Patent Publication Number: US-7900328-B2

Title: Method for manufacturing fluid ejecting head and method for manufacturing fluid ejecting apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-239444 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Sep. 14, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to methods for manufacturing fluid ejecting heads and methods for manufacturing fluid ejecting apparatuses. 
     2. Related Art 
     Examples of known fluid ejecting apparatuses that eject fluid include ink jet recording apparatuses. Ink jet recording apparatuses record characters, images, and the like on recording media and eject ink toward the recording media through nozzle openings provided in recording heads (ejecting heads). For example, JP-A-2003-53970 discloses a recording head in which nozzle openings are aligned in one direction. This head ejects ink through the nozzle openings by supplying electrical signals to piezoelectric vibrators including piezoelectric elements. To make the amounts of ink to be ejected from all the nozzle openings uniform, it is preferable that the nozzle openings and the respective piezoelectric vibrators have a uniform positional relationship. The piezoelectric vibratos are secured to a securing member disposed inside the recording head. Positions of the piezoelectric vibrators are determined by the dimensions of relevant components disposed inside the recording head. 
     However, if there are dimensional variations and assembly errors among such components disposed in the recording head, positional relationships between the nozzle openings and the piezoelectric vibratos may vary, leading to variations in the amount of ink to be ejected. 
     SUMMARY 
     An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a method for manufacturing a fluid ejecting head and a method for manufacturing a fluid ejecting apparatus in which the amounts of fluid to be ejected can be made uniform. 
     At least the following will become apparent from this specification and the accompanying drawings. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing a fluid ejecting head includes providing a channel unit including a vibrating plate and having nozzle opening through which fluid is ejected and pressure chamber that communicate with the nozzle opening, providing a piezoelectric unit including piezoelectric element that vibrate the vibrating plate of the channel unit and a securing plate that secures the piezoelectric element, providing a head case having a housing chamber in which the piezoelectric unit is to be housed, housing the piezoelectric unit in the housing chamber such that the piezoelectric element is pressed against the vibrating plate, pushing the piezoelectric unit in a housing direction such that a portion of the piezoelectric unit is pressed against a sidewall of the housing chamber, and securing the piezoelectric element and the vibrating plate, and the securing plate and the head case, respectively, to each other by bonding the same together while the piezoelectric unit is being pressed against the vibrating plate and the sidewall. 
     In this case, the piezoelectric unit is housed in the housing chamber such that the piezoelectric elements are pressed against the vibrating plate. Further, the piezoelectric unit is pushed in a housing direction such that a portion of the piezoelectric unit is pressed against a sidewall of the housing chamber. Furthermore, the piezoelectric elements and the vibrating plate, and the securing plate and the head case, respectively, are secured and bonded to each other while the piezoelectric unit is being pressed against the vibrating plate and the sidewall. Therefore, positions of the securing plate and the piezoelectric elements in the housing chamber are fixed. Accordingly, even if there are variations in dimensions of components constituting the fluid ejecting head, lengths from the piezoelectric elements to the respective nozzle openings can be made uniform. Consequently, the amounts of ink to be ejected from the individual nozzle openings can be made uniform. 
     In the method according to the first aspect of the invention, it is preferable that, during the pushing, forces that act in the housing direction and in a turning direction be both applied to the piezoelectric unit, the force in the turning direction causing the piezoelectric unit to be pressed against the sidewall of the housing chamber. 
     In this case, during the pushing, forces that act in the housing direction and in a turning direction are both applied to the piezoelectric unit, and the force in the turning direction causes the piezoelectric unit to be pressed against the sidewall of the housing chamber. Therefore the piezoelectric unit can be easily pressed against the sidewall. 
     In the method according to the first aspect of the invention, it is preferable that, during the pushing, the piezoelectric unit be pushed with a pushing member while a pushing portion formed at a tip of the pushing member is pressed against a pushed portion formed at a top end of the piezoelectric unit, at least one of the pushing portion and the pushed portion having a sloping surface angled with respect to the housing direction, the sloping surface contributing to application of the force in the turning direction to the piezoelectric unit. 
     In this case, during the pushing, the piezoelectric unit is pushed with a pushing member while a pushing portion formed at a tip of the pushing member is pressed against a pushed portion formed at a top end of the piezoelectric unit. Further, at least one of the pushing portion and the pushed portion has a sloping surface angled with respect to the housing direction. Furthermore, the sloping surface contributes to application of the force in the turning direction to the piezoelectric unit. Therefore the piezoelectric unit can be easily pressed against the sidewall. 
     In the method according to the first aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the sloping surface be formed in the pushing portion at a first angle with respect to the pushed portion. 
     In this case, the sloping surface is formed in the pushing portion at a first angle with respect to the pushed portion. Therefore, when the piezoelectric unit is pushed, a turning force produced in accordance with the first angle can be applied to the piezoelectric unit. Accordingly, the piezoelectric unit can be easily pressed against the sidewall. Moreover, by providing the sloping surface in the pushing portion, burdens in manufacturing relevant components can be reduced. 
     In the method according to the first aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the sloping surface be formed in the pushed portion at a second angle with respect to the pushing portion. 
     In this case, the sloping surface is formed in the pushed portion at a second angle with respect to the pushing portion. Therefore, when the piezoelectric unit is pushed, a turning force produced in accordance with the second angle can be applied to the piezoelectric unit. Accordingly, the piezoelectric unit can be easily pressed against the sidewall. 
     In the method according to the first aspect of the invention, it is preferable that at least a portion of the sidewall slope in an outward direction with respect to a plan-view center of the housing chamber. 
     In this case, at least a portion of the sidewall slopes in an outward direction with respect to a plan-view center of the housing chamber. Accordingly, the mouth of the housing chamber through which the piezoelectric unit is inserted has a diameter larger than the diameter at a portion of the housing chamber onto which the piezoelectric unit is secured. Therefore, the piezoelectric unit can be easily inserted into the housing chamber. Moreover, the sloping sidewall facilitates tilting of the piezoelectric unit. Therefore, when the piezoelectric unit is pushed with the pushing member, a turning force can be easily applied to the piezoelectric unit. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing a fluid ejecting apparatus that includes a fluid ejecting head having nozzles through which fluid is ejected is provided. The method includes manufacturing the fluid ejecting head by the method according to the first aspect of the invention. 
     In this case, a fluid ejecting head can be obtained in which the amounts of fluid to be ejected through all the nozzle openings can be made uniform. Accordingly, a high-quality fluid ejecting apparatus can be obtained. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements. 
         FIG. 1  schematically shows an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a head. 
         FIG. 3  shows a step included in a process for manufacturing the head. 
         FIG. 4  shows another step included in the process for manufacturing the head. 
         FIG. 5  shows another step included in the process for manufacturing the head. 
         FIG. 6  shows another step included in the process for manufacturing the head. 
         FIG. 7  is a graph showing relationships between the angle of a sloping surface and lengths from nozzle openings to tips of piezoelectric vibrators. 
         FIG. 8  shows a process for manufacturing a head according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings to be referred to hereinafter, scales of relevant components are changed appropriately for easier recognition. In a first embodiment, an ink jet printer is taken as an example of a fluid ejecting apparatus according to the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a printer (fluid ejecting apparatus)  1  according to the first embodiment of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the printer  1  includes a carriage  4  having a head (fluid ejecting head)  2  and a detachable ink cartridge  3 , i.e., a liquid storing member, a platen  5  disposed below the head  2  and over which recording paper  6  is transported, a carriage moving mechanism  7  that moves the carriage  4  in a width direction of the recording paper  6 , and a paper feeding mechanism  8  that feeds the recording paper  6  in a paper feeding direction. The width direction corresponds to a main scanning direction (a direction in which the head  2  is scanningly moved). The paper feeding direction corresponds to a sub-scanning direction (a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction). The ink cartridge  3  is not limited to the one described in the first embodiment that is attached to the carriage  4 , and may be of another type, such as the one that is to be attached to a casing of the printer  1  such that ink is supplied to the head  2  through a supplying tube. 
     A guide rod  9  is a supporting member extending in the main scanning direction. The carriage  4  is supported by the guide rod  9 . The carriage  4  is moved by the carriage moving mechanism  7  in the main scanning direction along the guide rod  9 . A linear encoder  10  detects the position of the carriage  4  in the main scanning direction. A signal indicating the result of this detection is sent as positional information to a control unit (not shown). In accordance with the positional information sent from the linear encoder  10 , the control unit recognizes the scanning position of the head  2  and controls operations including a recording operation (ejection operation) performed by the head  2 . 
     A home position from which the head  2  starts moving is set to be within a range where the head  2  can be moved beyond the platen  5 . A capping mechanism  11  is disposed at a position facing the home position. The capping mechanism  11  includes a cap member  11   a  that seals a surface of the head  2  having nozzle openings, thereby preventing evaporation of an ink solvent. The capping mechanism  11  is also used for performing a cleaning operation, for example, in which a negative pressure is applied to the sealed surface of the head  2  having nozzle openings so as to forcibly remove ink by means of suction. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the head  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the head  2  includes an introduction needle unit  14  having an ink introduction needle  13  standing upright therefrom, a piezoelectric unit  16  having a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators  15 , a channel unit  17  having ink channels provided therein, a head case  18  to which the piezoelectric unit  16  and the channel unit  17  are secured, and a glass-epoxy circuit board  28  that supplies driving signals to the piezoelectric vibrators  15 . 
     The ink introduction needle  13  is a synthetic-resin member molded into a shape of a hollow needle. The hollow of the ink introduction needle  13  serves as a needle channel  20  into which ink stored in the liquid storing member (not shown), such as the ink cartridge  3  or a sub-tank, is introduced. The ink introduction needle  13  has at the tip thereof an introduction hole  21  communicating with the needle channel  20 . When the ink introduction needle  13  is inserted into the liquid storing member and is held therein, ink in the liquid storing member is introduced through the introduction hole  21  into the needle channel  20 . 
     The introduction needle unit  14  is a synthetic-resin-molded member, like the ink introduction needle  13 . 
     The introduction needle unit  14  has an ink introduction channel  22  provided therein in such a manner as to match the ink introduction needle  13 . The upstream end of the ink introduction channel  22  has a bell-like shape whose diameter gradually increases toward a position at which the ink introduction needle  13  is mounted. The ink introduction channel  22  has at the mouth thereof a filter  23  that removes foreign substances contained in ink. The ink introduction needle  13  is secured to the introduction needle unit  14  such that the bottom opening of the needle channel  20  overlaps the top opening of the ink introduction channel  22  in plan view and that the ink introduction channel  22  of the introduction needle unit  14  communicates with the needle channel  20  of the ink introduction needle  13  through the filter  23 . 
     The piezoelectric unit  16  includes the piezoelectric vibrators (piezoelectric elements)  15 , a securing plate  27  to which the piezoelectric vibrators  15  are bonded, and a flexible board  29  that supplies driving signals sent from the circuit board  28  to the piezoelectric vibrators  15 . The piezoelectric vibrators  15 , which are of a multilayer structure, are obtained by stacking electrodes with piezoelectric materials interposed therebetween and cutting the stack into a comb-like shape having long, fine teeth. The piezoelectric vibrators  15  are extendable and contractible in a mode in which the piezoelectric vibrators  15  vibrate in a direction orthogonal to the surface of a sealing plate  35  described separately below. The piezoelectric vibrators  15  have a fixed base portion bonded to the securing plate  27  and each have a free end extending beyond an end of the securing plate  27 . The securing plate  27  is a plate-like member having a rectangular shape in plan view, and is bonded to the head case  18  while being locked at a securing-plate locker  61  provided in a sidewall  53   a  of a housing chamber  53 . 
     The piezoelectric vibrators  15  have on surfaces thereof individual external electrodes  30 , respectively, and a common external electrode  31 . Each of the individual external electrodes  30  is provided over a region including one end face of the corresponding piezoelectric vibrator  15  at the tip thereof and one stacking-direction surface of the same piezoelectric vibrator  15  on which a connection wire is provided (a surface that is to be connected to the flexible board  29 ). The individual external electrodes  30  are electrically connected to respective individual internal electrodes (not shown) provided inside the piezoelectric vibrators  15 . The common external electrode  31  is provided over a region including the other end face of the piezoelectric vibrators  15  at the base thereof and the other stacking-direction surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrators  15  at positions of which the piezoelectric vibrators  15  are secured to the securing plate  27 . The common external electrode  31  is electrically connected to a common internal electrode (not shown) provided inside the piezoelectric vibrators  15 . 
     Further, the individual external electrodes  30  are electrically connected to individual terminals of the flexible board  29 , respectively, and the common external electrode  31  is electrically connected to a grounding terminal of the flexible board  29 . When driving signals sent from the flexible board  29  are supplied through the individual external electrodes  30  to the piezoelectric vibrators  15 , the piezoelectric materials are deformed in accordance with potential differences between the common external electrode  31  (common internal electrode) and the individual external electrodes  30  (individual internal electrodes). 
     The channel unit  17  includes a nozzle plate  33 , a channel-forming substrate  34 , and the sealing plate (vibrating plate)  35 . The nozzle plate  33 , the channel-forming substrate  34 , and the sealing plate  35  are provided as an integral body. In the channel unit  17 , the nozzle plate  33  is disposed on one surface of the channel-forming substrate  34 , and the sealing plate  35  is disposed on the other surface of the channel-forming substrate  34  across from the nozzle plate  33 . 
     The nozzle plate  33  is a stainless-steel thin plate member having a line of nozzle openings  37  bored therein. The channel-forming substrate  34  is a plate-like member obtained from a silicon wafer, for example, and has a base channel portion serving as a series of ink channels including a common ink chamber  38 , ink supply ports  39 , and pressure chambers  40 . The pressure chambers  40  are each provided longitudinally orthogonal to a direction in which the nozzle openings  37  are aligned (a nozzle-opening-line direction). The ink supply ports  39  each form an orifice, having a narrow channel width, that communicate the common ink chamber  38  and the corresponding pressure chamber  40 . The common ink chamber  38  temporarily stores ink introduced through the ink introduction needle  13  and supplied through the ink introduction channel  22  and a case channel  25 . The ink stored in the common ink chamber  38  is supplied through the ink supply ports  39  to the pressure chambers  40 . 
     The sealing plate  35  is a composite plate member constituted by two layers including a support substrate  45 , which is a conductive member composed of stainless steel or the like, and an elastic film  46 , which is an insulative flexible film composed of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or the like, laminated on the support substrate  45 . The sealing plate  35  is disposed such that one surface thereof having the elastic film  46  is bonded to the channel-forming substrate  34  and the other surface thereof having the support substrate  45  is bonded to the bottom of the head case  18 . A portion of the sealing plate  35  that seals spaces serving as the pressure chambers  40  from one side serves as a diaphragm portion  47 , with which the capacities of the pressure chambers  40  are changed. The diaphragm portion  47  has islands  49  provided in correspondence with the pressure chambers  40 . Tips  15   a  of the piezoelectric vibrators  15  are bonded to the islands  49 . The islands  49  each have a shape of a long, narrow block longitudinally orthogonal to the line of the nozzle openings  37 . 
     The head case  18  is a hollow block-like member composed of synthetic resin and is bonded to the channel unit  17 . The head case  18  has the housing chamber  53  in which the piezoelectric unit  16  is housed and the case channel  25  through which ink from the introduction needle unit  14  is supplied to the channel unit  17 . The housing chamber  53  extends through the head case  18  in a direction of the height thereof: from the bottom surface, to which the channel unit  17  is attached, to the top surface, to which the introduction needle unit  14  and the circuit board  28  are attached. The diaphragm portion  47  of the sealing plate  35  is positioned in the bottom opening of the housing chamber  53 . The case channel  25  communicates with the common ink chamber  38  through an ink introduction hole  50 . The bottom surface of the head case  18  is bonded to the one surface of the sealing plate  35  having the support substrate  45 . The sidewall  53   a  and another sidewall  53   b  of the housing chamber  53  each slope in an outward direction starting from a height halfway in the housing chamber  53  to the top opening of the housing chamber  53  such that the diameter of the opening of the housing chamber  53  in plan view increases with respect to the center of the opening. 
     The introduction needle unit  14  is attached to the head case  18  with a packing  24  interposed therebetween. The ink introduction channel  22  of the introduction needle unit  14  communicates with the case channel  25  of the head case  18  through the packing  24 . 
     The circuit board  28 , which is disposed on the top surface of the head case  18 , is bonded to the flexible board  29  at a bonding portion  70 . 
     Next, a process for manufacturing the head  2  will be described.  FIGS. 3 to 6  show steps through which the piezoelectric unit  16  is housed and secured in the housing chamber  53 . 
     First, the piezoelectric unit  16  is housed in the housing chamber  53  shown in  FIG. 3 . In this housing step, referring to  FIG. 4 , the piezoelectric unit  16  is inserted through the top opening of the housing chamber  53  in a direction along the sidewall  53   a  of the housing chamber  53  (a downward direction in  FIG. 4 : a housing direction) such that the tips  15   a  of the piezoelectric vibrators  15  are pressed against the islands  49  of the sealing plate  35 . Thus, the piezoelectric unit  16  is housed in the housing chamber  53 . 
     Then, the piezoelectric unit  16  is pushed in the housing direction, whereby a portion of the piezoelectric unit  16  is pressed against the sidewall  53   b  of the housing chamber  53  (a pushing step). In this step, referring to  FIG. 5 , a pushing member  60  is used to push the top end of the securing plate  27  included in the piezoelectric unit  16 . The tip of the pushing member  60  forms a sloping surface  60   a  angled at a first angle θ 1  with respect to a top end face  27   b  of the securing plate  27 . The securing plate  27  is pushed in the housing direction (a direction indicated by the black arrow in  FIG. 5 ), with the sloping surface  60   a  of the pushing member  60  being pressed against an edge (pushed portion)  27   c  at the top end of the securing plate  27  having a rectangular shape. More specifically, the sloping surface  60   a  is pressed against the edge  27   c , which is one of the edges at the top end of the securing plate  27  near to the nozzle openings  37 . When the securing plate  27  is pushed with the pushing member  60 , a force is applied to the edge  27   c  in a rightward direction (a direction indicated by the upper white arrow) in  FIG. 5  because of the sloping surface  60   a  of the pushing member  60 . With this force, the securing plate  27  is tilted in the rightward direction in  FIG. 5 , whereby the right side face of the securing plate  27  is pressed against the sidewall  53   a . When the securing plate  27  is further pushed with the pushing member  60 , the right side face of the securing plate  27  is further tilted, with a point on the sidewall  53   a  from which the sidewall  53   a  starts to slope acting as a fulcrum, whereby a turning force is applied to a bottom edge  27   a  of the securing plate  27  in a leftward direction (a direction indicated by the lower white arrow) in  FIG. 5 . 
     With this turning force, referring to  FIG. 6 , the bottom edge  27   a  of the securing plate  27  near to the sidewall  53   b  is pressed (at an angle) against the sidewall  53   b . The piezoelectric vibrators  15  are slid in a leftward direction in  FIG. 6  (a direction toward the nozzle openings  37 ) while the tips  15   a  thereof are being pressed against the islands  49 . Since the sidewall  53   a  slopes in an outward direction starting from a height halfway in the housing chamber  53  to the top opening of the housing chamber  53  as described above, the securing plate  27  can be inserted easily and a turning force can be produced easily, with the point from which the sidewall  53   a  starts to slope acting as a fulcrum. In this step, the bottom edge  27   a  of the securing plate  27  is pressed against the sidewall  53   b , a bottom edge  27   f  of the securing plate  27  is pressed against the securing-plate locker  61 , and a side face  27   g  of the securing plate  27  is pressed against a point halfway on the sidewall  53   a.    
     Next, while the bottom edge  27   a  of the securing plate  27  is being pressed against the sidewall  53   b , the piezoelectric vibrators  15  and the respective islands  49  are bonded and secured to each other and the securing plate  27  and the head case  18  are also bonded and secured to each other (a securing step). For example, a heat-curable adhesive is first applied to the tips  15   a  of the piezoelectric vibrators  15  (or the islands  49 ) and the bottom edge  27   a  of the securing plate  27  (or the sidewall  53   b ), and heat is applied to the adhesive while the bottom edge  27   a  of the securing plate  27  is being pressed against the sidewall  53   b . Thus, the adhesive is cured and the above components are bonded to each other. 
     Subsequently, other components such as the introduction needle unit  14 , the channel unit  17 , and the head case  18  are assembled together, whereby the head  2  is obtained. Further, the head  2  is assembled with other components such as the carriage  4 , the platen  5 , the carriage moving mechanism  7 , and the paper feeding mechanism  8 , whereby the printer  1  is obtained. 
       FIG. 7  is a graph showing relationships between the angle θ 1  of the sloping surface  60   a  of the pushing member  60  and lengths L (see  FIG. 6 ) from the nozzle openings  37  to the tips  15   a  of the piezoelectric vibrators  15  (hereinafter simply referred to as the “tips  15   a ”). In this graph, the horizontal axis indicates the angle θ 1 , and the vertical axis indicates the lengths (relative values) from the nozzle openings  37  to the tips  15   a . The line shown with circular dots indicates variations in the maximum value among the lengths from the nozzle openings  37  to the tips  15   a . The line shown with diamond-shaped dots indicates variations in the minimum value among the lengths from the nozzle openings  37  to the tips  15   a . The line shown with triangular dots indicates variations in the average value of the lengths from the nozzle openings  37  to the tips  15   a.    
     In  FIG. 7 , as the angle θ 1  increases from the case where the angle θ 1  is 0° (the case of a known configuration) the maximum and minimum values among the lengths from the nozzle openings  37  to the tips  15   a  come closer to the average value, whereby the difference therebetween becomes smaller. This means that the lengths from the nozzle openings  37  to the tips  15   a  become more uniform. In the range where the angle θ 1  is set to be 18° or larger, the lengths from the nozzle openings  37  to the tips  15   a  gradually become uniform. In particular, in the range where the angle θ 1  is set to be 30° or larger, the lengths from the nozzle openings  37  to the tips  15   a  are highly uniform.  FIG. 7  shows that it is preferable to set the angle θ 1  to be within the range from about 30° to 53°. 
     The first embodiment can be summarized as follows. The piezoelectric unit  16  is housed in the housing chamber  53  such that the piezoelectric vibrators  15  are pressed against the islands  49  of the sealing plate  35 . Then, the piezoelectric unit  16  is pushed in the housing direction such that the bottom edge  27   a  of the securing plate  27  is pressed (at an angle) against the sidewall  53   b  of the housing chamber  53 . Subsequently, while the piezoelectric unit  16  is pressed against the islands  49  and the sidewall  53   b , the piezoelectric vibrators  15  and the islands  49 , and the securing plate  27  and the sidewall  53   a  are respectively bonded and secured to each other. Therefore, positions of the securing plate  27  and the piezoelectric vibrators  15  in the housing chamber  53  are fixed. Accordingly, even if there are variations in dimensions of components constituting the head  2 , lengths from the piezoelectric vibrators  15  to the respective nozzle openings  37  can be made uniform. Consequently, the amounts of ink to be ejected from the individual nozzle openings  37  can be made uniform. 
     The technical scope of the invention is not limited to the first embodiment, and changes can be made to the first embodiment within the scope of the invention. 
     The first embodiment concerns a configuration in which the pushing member  60  has the sloping surface  60   a  with which the edge  27   c  at the top end of the securing plate  27  is pushed. Alternatively, another configuration may be employed. For example, referring to  FIG. 8 , the top end face  27   b  of the securing plate  27  may have a sloping surface  27   d . The sloping surface  27   d  is set to be angled at a second angle θ 2  with respect to a direction orthogonal to the pushing direction. The second angle θ 2  may be set to be within the same range as in the case of the first angle θ 1 . When the sloping surface (pushed portion)  27   d  is pushed with a pushing member  80 , a turning force is applied to the securing plate  27 . In this case, the pushing member  80  does not necessarily have a sloping surface. 
     The sloping surface  60   a  of the pushing member  60  in the first embodiment may be angled at the angle θ 1  in a direction opposite to the one shown in  FIG. 5  (a negative angle). By setting the sloping surface  60   a  to be angled in the opposite direction, a turning force in a direction opposite to the one shown in  FIG. 5  is produced. In this case, the bottom edge  27   f  of the securing plate  27  near to the sidewall  53   a  is pressed (at an angle) against the sidewall  53   a . Consequently, positions of the piezoelectric vibrators  15  are fixed in a state where the piezoelectric vibrators  15  are slid in a direction away from the nozzle openings  37 . 
     In the first embodiment, the piezoelectric vibrators  15  and the securing plate  27  are bonded together in a state where the securing plate  27  is being pressed against a sidewall by being pushed with the pushing member  60 . The invention is not limited to such a configuration. Needless to say, the piezoelectric vibrators  15  and the securing plate  27  may be bonded together in a state where the piezoelectric vibrators  15 , not the securing plate  27 , are being pressed against a sidewall, for example. 
     In the first embodiment, the sidewalls  53   a  and  53   b  of the housing chamber  53  each slope in an outward direction starting from a height halfway in the housing chamber  53  to the top opening of the housing chamber  53  with respect to the plan-view center of the housing chamber  53 . The invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the sidewalls  53   a  and  53   b  may each slope in an outward direction generally from the bottom to the top thereof with respect to the plan-view center of the housing chamber  53 . Also in such a configuration, the diameter of the housing chamber  53  increases toward the top thereof. Therefore, the piezoelectric unit  16  can be inserted easily. Moreover, a turning force can be easily applied to the piezoelectric unit  16  when the piezoelectric unit  16  is pushed with the pushing member  60 . As another alternative, a middle portion of each of the sidewalls  53   a  and  53   b  at a height halfway thereon may slope in an outward direction with respect to the plan-view center of the housing chamber  53 . 
     In any of the above-described embodiments, the fluid to be ejected from the fluid ejecting apparatus is not limited to ink, and fluid for any other specific use may be ejected. If a fluid ejecting apparatus is provided with an ejecting head capable of ejecting fluid suitable for a specific use and the fluid is ejected through the ejecting head so that the fluid adheres to a desired object, a desired device can be manufactured. For example, the fluid ejecting apparatus of the invention can be applied to a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid in which a material such as an electrode material or a colorant used for manufacturing liquid crystal displays, electroluminescence (EL) displays, and field emission displays (FEDs) is dispersed (dissolved) in a desired dispersion medium. 
     The fluid ejecting apparatus may be a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bioorganic material used for manufacturing biochips, or a fluid ejecting apparatus that is used as a precision pipette and ejects fluid serving as a specimen. 
     Further, the invention may be applied to any one of the following: a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects lubricant to a precision instrument, such as a clock or a camera, with pinpoint accuracy, a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects toward a substrate transparent resinous liquid, such as ultraviolet-curable resin, for forming a micro-hemispherical lens (an optical lens) used for optical communications devices and the like, a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects etching liquid composed of acid, alkali, or the like for etching a substrate or the like, a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a gel material, and a toner jet recording apparatus that ejects a solid material such as powder toner.