    For this embodiment, the same effects can also be obtained as are obtained for the previous embodiments.  
         [0086]    [0086]FIG. 10 shows a seventh embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the first flexible flat cable  12 A and the second flexible flat cable  12 B are shifted widthwise relative to each other a distance equivalent to one conductive pattern, and one positive conductive pattern  14 A and two negative conductive patterns  14 B are paired for each input line unit. For the upper, first flexible flat cable  12 A, the “negative” conductive pattern  14 B, the “positive” conductive pattern  14 A and the “negative” conductive pattern  14 A are repetitively arranged in this order from left to right, while for the lower, second flexible flat cable  12 B, the “positive” conductive pattern  14 A, the “negative” conductive pattern  14 B and the “negative” conductive pattern  14 B are repetitively arranged in this order from left to right. The remainder of the arrangement is the same as that for the previous embodiments, and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components.  
         [0087]    For this embodiment, the same effects can also be obtained as are obtained for the previous embodiments.  
         [0088]    [0088]FIG. 11 shows an eighth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, an auxiliary conductive pattern  33 , in which a drive signal for the piezoelectric vibrator  26  is not transmitted, is formed at the location, in the flexible flat cable  12 A or  12 B in the laminated structure, that corresponds to the conductive pattern  14  in which the drive signal for the piezoelectric vibrator  26  is transmitted. In this arrangement, a signal, such as a ground signal, a temperature detection signal or another power signal, that mutually is less affected by the drive signal is transmitted to the auxiliary conductive pattern  33 . The remainder of the arrangement is the same as for the first to seventh embodiments, and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components.  
         [0089]    According to the eighth embodiment, since an extra conductive pattern can be selected, it can be utilized as a ground line, a temperature detection line or another power feed line and will provide no side effects for the drive signal. The other effects obtained are the same as those for the previous embodiments.  
         [0090]    [0090]FIG. 12 shows a ninth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, two auxiliary conductive patterns  33  are provided, one for each of the flexible flat cables  12 A and  12 B, and are respectively located on the right and left sides. The remainder of the arrangement is the same as that for the previous embodiments, and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components.  
         [0091]    According to the ninth embodiment, since two auxiliary conductive patterns  33  are provided, more diversified use can be made of the extra conductive patterns. The other effects are the same as those for the previous embodiments.  
         [0092]    [0092]FIGS. 13 and 14 show a tenth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the flexible flat cable  12  is formed by laminating three layers. The remainder of the arrangement is the same as that for the first to ninth embodiments, and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components.  
         [0093]    According to the tenth embodiment, since the three-layered flexible flat cable  12  is employed, more drive signals and a variety of control signals can be transmitted to the recording head  2 . Further, since the width of the flexible flat cable  12  can be reduced, the portion of the flexible flat cable  12  that is bent during printing can be reduced, so that the downsizing of a recording apparatus can be realized. The other effects are the same as those for the previous embodiments.  
         [0094]    [0094]FIG. 15 shows an eleventh embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the flexible flat cable  12  is folded over onto itself along a fold line  12 C that extends in the longitudinal direction of the cable  12 . The fold line  12 C is so positioned that, when the flexible flat cable  12  is folded, the same poles in the positive conductive patterns  14 A and the negative patterns  14 B face each other. The remainder of the arrangement is the same as for the first to tenth embodiments, and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components.  
         [0095]    According to the eleventh embodiment, even if a wide flexible flat cable  12  is employed, spatial disadvantages can be avoided by folding the flexible flat cable  12  over onto itself. In addition, since only a single, folded flexible flat cable  12  is used, the number of parts is not increased and the manufacturing process is simplified, making this is an extremely effective cost reduction arrangement.  
         [0096]    [0096]FIG. 16 shows a twelfth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the flexible flat cable  12  is formed by bonding the first flexible flat cable  12 A to the second flexible flat cable  12 B using an adhering layer  32 , such as an adhesive or a double coated adhesive tape. The remainder of the arrangement is the same as for the other embodiments, and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding components.  
         [0097]    According to the twelfth embodiment, since through the bonding the flexible flat cables  12 A and  12 B are integrally formed, these cables  12 A and  12 B will not be easily peeled apart, even when they are repetitively bent during printing, and the establishment of the principle according to which conductive patterns face conductive patterns having like poles is ensured.  
         [0098]    In the embodiments of the invention, the piezoelectric vibrators  26  of the vertical oscillation mode are employed as pressure generating elements. However, the pressure generating element is not limited to an application of this type, and piezoelectric vibrators of a flexure oscillation mode or heating devices for heating ink in the pressure chambers may also be employed.  
         [0099]    Further, in the above embodiments, the description was made with reference to the ink jet recording apparatus, which is a kind of the liquid jetting apparatus. However, the present invention can be applied to other kind of liquid jetting apparatus. For instance, an electrode member ejection head for an electrode forming apparatus, an organic substance jetting head for a bio-chip manufacturing apparatus, or the like.