Patent Publication Number: US-11660868-B2

Title: Liquid jetting apparatus capable of jetting a plurality of kinds of liquid

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation application of application U.S. Ser. No. 17,022,268 filed on Sep. 16, 2020, which is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 16/411,440 filed on May 14, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,807,369 granted on Oct. 20, 2021, which is a continuation of application U.S. Ser. No. 16/008,463 filed on Jun. 14, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,336,075 granted on Jul. 2, 2019, which is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 15/465,711 filed on Mar. 22, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,022,967 granted on Jul. 17, 2018 and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-071147 filed on Mar. 31, 2016 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a liquid jetting apparatus. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there is known an ink-jet head of a line type, as a liquid jetting apparatus. This head is provided with a plurality of head units (ink-jet recording heads) arranged side by side in the width direction of a recording sheet which is orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the recording sheet. 
     Each of the head units (hereinafter referred to as “one head unit”, as appropriate) has a plurality of nozzle chips (head bodies) which are arranged side by side in the width direction of the recording sheet, and a holder configured to hold the plurality of nozzle chips. The respective nozzle chips extend in an oblique direction crossing (intersecting) both of the conveyance direction and the width direction of the recording sheet, and a plurality of nozzles of each of the nozzle chips are aligned in the oblique direction. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the ink-jet head having the above-described configuration, a portion or location between two adjacent nozzle chips, included in the plurality of nozzle chips, in which an end portion of one of the two adjacent nozzle chips and an end portion of the other of the two adjacent nozzle chips are adjacent in the width direction of the recording sheet, tends to have any deviation in the landing positions of liquid droplets jetted respectively from the two adjacent nozzle chips, and/or any unevenness in the concentration (density) due to any difference in the jetting characteristic between the two adjacent nozzle chips, which easily occur in the portion or location between the two adjacent nozzle chips. In order to make the unevenness in the density to be less conspicuous, it is preferred that the two nozzle chips are arranged such that nozzle arrangement areas, in each of which the plurality of nozzles are arranged, of the respective two chips are partially overlapped with each other. Further, as the width of overlapping in which the nozzle arrangement areas are allowed to overlap partially with each other is made to be greater, more effect can be achieved in suppressing the unevenness in the density. 
     However, in view of assembling the respective head units, it is not possible to arrange two adjacent head units side by side without any gap therebetween, and there is also a limit in decreasing the distance between two nozzle chips belonging to the two adjacent head units, respectively. Accordingly, it is difficult to make the width of overlapping in which the nozzle chips are allowed to overlap partially with each other to be great between the two adjacent head units. 
     The present teaching has been made in view of the above-described situation, and object of the present teaching is to make the overlapping amount of the nozzle arrangement areas to be great between two nozzle chips belonging to two adjacent head units, respectively. 
     According to a first aspect of the present teaching, there is provided a liquid jetting apparatus configured to jet liquid onto a recording medium conveyed in a first direction, the liquid jetting apparatus including head units arranged side by side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, 
     wherein each of the head units includes nozzle chips, 
     each of the nozzle chips has a nozzle arrangement area in which nozzles are aligned in a third direction crossing both of the first and second directions, 
     in each of the head units, each of the nozzle chips is arranged to be shifted relative to another nozzle chip included in the nozzle chips, in a direction which crosses both of the first and second directions and which is different from the third direction, 
     the nozzle chips included in each of the head units include a first nozzle chip and a second nozzle chip which are adjacent to each other in the second direction, and each of the head units has a first overlapping portion in which the nozzle arrangement area of the first nozzle chip and the nozzle arrangement area of the second nozzle chip partially overlap with each other in the first direction, and 
     the head units include a first head unit and a second head unit which are adjacent to each other in the second direction, and the liquid jetting apparatus has a second overlapping portion in which the nozzle arrangement area of a third nozzle chip and the nozzle arrangement area of a fourth nozzle chip partially overlap with each other in the first direction, the third nozzle chip being included in the nozzle chips of the first head unit and the fourth nozzle chip being included in the nozzle chips of the second head unit. 
     According to a second aspect of the present teaching, there is provided a liquid jetting apparatus configured to jet liquid onto a recording medium conveyed in a first direction, the liquid jetting apparatus including head units arranged side by side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, 
     wherein each of the head units includes nozzle chips, 
     each of the nozzle chips has a nozzle arrangement area in which nozzles are aligned in a third direction crossing both of the first and second directions, 
     the nozzle chips in each of the head units include outermost nozzle chips which are arranged respectively on outermost sides in the second direction to be shifted from each other in the first direction, 
     the nozzle chips included in each of the head units include a first nozzle chip and a second nozzle chip which are adjacent to each other in the second direction, and each of the head units has a first overlapping portion in which the nozzle arrangement area of the first nozzle chip and the nozzle arrangement area of the second nozzle chip partially overlap with each other in the first direction, and 
     the head units include a first head unit and a second head unit which are adjacent to each other in the second direction, and the liquid jetting apparatus has a second overlapping portion in which the nozzle arrangement area of a third nozzle chip and the nozzle arrangement area of a fourth nozzle chip partially overlap with each other in the first direction, the third nozzle chip being included in the nozzle chips of the first head unit and the fourth nozzle chip being included in the nozzle chips of the second head unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic plane view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present teaching. 
         FIG.  2    is a top view of an ink-jet head. 
         FIG.  3    is a top view of a head unit. 
         FIG.  4    is a view explaining jetting control in a first overlapping portion between two nozzle chips. 
         FIG.  5    is a graph indicating the relationship between density and liquid droplet amount regarding a non-overlapping portion, the first overlapping portion, and a second overlapping portion. 
         FIG.  6    is a top view of an ink-jet head of modification 2. 
         FIG.  7    is a top view of a head unit of  FIG.  6   . 
         FIG.  8    is a top view depicting modification of the head unit of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is a top view of a head unit of modification 3. 
         FIGS.  10 A to  10 C  are each a top view depicting modification of the head unit of  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  11    is a top view of a head unit of modification 4. 
         FIG.  12    is a top view depicting modification of the head unit of  FIG.  11   . 
         FIG.  13    is a top view depicting modification of the head unit of  FIG.  12   . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Next, an embodiment of the present teaching will be explained, with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Note that in the following explanation, a conveyance direction in which a recording sheet  100  is conveyed is defined as the front/rear direction of a printer  1 . Further, a width direction of the width of the recording sheet  100  (sheet-width direction), which is orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet  100 , is defined as the left/right direction of the printer  1 . Furthermore, a direction perpendicular to the sheet surface of  FIG.  1    and orthogonal to the front/rear direction and the left/right direction is defined as the up/down direction of the printer  1 . 
     &lt;Schematic Configuration of Printer&gt; 
     As depicted in  FIG.  1   , the printer  1  is provided with a casing  2 , a platen  3  accommodated in the inside of the casing  2 , four ink-jet head  4 , two conveyance rollers  5  and  6 , a controller  7 , etc. 
     The recording sheet  100  is place on the upper surface of the platen  3 . The four ink-jet heads  4  are arranged side by side in the conveyance direction at a location above the platen  3 . An ink is supplied from a non-illustrated ink tank to each of the ink-jet heads  4 . Note any one of four color inks (black, yellow, cyan and magenta inks) is supplied to each of the ink-jet heads  4 . Namely, the four ink-jet heads  4  are configured to jet the mutually different color inks, respectively. 
     As depicted in  FIG.  1   , the two conveyance rollers  5  and  6  are arranged respectively on the rear and front sides with respect to the platen  3 . The two conveyance rollers  5  and  6  are driven by non-illustrated conveyance motors, respectively, and convey the recording sheet  100  on the platen  3  in the front direction. 
     The controller  7  is provided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) and ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) including a various kinds of control circuits. Further, the controller  7  is connected data-communicatively to an external apparatus  9  such as a PC, and is configured to control various parts or elements of the printer  1 , such as the four ink-jet heads  4  and the conveyance motors (not depicted in the drawings), etc., based on a print data transmitted from the external apparatus  9 . 
     More specifically, the controller  7  controls the conveyance motors driving the two conveyance rollers  5  and  6  so as to allow the two conveyance rollers  5  and  6  to convey the recording sheet  100  in the conveyance direction. Further, while performing the conveyance of the recording sheet  100 , the controller  7  controls the four ink-jet heads  4  to cause the ink-jet heads  4  to jet the inks towards the recording sheet  100 . By doing so, an image, etc., is printed on the recording sheet  100 . 
     &lt;Detailed Configuration of Ink-Jet Head&gt; 
     Next, the ink-jet head  4  will be explained in detail. As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the ink-jet  4  is provided with four head units  11  which are attached to a unit holding plate  10  in a state that the four head units  11  are arranged side by side in the left/right direction. Each of the four head units  11  is connected to a common ink tank (not depicted in the drawings). 
     As depicted in  FIG.  3   , each of the head units  11  (hereinafter referred to as “one head unit  11 ”, as appropriate) is provided with four nozzle chips  12 , and a holder  13  configured to hold the four nozzle chips  12 . 
     Each of the nozzle chips  12  extends in an oblique direction (hereinafter referred to also as a chip longitudinal direction) crossing each of the front/rear direction and the left/right direction. Further, the lower surface (a surface on the far side of the sheet surface of  FIG.  3   ) of each of the nozzle chips  12  is formed with a plurality of nozzles  14  which are aligned in the chip longitudinal direction at a predetermined spacing distance P. The four nozzle chips  12  have a same length, and arrangement areas, of each of the four nozzle chips  4 , in each of which the nozzles  14  are arranged also have a same length among the four nozzle chips  12 . A same color ink is supplied from a common ink tank (not depicted in the drawings) to the four nozzle chips  12 , and further, the plurality of nozzles  14  in each of the nozzle chips  12  jet the same color ink. 
     Each of the nozzle chips  12  is arranged to be shifted relative to another nozzle chip  12  different therefrom and included in the four nozzle chips  12 , in a direction (hereinafter referred to as a “chip shifting direction”) which crosses both of the front/rear direction and the left/right direction and which is different from the chip longitudinal direction. More specifically, the respective four nozzle chips  12  are arranged along the chip shifting direction, and a spacing distance, between each nozzle chip  12  relative to another adjacent nozzle chip  12  included in the four nozzle chips  12  and adjacent thereto, is all same among the four nozzle chips  12 . Note that the phrase the “spacing distance . . . is all same among the four nozzle chips  12 ” is assumed to encompass also such a case that any slight shifting is present due to any manufacturing error and/or any assembling error. Further, the description such as “coincident” or “same, equal”, etc. regarding the layout of the nozzle chips  12  and/or the positional relationship among the nozzles  14 , etc., to be described in the following are similarly assumed to encompass also such a case that any slight shifting is present due to any manufacturing error and/or any assembling error. Namely, the four nozzle chips  12  are arranged on a straight line X extending in the chip shifting direction, with equal spacing distances therebetween. 
     The holder  13  is configured to hold the four nozzle chips  12  which are arranged at the oblique posture, as described above, and has a planar shape which is substantially parallelogrammatic. Further, in accordance with the arrangement wherein the four nozzle chips  12  are shifted in the chip shifting direction, the holder  13  having the parallelogrammatic shape is also arranged at a posture such that the long sides thereof are along the chip shifting direction. Note that if two corner portions  13   a  in a direction of the long diagonal line of the holder  13  were each allowed to extend to be long, the sizes in the front/rear direction and the left/right direction of the head unit  11 , and consequently the size of the ink-jet head  4 , would become great. In view of this, the holder  13  has such a shape that tip ends of the corner portions  13   a  are cut off (chamfered). 
     As depicted in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , in one head unit  11 , end portions of two adjacent nozzle chips  12 , among the four nozzle chips  12 , overlap with each other in the front/rear direction. Namely, the two adjacent nozzle chips  12  are arranged such that the respective arrangement areas of the nozzles  14  partially overlap with each other. In the following, a portion which is located between two adjacent nozzle chips  12  in one head unit  11  and in which the arrangement areas of the nozzles  14  of the two adjacent nozzle chips  12  overlap with each other is referred to as a first overlapping portion  21 ; and the length in the left/right direction of the first overlapping portion  21  is referred to as an overlapping width W 1 . In this first overlapping area  21 , the positions in the left/right direction of the nozzles  14  of the two nozzle chips  12  are coincident. Further, with respect to the four nozzle chips  12 , all the overlapping widths W 1  of three first overlapping portions  21  existing among the four nozzle chips  12  are same with one another. 
     Note that as depicted in  FIG.  2   , the four head units  11  all have a same structure (configuration), and the shape, size, layout, etc. of the nozzle chips  12  are all same among the four head units  11 . For example, the respective positions in the conveyance direction of the four nozzle chips  12  are coincident among the four head units  11 . Further, the length of the nozzle chips  12  is same among the four head units  11 , and the length of the arrangement area of the nozzles  14  is also same among the four head units  11 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  2   , end portions of two nozzle chips  12  partially overlap with each other also between two head units  11  which are adjacent in the left/right direction. Namely, a nozzle chip  12  located on the right end of a left head unit  11  and a nozzle chip  12  located on the left end of a right head unit  11  are arranged such that the respective arrangement areas of the nozzles  14  partially overlap with each other in the front/rear direction. In the following, a portion which is located between two nozzle chips  12  belonging respectively to two adjacent head units  11  and in which arrangement areas of the nozzles  14  overlap with each other is referred to as a second overlapping portion  22 ; and the length in the left/right direction of the second overlapping portion  22  is referred to as an overlapping width W 2 . Also in this second overlapping area  22 , the positions in the left/right direction of the nozzles  14  of the two nozzle chips  12  are coincident. Further, with respect to the four head units  11 , the overlapping width W 2  is same in all three second overlapping portions  22  existing among the four head units  11 . 
     Note that in the present embodiment, the overlapping width W 1  of the first overlapping portion  21  and the overlapping width W 2  of the second overlapping portion  22  are same. Namely, the number of the nozzles  14  overlapping in the first overlapping portion  21  and the number of the nozzles  14  overlapping in the second overlapping portion  22  are same. In a case that the overlapping widths W 1  and W 2  are same, there is no need to perform different controls respectively for the jetting control in the first overlapping portion  21  within one head unit  11  and the jetting control in the second overlapping portion  22  between two head units  22 , thereby making it possible to easily perform the processing for the jetting control. 
     Note that, as will be explained later on, in the overlapping portions  21  and  22 , the ink is jetted from each of the two head units  11  so as to make any unevenness in the density to be less conspicuous. In this situation, if the overlapping widths W 1  and W 2  of the overlapping portions  21  and  22  are too small, the gradient of the usage ratio (see  FIG.  4   ) becomes so steep that the unevenness in the density becomes conspicuous. On the other hand, if the overlapping widths W 1  and W 2  are too large, the number of the nozzles  14  required for performing printing on a region of a predetermined width becomes too many. Further, since each of the nozzle chips  12  has a width to certain extent in the short direction thereof (hereinafter referred to also as a chip short direction) and the nozzles  14  are apart between the two nozzle chips  12  by a distance at least corresponding to the width in the chip short direction of each of the nozzle chips  12 , there is a limit in increasing the overlapping widths W 1  and W 2 . From the above-described viewpoints, the first overlapping width W 1  of the first overlapping portion  21  and the second overlapping width W 2  of the second overlapping portion  22  are each preferably not less than 10% of the length in the left/right direction of the arrangement area of the nozzles  14  of each of the nozzle chips  12  (hereinafter referred also to as “one nozzle chip  12 ”, as appropriate). In a case that the number of nozzles  14  aligned in one nozzle chip  12  is 400 pieces, the number of the nozzles  14  in each of the overlapping widths W 1  and W 2  is preferably not less than 40 pieces. 
     &lt;Jetting Control in Overlapping Portion&gt; 
     By the way, due to any deviation in the positions of the nozzle chips  12  caused by any assembling error, and/or due to any difference in the jetting characteristic of the nozzles  14  between the two adjacent nozzle chips  12 , the landing positions of ink (droplets of the ink) jetted respectively from the nozzles  14  of two adjacent head units  11  are deviated between the two adjacent head units  11 , in some cases. Due to such a deviation in the landing positions, any unevenness in the density easily occurs at a portion of an image formed by the joint or knot between the two nozzle chips  12 . In view of such a situation, in the present embodiment, the controller  7  performs such a control so as to cause the ink to be jetted from both of the two nozzle chips  12  in each of the overlapping portions  21  and  22  in which the arrangement areas of the nozzles  14  overlap with each other between the two nozzle chips  12 . 
     An explanation will be given about the jetting control in the overlapping portions  21  and  22 , with reference to  FIG.  4   . Note that since there is no substantial difference in the content of the jetting control between the first overlapping portion  21  within one head unit  11  and the second overlapping portion  22  between two head units  11 ,  FIG.  4    depicts the control in the first overlapping portion  21 , by way of example. 
     In the overlapping portion  21  ( 22 ), the controller  7  causes the ink to be jetted from both of the nozzles  14  of a nozzle chip  12  on the left side and the nozzles  14  of another nozzle chip  12  on the right side, at a predetermined nozzle usage ratio. A lower portion of the drawing of  FIG.  4    indicates the change in the usage ratio of the nozzles  14  between the left-side nozzle chip  12  and the right-side nozzle chip  12 . In a non-overlapping portion  20 , of each of the left-side nozzle chip  12  and the right-side nozzle chip  12 , in which the nozzles  14  are not overlapped between the left-side nozzle chip  12  and the right-side nozzle chip  12 , only the nozzles  14  in the non-overlapping portion  20  are used; thus, the nozzle usage ratio is 100%. In the overlapping portion  21  ( 22 ), the nozzle usage ratio is linearly changed. Namely, the nozzle usage ratio of the left-side nozzle chip  12  is continuously decreased from the left side to the right side of the drawing. 
     The term “nozzle usage ratio” is a ratio of dots, to be formed in a predetermined region of the recording sheet  100 , by using the nozzles  14  belonging to one of the two nozzle chips  12  in which proportion. For example, in a case that ten (10) dots are needed to be formed in one region based on a density data of each of the respective inks obtained by subjecting an RGB image data to an image processing, provided that the nozzle usage ratio of the left-side nozzle chip  12  in this region is 70%. In such a case, consequently, 7 dots among the 10 dots within the region are formed by using the nozzles  14  of the left-side nozzle chip  12 , and remaining 3 dots among the 10 dots are formed by using the nozzles  14  of the right-side nozzle chip  12 . 
     In the first and second overlapping portions  21  and  22 , by jetting the ink from each of the two nozzle chips  12  in such a manner, it is possible make any unevenness in the density, which is caused due to the deviation in the landing positions of the ink between two nozzle chips  12 , to be less conspicuous. 
     Note that in the overlapping portion  21  ( 22 ), the nozzles  14  of the two nozzle chips  12  are apart in the front/rear direction, and thus the inks jetted from the two nozzle chips  12  respectively land on the predetermined region at a time interval. Here, it is generally known that, as the time interval between the landing timings of the inks jetted respectively from two nozzles  14  is greater, the density of the image becomes higher. Accordingly, a portion of the image formed by using the nozzles  14  of the overlapping portion  21  ( 22 ) tends to have a higher density as compared with another portion of the image formed by using only the nozzles  14  of a single nozzle chip  12  (by using only the nozzles of the non-overlapping portion  20 ). In view of this, the controller  7  makes the amount of the ink, which is to be jetted per unit area of the recording sheet  100 , to be smaller in each of the first and second overlapping portions  21  and  22 , than that in the non-overlapping portion  20 . 
     Further, as depicted in  FIG.  2   , a spacing distance L 2  in the front/rear direction between the two nozzle chips  12  in the second overlapping portion  22  is greater than a spacing distance L 1  in the front/rear direction between the two nozzle chips  12  in the first overlapping portion  21 . Namely, in the second overlapping portion  22 , the time interval between the landing timings of inks jetted respectively from the nozzles  14  of two nozzle chips  12  is great. Accordingly, a portion of the image formed by the second overlapping portion  22  tends to be denser than another portion of the image formed by the first overlapping portion  21 . In view of this, the controller  7  further makes the amount of the ink to be jetted per unit area of the recording sheet  100  in the second overlapping portion  22  to be smaller than that in the first overlapping area  21 . 
     In the foregoing explanation, the phrase “makes (making) the amount of the ink, which is to be jetted . . . , to be small in the overlapping portion  21  ( 22 )” means increasing the extent to which the jet amount of the ink is decreased with respect to a reference jet amount of the ink which is determined by an image data. In other words, provided that the reference jet amount of the ink, which is determined by the image data, is same in two image forming regions as the targets for comparison, the jet amount to one of the regions is made to be smaller than that to the other one of the regions. 
     The above-described content of the jetting control will be specifically explained with reference to  FIG.  5   . Provided that an image of a predetermined density CO is to be formed on the recording sheet  100  by each of the non-overlapping portion  20 , the first overlapping portion  21  and the second overlapping portion  22 . In this case, provided that a liquid droplet amount from each of the nozzles  14  in the non-overlapping portion  20  is “V 0 ”, a liquid droplet amount from each of the nozzles  14  in the first overlapping portion  21  is “V 1 ”, and a liquid droplet amount from each of the nozzles  14  in the non-overlapping portion  20  is “V 2 ”, then V 0 &gt;V 1 &gt;V 2  holds, as depicted in  FIG.  5   . For example, there is assumed such a case that the liquid droplet amount V 0  in the non-overlapping portion  20 =15 pl, the liquid droplet amount V 1  in the first overlapping portion  21 =12 pl, and the liquid droplet amount V 2  in the second overlapping portion  22 =10 pl. 
     Note that in performing the above-described jetting control in the overlapping portion  21  ( 22 ), as the overlapping width W 1  (W 2 ) is greater, the ink can be landed in a dispersed manner in a wider region. Accordingly, any unevenness in density of an image formed by the overlapping portion  21  ( 22 ) can be made to be less conspicuous. Note that even in a case that the unevenness in density is present in an image formed by each of the nozzle chips  12 , the unevenness in density can be made to be less conspicuous by making the overlapping width W 1  of the overlapping portion  21  to be greater. 
     Firstly, the overlapping width W 1  in the first overlapping portion  21  within one head unit  11  is greatly influenced by the posture of the nozzle chips  12 . Namely, as depicted in  FIG.  3   , provided that the inclination angle in the chip longitudinal direction of the nozzle chip  12  with respect to the left/right direction is θ 1 , as the inclination angle θ 1  is smaller, namely as the nozzle chip  12  assumes a more laterally oriented posture, the overlapping width W 1  of the first overlapping portion  21  between two adjacent nozzle chips  12  becomes greater. Namely, in order to increase the overlapping width W 1  of the first overlapping portion  21 , the inclination angle θ 1  is preferably made to be small, specifically, preferably made to be an angle within a range of 0 degrees&lt;θ 1 &lt;45 degrees. For example, in the present embodiment, θ1=30 degrees. 
     On the other hand 1 , in order to increase the overlapping width W 2  of the second overlapping portion  22 , it is effective to decrease the distance between two adjacent head units  11  as small as possible, as understood from  FIG.  2   . Note that, however, in view of assembling the respective head units  11  into the holding plate  10 , there is a limit in decreasing the distance between the adjacent head units  11  to be small. Further, in a case that edge portions  13   b  of the holder  13  are present respectively on the left and right sides, at a location on the outside of the four nozzle chips  12  as depicted in  FIG.  3   , the distance between the nozzle chips  12  between the two head units  11  becomes great by an extent corresponding to the edge portions  13   b.    
     In view of this, in the present embodiment, each of the nozzle chips  12 , of each of the head units  11 , is arranged to be shifted with respect to another nozzle chip  12  different therefrom in a chip shifting direction which crosses both of the front/rear direction and the left/right direction and which is different from the chip longitudinal direction. With this, within one head unit  11 , a right-end nozzle chip  12  and a left-end nozzle chip  12  are shifted from each other in the front/rear direction. With this, it is possible to arrange, between two head units  11  which are adjacent in the left/right direction, a nozzle chip  12  located on the right end in the left head unit  11  and a nozzle chip  12  located on the left end in the right head unit  11  closely to each other in the left/right direction, as depicted in  FIG.  2   . Accordingly, it is possible to make the overlapping width W 2  of the second overlapping portion  22  between the two head units  11  to be greater. For example, it is possible to make the overlapping width W 2  to be not less than 10% of a length L (see  FIG.  3   ) in the left/right direction of the arrangement area of the nozzles  14 . 
     Note that in  FIG.  3   , provided that an inclination angle, of the chip shifting direction of the nozzle chip  12 , relative to the left/right direction is an angle θ 2 , the shifting amount between the adjacent nozzle chips  12  becomes greater as the angle θ 2  is greater. With this, it is possible to arrange the two nozzle chips  12  further closely to each other, between the adjacent two head units  11 , thereby making it possible to increase the overlapping width W 2  of the second overlapping portion  22 . Note that if the angle θ 2  becomes greater than the angle θ 1 , of the chip longitudinal direction, relative to the left/right direction, the adjacent nozzle chips  12  interfere with each other. Accordingly, the angle θ 2  should be always smaller than the angle θ 1 . Namely, in view of increasing the overlapping width W 2  of the second overlapping portion  22 , the angle θ 2  is preferably to be great as much as possible within a range of angle that is smaller than the angle θ 1 . 
     By the above-described configuration, the present embodiment is capable of realizing a configuration wherein the overlapping width W 1  of the first overlapping portion  21  is same as the overlapping width W 2  of the second overlapping portion  22 . In this configuration, it is possible to suppress any unevenness in the density occurring at the joint between the two adjacent head units  11 , to an extent same as the suppression of the unevenness in the density occurring at the joint between the two nozzle chips  12  within one head unit  11 . 
     In one head unit  11 , the four nozzle chips  12  are arranged side by side in the predetermined chip shifting direction; and the spacing distance in the chip shifting direction, between each of the four nozzle chips  12  relative to another adjacent nozzle chip  12  included in the four nozzle chips  12  and different therefrom and adjacent thereto, is all same among the four nozzle chips  12 . With this, each of the shift direction and the shift amount between the nozzle chips  12  is same regarding the four nozzle chips  12  within one head unit  11 , which in turn makes the overlapping widths W 1  in the three locations within one head unit  11  to be same. In this configuration, it is possible to suppress any unevenness in the density in a part of the first overlapping portions  21  from becoming locally conspicuous. 
     The positons in the conveyance direction of the respective four nozzle chips  12  are coincident among the four head units  11 . In this configuration, it is possible to suppress the size in the conveyance direction of the ink-jet head  4  to be small. Further, the lengths of the arrangement areas of the nozzles  14  of the four nozzle chips  12  are same among all of the four head units  11 , as well. With this, the overlapping width W 1  of the first overlapping portion  21  can be easily made same regarding the four nozzle chips  12  within one head unit  11 . Further, by allowing all of the head units  11  to have the same configuration, the head unit  11  can be usable for another ink-jet head of which number of the head unit  11  is different from that of the ink-jet head  4 , which in turn increases the versatility of the head unit  11 . 
     The overlapping widths W 2  of the three second overlapping portions  22  are made to be same regarding all the four head units  11 . In this configuration, it is possible to suppress any unevenness in the density in a part of the second overlapping portions  22  from becoming locally conspicuous. 
     In the embodiment as described above, the ink-jet head  4  corresponds to the “liquid jetting apparatus” of the present teaching. The conveyance direction corresponds to the “first direction” of the present teaching, and the sheet-width direction corresponds to the “second direction” of the present teaching. The chip longitudinal direction corresponds to the “third direction” of the present teaching, and the chip shifting direction corresponds to the “fourth direction” of the present teaching. 
     Next, an explanation will be given about modifications in which various changes are made to the above-described embodiment. Note that, however, any parts or components constructed in the similar manner to those in the above-described embodiment are designated with same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate. 
     [Modification 1] 
     In the above-described embodiment, the overlapping width W 2  of the second overlapping portion  22  is made to be same as the overlapping width W 1  of the first overlapping portion  21 . It is allowable, however, that the overlapping width W 2  may be greater or smaller than the overlapping width W 1 . Further, in the above-described embodiment, although the overlapping widths W 2  are same in all the three second overlapping portions  11  regarding the four head units  4 , it is allowable that the overlapping width W 2  of the three overlapping portions  22  may be different from one another regarding the four head units  4 . In such a case, in two head units  11  which are adjacent in the left/right direction, the overlapping widths W 2  of the second overlapping portions  22  may be determined, respectively, depending on the jetting characteristic of a rightmost nozzle chip  12  included in a left-side head unit  11  among the two adjacent head units  11  and the jetting characteristic of a leftmost nozzle chip  12  included in a right-side head unit  11  among the two adjacent head units  11 . Note that, however, in view of suppressing any unevenness in the density in an entire image which is formed on the recording sheet  100 , it is most preferred that the overlapping width W 2  is same as the overlapping width W 1 , as in the above-described embodiment. 
     [Modification 2] 
     In the above-described embodiment, there is provided such an aspect that the inclination (angle θ 1 ) of the nozzle chip  12  relative to the left/right direction is made to be relatively small, in view of increasing the overlapping width W 1  of the first overlapping portion  21  between the two nozzle chips  12 . With respect to this configuration, it is also possible to increase the inclination of the nozzle chip  12  so as to decrease the arrangement interval (spacing distance) between the nozzles  14  in the left/right direction, for the purpose of realizing an ink-jet head capable of performing high-resolution printing. 
     From the foregoing viewpoint, as in an ink-jet head  4 A of  FIG.  6    and a head unit  11 A of  FIG.  7   , the inclination angle θ 1  of each of the nozzle chips  12  may be made great. Specifically, the inclination angle θ 1  may be in a range of 45 degrees≤θ 1 &lt;90 degrees. As depicted in  FIG.  7   , in a case that the arrangement interval between the nozzles  14  in the chip longitudinal direction is “P”, then the arrangement interval between the nozzles  14  in the left/right direction is P′=P cos θ 1 . As the angle θ 1  is greater, the arrangement interval P′ becomes smaller; for example, in a case that θ1=60 degrees, then P′=P/2 holds. In  FIG.  6   , the arrangement interval P′ between the nozzles  14  in the left/right direction can be made small as compared with the configuration of the embodiment as depicted in  FIG.  2   , it is possible to arrange 6 pieces of the head unit  11 A side by side in the left/right direction with respect to the width, of the recording sheet  100 , that is same as that in the embodiment. 
     Note that in order to increase the overlapping width W 1  of the first overlapping portion  21  within one head unit  11 A in a case that the angle θ 1  is made to be great as in  FIG.  7   , it is preferred that the angle θ 2  is small, namely that the shifting between the nozzle chips  12  is small. From this viewpoint, it is preferred that the inclination angle θ 2  is in a range of 0 degrees&lt;θ 2 ≤45 degrees. 
     On the other hand, it is allowable that the inclination angle θ 2  is in a range of 45 degrees&lt;θ 2 &lt;90 degrees. By increasing the angle θ 2  as in a head unit  11 B of  FIG.  8   , a right-end nozzle chip  12  and a left-end nozzle chip  12  are shifted from each other greatly in the front/rear direction. With this, the overlapping width between the nozzle chips  12  belonging to the two head units  11 B, respectively, can be made great. 
     [Modification 3] 
     The arrangement of the plurality of nozzle chips  12  within one head unit is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment. In order to increase the overlapping width of the nozzle chips  12  between the two head units, it is sufficient that at least the right-end nozzle chip  12  and the left-end nozzle chip  12  are arranged such that the positions in the chip shifting direction thereof are shifted from each other, and that the remaining configuration other than this can be appropriately changed. 
     For example, as in a head unit  11 C of  FIG.  9   , it is allowable that the shifting direction is changed halfway among the four nozzle chips  12 , rather than shifting all of the four nozzle chips  12  in order (one by one) in a predetermined one direction. Alternatively, as in a head unit  11 D of  FIG.  10 A , is it allowable to provide such a configuration wherein central two nozzle chips  12  which are located at a central portion among the four nozzle chips  12  are arranged such that the positions thereof are shifted from each other only in the left/right direction, but not in the front/rear direction. Alternatively, as depicted in  FIG.  10 B , in a case that six nozzle chips  12  are included in each of head units  11 D (one head unit  11 D), it is allowable to provide such a configuration that first, third and fifth nozzle chips  12  from the left are shifted from one another only in the left/right direction; that second, fourth and sixth nozzle chips  12  from the left are also shifted from one another only in the left/right direction; and that the first, third and fifth nozzle chips  12  from the left are shifted from the second, fourth and sixth nozzle chips  12  from the left in the front/rear direction. Still alternatively, as depicted in  FIG.  10 C , it is allowable to provide such a configuration that first and fourth nozzle chips  12  from the left are shifted from each other only in the left/right direction; second and fifth nozzle chips  12  from the left are also shifted from each other only in the left/right direction; third and sixth nozzle chips  12  from the left are also shifted from each other only in the left/right direction; and that the first and fourth nozzle chips  12  from the left, the second and fifth nozzle chips  12  from the left and the third and sixth nozzle chips  12  from the left are shifted from one another in the front/rear direction. 
     [Modification 4] 
     The above-described embodiment has the configuration wherein one nozzle chip  12  jets a same color ink from the plurality of nozzles  14 . It is allowable, however, to provide such a configuration wherein one nozzle chip  12  jets two or more colors inks. For example, a head unit  11 E of  FIG.  11    is configured such that nozzles  14   a , which are included in a plurality of nozzles  14  constructing each of nozzle chips  12 E and which are located on the front side, are nozzles  14  configured to jet a black ink (K), and nozzles  14   b  located on the rear side are nozzles  14  configured to jet a yellow ink (Y). In this case, the length of a nozzle row jetting a same (one) color ink is half that of the above-described embodiment, and thus unless the distance between two pieces of the nozzle chip  12 E is considerably short, it is not possible, in two pieces of the nozzle chip  12 E, to overlap the nozzles  14  jetting the same color ink. In other words, particularly in a case of using the nozzle chips  12 E each of which is configured to jet two or more color inks as depicted in  FIG.  11   , the present teaching is suitably applicable for the purpose of increasing the overlapping width of the nozzle chips  12 E between two adjacent head units  11 E. 
     Further, as a modification of the configuration of  FIG.  11   , it is allowable that, as in a head unit  11 F of  FIG.  12   , one nozzle chip  12 F is configured to have two nozzle rows. The configuration of  FIG.  12    is similar to that in  FIG.  11    in that the kinds of the ink jetted are different on one side and the other side in the chip longitudinal direction of two nozzle rows. Note that, however, in the configuration of  FIG.  12   , two nozzle chips  12 Fa configured to jet black and yellow inks and two nozzle chips  12 Fb configured to jet cyan and magenta inks are arranged alternately in the sheet-width direction. Namely, between the two nozzle chips  12 Fa, one of another nozzle chips  12 Fb jetting the inks different from those jetted from the two nozzle chips  12 Fa is arranged. In this configuration, since four color inks can be jetted from one head unit  11 F, it is possible to construct a four color-printing while making the length in the conveyance direction to be small as compared with the configuration wherein four color ink jet heads are arranged side by side in the conveyance direction. Furthermore, as a modification of  FIG.  12   , it is allowable that the colors of the inks jetted from two nozzle rows included in one nozzle chip  12 G, for example as in a head unit  11 G depicted in  FIG.  13   , may be different from each other on one side and the other side in the chip longitudinal direction of two nozzle rows and on one side and the other side in the short direction of the two nozzle rows. Specifically, in a left-side nozzle row included in one nozzle chip  12 G, nozzles  14 F arranged on the front side jet the cyan ink, and nozzle  14 F arranged on the rear side jet the magenta ink. On the other hand, in a right-side nozzle row included in one nozzle chip  12 G, nozzles  14 F arranged on the front side jet the black ink, and nozzle  14 F arranged on the rear side jet the yellow ink. Namely, it is allowable that four color inks are jetted from one nozzle chip  12 G. Moreover, as a modification of  FIG.  13   , it is allowable that two nozzle rows included in one nozzle chip  12 G are divided into three or more nozzle groups, and different color inks are jetted from the three or more nozzle groups, respectively. Namely, it is allowable that six or more color inks are jetted from one nozzle chip  12 G.