Patent Publication Number: US-11040544-B2

Title: Liquid discharge head, head module, head unit, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-052218, filed on Mar. 20, 2019, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a liquid discharge head, a head module, a head unit, a liquid discharge device, and a liquid discharge apparatus. 
     Related Art 
     In a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid, in order to prevent a nozzle from being clogged with foreign substances, a filter that removes the foreign substances is disposed in a common channel. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid discharge head that includes a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of individual supply channels, a plurality of common supply channel branches, a common supply channel mainstream, a plurality of individual collection channels, a plurality of common collection channel branches, a common collection channel mainstream, a supply-side filter, and a bypass channel. The plurality of pressure chambers is communicated with a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge liquid, respectively. The plurality of individual supply channels is communicated with the plurality of pressure chambers, respectively. Each of the plurality of common supply channel branches is communicated with two or more individual supply channels of the plurality of individual supply channels. The common supply channel mainstream is communicated with the plurality of common supply channel branches. The plurality of individual collection channels is communicated with the plurality of pressure chambers, respectively. Each of the plurality of common collection channel branches is communicated with two or more individual collection channels of the plurality of individual collection channels. The common collection channel mainstream is communicated with the plurality of common collection channel branches. The supply-side filter is in the common supply channel mainstream. The bypass channel bypasses the supply-side filter and communicates the common supply channel mainstream with the common collection channel mainstream. The bypass channel is connected to the common supply channel mainstream at a downstream of the supply-side filter in a direction of flow of the liquid along a longitudinal direction of the common supply channel mainstream. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid discharge head that includes a plurality of pressure chambers, a common supply channel, a common collection channel, a supply-side filter, and a bypass channel. The plurality of pressure chambers is communicated with a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge liquid, respectively. The common supply channel is communicated with the plurality of pressure chambers. The common collection channel is communicated with the plurality of pressure chambers. The supply-side filter is in the common supply channel. The bypass channel bypasses the supply-side filter and communicates the common supply channel with the common collection channel. The bypass channel is connected to the common supply channel at a downstream of the supply-side filter in a direction of flow of the liquid along a longitudinal direction of the common supply channel. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a head module that includes an array of a plurality of liquid discharge heads, including the liquid discharge head. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a head unit that includes a plurality of head modules, including the head module, arranged side by side. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid discharge device that includes the liquid discharge head. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid discharge apparatus that includes one of the liquid discharge device, the head unit, the head module, and the liquid discharge head. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The aforementioned and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure would be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional illustrative view taken along line C-C in  FIG. 3  of a liquid discharge head according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional illustrative view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan illustrative view taken along line B-B in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective illustrative view thereof without a frame member; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional perspective illustrative view of a channel thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional illustrative view similar to  FIG. 2  of a liquid discharge head according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional illustrative view similar to  FIG. 2  of a liquid discharge head according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan illustrative view similar to  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan illustrative view of a liquid discharge head according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective illustrative view of an example of a head module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective illustrative view as seen from a nozzle surface side of the head module; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic illustrative diagram of an example of a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  is a plan illustrative view of an example of a head unit of the apparatus; 
         FIG. 14  is a block illustrative diagram of an example of a liquid circulation device; 
         FIG. 15  is a plan illustrative view of a substantial part of another example of a printing apparatus as a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 16  is a side illustrative view of a substantial part of the apparatus; 
         FIG. 17  is a plan illustrative view of a substantial part of another example of a liquid discharge device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 18  is a front illustrative view of still another example of the liquid discharge device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner and achieve similar results. 
     Although the embodiments are described with technical limitations with reference to the attached drawings, such description is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and all of the components or elements described in the embodiments of this disclosure are not necessarily indispensable. 
     Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. In the drawings for explaining the following embodiments, the same reference codes are allocated to elements (members or components) having the same function or shape and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted below. 
     A first embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 .  FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional illustrative view in a lateral direction of a common channel corresponding to line C-C in  FIG. 3  of a liquid discharge head according to this embodiment,  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional illustrative view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a plan illustrative view taken along line B-B in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective illustrative view illustrating an example of a specific configuration of a channel portion, and  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional perspective illustrative view of the channel portion. 
     A liquid discharge head  1  includes a nozzle plate  10 , a channel plate (individual channel member)  20 , a diaphragm member  30 , a common channel member  50 , a damper member  60 , a frame member  80  and the like. 
     The nozzle plate  10  includes a plurality of nozzles  11  for discharging liquid. The plurality of nozzles  11  is arrayed in a two-dimensional matrix. 
     The individual channel member  20  forms a plurality of pressure chambers (individual liquid chambers)  21  communicating with the plurality of nozzles  11 , respectively, a plurality of individual supply channels  22  communicating with the plurality of pressure chambers  21 , respectively, and a plurality of individual collection channels  23  communicating with the plurality of pressure chambers  21 , respectively. 
     The diaphragm member  30  forms a vibration region (diaphragm)  31  that is a deformable wall surface of the pressure chamber  21 , and a piezoelectric element  40  is integrally provided in the vibration region  31 . A supply-side opening  32  communicating with the individual supply channel  22  and a collection-side opening  33  communicating with the individual collection channel  23  are formed on the diaphragm member  30 . The piezoelectric element  40  is a pressure generator that deforms the vibration region  31  to pressurize liquid in the pressure chamber  21 . 
     The common channel member  50  forms a plurality of common supply channel branches  52  communicating with two or more individual supply channels  22  and a plurality of common collection channel branches  53  communicating with two or more individual collection channels  23 . 
     In the common channel member  50 , a through hole serving as a supply port  54  through which the supply-side opening  32  of the individual supply channel  22  and the common supply channel branch  52  communicate with each other, and a through hole serving as a collection port  55  through which a collection-side opening  33  of the individual collection channel  23  and the common collection channel branch  53  communicate with each other are formed. 
     The common channel member  50  forms a part of one or a plurality of common supply channel mainstreams  56  communicating with the plurality of common supply channel branches  52  and a part of one or a plurality of common collection channel mainstreams  57  communicating with the plurality of common collection channel branches  53 . A remaining part of the common supply channel mainstream  56  and a remaining part of the common collection channel mainstream  57  are formed of the frame member  80 . 
     A damper member  60  includes a supply-side damper  62  that faces (opposes to) the supply port  54  of the common supply channel branch  52 , and a collection-side damper  63  that faces (opposes to) the collection port  55  of the common collection channel branch  53 . The supply-side damper  62  forms a displaceable wall surface on a part of a wall surface of the common supply channel branch  52 . The collection-side damper  63  forms a displaceable wall surface on a part of a wall surface of the common collection channel branch  53 . 
     Here, the common supply channel branch  52  and the common collection channel branch  53  are formed by sealing grooves alternately arranged on the common channel member  50  being the same member by the supply-side damper  62  or the collection-side damper  63  of the damper member  60 . As a damper material of the damper member  60 , a metal thin film or an inorganic thin film resistant to an organic solvent is preferably used. A thickness of a portion of the supply-side damper  62  and the collection-side damper  63  of the damper member  60  is preferably 10 μm or less. 
     The damper member  60  forms a supply-side filter  91  disposed in the common supply channel mainstream  56  and a collection-side filter  92  disposed in the common collection channel mainstream  57 . In order to prevent foreign substances from entering the nozzle, the supply-side filter  91  and the collection-side filter  92  have an opening diameter of a filter hole smaller than an opening diameter of the nozzle, for example. 
     A first bypass channel  71  is provided that bypasses the supply-side filter  91  and communicates the common supply channel mainstream  56  with the common collection channel mainstream  57 . 
     The first bypass channel  71  is connected to the common supply channel mainstream  56  at a downstream of the supply-side filter  91  in a direction a of flow of the liquid ( FIG. 2 ) (hereinafter “liquid flow direction”) along a longitudinal direction of the common supply channel mainstream  56 . 
     The first bypass channel  71  is connected to the common collection channel mainstream  57  in a region in which the collection-side filter  92  is not provided in the liquid flow direction a along the longitudinal direction of the common collection channel mainstream  57 . That is, the first bypass channel  71  allows the common supply channel mainstream  56  and the common collection channel mainstream  57  to communicate with each other through a path that does not pass through the supply-side filter  91 . 
     With such a configuration, bubbles included in the liquid supplied from a supply port  81  of the liquid discharge head  1  and bubbles generated at an upstream of the supply-side filter  91  of the common supply channel mainstream  56  reach the supply-side filter  91  or the first bypass channel  71  by liquid circulation. 
     The bubbles that reach the supply-side filter  91  cannot pass through the supply-side filter  91  sometimes depending on a size thereof and a pressure applied for the liquid circulation. At that time, the bubbles move further downstream by a flow in the common supply channel mainstream  56 . 
     In this embodiment, the first bypass channel  71  is connected to the common supply channel mainstream  56  at the downstream of the supply-side filter  91  in the liquid flow direction a along the longitudinal direction of the common supply channel mainstream  56  while the liquid circulation is performed. 
     Therefore, the bubbles that cannot pass through the supply-side filter  91  may flow to the first bypass channel  71  with the liquid flow in the common supply channel mainstream  56 . 
     In a case where the bubbles that cannot pass through the supply-side filter  91  accumulate on the supply-side filter  91 , since an effective area of the supply-side filter  91  through which the liquid may pass decreases, resistance of the supply-side filter  91  increases, so that a circulating liquid flow rate decreases. 
     In this embodiment, the bubbles that cannot pass through the supply-side filter  91  move from the first bypass channel  71  to the common collection channel mainstream  57  and are discharged outside from a collection port  82 , so that variation in circulation flow rate due to the accumulation of the bubbles on the supply-side filter  91  may be suppressed. 
     In this embodiment, since the collection-side filter  92  is also provided, in a case where a liquid circulating direction is reversed and the liquid is supplied from the collection port  82 , the liquid supplied to the common collection channel branch  53  is supplied through the collection-side filter  92 . 
     Even in a state in which a discharge flow rate increases and the liquid is supplied (reverses) to the pressure chamber via the collection-side filter  92 , the bubbles that flow from the common supply channel mainstream  56  through the first bypass channel  71  to the common collection channel mainstream  57  remain on the collection-side filter  92  and it is possible to prevent the same from flowing to the common collection channel branch  53 . 
     A minimum channel cross-sectional area of the first bypass channel  71  is preferably larger than a diameter of the supply-side filter  91  so that the bubbles that cannot pass through the supply-side filter  91  may easily flow. 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional illustrative view similar to  FIG. 2  of a liquid discharge head according to this embodiment. 
     In this embodiment, a supply port  81  is disposed at an upstream of a supply-side filter  91  in a liquid flow direction a along a longitudinal direction of a common supply channel mainstream  56 . 
     A first bypass channel  71  is provided to communicate the common supply channel mainstream  56  with a common collection channel mainstream  57 . 
     The first bypass channel  71  is such that one end side is connected to the common supply channel mainstream  56  at a downstream of the supply-side filter  91  in the liquid flow direction a along the longitudinal direction of the common supply channel mainstream  56 , and the other end side is connected to the common collection channel mainstream  57  as in the first embodiment. 
     As a result, bubbles that cannot pass through the supply-side filter  91  move from the first bypass channel  71  to the common collection channel mainstream  57  to be discharged outside from a collection port, so that variation in circulation flow rate due to accumulation of bubbles on the supply-side filter  91  may be suppressed. 
     A second bypass channel  72  is provided to allow the common supply channel mainstream  56  and the common collection channel mainstream  57  to communicate with each other. 
     The second bypass channel  72  is such that one end side is connected to the common supply channel mainstream  56  at the upstream of the supply-side filter  91  in the liquid flow direction a along the longitudinal direction of the common supply channel mainstream  56 , and the other end side is connected to the common collection channel mainstream  57  as in the first embodiment. 
     As a result, the bubbles mixed in the liquid supplied from the supply port  81  to the common supply channel mainstream  56  pass through the second bypass channel  72  before reaching the supply-side filter  91  to move to the common collection channel mainstream  57  and is discharged outside. 
     Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional illustrative view similar to  FIG. 2  of a liquid discharge head according to this embodiment, and  FIG. 8  is a plan illustrative view similar to  FIG. 3 . 
     In this embodiment, a supply-side filter member  90  that forms a supply-side filter  91  is provided with an opening  90   a  communicating with a first bypass channel  71  along with a region provided with a large number of filter holes  91   a  forming the supply-side filter  91 . 
     The opening  90   a  has an opening area larger than the opening area of the filter hole  91   a . In this embodiment, the “supply-side filter” is formed of a large number of filter holes  91   a  formed on the supply-side filter member  90 . In this configuration also, the first bypass channel  71  is connected to a common collection channel mainstream  57  at a downstream of a large number of filter holes  91   a  serving as the “supply-side filter”. 
     Although the supply-side filter member  90  that forms the supply-side filter  91  is herein described, a collection-side filter member that forms the collection-side filter  92  may also be configured similarly. 
     Next, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a plan illustrative view of a liquid discharge head according to this embodiment. 
     In this embodiment, a common supply channel  5  communicates with a plurality of pressure chambers  21  via a plurality of individual supply channels  22 , respectively. Similarly, a common collection channel  6  communicates with the plurality of pressure chambers  21  via a plurality of individual collection channels  23 , respectively. That is, in this embodiment, a common channel is not separated into a mainstream and a branch. 
     In this embodiment also, a first bypass channel is connected to the common supply channel  5  at a downstream of a supply-side filter  91  in a liquid flow direction along a longitudinal direction of the common supply channel  5  as in the first embodiment. 
     As a result, effects similar to the effects of each of the embodiments described above may be obtained. 
     Next, a head module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective illustrative view of the head module, and  FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective illustrative view as seen from a nozzle surface side of the head module. 
     A head module  100  includes a plurality of heads  1  being liquid discharge heads that discharge liquid, a base member  103  that holds the plurality of heads  1 , and a cover member  113  that serves as a nozzle cover of the plurality of heads  1 . 
     The head module  100  also includes a heat radiating member  104 , a manifold  105  that forms a channel for supplying liquid to the plurality of heads, a printed circuit board (PCB)  106  connected to a flexible wiring member  101 , and a module case.  107 . 
     Next, a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 .  FIG. 12  is a schematic illustrative diagram of the apparatus, and  FIG. 13  is a plan illustrative view of an example of a head unit of the apparatus. 
     A printing apparatus  500  being the liquid discharge apparatus includes a loader  501  for loading a continuous body  510 , a guiding conveyor  503  for guiding and conveying the continuous body  510  loaded from the loader  501  to a printer  505 , the printer  505  that print to discharge liquid to the continuous body  510  to form an image, a dryer  507  that dries the continuous body  510 , and an unloader  509  that unloads the continuous body  510 . 
     The continuous body  510  is sent out from an original wind roller  511  of the loader  501 , guided to be conveyed by rollers of the loader  501 , the guiding conveyor  503 , the dryer  507 , and the unloader  509  to be wound up by a wind-up roller  591  of the unloader  509 . 
     The continuous body  510  is conveyed so as to be opposed to a head unit  550  and an image is printed thereon by the liquid discharged from the head unit  550  in the printer  505 . 
     Herein, the head unit  550  includes two head modules  100 A and  100 B according to an embodiment of the present disclosure arranged side by side on a common base member  552 . 
     Assuming that an array direction of the heads  1  in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the head module  100  is a head array direction, liquid of the same color is discharged by head rows  1 A 1  and  1 A 2  of the head module  100 A. Similarly, head rows  1 B 1  and  1 B 2  of the head module  100 A are made a set, head rows  1 C 1  and  1 C 2  of the head module  100 B are made a set, and head rows  1 D 1  and  1 D 2  are made a set, and each of them discharges liquid of a required color. 
     Next, an example of a liquid circulation device is described with reference to  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14  is a block illustrative diagram of the liquid circulation device. Although one head is herein illustrated, in a case where a plurality of heads is arrayed, a supply-side liquid path and a collection-side liquid path are connected to a supply side and a collection side, respectively, of the plurality of heads via a manifold and the like. 
     A liquid circulation device  600  includes a supply tank  601 , a collection tank  602 , a main tank  603 , a first liquid sending pump  604 , a second liquid sending pump  605 , a compressor  611 , a regulator  612 , a vacuum pump  621 , a regulator  622 , a supply-side pressure sensor  631 , and a collection-side pressure sensor  632 . 
     Herein, the compressor  611  and the vacuum pump  621  form a device for generating a differential pressure between a pressure in the supply tank  601  and a pressure in the collection tank  602 . 
     The supply-side pressure sensor  631  is connected between the supply tank  601  and the head  1 , connected to the supply-side liquid path connected to a supply port  81  of the head  1 . The collection-side pressure sensor  632  is connected between the head  1  and the collection tank  602 , connected to the collection-side liquid path connected to a collection port  82  of the head  1 . 
     One side of the collection tank  602  is connected to the supply tank  601  via the first liquid sending pump  604 , and the other side of the collection tank  602  is connected to the main tank  603  via the second liquid sending pump  605 . 
     As a result, the liquid flows from the supply tank  601  through the supply port  81  into the head  1 , collected from the collection port  82  to the collection tank  602 , and transferred from the collection tank  602  to the supply tank  601  by the first liquid sending pump  604 , so that a circulation path through which the liquid circulates is formed. 
     Herein, the compressor  611  is connected to the supply tank  601  to be controlled such that a predetermined positive pressure is detected by the supply-side pressure sensor  631 . The vacuum pump  621  is connected to the collection tank  602  to be controlled such that a predetermined negative pressure is detected by the collection-side pressure sensor  632 . 
     As a result, a meniscus negative pressure may be kept constant while allowing the liquid to circulate through the head  1 . 
     When the liquid is discharged from a nozzle  11  of the head  1 , an amount of liquid in the supply tank  601  and the collection tank  602  decreases. Therefore, the liquid is replenished from the main tank  603  to the collection tank  602  using the second liquid sending pump  605  as appropriate. 
     A liquid replenishing timing from the main tank  603  to the collection tank  602  may be controlled by a detection result of a liquid level sensor and the like provided in the collection tank  602 ; for example, when a level of the liquid in the collection tank  602  falls below a predetermined height, the liquid is replenished. 
     Next, another example of a printing apparatus as a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16 .  FIG. 15  is a plan illustrative view of a substantial part of the apparatus, and  FIG. 16  is a side illustrative view of the substantial part of the apparatus. 
     A printing apparatus  500  is a serial type apparatus in which a carriage  403  is reciprocated in a main-scanning direction by a main-scanning movement mechanism  493 . The main-scanning movement mechanism  493  includes a guide member  401 , a main-scanning motor  405 , a timing belt  408  and the like. The guide member  401  is stretched over left and right side plates  491 A and  491 B to hold the carriage  403  so as to be movable. The carriage  403  is reciprocated in the main-scanning direction via the timing belt  408  stretched between a driving pulley  406  and a driven pulley  407  by the main-scanning motor  405 . 
     The carriage  403  is equipped with a liquid discharge device  440  in which the head  1  which is a droplet discharge head according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a head tank  441  are integrated. The head  1  of the liquid discharge device  440  discharges liquids of respective colors of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K), for example. The liquid discharge head  1  is mounted with a nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles arrayed in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main-scanning direction such that a discharge direction is a direction downward. 
     The liquid discharge head  1  is connected to the liquid circulation device  600  described above, and the liquid of a required color is circulated to be supplied. 
     The printing apparatus  500  includes a conveyance mechanism  495  for conveying paper  410 . The conveyance mechanism  495  includes a conveyor belt  412  serving as a conveyor, and a sub-scanning motor  416  for driving the conveyor belt  412 . 
     The conveyor belt  412  attracts the paper  410  and conveys the same in a position opposed to the head  1 . The conveyor belt  412  is an endless belt and is stretched between a conveyor roller  413  and a tension roller  414 . The attraction may be electrostatic attraction or air suction. 
     When the conveyor roller  413  is rotationally driven by the sub-scanning motor  416  via a timing belt  417  and a timing pulley  418 , the conveyor belt  412  rotates to move in the sub-scanning direction. 
     A maintenance/recovery mechanism  420  that maintains and recovers the liquid discharge head  1  is disposed at the side of the conveyor belt  412  on one side in the main-scanning direction of the carriage  403 . 
     The maintenance/recovery mechanism  420  includes, for example, a cap member  421  for capping a nozzle surface of the head  1  and a wiper member  422  for wiping the nozzle surface. 
     The main-scanning movement mechanism  493 , the maintenance/recovery mechanism  420 , and the conveyance mechanism  495  are attached to a casing including side plates  491 A and  491 B and a back plate  491 C. 
     In the printing apparatus  500  configured in this manner, the paper  410  is fed to be attracted onto the conveyor belt  412 , and the paper  410  is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by rotary movement of the conveyor belt  412 . 
     By driving the head  1  according to an image signal while moving the carriage  403  in the main-scanning direction, the liquid is discharged onto the paper  410  which stops to form an image. 
     Next, another example of the liquid discharge device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 17  is a plan illustrative view of a substantial part of the liquid discharge device. 
     The liquid discharge device  440  is formed of a casing portion formed of the side plates  491 A and  491 B and the back plate  491 C, the main-scanning movement mechanism  493 , the carriage  403 , and the head  1  out of members forming the liquid discharge apparatus described above. 
     A liquid discharge device obtained by further attaching the above-described maintenance/recovery mechanism  420  to, for example, the side plate  491 B of the liquid discharge device  440  may also be formed. 
     Next, still another example of the liquid discharge device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 18  is a front illustrative view of the liquid discharge device. 
     The liquid discharge device  440  includes the head  1  to which a channel component  444  is attached and a tube  456  connected to the channel component  444 . 
     The channel component  444  is disposed inside a cover  442 . A head tank  441  may also be included in place of the channel component  444 . A connector  443  electrically connected to the liquid discharge head  1  is provided above the channel component  444 . 
     In the present application, the discharged liquid is not limited in particular as long as this has viscosity and surface tension such that this may be discharged from the head, but the viscosity is preferably 30 mPa·s or less at room temperature under a normal pressure, or by heating and cooling. More specifically, the liquid includes solutions, suspensions, emulsions or the like including solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, functional materials such as polymerizable compounds, resins, and surfactants, biocompatible materials such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), amino acids, proteins, and calcium, and edible materials such as natural pigments; they may be used as, for example, inkjet inks, surface treatment liquids, forming liquids of components of electronic elements and light emitting elements, and electronic circuit resist patterns, and three-dimensional fabricating material liquids. 
     As energy generation sources for discharging the liquid, piezoelectric actuators (multilayer piezoelectric elements and thin film piezoelectric elements), thermal actuators using electrothermal transducers such as heating resistors, electrostatic actuators formed of a diaphragm and counter electrode are included. 
     The “liquid discharge device” is obtained by integrating a functional component and a mechanism with the liquid discharge head, and this includes an assembly of components relating to liquid discharge. For example, the “liquid discharge device” includes a combination of the liquid discharge head with at least one of configurations of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance/recovery mechanism, a main-scanning movement mechanism, and a liquid circulation device. 
     Examples of integrating herein include securing of the liquid discharge head, functional component, and mechanism by fastening, bonding, or engaging, and holding of one so as to be movable with respect to the other. The liquid discharge head, functional component, and mechanism may also be detachably attached to one another. 
     Examples of the liquid discharge device include the one in which the liquid discharge head and the head tank are integrated. There also is the one in which the liquid discharge head and the head tank are connected to each other with a tube or the like to be integrated. A unit including a filter may also be herein added between the head tank and the liquid discharge head of the liquid discharge device. 
     Examples of the liquid discharge device include the one in which the liquid discharge head and the carriage are integrated. 
     Examples of the liquid discharge device also includes the one in which a guide member forming a part of the main-scanning movement mechanism is allowed to movably hold the liquid discharge head and the liquid discharge head and the main-scanning movement mechanism are integrated. There also is the one in which the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the main-scanning movement mechanism are integrated. 
     Examples of the liquid discharge device also include the one in which a cap member which forms a part of a maintenance/recovery mechanism is secured to the carriage to which the liquid discharge head is attached, and the liquid discharge head, the carriage, and the maintenance/recovery mechanism are integrated. 
     There also is the liquid discharge device in which a tube is connected to the liquid discharge head to which the head tank or a channel component is attached, and the liquid discharge head and the supply mechanism are integrated. Liquid in a liquid storage source is supplied to the liquid discharge head via the tube. 
     The main-scanning movement mechanism also includes a single piece of guide member. The supply mechanism also includes a single piece of tube or charger. 
     The “liquid discharge device” is herein described in combination with the liquid discharge head, but the “liquid discharge device” also includes the one obtained by integrating the head module or the head unit including the above-described liquid discharge head with the above-described functional component and mechanism. 
     The “liquid discharge apparatus” includes an apparatus that includes the liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge device, the head module, the head unit and the like, and drives the liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid. Examples of the liquid discharge apparatus include not only an apparatus capable of discharging the liquid to a material to which the liquid may adhere but also an apparatus which discharges the liquid toward gas or into liquid. 
     The “liquid discharge apparatus” may include devices of feeding, conveying, and ejecting the material to which the liquid may adhere and also include a pre-treatment device and a post-treatment device. 
     For example, examples of the “liquid discharge apparatus” include an image forming apparatus which discharges ink to form an image on paper, and a stereoscopic fabrication apparatus (three-dimensional fabrication apparatus) which discharges fabrication liquid to a powder layer obtained by forming powder into a layer for fabricating a stereoscopic fabrication object (three-dimensional fabrication object). 
     The “liquid discharge apparatus” is not limited to an apparatus which visualizes a meaningful image such as a character and a figure by the discharged liquid. For example, an apparatus which forms a meaningless pattern, or an apparatus which fabricates a three-dimensional image are also included. 
     The “material to which the liquid may adhere” described above is intended to mean the material to which the liquid may adhere at least temporarily, the material to which the liquid adheres to be fastened, or the material to which the liquid adheres to permeate. Specific examples include recording media such as paper, recording paper, paper for recording, a film, and cloth, electronic components such as an electronic substrate and a piezoelectric element, and media such as a powder layer (powder layer), an organ model, and a testing cell. All the materials to which the liquid adheres are included unless limited in particular. 
     Materials of the above-described “material to which the liquid may adhere” may be any material as long as the liquid may adhere thereto even if temporarily such as paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, and ceramics. 
     The “liquid discharge apparatus” includes an apparatus in which the liquid discharge head and the material to which the liquid may adhere move relative to each other; however, this is not limited to such an apparatus. Specific examples include a serial type apparatus in which the liquid discharge head is moved, and a line type apparatus in which the liquid discharge head is not moved. 
     The “liquid discharge apparatus” also includes a processing liquid applying apparatus which discharges a processing liquid onto paper for applying the processing liquid to a surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper, an injection granulating apparatus which injects a composition liquid obtained by dispersing row materials in solution through a nozzle to granulate raw material fine particles and the like. 
     The terms of “image formation”, “recording”, “printing”, “fabrication” and the like used in this application are synonyms. 
     Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the above teachings, the present disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. With some embodiments having thus been described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims.